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.

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,

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,

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,

MSR MiniWorks EX - Reviews

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