I just sold my older model Pocket in a plan to get a Sawyer inline filter but after figuring out that by the time I added the grey water bag and fittings/hoses that it would weigh almost what the pocket is along with some downsides as well that the Pocket didn't have I will be replacing it with one of the above.
I can't really find much about the Combi and it looks like the only differences are that the Combi has charcoal and it is made of plastic. It is also longer and slightly heavier. Other than cost does it do anything different than the pocket could if I added the $11 charcoal filter?
I found a Pocket for $250 shipped (eBay) and the Combi for $166 shipped so while the Pocket is more it isn't THAT much more. If anyone has any cheaper sources I would appreciate those as well.
ETA: I gave up and just bought another Pocket off of Amazon for $252.75 shipped. I haven't seen one that cheap anywhere but eBay so I will just get a carbon filter and be done with it.
The Combi has the ability to add activated charcoal to the filtering stream, which can reduce or eliminate some contaminants untouched by the filter itself. You don't have to add the charcoal if you don't want to, and it is available in bulk at aquarium stores. The removable bottom flange of the Combi is also designed to mate up with pop bottles and most Nalgene water bottles. Very handy as there is thus no messing around with output hose. The ceramic filter of the units are more-or-less the same construction. There is an adaptor for the Combi which allows it to be used as a counter top filter in conjunction with some faucet set-ups.
Thanks Raf.
You pretty much summed up the differences that I found out as well. I wound up just getting the Pocket w/ the Katadyn in-line charcoal filter for a combined total of $264.xx shipped from Amazon.
I just couldn't figure out how the ability to use the Combi directly on a bottle vs just using the clip mechanism on the tube of the Pocket (which also has a Camelbak adapter) is that much of an advantage to the Combi given that you could also cross-thread the Combi and be SOL. At least if the tube cracks/breaks/gets lost I could easily replace it whereas the Combi I would be SOL if I messed up the Combi. It's also easier to just leave the charcoal filter off of the tube than it would be to empty out the Combi's little chamber if I understood it correctly.
Not having the ability to hold both at the same time anywhere near me hurt my ability to choose but the all metal construction of the Pocket (except for the obvious parts) won me over even though they could filter the same amount of water per filter.
Originally Posted By jlficken:
Thanks Raf.
You pretty much summed up the differences that I found out as well. I wound up just getting the Pocket w/ the Katadyn in-line charcoal filter for a combined total of $264.xx shipped from Amazon.
I just couldn't figure out how the ability to use the Combi directly on a bottle vs just using the clip mechanism on the tube of the Pocket (which also has a Camelbak adapter) is that much of an advantage to the Combi given that you could also cross-thread the Combi and be SOL. At least if the tube cracks/breaks/gets lost I could easily replace it whereas the Combi I would be SOL if I messed up the Combi. It's also easier to just leave the charcoal filter off of the tube than it would be to empty out the Combi's little chamber if I understood it correctly.
Not having the ability to hold both at the same time anywhere near me hurt my ability to choose but the all metal construction of the Pocket (except for the obvious parts) won me over even though they could filter the same amount of water per filter.
I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase. FYI, the adaptor at the base of the Combi is detachable, and there is a conventional hook-up for a hose safely tucked into the bottom of the filter housing. It comes with an outlet hose, naturally.
Originally Posted By raf:
Originally Posted By jlficken:
Thanks Raf.
You pretty much summed up the differences that I found out as well. I wound up just getting the Pocket w/ the Katadyn in-line charcoal filter for a combined total of $264.xx shipped from Amazon.
I just couldn't figure out how the ability to use the Combi directly on a bottle vs just using the clip mechanism on the tube of the Pocket (which also has a Camelbak adapter) is that much of an advantage to the Combi given that you could also cross-thread the Combi and be SOL. At least if the tube cracks/breaks/gets lost I could easily replace it whereas the Combi I would be SOL if I messed up the Combi. It's also easier to just leave the charcoal filter off of the tube than it would be to empty out the Combi's little chamber if I understood it correctly.
Not having the ability to hold both at the same time anywhere near me hurt my ability to choose but the all metal construction of the Pocket (except for the obvious parts) won me over even though they could filter the same amount of water per filter.
I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.
FYI, the adaptor at the base of the Combi is detachable, and there is a conventional hook-up for a hose safely tucked into the bottom of the filter housing. It comes with an outlet hose, naturally.
I wish I knew that before. I scoured the internet for hours looking for more information on the Combi and never found that information in video or text form....oh well I guess. Hopefully if someone searches for information on the Combi they find this so that they can make a more informed decision.
