LAST EDITED ON Jun-01-08 AT 09:07PM (MST)[p]I have the Hiker model that I upgraded to the Pro filter. I have pumped around 60 or so gallons of water in the field with no problems and quite a few gallons at the house here either cleaning, back flushing, or seeing how it takes the taste out of "city" water. The thing it has going for it over the newer inline setups is that there is carbon in it and it takes a LOT, IMHO, of taste out of ground water. I have used it in OH, WV, VA, MI, KY, NC, and WY and the water all tastes better than bottled to me! I really am not a fan of bottled water but it is something to compare with, I guess. It is heavier than the new inlines and gets heavier after you use it and it holds water but I am keeping it due to the carbon in the filter. Aqua Mira is quicker and lighter but does not take pesticides out of water or kill intestinal worm eggs! I can fill my hydration badder IN the pack without much trouble at all with the little link I made for doing it. IF you get one put a few coffee filters and rubber bands in the pack with it so you can prefilter water that is cloudy and save your element and the trouble of it getting clogged up from silt, etc. It only takes a minute to put it over the intake filter on the "dirty" water hose before pumping.
BTW check how ofter the inlines need to be backflushed when filtering with them. Something like ever 2 gallons!!!
