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The Katadyn Vario water filter performs very well and is simple to use. Its size and weight make it a model much liked by campers and hikers.

The Katadyn Vario meets the industry standards for reduction of bacteria (99.9999% Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9% Giardia and Cryptosporidium). It also reduces chemicals and improves the taste of the water. A clever design that combines highly efficient pumping with easy use.
The technology used here filters on three levels:
- A high-performance glass fibre filter,
- A ceramic pre-filter used individually depending on the turbidity of the water
- Activated carbon to remove odours.
The Vario is the first filter with two filtration modes:
- LONGER LIFE: the water runs through the 1.0 micron ceramic pre-filter disc before passing through the glass fibre cartridge.
- FASTER FLOW: the water runs straight to the glass fibre cartridge.
Switching modes is very easy. Just take the pump head off and turn the ceramic pre-filter to the mode you want.
To extend the life of the cartridge, Katadyn recommends using FASTER FLOW mode only when the water is clear.

Supplied with a weighted pre-filter for the end of the intake hose - a kind of strainer that stops large particles (over 130 microns) getting into the system. A float, two hoses, a carry bag and a small maintenance kit with a cleaning pad, seals and lubricant.

The float, which slides along the intake hose, lets you hold the pre-filter below the surface, to avoid pumping water from the very top or right off the bottom.
The Katadyn Vario filter is compatible with Nalgene wide-mouth bottles, and you can also connect the tube of a hydration bladder to the filter.

Worth noting: the Vario can be used on Klean Kanteen Wide 1200 and Wide 1900 bottles, but because the thread is slightly different from a Nalgene thread the filter does not hold firmly. It catches slightly, and by holding the whole thing in your hand you can pump easily. Once it is full, though, you cannot lift the assembly by the filter alone: the bottle falls away, unlike a Nalgene, which stays put.