Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

What it removes from water, and how well that is proved. 6: A bit better than average.

0.2 µm pleated glass-fibre cartridge with an activated carbon core. Katadyn's manual gives bacteria (99.9999%, Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9%, Giardia and Cryptosporidium) as meeting "industry standards", and says the cartridge was tested at 750 L, but names no standard and publishes no lab report. Protection 3 reads "bacteria and protozoa claimed with no published test"; 4 needs a named standard or a published lab report from the brand, so this is 3. No virus claim. OutdoorGearLab's own lab test (SGS Labs) found at least 99.9% of bacteria and protozoa stand-ins removed; that is a tester's result, so it sits in this note and does not lift the band.

How fast clean water comes through when it is new. Real flow drops as it clogs: see Ease of use. 4: A bit below average.

Katadyn gives about 1 L/min (roughly 48 strokes), which bands as 0.6 to 1.19. Testers: OutdoorGearLab timed 53 seconds a litre, CleverHiker about a minute, Backpackers about two minutes a litre in use. Flow also drops in silty water. Banded on Katadyn's figure.

How much it adds to your pack. 5: Does the job. Average for wild-camping gear.

233 g for the filter (Katadyn fact sheet and shop page), in the 150–299 band; Ultralight Outdoor Gear lists 264 g without the bag. Testers weighed the full kit with hoses and bag heavier: Backpackers gives 311 g and OutdoorGearLab 380 g, which would be band 2. Banded on Katadyn's figure.

Filling, squeezing or pumping effort, how fast it clogs in peaty or silty water, and how easy it is to clean. 7: Better than most.

OutdoorGearLab (3, 5.5 out of 10) liked the float and long hose that reach tiny puddles, but found the handle small and hard to hold, pumping effortful and the filter prone to clog in silt. Backpackers.com (3 stars) tested the Clear model and found it straightforward once learned, though it has many loose parts and the quick-connect fittings are awkward to swap. CleverHiker (4) found it simple to operate and easy to clean: a clogged filter came back to about 90% of its flow after rinsing, but the set-up is longer than a squeeze filter and the input hose leaked now and then. OutdoorGearLab's 2019 photos show the smoky transparent body, so it tested the same Hiker Pro Transparent (Backpackers.com and CleverHiker name the Clear and Transparent model too). Average 3.3 out of 5, so 7 out of 10.