"This is hopefully the worst filter on the market - the prospect of one
                            being worse is frightening. I tried it on several trips, and found it
                            always clogs up within seconds and is very hard to handle. The
                            filter has a ceramic ball that goes into the water, and can easily
                            attract sand. The pump piston seems to refuse to suck - I was able
                            to get it working in the sink at home by putting salad oil on the
                            rubber seals of the piston, but the pump was dry and not sucking
                            by the time I got it out in the field. Fortunately, others had working
                            pumps - mostly PUR products. Last weekend I watched a new
                            Boy Scout - out on his first backpack outing take his Basic
                            Designs filter to the creek and experience only frustration, with
                            problems just like I had. I told him to put it away, take it home,
                            return it, and buy a PUR ! Hiker for exactly the same price."



