Lightweight water systems in 2025

[mad_angler]

I have grown weary of the Katadyn hiker pro I have been using. Relatively clean small stream that I filter from seems to trash the filter and makes it SUPER hard to pump after a short time/volume of water (a few liters) pumping. I wonder if it is the intake jumping around and stirring up sediment from the bottom? Using a dirty bottle to fill and pump from seemed to help on last trip but then I have a dirty bottle. I unscrew the system and the filter is obviously dirty AF. I have tried wrapping a bandana around the intake.... my brother keeps buying a new Katadyn each year with the same result... thoughts?
We tried Sawyer squeeze filter one year but keep going back to Katadyn pump for some reason...

This is a known problem with that filter.
The Boundary Waters canoe area in Minnesota has pretty clean water. But certainly lakes will plug that filter in a day or so. I have complained loudly and they have replaced the filter elements. But that doesn't do much good on day 2 of a 10 day trip.

For the canoe area, I use a Sawyer mini on a homemade gravity system. I really love a gravity system for basecamp with multiple people.

BUT... for elk hunting in Wyoming and moose hunting in Alaska, I still took my Katadyn pump filter. I like having unlimited water and the ability to filter anything. And I filter into my bladder directly. So far, I have not had any problems..

I do bring a Sawyer as a backup.