Survivor Filter Pro X Review – An Electric Water Filter for Camping
Read my Survivor Filter Pro X Electric Water Filter review and learn everything you need to know about this handheld electric filter. The Survivor Filter Pro X was a great camping companion and added a little bit of convenience when it comes to getting more water in a rugged environment, like camping or RVing.
This review also compares this model with a few of the other best-selling portable water filters out there. I hope that this will help you decide whether it’s the Survivor Filter Pro X or one of its competitors that should accompany you on your next outdoor trip.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products that I would use myself. This post may contain affiliate links that may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full advertising policy here.*
The Summary
The Survivor Pro X has impressed me with its ease of operation, three-stage filtration, and massive filter life. I’m also a huge fan of this model’s four charging options – they were the reason I never ran out of potable water during a 2-week long stay in the middle of nowhere.
Having said that, I wish I could say the same about its speed of filtration. Compared to other water filters on the market (which I’ve mentioned by name below), this isn’t the fastest. Neither is it the most lightweight. All in all, excessive wait and weight are two things I don’t like about it.
Survivor Filter Pro X Review
What’s In The Box?
- Survivor Filter PRO Pump
- 1x Ultra Filter Pre-Filter
- 1x Carbon Filter
- 1x Internal Ultra Filter
- 1x Inlet Hose (3.25ft)
- 1x Outlet Hose (1 ft)
- 1x Hose Clip
- 1x Carrying Case
- 1x Back-washing Syringe
- 1x User Manual
Weight and Build
The Survivor Filter Pro X weighs a considerable 13.75 ounces. This makes it anything but lightweight, especially when you compare it with other portable water filters. Sawyer Mini Water Filter, for instance, weighs 7x lighter than this model, despite offering 3x the filter life.
The bulk of this model is made of plastic, of the good kind, that is. I have lost count of the number of times it slipped through my hands and landed on rocky, grassy and other types of ground. Not even once in the aftermath of the fall did the filter show any signs of damage.
How It Works?
Operating the Survivor Filter Pro X is incredibly easy. All you have to do is place its input pipe into any freshwater source and the output tube into its container.
Make sure to adjust the floater on the input tube, so its opening doesn’t end up at the bottom of the water, where all the dirt and debris lies. Finally, turn the device on.
That’s when the 3-stage filtration system will come into play:
- Stage 1 – Pre Filter: The pre-filter has a 0.1-micron rating. This means you can count on it to remove protozoa, giardia, algae and all kinds of bacteria. Survivor claims that the pre-filter has a shelf life of up to 100,000 liters.
- Stage 2 – Carbon Filter: The carbon filter does all the heavy weight lifting inside this filter. It reduces chemicals, heavy metals, unpleasant tastes and foul odors. All this hard work takes its toll on the carbon filter, reducing its shelf life to up to 2,000 liters.
- Stage 3 – Internal Ultra Filter: Survivor claims the internal ultra-filter can remove 99.99% of viruses and staph bacteria. It enjoys a 0.01-micron rating and can be easily reused for up to 100,000 liters.
Keep in mind that the carbon filter, responsible for taking care of the heavy metals, chemicals, odors, tastes and viruses, would go bad much sooner than its stated shelf life (2,000 liters) in filthy conditions.
However, it might not show any signs of going bad. So keep an eye on your water conditions and replace the carbon filter much sooner if it has been treating extremely dirty water of late.
Charging Options
The Survivor Filter Pro X offers multiple charging options:
- AA Batteries. Two AA batteries (included in the package) can keep this model up and running for up to 6 hours. They can help this water filter last 95 gallons (in filthy water conditions) and 117 gallons (in clearer ones).
- Wall Outlet. Use the AC outlet (100-240V input; 5V/1000mA output) to connect this model with a standard wall plug. Obviously, this charging option won’t be practical when you’re outdoors and don’t have any electricity connection nearby.
- Power Bank. My Goal Zero Yeti 200X was able to keep this model running for 12 hours. Even after the passing of that time, the Yeti 200X was still going strong. I took that as an indication that the Survivor Pro X’s power draw isn’t huge.
What It Treats?
The Survivor Filter Pro X treats the following threats:
- Bacteria i.e. E. coli
- Parasites i.e. cryptosporidium
- Protozoa i.e. Giardia
- Algae and fungi
- Heavy metals, chemicals
- Odors, taste, viruses
Other Notable Features
Here are the stand-out features of the Survivor Filter Pro X:
- 0.5 liters per minute flow rate: For a filter with a 0.01-micron rating, the flow rate of 0.5 liters per minute is very impressive. The Sawyer Mini, for instance, has a flow rate of 0.18 liters per minute, despite having only 0.1 micron rating.
- Has a carbon filter. It won’t be wrong to call the carbon filter as the heart of this product. After all, in addition to removing heavy metals, chemicals and viruses, the carbon filter takes care of foul odors and unpleasant tastes, too.
- Long filter life. This model can purify up to 100,000 liters of water with its pre-filter and internal ultra-filter. This helps it surpass the filtration capacity of most portable water filtration systems currently on the market.
- Comes with a carry case. Although this water filter comes with loads of accessories, it’s the carry case that impressed me the most. Water-resistant and rugged, the carry case is sturdy enough to withstand a few falls of its own.
Pros and Cons
Here are the benefits and drawbacks of Survivor Filter Pro X Electric Water Filter:
Survivor Filter Pro X Pros
- Can filter viruses
- Has a considerable flow rate
- Long filter life
- High micron rating
Survivor Filter Pro X Cons
- An all-plastic build
- Has a high price point
How It Compares With Other Portable Water Filters
Survivor Filter Pro X Vs BKLES Portable Electric Camping Water Filter
BKLES Portable Electric Camping Water Filter
- Purification Method: Activated Carbon
- Weight: 12.35 oz.
- Flow rate: 0.7L per minute
- Filter type: Electric
- Similarities: Both the Survivor Filter Pro X and BKLES Portable Electric have the same micron rating. They can both treat water from freshwater sources only. Plus, both have a built-in carbon filter to remove unpleasant tastes.
- Where the Survivor Filter Pro X fares better: Unlike the BKLES, the Survivor Filter Pro X can remove viruses and bacteria from your water supply. It also boasts a bigger capacity (100,000 liters vs 1,000 liters).
- Where the BKLES Portable Electric Camping Filter fares better: The BKLES Portable has a higher flow rate (0.7L vs 0.5L), more filtration stages (5 vs. 3) and costs half as much ($59.99 vs. $125) as the Survivor Pro X.
Survivor Filter Pro X Vs MSR Guardian Purifier
MSR Guardian Purifier
- Purification Method: Advanced hollow fibers
- Weight: 17.3 oz.
- Flow rate: 2.5L per minute
- Filter type: Pump
- Similarities: Both these portable water filters run on electricity. You can use either to remove viruses, bacteria, protozoa and particulate matter from contaminated water sources. This makes both of them ideal for backcountry, survival and global travel.
- Where the Survivor Filter Pro X fares better: This portable water filter comes with a bigger warranty period (limited lifetime) than what the MSR Guardian purifier has to offer (3-year limited). Plus, it boasts a bigger filter life (100,000L vs 10,000L) and costs less ($125 vs $349).
- Where the MSR Garden Purifier fares better: This high-grade water filter offers a higher flow rate (2.5L/minute vs. 0.5L/minute), meets NSF Protocol P248 (used by US military) and comes with a patent-pending self-cleaning system.
Survivor Filter Pro X Vs Katadyn Pocket
Katadyn Pocket Microfilter
- Purification Method: Ceramic micro-strainer
- Weight: 19 oz.
- Flow rate: 0.7L per minute
- Filter type: Pump
- Similarities: Both these portable water filters can effectively remove bacteria and protozoa from your water supply. The only notable similarity they have in common aside from that is their respective limited lifetime warranties.
- Where the Survivor Filter Pro X fares better: Where do I start? This filter can remove more contaminants (viruses, heavy metals), has a higher micron rating (0.01 vs. 0.2), and a bigger filter life (100,000 liters vs 50,000 liters) than the Katadyn Pocket Microfilter.
- Where the Katadyn Pocket Microfilter fares better: The only thing this portable water filter seems to do better than the Survivor Filter Pro X is churning out water. Its flow rate (1 liter per minute) is almost double the Pro X’s (0.5 liters per minute).
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Survivor Filter Pro X?
The Survivor Filter Pro X is an exciting product. It can remove viruses, bacteria, heavy metals and common pollutants from water. This model also comes with a 3-stage water filtration system and is warrantied for a lifetime. Because of this, this portable water filter is definitely worth your money.
More articles about Water Filters and Hydration Packs
Here you can find all of my other articles comparing some of the best hiking water filters and hydration packs.
