Hey I'm lovin' my Pristine, the Canadian Cousin for Aqua Mira. Never been sick, never had a shred of problem waiting for 30 minutes to drink. But the guys I hiked with in Colorado protested to the nth that their filters were worth the extra 1lb and the heavy arm work. I spent the extra pound in my pack on good raingear and stout hiking shoes and a fifth for pain relief.

Me I'm just smilin' in the sun just like phat, waiting for them filter dogs to get their work done. Usually I treat water along the way and while they are pumping, I'm drinking my last .5l as folks that have pumps feel like they have to carry at least 2l of water too. Me, I hydrate to use my water along the way so I never carry too much. Mind you I live in watery British Columbia. Even so, try and mention to them that water is just around the corner and they don't hear you!! They gotta carry all that water after spending so much energy to pump it!