First Need Deluxe Water Purifier

The only real choice if you want to remove all the nasty bugs/chemicals from your water source with a single self-contained device.

I’ve had this First Need purifier for nearly a decade and it has served me and my hiking/backpacking buddies well. Most importantly, this is not simply a water filter but a chemical-free purifier. That means you don’t have to use the chemicals other require or the addition of iodine to make water safe to consume.

This means it removes a lot of those difficult to spell pathogens that will definitely ruin your trip and possibly leave you sick/ailing long after you get back to civilization. For additional details the company that produces this device General Ecology has links/info of the specifics on their product website.

Physically, my device is the blue and white molded plastic version with a removable filter element using their structured-matrix technology. I believe the newer version XL filters are backwards compatible as I’ve not had any issues with using them on my version.

The filter element is threaded to fit a few different types of trail bottles (such as the wide mouth Nalgene). This saves the need for extra hands to keep stuff steady. The double-pump action-which filters in both up and down stroke, saves you a lot of extra effort.

I’ve not had issues with clogging, as I mostly have filtered from clear mountain sources. However, depending on your water sources, results may vary. I follow the backwash cleaning procedure described in the manual after most trips.

This device might be a bit heaver and more bulky that other competing products, but the fact this is a water PURIFIER gives me a better sense of security—as my friends  and I have never been let down (mechanically or health wise) by this guy. Would recommend and buy again if I lost this one.

Durable, long lasting and quick pump.

Each cartridge lasts for 150 gallons of pumping...which is a lot. I've never had it jam up, I've never had to backwash it, it's never broken. A real quality pump.  

The only problem is its size. If you are a lightweight packer, this isn't for you. You probably won't find a lighter pump of this quality, but when you are pushing for the lightest weight possible, nothing you have will be perfect.  

I would recommend this to anyone who isn't too concerned about the weight or size of their water pump.

I hunt in out of my pack for a week at a time. Weight is important so I spend a lot of money trading older gear for newer lighter gear. I'm so confident in the First Need that it is the only thing in my pack that is not an opportunity for improvement. My First Need purifier is the first thing that goes in my pack.

I've had my first need for about 5 years now. I bought an extra filter a couple years ago thinking that sooner or later the original would need replacement, it hasn't had an issue yet. Back flush per the instructions after every use and it will serve you for years.

Ran into four guys elk hunting last week, two purifiers had failed, neither were First Need. They were suffering through purifier tablets.

I've used this purifier on dozens of hikes and multi-day trips, pumping water that was very dirty in appearance and dubious in quality. This unit produces appealing water with no off taste very efficiently. Other filters that were in use on the trips I've been on have clogged, broken, or produced less appealing water all with a far greater level of effort.

This is by far the best device on the market save the one problematic issue - if/when the unit's serviceable purifying life ends the unit requires replacement of the filter cartridge. One must either carry a spare or try to guestimate the remaining life before hitting the trail. Even with that drawback I would rely on the First Need purifier over every other handheld device I've tried.

I've been using the 1st Need for a couple of seasons now, and it's treated me good every time. The water tastes perfectly clean, and it is very easy to operate. The pre-filter helps greatly. It comes with blue dye for testing the integrity before you head out on the trail. It's very reassuring to know that this purifier is so stringent. It packs down pretty well, although naturally not as well as the purifiers that "zap" bacteria, but it's also much cheaper than those purifiers, so pick you poison (no pun intended).

I love the 1st Need, and also love the piece of mind that comes with a quality product. I don't plan on sh*tting myself blind anytime soon due to beaver fever. Thanks 1st Need!!!

I've been using the 1st Need for a few years now, and it's treated me good every time. The water tastes perfectly clean, and it is very easy to operate. The pre-filter helps greatly. It comes with blue dye for testing the integrity before you head out on the trail. It's very reassuring to know that this purifier is so stringent.

It packs down pretty well, although naturally not as well as the purifiers that "zap" bacteria, but it's also much cheaper than those purifiers, AND you get perfectly fresh-tasting aqua.

I love the 1st Need, and also love the piece of mind that comes with a quality product. I don't plan on sh*tting myself blind anytime soon due to beaver fever. Thanks 1st Need!!!

Beautiful product!! It packs well, cleans up well and is amazingly simple to use. In the owners manual you are instructed to run a glass of water with food coloring through the element to test its integrity before each trip. Do this and you can actually remove the coloring from the water! ... Well... I was amazed. Anyhow, as a testament to its performance, I met a guy on the trail using a MSR purifier and while gathering water I was able to fill two bottles in the time it took him to fill one and he was sweating by the end of it all!

I did a lot of research before buying this filter.

I have used it while hiking the Inca Trail in the Peruvian Andes, filtering water from springs and fountains on the trail and never had a problem. (Everyone else was spending money buying bottled watter.) It worked really well and pumping is quite easy. I highly recommend this filter as it seems to be (the only one?) on the market that gives pretty complete protection. I recommend getting a Nalgene bottle or some other container that mates with the filter - makes filtering much easier.

I just bought a First Need XL after seeing how well my friend's filter worked. The filter provided water on the push and pull stroke so it yields water quickly. The water tastes good (no unusual taste) and is crystal clear.

Good instructions tell you how to test your filter for proper function before you go on your trip so you won't be stranded in the field with a non-functioning filter (like I was with the Hiker Pro I had before I got my First Need filter).

Wonderfull filter (purifier)! I've had it for five years with no problems. I've tried all the MSR ones and a few others only to come back to this filter. It filters faster than all the others, and doesn't clog as easy because it has a great pre-filter. The replacement filters are expensive, and I get about one season out of them. I'm out at least 15 days of each month for most of the year. Damn life's tough!!

Great purifier, buy it and forget about it! dudes!

I have owned one for about 15 years without any sort of mechanical failure or water-bourne disease.  The water always tastes good to me. 

I think that some of the more compact and lighter filters out there are a litle less reliable. I always prefilter with an old T-shirt before running through the filter and that really increases filter life.

Reliable, versatile, and fast.

Reliable, versatile, and fast. I purchased my unit well over 20 years ago. Used it on hikes in the Coast and Cascades ranges of Oregon and Washington. And really put it to the test while while trekking in Myanmar, Central America, and travels from Ghana to Namibia.

Purified water from very suspect sources. Never had an issue, never suffered from water borne problems. Definitely a lifesaver and definitely a product to recommend. 

I've taken this all over southern California -- border to Taqhitz and Humber, Golden Trout Wilderness, Rim of the World -- Mt. Baldy, Yosemite, Shasta, Yreka, and also overseas ... Greece, Mexico ... never had to regret it. I will be glad to have it in any kind of local problem. I keep it and blankets in my trunk.