Katadyn Mini Ceramic Review

"This is a suberb product if you are weight conscious and don't mind leisurely pumping sessions. Very rugged, ultra-light, easily cleaned, very long cartridge life, silicone rubber hose, and no risk of cross-contamination. Very good pumping mechanism - I have only ever had to unscrew it for priming once. The only downsides are that due to the small size, it's bone slow. The specs say 0.5l/min, but I would say not. More like 0.2l/min, so 5 minutes to fill my 1l nalgene. The other problem is that the ergonomics are not great. The unit must be strategically supported on a rock which puts the discharge nozzle just slightly above the height of your bottle. One hand has to hold the pump body from slipping of the rock, while the other operates the plunger. Also, the screened inlet filter must be strategically held in position by large stones, so that it stays off the bottom and doesn't suck sediment. This is a bit of an art, since the inlet filter on the hose-end jerks around a bit with every pump stroke. I imagine that some of these problems could be overcome if a person used a separate bottle for collecting the raw water and then filtered into another bottle. Another refinement might be to carry a small hose which could be slipped over the discharge nozzle and run into your bottle. Finally, there is no carbon stage, so you have to hope your water source tastes OK. (Disclosure - this is the only filter I have ever used or owned. I have also not exposed it to glacial silt or clay-laden waters, but in these cases a person should be using a settling technique and/or a coffee filter.)"

"This filter worked great for me for several years. Its the lightest ceramic filter on the market that I know of. Its easily cleaned in the field and pumps quite easily after a cleaning.

The price for the incredibly light weight is that its tricky to use. Its frustrating until you get the hang of it (position pump just higher than the bottle).

The only big problem was a fatal flaw - the pump failed on a 6 day trip in the Cascades. The inlet valve failed and the pump is now useless. I don't see any way to repair it because the valve is sealed in welded plastic."

"Ok, this filter has several positives but one very large negative. On the plus side, it is the lightest filter that you can buy. Additionally, the ceramic filter is great because if the pumping action slows down, just open it up and clean it.
Unfortunately I have had to check the ceramic every time I need to pump water because, unlike the other reviewer, have had to prime the pump EVERY SINGLE TIME (probably used for 20-30 days in the backcountry). I have no idea why this is, but I plan to call the company. I will let you know how their customer service stands up. Also, the pumping speed is hideously slow, so if you are in a hurry, forget it. We try and pump in just the morning and afternoon.
I will probably hang on to this filter for its field cleanability, but will also get a Katadyn Hiker as well, which I used previously and really enjoyed. I have used the Katadyn (formerly PUR) Hiker, PUR Explorer, and MSR Waterworks, as well as the SteriPEN Ultraviolet Light (more trouble than its worth)."