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For MSR MiniWorks EX, 274 customer reviews collected from 1 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.3.

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23.10.2019

This is the fifth filter of this model I've purchased. We have them in our BoB's and both vehicles, well used to as this one replaces the one that some cretins took from us when they broke into our car and made off with everything in the trunk.Over the last 6 year's, besides having them tucked away for emergencies, we routinely use them when camping. Not because we need them for water but it's a good idea to stay practised with the items you'll rely on in an emergency. We've always found them to work without a hitch and the water they produce is superior to that which is made by competitors filters.You don't need to be technical to use one of these. The manual is well laid out and easy to follow.Within 5 minutes anyone can be pumping from a slew and turning it into clear drinkable water.There is a little maintenance required but its well explained in the manual and not complicated at all, basically wiping sludge off the filters exterior surface. If the surface has too much build up it can impede the water being drawn through the filter element. The result is that it can look like the filter is broken when in reality it just needs some simple maintenance. There is a plastic "wiper" included for this purpose.For about the last 8 years a lot of back packing water bottle manufacturers have standardized on the screw top and cap they use, this filter screws onto those water bottles (Nalgene for instance) which makes filling the bottle easy and because they are connected it eliminates spilling any of that water you worked to filter.In the past we used straw type filters because they seemed to be more convenient but they simply do not remove anywhere near the amount of crud that this filter does. The straws are also hard to use since your sucking water through them and when there's a lot of material in the water it gets very difficult very quickly. Here the mechanical pump does a far better job of processing enough water to get you through a day. We've used water from a number of otherwise questionable sources and have never been sick afterwards. In some cases when there was a large amount of biological crud, think slew water, we first poured the water through a cloth to eliminate the larger particles which can quickly clog any filter.
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4.8.2016

This filter is amazing. It is the gold standard of water filtration in my book. I have used this filter on many trips, and just love the ease of use, and the knowledge that it will work, every time. The design is simple to use, and anyone can figure it out. The filter cartridge goes in easy, and needs very little maintenance. Every once in a while you just need to clean it in clean water (using the included abrasive sponge), and measure (with included measuring tool) to make sure it is still thick enough to be effective. The tube is long enough to use easily when next to a stream, but not so long that it gets in the way. I love that it screws onto nalgene bottles,as that makes it easy to quickly and safely get water for the whole camp. I am a crew leader and have taken multiple groups of 8-12 high school students into the woods for over a month at a time, and using 2 of these filters, we can easily get water for everyone. Storage is easy when you get home - you just slowed boil the cartridge, wait for it to dry, and then pack it up. And when you are out camping, the included carry bag has a mesh side, so any spilled water or water still in the hose can dry out between uses.Overall the best out there - you will NOT be disappointed if you get this filter.Note - many people complain that the ceramic filter cracks easily. I am not sure how this happens, as I have literally used this filter for years, and have never had a problem. If it is tough enough to be issued out by USFS and my company for crews of high school students, it should be tough enough for anyone experienced enough at camping to attempt a back country trip. I would just say that it is ceramic, so it CAN break - and thus do not attempt to disassemble or clean in the dark while balanced on rocks in the middle of the river. You do not need to clean these often, so unless you are out for months at a time like we are, I say stick to cleaning the filter when you get home to avoid this risk. That being said, when the ceramic cartridge is in the filter and it is sealed, it can take quite a bit of abuse with no issues (remember - high school kids).
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28.7.2012

I had to get another filter for backpacking when after ten years my MSR SweetWater filter wore out. I did some research for a few days reading reviews on both the SweetWater and the MiniWorks from customers and outdoor adventure organizations ,and finally decided to purchase the MiniWorks to replace my SweetWater because it was completely repairable in the field and was advertised as having the same flow rate. I am an outgoing backpacker who commonly goes distances of 10 miles or more carrying up to 50lbs in my pack for days in the mountains of Montana where I live. I require a good filter that will work. The SweetWater was much faster at filling my water bottle, easier to clean,but I could not repair it myself. The Miniworks is slower at about .75 Quart per minute, clogs at about the same rate (6-7 US Quarts) in Montana streams which are not very murky with dirt or with tannins, but is more of a pain to clean as you have to use clean water from your filter or water bottle. I guess I was spoiled by the SweetWater filter because it would fill my Nalgene in a minute or less without fail, and could be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, and back in use in about a minute, but it cannot be repaired by you the user in the field. However I never had any problems with my SweetWater in ten years of outdoor use in the mountains. The MiniWorks seems to be a very high quality filter that will last at least ten years, and I will recommend it to anyone who needs a top of the line filter for creating drinking water from almost any water source on the globe without additional water treatments because of its ceramic cartridge, but if you're like me and are buying the MiniWorks after having used the SweetWater for the past ten years, you're going to grow into a more patient hiker/backpacker :) I really love the idea of being able to repair and maintain my filter in the field, which is why I'm going to stick with the MiniWorks!
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24.5.2018

Now I will just put a disclaimer that I haven't used the filter I purchased, but from reading other reviews and the recommendation of aCanadian YouTuber who reviews tools, I'm confident in this filter's capabilities.While this is good to go out of the box. Just connect the inlet tubing and pump away, there are a few recommendations I would make to get the most out of your filter.First have 3 containers for water, a bandana, and some coffee filters for super filthy water. What you do is you use one container to collect the water use the bandana to filter out large particles of water into the second container, with the coffee filters secured to the inlet side of the filter you use the second container as a pump inlet and use the third container as storage for the clean water.Ideally I would recommend Naglene wide mouth water bottles, they are readily available in most sporting goods stores, cheap, can be clipped to a backpack and fit the outlet for the filter pump perfectly. Using this method you should be able to get the most out of your filter with minimal cleaning.Second I would recommend buying a second filter cartridge and the maintenance kit. If it's worth having one it's worth having two and you you get even more use out of the filter.Third I would recommend having a back up water purification system. Either chemical tablets or what most people will have who plan to use this, a cooking kit to boil water. Not only to insure maximum purification of the water filtered, but just for that 1% chance your filter fails while in the middle of nowhere.Other than these recommendations it is a great addition for any hiker, camper, hunter, fisher, outdoorsman, or survivalist to carry with them in their pack. It's lighter than carrying jugs of water with you everywhere, it's simple to use, and it's reasonably durable, just be sure not to get into the habit of dropping it or rough handling it.
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14.9.2014

---Update after 3 years of use; This filter is still going strong. Have used many times, pumping several liters at a time. I am just now getting ready to replace my filter. I love this guy and is one of my bob gems.---Looking for a filter/pump combo? Decent price? Right here. Pump can be completely disassembled, every last little part, with no tools what so ever. Pump is very simple operation with very high quality construction, this pump will last a long time. Pump came in very impressive packaging, mesh bag to carry everything in, and thorough instruction manuals, one for each language (a fair number of them), not this go to page 5 for english crap. Pump out put is a large mouth thread that I am unfamiliar with,though it appears to be a standard camel-bak threading at first glance. MSR makes a bag that will screw in. Eventhough output is threaded, you do NOT need to use that, there is an output nipple you can cut a length of hose (same dia hose the pump comes with) and use that. We used a few inch section just long enough to make it easier to fill bottles and other items.Unlike some others people, we actually tested this in a very questionable, dirty, dark water pond, not some fancy clear stream. That being said, pump operation was slightly more difficult (it has a lot more to filter) and thus flow rate was slightly reduced. Water came out clean and odor free. First couple liters had that new filter taste, but aside from that, taste was of clean tap water. My self and several others drank at least one liter and I have drank over a gallon I took home in my water carrier. No medical issues what so ever.Invaluable product for a bug out bag or for any prepper to have in his/her closet. I would buy over and over again.
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19.10.2014

Perfectly functional.Pros:-lightweight-field "maintainable" (though maybe not "repairable")-long hose with float makes it more comfortable to pump water from hard-to-reach water sources-flow rate is decent-hose wraps around body and secures in handle for easy packingCons-would be nice if it was more compact-although mine has not broken, plastic components do cause me concern about durability and repairability.-while the ceramic filter can be cleaned in the field to restore waterflow and remove clogs, it is fragile and if it were to break in the field the unit would become unusable.Notes:Adapters are available to connect the unit to a variety of water storage systems.This prevents contamination of the clean portions of the filter when in the field. I've added adapters to mine for both Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottles and a Camelbak quick disconnect hose. Since this unit is mostly plastic and ceramic, both materials that cannot be properly repaired in the field, I usually carry a secondary method of water purification when traveling far from a potable water supply. The EX comes with a scouring pad which can be used to clean the ceramic filter should it become clogged. I suggest also adding a plain/unscented/unflavored Chapstick to your kit as well as it will help with lubricating the rubber seals if you need to disassemble the unit. When you return from an outing or after leaving the unit in storage for a long period of time be sure to disassemble and clean/sterilize the components. Dry the unit before storage to prevent bacteria growth.
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27.4.2013

I bought this filter quite sometime ago, but waited to see how well it held up before leaving a review. My friends and I hike frequently on extended treks and I can safely say I would trust this filter on any outing - with a few minor caveats:-Viruses are not a significant concern in most U.S. water sources. So, while this filter is excellent at removing bacteria, the same can not be said for viruses. Keep that in mind if traveling abroad. I also purchased a Steri-Pen for this purpose.-It does require some care in the field; and as others have noted, the element is the weak link in this system. During a six day hike in Olympic National Forest, glacial sentiment noticeably reduced the flow rate-necessitating cleaning after each use.That being said, still much easier than hiking in six days worth of water!Now on the where this filter shines: it's sturdy, reliable, and easy to use. I've used this filter in various locations throughout the country and it has yet to let me down. I did lose the "duckbill valve" and MSR sent me another, free of charge, no questions asked!-The screw bottom for wide-mouth bottles is a major plus for tired hands trying to savor every drop of filtered water.-We all drank water filtered from some very questionable sources (i.e. brown, stagnant) and never got sick.-the handle, while plastic, appears to be of very high qualityBuy it.
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23.7.2013

This is a solid filter. It is well designed, light, easy to use, easy to store, and durable. MSR does it again!I bought it to replace a Katahdin Filter (Hiker Pro) that broke. It is better than the Katahdin for several reasons. There is only one tube, so less stuff to deal with and fewer places that water can accumulate and fungus can grow. Also, there is no tube for the outlet (clean) water; it comes straight from the filter, which is great. The pump is designed in a more logical way, so that you are pressing your arms together to pump instead of pressing down on a small pump handle (as with the Katahdin). The MSR pump screws directly into your Nalgene, so you only have one thing to hold while pumping water.This can be very important if you pump from some of those hard-to-reach streams.The flow rate is pretty good, although I doubt you could get the advertised 1L/min consistently. There are few moving parts, so maintenance in the field should not be that tough. (The inlet valve blew out on my Katahdin, and the inlet valve seems much sturdier and fixable on the MSR.)My recommendation to MSR: For the part of the pump that screws into the Nalgene, put this on a swivel so that you can more easily remove the bottle. It is kind of annoying to unscrew the bottle as is, but still a great pump.
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15.11.2013

Put this puppy to the test last week. Spent 5 days in remote hunting area in Utah and the only water hole we could find was a nasty, sinky slimy stagnant puddle with a dead cow laying 3 feet from it. I s*** you not. I know, we were complete idiots for even thinking about drinking this water but next closest source was 7+ hours of nasty hiking (and 7+ hours back), so we went for it! Started by pumping right out of the puddle but the ceramic filter clogged with green film very quickly after about every 6-8 oz of water. So we pre-filtered the water through a bandanna into a bucket, then pumped it from there. Worked MUCH better! Decent flow rate, only had to clean the filter every liter or so.Resulting water was clean and clear. It still had a funky smell to it though. One of our guys took a big swig, and lived. The rest of us waited until we got back to camp and boiled the water because we did not trust that the pump filter got all the microbes. It probably did because the guy that drank it had no diarrhea or other symptoms, and as of this writing 2 weeks later his liver has not failed. :) The trick with this device is to keep the ceramic filter clean. The little scraper tool it comes with is useless, just use the piece of scouring material it comes with that works great.
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18.10.2014

I picked this up for a 100 mile trek through the high Uintas due to my Steripen acting up and it worked out great. In the past I've always just used a pre-filter and the UV pen which has spoiled me a bit in the weight and time to filter department. It takes a little longer to filter water with this unit but it came out crystal clear and tasted great. It has a threaded bottom so certain bottles can be attached directly to the filter while you pump. I was using the Platypus soft bottles on my trip which made things a little difficult to get the filtered water in the bladders as the mouth openings are much smaller that what the Miniworks was designed to have attached to it but I managed.I think a small piece of tubing attached to the output would work out great for filtering in to odd shaped bottles.The only real downside in my opinion is the filter needs constant cleaning for optimal output. Most water I filtered were high alpine streams that were about as clear as can be and by about the third liter it's output was slowing down significantly. After pulling the ceramic cartridge out and giving it a quick cleaning, the output picks right back up. Overall a great purchase and great piece of kit to have in the backcountry!
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28.11.2020

I bought one of these about 10 years ago and am still using it as my primary backpacking filter. It isn't the lightest filter, and it is definitely a workout if you are filling 4 Nalgene bottles, but it is bombproof and has never failed me. I've used other filters (both hand pump and gravity), but none of them feel as sturdy as this one. I just bought a second one of these (finally) to keep in an emergency bag. Still using the original one as my primary filter, though.Just to explain the couple of drawbacks. It is a heavier filter, as the sturdy plastic shell and ceramic filter aren't lightweight. But it also means that they last forever. So if you are looking for ultralight, get something else.But if you want something dependable, grab this. You can also easily strip and clean in the field.And as mentioned, if you are pumping a lot of water, you will get a workout. It is a hand pump mechanism and requires a bit of time to fill Nalgene bottles. But it can screw on to Nalgenes to make life simpler. If you are packing a filter for a large group, I recommend getting a gravity filter. However, those seem to be less dependable and are more prone to blockages.
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6.8.2013

This works well for me. There are a lot of options available for water purification. I chose this as the price was great and other reviews were pretty good. I have not had any issues with it. I try to avoid using it when possible (I will tote some water instead of relying on only what I can find as a water source). I have found getting a collapsible bucket is a nice way to position everything so your not in a creek trying to filter water. It also helps by naturally settling out some turbidity. The filters should last a very long time and will take many cleanings before enough is worn away. I would suggest buying a spare filter and a parts kit just in case. The filter element is ceramic and would break if dropped.It pumps water plenty fast when the filter is clean. I avoid getting the end of the hose in the sediment and the filter will stay clean longer. A pre filter can be made out of many permeable materials like scrubber sponge. I am not worried at all about the unit being made of plastic it is plenty strong to handle use and abuse. Hope this review is helpful.
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1.6.2016

I pumped many liters of water through this and had to replace the filter. The second was going strong before it was washed away in a flood! Even after daily use for the best part of two years the filter showed no signs of age. They are an absolute workhorse of a filter. The only problem really is that if you are filtering water which has a lot of sediment the filter gets blocked quickly and needs cleaning. However, this isn't too difficult and can be done in the field. You just need to take care not to cross-contaminate the filtered section with the dirty one. Note that you really need to scrub the filter so you actually remove a layer of the filter because this also removes the blocked pours.I highly recommend this filter. It removes everything from the water accept for viruses and even bad tastes from treated or unpleasant water sources. I used it in the wild but also in cheap hotel rooms and from tap water from gas stations etc, it never let me down and I never got sick in over three years of travel in Latin America.
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19.10.2010

Here's MSR's specs on their Miniworks EX Filter:Effective against protozoa YesEffective against bacteria YesEffective against viruses NoEffective against particulate YesEffective against chemicals/toxins YesWeight 1 lb / 456 gWidth 2.75 in / 7 cmLength 7.5 in / 19 cmFilter media Ceramic/Carbon ElementFilter pore size 0.2 micronsFlow (L/min) 1 liters per minFlow (strokes per liter) 85Cartridge life ~2000 liters (btw other sites say ~4000 liters)Field cleanable YesField maintainable YesCountry of Origin Made in Seattle, USAMechanical advantage YesWater Bottle Adapter YesCartridge replacement indicator YesIn my opinion, the only things it's missing is a virus filter, desalination unit and an alkalinity improver.Oh, and an air to water converter unit....but that would add a couple more grand to the price tag and it wouldn't be portable any more. :DIf you need an reliable, efficient, durable filter I'd highly recommend MSR.It comes with a nice bag.
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7.5.2020

I bought this unit so I could have 2 of these, as I needed one locally and not at my camping location. The original, however, was bought about 20 years ago for maybe $10 less total. It has never let me down and the design change is practically unnoticeable since then. The replacement cartridge looks different but apparently fits the old model.The first unit has been used hundreds of times and has never bogged down like people have said in the 1 star reviews. I can only assume they are filtering very dirty water and aren't cleaning the unit afterwards or simply aren't operating it correctly? All I can say is that with minimal upkeep, I am still using that original filter with no problems: no giardiasis,no clogging,no issues.There are other filters out there for sure, and gravity filters in particular are very popular. But, for me, this was an easy decision, as MSR and Cascade Designs have been putting out quality camping gear for decades.
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