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Reviews > Water Treatment > Filters > Katadyn Exstream XR Purifier Bottle > Owner Review by Steven SolteszKatadyn Exstream XR Water Purifier Bottle Owner Review November 21, 2006  Reviewer Information Name: Steven Soltesz Age: 24 Gender: Male Height: 5' 11" (1.8 meters) Weight: 170 Pounds (77 kilograms) Email address: exploracioneur@yahoo.com City, State, Country: Dassy, Reunion Island, France Backpacking Background: I have been backpacking for about six years in a variety of distances, terrains, and countries, including backpack/canoe trips in central Pennsylvania, local hikes in the Pittsburgh area, week long expeditions in the diverse landscape of Guatemala, and 3-4+ day trips where I currently reside on Reunion Island. I generally pack as light as possible according to the trip, and I prefer tent/hammock sleeping systems when practical. Currently, my backpacking trips are in Reunion with difficult, relatively remote, mountainous terrain in a damp temperate to cool climate, or in the coastal lowlands where the climate is humid and tropical. Product Information Manufacturer: Katadyn Year of manufacture: 2004 URL: http://www.katadyn.com/ Weight: 8 ounces (227 grams) Height: 11 inches (28 centimeters) Bottle capacity: 34 ounces (1 liter) total bottle capacity, 28 ounce (0.8 liter) with filters attached Filter capacity: 26 gallons (98 liters) Product Information The Exstream came in an open faced box containing the bottle (cap attached), carbon pre-filter, cyst filter, virustat filter, and instruction manual. The filters were separate from the bottle and one another, and it was necessary to assemble the complete unit. There was an aluminum disposable cover on the end of the virustat filter that must be removed before use. All parts are made of lightweight, but durable plastic. The instruction manual was straight forward and easy to follow, and basic instructions are also printed on the exterior of the bottle itself. The Exstream XR Purifier Bottle is a self-contained, personal water purification system. The bottle itself is 8 inches (20 centimeters) tall and has a diameter of a little more than 3 inches (8 centimeters). The plastic cap and bottle neck add a little less than 3 inches (7 centimeters) for a total of 11 inches (27 centimeters) from the base of the bottle to the tip of the straw. The bottle itself is printed with the product name, a surprisingly detailed diagram for attaching all of the filters, and information on how to obtain directions and replacement filters. It also has a molded fill line, which is the maximum amount of water that can be contained (accounting for displacement of the filters). The plastic cap has some slight indentations for grip, and a molded plastic straw extends (4 centimeters) from center of the bottle cap at an approximately 105 degree angle. There is also a small pressure valve affixed to the underside of the cap. A durable rubber bite-valve is located on the tip of the straw to prevent leakage and contamination. The Exstream uses three separate filters located within the bottle that connect both to each other, and to the underside of the lid. Water passes through first the carbon prefilter, then the cyst filter, and finally through the virustat filter. The Virustat filter has an attached label with directions for use, ingredients, and further company information. It is also specifies that the product is not intended for use in brackish or salt water. According to the company, for complete water purification, all three filters must be properly installed. The filters fit snugly together and attach to the underside of the cap by means of rubber gaskets. These are twisted clockwise into each other to ensure a good connection. Before entering the field it is necessary to prime the system by squeezing at least three full bottles of clean water through the filters. In order to use the Exstream, it is necessary to suck from the straw, while at the same time squeezing the body of the bottle (a somewhat tedious procedure). This forces the water through the filters, where hazardous organisms get caught before reaching the mouth, and ruining the rest of a trip. Field Information I used the Exstream on seven week-long trips into remote areas during the rainy season of Guatemala (May-August) while researching indigenous communities. As the communities were located in various parts of the country, the altitude was between 500 meters and 2500 meters (1640 feet and 8200 feet), and the temperature varied accordingly between 65 and 95 degrees F (18 C and 27 C). One trip was to Coban at around 1500 meters (4900 feet) and the climate was temperate, with low mountainous terrain. Two trips were in the highlands of Guatemala where it was significantly cooler and extremely dry. The other four trips were to both the southern coast and northeastern rainforest area of Peten where the altitude was around 500 meters (1640 feet), with a tropical and humid climate. These variables did not have any noticeable affect on the performance of the Exstream. My water sources in these areas were small streams, rivers, lakes, and cisterns used for community drinking water. The water temperature varied between approximately 65 F and 80 F (18 C and 27 C). Although I consistently tried to choose the cleanest looking water in order to preserve the life of the filters, because it was the rainy season, I was occasionally forced to drink water containing sediment. I found the Exstream to be a convenient alternative to carrying bottled water on my extended trips, and its self-contained filtering qualities were an added bonus for keeping a low profile. Although I found the filtering process of squeezing the bottle while simultaneously sucking from the straw somewhat tedious, I was never without a good supply of water. In places where safe public potable water does not exist and water-born illnesses are commonplace, I never contracted any health problems that could be directly identified as a result of drinking water from the Exstream. Originally, my biggest concern was that the filters would come apart inside of the bottle, as they appear unstable, attached only by simple rubber gaskets. However, in reality they remained well-connected despite some major impacts to the bottle, both in and out of my pack (i.e. being thrown from the top of a bus). The major disadvantage of this bottle is its inflexible, but practically indestructible straw, which I found difficult to fit snugly into a backpack pocket with the flap down. Although Katadyn has added an inconspicuous plastic carry loop that fits over the bottle threads, in most cases it is not practical to attach it to the exterior of a pack as the company advertises. In addition, it is difficult to gauge how much water has passed through the filter, which is essential for ensuring that the water is still safe. Since the limit is 26 gallons (98 liters), it is important to replace the filter accordingly. This upper limit is supposedly reduced when using murky water, but it is impossible to know how much filtering capacity is left. Summary Despite some minor grievances with the product design, for my on-the-run experiences in Guatemala where fresh, clean water was impossible to find, and keeping a low profile was very important, the Exstream's self-contained filtering system worked extremely well. Its 26 gallon capacity and ease of use far outweighed carrying bottled water, or boiling local water, and it protected me from a number of waterborne illnesses. However, I would like to have seen better guidelines on when to replace the filter after it is used in murky water. Things I like: 1. Effectively prevented me from getting a wide variety of illnesses 2. Low-profile, self-contained functioning 3. Filters remain well-connected Things I don't like: 1. Guessing how much water has passed through the filter 2. Inflexible mouthpiece 3. Tedious process of squeezing/sucking water through the straw    Read more reviews of Katadyn gear Read more gear reviews by Steven Soltesz Reviews > Water Treatment > Filters > Katadyn Exstream XR Purifier Bottle > Owner Review by Steven Soltesz | |||