JUN 93

AFFORDABLE FILTERING

Plus a sticky shoe made for scrambling


PUR Scout Water Filter

I must own every water filter on the market, or so my wife claims. But all I want is a low-maintenance filter that delivers pure, clean-tasting water, pumps efficiently, and doesn't require a third hand to operate. And oh yeah, it would be nice if it didn't cost more than my tent.

So when I reached into the box and pulled out PUR's new Scout, I knew filter nirvana was at hand. This compact unit has a microfilter that removes Giardia and other protozoan nasties while wiping out viruses and bacteria with a tri-iodine resin element.

The Scout's 12-ounce base weight is the lightest I've encountered, although I added the optional 3-ounce carbon cartridge to remove the mild iodine flavor it left in the water. The carbon cartridge also eliminates many chemical, pesticide and herbicide pollutants that may be lurking in an otherwise crystalline backcountry stream.
PUR also offers an adapter that lets you filter directly into a wide-mouth bottle. This nifty little accessory adds two more ounces, bringing the total weight to 17 ounces---still lighter than every other pump filter except the 12-ounce First Need. 

I put PUR's new little filter to the test on the silty Salmon River during a week-long Idaho excursion. The three-foot intake hose with sponge pre-filter and weighted end was just long enough to allow dry-footed filtering from any sandbar or riverbank. And the three-foot output hose comes with a clever clip that attaches to bottles, pots and waterbags for easy fill-ups. 

The Scout's thermoplastic housing withstood several drops onto rocks and logs. Unfortunately, the slick surface is hard to grip with cold, wet hands---another good reason to opt for the bottle adaptor. With a fat Nalgene bottle firmly attached, I found it easy to brace the whole thing against a foot or rock while pumping away. 

Filtering speed isn't fantastic, but the single-action pump cycles smoothly and delivers adequate output---about a half-quart per minute. I've been using my Scout for a little over six months and would guess that I've pushed about 150 gallons through its hoses so far. The flow is noticeably slower now, despite PUR's claim of a maximum filter life of about 200 gallons. Even so, 150 gallons of silt- and algae-laden murk cleared up by one cartridge isn't bad.

At just over 13 inches long (nine-inch filter plus about two inches apiece for each accessory attachment), the Scout isn't the smallest item in my pack, but it stows easily in a side pocket. As for maintenance and cleaning, just unscrew the base, push out the filter, scrub it clean with an old toothbrush, grease the O-ring seal with silicon, and reassemble. There are no screws, springs, gaskets or moving parts to lose or break.

Is this the perfect filter? No, but at $59.95 (base price), the Scout is the best way to clean water without cleaning out your wallet.

---Michael Hodgson

The optional carbon cartridge sells for $19.95. The water-bottle adaptor costs $8.95. A replacement microfilter costs $29.95. Contact: PUR, 2229 Edgewood Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55426; (800) 845-PURE. 

Five Ten Wildebeest Trail Shoe

Five Ten's original Five Tennie popularized the concept of a lightweight trail shoe equipped with a sticky climbing-rubber sole. The grippy shoes have long been a personal favorite; I've worn out two pairs clambering around on tilted rock from Maine to Mexico to Canada to California. Five Tennies aren't the greatest trail shoes, though. In our low-top comparison test (Outfitting, Sept. '91) they were razzed for their boxy fit, mushy uppers, floppy heel counters, shallow treads and lack of a heel. 

Five Ten's new Wildebeest high-top rectifies its predecessor's shortcomings. In fact, the Wildebeest is one of the most improved second-generation products I've seen in years. 

The transformation starts with buttery-soft Nubuck leather uppers that feel like old friends right out of the box. (Note, however, that the sizing runs about a half-size small). Well-cushioned, molded polyurethane midsoles soak up the bumps and lumps underfoot, with broad "side wings" and a sturdy heel counter to help keep you cruising upright when the trail would rather tip you over.

The revamped sole retains its super-sticky Stealth rubber, but has acquired improved all-terrain traction with a pattern of sharp triangular studs. The new sole sticks just fine to rock of all sorts, even the miserably crumbly volcanic tuff I found in Baja. Plus, it offers good traction on wet grass, washouts, snow and mud. The squared-off tread blocks at the rear of the sole act like a low heel, and the edges of the forward lugs grip mountain-bike pedals tenaciously. Sections of solid rubber at the ball of the foot and under the big toe offer remarkable grip on rock, enough for serious scrambling and even some technical climbing.

The Wildebeest's well-padded uppers do a fairly good job of protecting ankles from rocks and stumps. A deep notch at the Achilles combines with the sticky soles to let you walk straight down ludicrously tilted boulders and slabs with nary a pinch at the back. Skeptics might worry about how well the super-soft Stealth sole material wears, but I've found it to be as durable as most other outsole compounds.

Overall, the Wildebeest looks a lot like the Nike Air Escape, which comes as no surprise since both models share subcontractors for the uppers and certain sole parts. But Five Ten goes one better by having fewer seams in the upper and a full, wraparound toe bumper. Just don't expect them to keep your feet dry in a downpour or while tromping through muck. Perforated leather over the toebox and extensive areas of nylon mesh on the uppers let wet stuff in with ease. But at least they ventilate well in hot going.

The Five Ten Wildebeest is the best light boot I've found anywhere for steep mountain scrambling or clambering around in canyon country. They're as light as running shoes, tough as trail boots, and sticky as mountain-goat hooves. I'm hard at work trying to wear them out, but it's going to take me awhile this time. 

---Dave Getchell

Wildebeest high-tops sell for $89. They come in unisex sizes 4 H-13. Contact: Five Ten, P.O. Box 1185, Redlands, CA 92373; (714) 798-4222.