Best Survival Water Filter – Katadyn Hiker Pro
(The following review originally appeared on the SimplePrepper.com - https://www.thesimpleprepper.com/prepper/gear/best-survival-water-filter-katadyn-hiker-pro/ Posted here with permission.)
The Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter is the best survival water filter for 2020 (and every year since it was made) and one piece of gear that every Prepper should have for emergency preparedness!
The most important thing a Prepper can do to be prepared for an emergency, is have a readily available supply of water. If you are building your supply stash at home, check out this guide to long term water storage.
As a Prepper you should always include a quality water filter as a backup - enter the Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter.
The Katadyn Hiker Pro is our top pick to keep as a back up and also for bartering. When things get bad, this will be worth its weight in gold!
3 Top Reasons Why The Katadyn Is The Best For Preppers
1) Small Size is Great for Stockpiling
Other water filtering systems can be bulky and very efficient or offer a smaller size but poor performance. The Katadyn Hiker Pro has nestled itself right in the middle and offers the user a product that can bridge the divide and pump like big boys but is small enough to carry like a little guy.
Portability of the Katadyn Hiker Pro is really phenomenal. The Hiker Pro is 11 ounces and all its parts zip up into a small bag that fits easily into any larger bag. I put this model into my bug out bag years ago and never took it out. Dimensions are just as minimal as the weight. We are talking about a filter that is 6 inches high and 3 inches wide. You will not be busting the seams of any bug out bag if you decide to add this filter to your arsenal.
2) The Katadyn is Highly Effective
A lot of thought went into how the Katadyn Hiker Pro system works. There is more to this filter than just the pump system and the powerful 0.2 micron activated carbon filter. Katadyn also took some liberties in modifying how the water gets to the pump with a quality pre-filter.
When you are looking at a water source there are three parts you need to consider.
The surface of the water is where contaminants from the outside world will collect first.
The bottom of a water source is what rests on the creek or river bed. This area is where things like heavy metals and pollutants collect.
Between these is an area where the water flows best and is most clean.
To target that “in between” channel of moving water, the Hiker Pro offers a strainer weight that keeps the intake tube in position. The tube is also threaded through a cylindrical float that means you can use the combo float and weight to pump with both hands while the strainer stays put.
This design will assure that you get the best water to be had from a body of water. The Katadyn Hiker Pro can filter 1 liter of water per minute which means you can have your daily water needs met (1 gallon) in just four minutes of pumping.
Depending on the quality of water you are pumping the Hiker Pro can filter 750 liters of water or just under 200 gallons before the filter will need to be changed. This is a tremendous amount of water and to put it into perspective it would be enough to keep a family of four going for nearly a month!
3) Not Just for the Woods
While the name Hiker Pro might elude to the fact that this designed for the wilderness, it has a place in your home emergency kit as well. In fact, for the price and the size the Katadyn Hiker Pro is easily the best water filter for emergency preparedness.
At home the faucet seems to provide a never-ending water supply. However you need only consult those who have suffered through earthquakes or powerful hurricanes to understand the limits of our tap water supply. Once the tap runs dry you are left with only a few days to come up with another means of hydration.
Local water sources will likely house plenty of contaminants but if you have a means to filter that water, it could make all the difference. By removing much of the sediment in filtering water the Hiker Pro will also decrease off flavors in the water. This could be an important factor for those with younger family members.
Buy A Quality Emergency Water Filter
Every prepper and survivalist should have a high-quality water filter that can filter a lot of water in a hurry. Whether you are trout fishing in the backcountry or bugging out from a fallen city, this is one of those pieces of equipment that you must have on hand.
Straw style filters are quick and convenient, but a powerful hand pump water filter like the Katadyn Hiker Pro is going to answer the call for more things than just drinking. Think about trying to cook or clean up with a straw style filter, not going to happen!
Quality is key - consider how useful the Katadyn Hiker Pro could be in the following scenarios that may require longer term water filtration options:
Hurricane and aftermath
Tornado and aftermath
Long Term Power Outages
During a Pandemic
Killer Water Is A Real Threat
When things get bad, it is going to be the little things you need to worry about the most. Poor water management could bring on things like waterborne illness. When SHTF - watch out for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Even water that appears clean can potentially house killer microorganisms like Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
To be extra careful I recommend you first boil all water that will touch your face - think anything that you cook with, but also any water that you use to clean anything. After the boiled water has cooled then use the Katadyn Hiker Pro to further filter and cleanse your water. Taking the extra step could be lifesaving!
