Katadyn Hiker Review

The Hiker is a simple hand pump with remarkable pump action and performance. It's not the fastest or the most durable, but if you take some care, it'll last you for years. It presents one of the best values in this review and comes with great compatibility options that'll fit your Nalgene or a hydration bladder — a great option for individuals or a group of two.

Water Quality

This reliable hand pump filter provides clean water from streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers. It utilizes a 0.2-micron, glass fiber, carbon core filter that eliminates particulates, bacteria, and all types of protozoa from the water.

While it does remove most stuff, it does not remove viruses. Katadyn claims this model is “effective against chemicals” using a carbon core. In our water quality tests, we pumped a silty sludge mess through the filter to see if it would remove the dissolved particulates and chemicals that gave it a yellow look and nasty smell. Like all other hand pump filters, gravity filters, and squeeze contenders, it could not completely remove these specific contaminants. This filter very likely removes chemicals, but it appeared unable to remove these. The specifics about which ones they can remove are unclear, so be careful if your water source is contaminated with a high concentration of chemicals. Before you pump, smell the water and check for discoloration.

That said, it's unusual that you'll come across water heavily contaminated with chemicals when backpacking in many places around the world. If you're looking for a water filter that adequately filters water while traveling in areas local to North America, you'll find confidence in this great product.

Durability & Maintenance

This filtration system is reliable but needs to be handled carefully. If the filter becomes completely clogged with sediment, it should be replaced. While you can easily unscrew it if you're in the field and then rinse it with cool water to clear it, it still may not perform like it once did. The filter itself absorbs water and isn't easy to scrub like a ceramic filter or others we've tested in this review. Be sure to rinse the filter regularly if you use this model in turbid water.

In addition, we've read many reviews about this pump's delicate nature. There is a small nipple for the outlet hose close to the filter's bottom. Several users have reported this nipple breaking off. While many say you can still use it afterward, a couple of wayward travelers could not reattach the hose, which rendered the unit useless to them. We didn't experience this problem through months of testing.

That said, be careful when you use it. Pump it with your hands, and don't place it on a rock for leverage. The Katadyn Hiker Pro has an enhanced connector at this point, which eliminates this issue. So, if you're good at breaking things, you might want to consider that pump instead.

The cartridge life of this filter is 1,100 liters or 291 gallons. To ensure it doesn't go caput before you get there, completely dry out the filter before storing it, and avoid silty or heavily turbid water sources. This will decrease the longevity of the filter cartridge.

Treatment Time

Of all the pump filters tested, this was the most consistent. The advertised flow rate is roughly 0.9 liters per minute. We pumped 40L of clear water from our sink and recorded an average of 42 seconds per liter with roughly 52 strokes per liter. In terms of speed, it falls right in the middle between ultra-fast and slow.

When we did the same in our turbid, sludge concoction, it could still pump out a liter in 47 seconds with 54 strokes per liter! We had to clean the filter between pumps, but this contender did the best of all filters (not purifiers) in this test. Overall, treatment time is good and offers fast functionality for one to two people.

Weight & Packability

This filter weighs 15.2 ounces.

We loaded it up on a few backpacking trips, and it didn't seem to take up much room in our packs. The bag does not have a mesh compartment but is completely sealed. It has a plastic individual zippered pouch to keep dirty or contaminated items. The only way this bag could be improved is to add some mesh for better drying. That said, without the mesh, the bag prevents other items in your pack from getting wet if the filter is wet.

Ease of Set Up

This filtration system has a pump, output, and intake hose.

The intake hose has a prefilter with a long hose, allowing you to take water from steep banks or the side of a boat. The output hose has a bottle adaptor that works best with Nalgene bottles. We found this piece isn't very compatible with most of the bottles we have in our kitchen. You can also remove the bottle adaptor and put the tube into your reservoir.

We also appreciate that this comes with a compatibility valve that connects to any hydration bladder. This is especially useful since not everybody likes to travel with a water bottle. We tried it out, and it worked perfectly! After you've put the hoses onto the nipples of the water filter (this can be annoying), find a nice view, and get ready to pump.

Ease of Filtration

The pumping of this filter isn't bad at all. We found the filter to be somewhat small but easily grasped.

The pump arm is small and not the most ergonomic, but the pumping is quite smooth and fast. We were tempted to put the filter on the ground and pump it on rocks while on a trip, but given warnings from previous users about it breaking parts off the filter, we tried to avoid this. Of the pump filters, it's one of the easiest and most consistent to use. However, a gravity filter is far more convenient.

In silty water, we can commonly clean the filter. We found the prefilter had to be cleaned the most while performing our sludge test. To do this, simply pop the tiny internal filter forward, clean out the gunk with your fingers or some clear water, and continue.

Should You Buy the Katadyn Hiker?

The Katadyn Hiker provides great value compared to all the hand pump filters we've tested. The cost of the unit is available for less than most, and even more so when you can find it on sale. While the long-term price per liter is slightly higher than some, its performance is better and offers more consistency on the trail. The simple and reliable design, combined with a cartridge life of 1,100 liters, makes it easy to recommend this user-friendly hand pump.

What Other Backpacking Water Filters Should You Buy?

The Katadyn Hiker is a wonderful personal filter with reliable performance. Filter out all the nastiest stuff while enjoying the beauty of the backcountry. While it's not the most durable or fastest to pump water, it offers great value and reliability while putting yourself out in the wilderness. If you want a slightly more durable option, check out the Katadyn Hiker Pro. And if you'd rather press than pump, the Grayl Geopress is very easy to use while providing top-notch water quality within a durable stainless bottle. If you find yourself on an ultralight adventure and need to drop some weight and space within your pack, we recommend collapsible bottles like the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze that are easy to use and can also store water if you find yourself moving greater distances between sources.