MSR MiniWorks Ex Water Filter reviews and deals for sale

Pretty good

I really like this filter, it has been very useful a long hiking trips with multiple people using it and not having to try to pack a bunch of water. I've read reviews about 30+ minutes to fill a liter bottle. This was not the case for me as it functioned as described. About 80 pumps for a liter, took about 120 seconds or less. One problem I encountered was the pin that holds the… read more handle/plunger in place fell out, it must have compressed the little clip during hiking and during use it worked the pin out. I have looked for replacement pins and cannot find them. This has not been a huge problem as I have replaced the locking pin with a wooden stick that I found in the woods. Just thought I might pass on my experience to others to be aware of. The thing I like is that you can visually see when the filter needs replaced by using the measuring tool provided, although you do need to clean it with the green pad, while other filters you cannot visually see when they need replaced.

So Far, It's Great!

I've done a few hiking trips with this water filter, and so far I am definitely pleased. The water I've filtered has tasted clean and I've had no sickness from it. I find the pump slows when filtering water with a lot of sediment, depending on the source. I like that it screws directly onto the Nalgene bottles and the clean outlet from the filter is mostly kept protected from… read more any exterior contaminants. It does seem like they put some thought into how the filter will be used and how to design it so to minimize contamination risk from unfiltered water. I'd seriously consider buying this again, and highly recommend it to others.

Quality

Haven't had a chance to take this one in the backcountry yet, but have used MSR filters before and never had an issue. This one is just the right size so excited to use it this summer.

MiniWorks simply works

I have used the MSR mini-works for over a decade now. The simplicity of this water filter is the key to it's longevity. The pump action is slow - as other reviewers have noted - however it simply works time and time again. Cleaning the ceramic filter with a scotch bright pad is simple and easy. Clean dependable water is key when off the grid and that is the reason to bring along… read more this top performer.

Not for the PCT

This may be a good piece of gear for a specific type of trip but it was horrible for the PCT. Regretted buying it and switched to a Sawyer Squeeze about a month in and wish I had switched a month sooner. Not only is it heavy for a water filter, it also takes up a bunch of space in your backpack and its a total hassle to fill water at the end of the day. Needs to be used in… read more puddles..with a Sawyer Squeeze you can fill up from the actual flowing part of the stream in 10 seconds, with this thing you need to put it in the puddle under the flow and pump (arm workout!) for 5-10 mins. Need to clean the filter every once in awhile or the flow rate drops to a trickle.

Great but takes a little work

Filters up to a liter per minute but must be pumped at a rate of 70-80 pumps per minute. This is pretty fast and can be a bit of a work out, but that's standard for any pump action filter. It filters well and the water tastes great. Screws directly onto a standard Nalgene water bottle or any MSR Dromedary Bag. Pro tip: definitely pair with an MSR Dromedary Bag. It will allow you… read more to filter multiple liters at once. Waaaay quicker filter process if you have the drom. I filter 6 liters at once and can fill both my fiances water reservoir and my own with a little extra water to spare. Great system for multiple people, a little overkill for just one.

Good, but takes a while

Can take a while to fill up a bottle, but gets the job done.

Good filter

I have owned this filter for a few years and can't complain. It filters well and is durable, but is a bit slower than some other filters. The other reason I removed a star is the fact that you need a nalgene to pump in to. I have shared the pump with others in my group that brought odd sized bottles or bladders that were not compatible with the filter. Overall, a good filter… read more that I will continue to use for backpack outings.

Be Aware

I've taken this with me on two 25 mile backpacking trips. It's light weight and fits inside my pack well. I had one issue on the first trip. The water had a lot of particulates in it and after about a liter of water, the flow significantly slowed. I took it home, cleaned the ceramic filter and took it out again about a week later. This time I came prepared with a prefilter and used… read more that for most of the trip. The last day i decided to use it without it since we had another filter as a backup. It worked surprisingly well considering the issue I had the week prior. However, the water I was filtering was way cleaner and had way less particulates. Loved the filter, water was clean and tasted great. Giving it a three star due to the first issue, but depending on the water you're filtering, the MSR mini works is hit or miss.

No more iodine tablets!!!

Frankly, I'm super stoked to not have to use iodine tablets again. The filter does a wonderful job and maintenance is simple. A bit heavy for backpacking, but I don't mind a couple extra ounces.

Great filter for small backpacking crew

Filter works great for a small backpacking crew (3-4 people). The ceramic element needs to be cleaned frequently depending on the quality of the water being filtered. Used this one for the first time in the Linville Gorge and had to clean the element about every 8 liters or so to maintain efficiency. Overall a good quality filter.

Perfect for 2-3 day Hikes

The water was quite clean to begin with, The unit clogs and you have to scrub the ceramic unit with the supplied green pad. It will start working again, but slows down again after a few liters of water. It is physically demanding to use. Not hard, but if you're supplying water to two people on a backpacking trip your arms are going to get a workout along with your legs.

Perfect fit on Nalgene

This is the most efficient water filter if you are doing some backpacking and have a nalgene with you. It screws right onto it and the filtering is fast enough and tastes fresh. This is also very light and perfect for a long backpacking trip

Absolute garbage

I do not know if I had a faulty unit. However, I do not know who thinks there is a strong business case for a backcountry water filter that filters water at a rate of 1 liter per 20 minutes. I tried this pump for the first time in the Olympic national park, where we were planning to cover 12-20 miles per day. When you are trying to cover that distance every minute in the wild… read more counts. However, we literally wasted 2 hours a day filtering water :S. I am not a newbie, and I used to love the MSR HyperFlow Microfilter, before deciding to try this new pump. My mistake was not to test the pump before hitting the backcountry. The situation got so bad on time spent to pump water that we had to start rationing water in a place where there is water available every single step of the way. That said - AVOID THIS PRODUCT! (in picture - my gf resigned to having to spent 40 mins to pump 2 liters of water in the final day of the trip)

Always Keep Handy

I got to use this a lot this past summer on my road trip out west and really loved it. Not a very large system but works perfect when I need to refill my 48oz nalgene. I love that it can screw right on to my water batter, there's no need for another piece to make it functional. Looking forward to more adventures and this filter is something I will always carry with me.

Clean Agua

This is a fantastic option for a water filtration system. It is small and compact but you can really crank out a decent amount of purified water pretty quickly. I love the fact that this will screw directly onto a wide mouth bottle. This is perfect for backpacking trips in the backcountry.

Initial impressions are pretty good.

I've done a few hiking trips with this filter and I really like it, the more I use I the more I like it. The water I've filtered has tasted great and I've had no ill effects from it. I find the pump rate acceptable and only slows when filtering water with a lot of sediment. I like the fact it screws directly onto the Nalgene bottles and the clean outlet from the filter is… read more mostly kept protected from any exterior contaminants. It does seem like they put some thought into how the filter will be used and how to design it so to minimize contamination risk from unfiltered water. I do worry about cracking the cermanic filter from something like a fall or dropping it but you could carry a spare filter. The filter itself is heavy but overall I don't see it as excessive...I could shed a few lbs to make up for the extra weight of the filter. I'd seriously consider buying this again but I know filter technology is always progressing but I do rate this filter highly, four star in fact. I dropped one star for the weight and the concern about breaking the ceramic filter so if that doesn't bother you then boost it to 5 stars.

Great Purchase

Started backpacking within the last year and upon picking up gear majority of veteran hikers recommended this. I ignored their advice & instead purchased the Sawyer MINI for easy storage/weight. With EPA water regulations going down the tube, I decided to make an upgrade & purchase the MSR mini. Not yet being on a trip to use it, I've tested/experimented/played with it numerous… read more times to prepare myself for field use. It's simple. It works. And it's great! Plus young kids love watching/learning how it works. Just follow the elementary school type instructions for cleaning & care, it'll last for yrs to come. Cons-weight & size for minimalists, & $ (for some people) Pros- There's a reason it hasn't changed much in design/$ since '97...bc it works perfectly & one of the best filters recommended out there

Tested True

Picked this little bugger up for a 3 day trek through Colorado with Fjallraven, but they ended up giving us a Grayl water filter bottle so didn't get a chance to really put it to the test. Initial testing was great, easy to use, adequate speed of filtering and taste was good. Looking forward to putting it more to the test on the Sky Rim Loop in Wyoming later this summer.

After reading the reviews, I'm convinced this is a high quality, durable filter. I first encountered this filter when hiking in Nepal with some Finnish friends. They used the filter, then used a UV filter on that water. I didn't exactly understand why; something about the MSR being able to filter out something, and the UV being able to filter out something else. I would like to… read more ask you guys if this MSR filter is sufficient for pretty nasty water that may have giardia inducing parasites, etc.? Or do you typically use this filter COMBINED with another purifying device like UV or drops? I understand that it probably depends on the water source, but thanks for any help.

I bought one of these a while back and struggled to get it to pump any water through. Not sure if there is a manufactured defect or if I failed to prime it correctly. The priming instructions that come with it are a bit vague. Any tips/more detailed instructions on how to go about priming it correctly and what I should be looking for to determine if I primed it correctly? Thanks.… read more

How do these filters work with sea...

How do these filters work with sea water?

would this be good for unsafe drinking...

would this be good for unsafe drinking water in Nigeria?

How do you order new ceramic filters for...

How do you order new ceramic filters for this item? can you use the one for the other filter's?

Debating between this and an MSR AutoFlow...

Debating between this and an MSR AutoFlow (which sounds like it's 2.2oz lighter, will be more friendly to the group, and faster but potentially less versatile and more of a pain in the ass to maintain) for an upcoming 9 day AT trip. Any other advantages/disadvantages I'm missing? Big question I have w/ the MiniWorks is connections to my water storage. I'm planning to take a 2L… read more Osprey HydroForm bladder and a couple of 1L Platypus soft bottles for electrolyte drink and temporary water storage and transport at camp. Does the included interface screw onto an Osprey bladder? I believe it's made by Nalgene. If not, can anyone recommend bladder tubing that will definitely fit the nipple on the clean side cap?

does this pump come with an additional...

does this pump come with an additional house for the output nozzle? i know some filters (katadyn vario) come with another hose to help fill up reservoirs. i usually hike with a camelbak 3 liter bladder. if it doesn't, is it a problem that can be solved by running to your local hardware store for a tube?

I'm looking for a clean side cap replacement....

I'm looking for a clean side cap replacement. Where can I find one?

Is there anyway to make my miniworks pump...

Is there anyway to make my miniworks pump faster/more efficiently? when I pump, the amount of water that comes in doesn't even fill the chamber. It pumped much more efficiently when I first purchased it.

Are the threads compatible with standard...

Are the threads compatible with standard bicycle bottle threads? (Camelback Podium style?)

does this one fit on the kleen kanteen...

does this one fit on the kleen kanteen bottles ?

I have been using this water filter for...

I have been using this water filter for several month now but have not tried on any real unusual sources. I will be shipped off to Afghanistan soon and would like to know. Do I still need to carry iodine tabs then filter the treated water? I hate the taste of those tabs, so I am wondering will it pull the taste out? Or do I not need them at all? Any help would be greatly… read more appreciated. -Charley

I'm planning a multiday backpacking trip...

I'm planning a multiday backpacking trip in October for Sipsy Forrest in Alabama and plan to take many more trips within the USA for years to come I'm considering this water filter as well as the MSR mini works. I recently saw both of these in person at an outdoor store. It seemed as though the Miniworks removes the most, yet it still doesn't remove viruses. Should this be of any… read more concern for me in the USA? How can I combat viruses if so? Filter, then boil? I appreciate any input anybody has!!!

i've been doing quite a bit of digging...

i've been doing quite a bit of digging around for a water filter that i can depend on. I have been running into the term 'microns' quite a bit. I am doing an Isle Royale trip in a few weeks and am wondering if this filter will be okay to use by its self. On there DNR site it says a filter should filter .4microns or less for bacteria and 25 microns or less for tapeworm. Will this… read more filter do the job?

I purchased this filter in December, I...

I purchased this filter in December, I recently used it on a back country canoe trip in the Adirondack's, it worked great for the first couple of days, and then the steady stream of water turned into steady drops, and when I went to take it apart to examine it, it released a large amount of vapor build up. What is the problem?

I've got a barely used older model (blue...

I've got a barely used older model (blue top) that I'd like to dust off and use again. Are the new replacement parts (orings) and filter compatible with the old model?

What would water filter/purifier would be...

What would water filter/purifier would be ideal for international travel. I need one that i can use in pretty nasty water.

Hello. How do I clean the ceramic filter...

Hello. How do I clean the ceramic filter thoroughly? I alaready cleaned the outside of the ceramic, but water flow is still low? Is there a type of soap that might clean out organic plugging or loosen silt? I have taken care of it. In silty conditions we leave the unfiltered water out overnight so the silt settles. Thanks for any ideas. Brad

Will this remove salt from water? If not,...

Will this remove salt from water? If not, do you have any portable equipment that will remove chloride?Thanks.