Bronze Winner the category Camping and Travel
Reliable water treatment is essential in outdoor, expedition and emergency contexts. The market offers a variety of filtration systems, ranging from simple pump filters to advanced hollow-fibre solutions. Each system is designed to address specific conditions, but this comes at the cost of versatility. The Katadyn Explorer Pro takes a novel approach to this segment with its modular, multi-technology filtration system that can be configured in various ways. It has been recognised as the winner of the European Outdoor Award.
The Katadyn Explorer Pro is the first modular water purifier to combine three independent filtration technologies – ceramic microfiltration, activated carbon and virus removal – in one fully customisable system. Users can activate or deactivate individual filter stages depending on the mission and expected water quality. When fully assembled, the Explorer Pro removes bacteria, protozoa, microplastics, and viruses, and reduces chlorine, odours, and an unpleasant taste. As a European Outdoor Award winner, it sets a new standard for advanced water filtration in outdoor and professional settings.
What convinced the jury?
★ Multi-stage protection in one system
Fine virus filter pores are protected from premature clogging by ceramic pre-filtration, which maintains reliable flow and extends the system’s lifespan.
★ Modular flexibility
The activated carbon fibre and virus filter stages can be used or omitted independently, enabling users to adapt the level of protection and weight to the specific risk environment.
★ Dry storage
All components can be fully dried for off-season storage. Other systems require wet storage, which carries a risk of mould, but the Explorer Pro eliminates this concern entirely.
Jury Statement:
The Explorer Pro addresses a real gap in the market by providing a system that adapts to the environment rather than forcing the user to choose between protection levels.
Produkt-Scoring
One system for every water source
The Explorer Pro’s innovation lies in its combination of all three filtration technologies within a single, modular architecture — a first in the outdoor water treatment market. While competing products may offer some of these technologies individually, none integrate ceramic pre-filtration, activated carbon and virus removal in a user-configurable system. The ceramic pre-filter actively protects the virus filter membrane from clogging, extending the lifespan of the most expensive component. The ability to store dry removes a key limitation of hollow-fibre systems in cold or seasonal contexts. The result is a system with a filtration capacity of up to 20,000 litres which can be fully serviced in the field using integrated tools – providing a genuinely mission-ready solution.
Product Specifications
- Filtration stages: 3-stage: ceramic microfiltration + activated carbon + virus removal
- Removes: Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics, viruses; reduces chlorine, odours, and off-taste
- Filter capacity: Up to 20,000 litres
- Materials: Ceramic, activated carbon, hollow fibre, plastics, steel
- Storage: Dry storage (all components can be fully dried)
- Field serviceable: Yes – fully serviceable with integrated tools; all parts available as service parts
- Retail price: €500
- Guarantee: 2 years
@KatadynDesign & Materials
The Explorer Pro has a modular design, meaning each of the three filtration stages can be attached, removed or replaced independently. The ceramic pre-filter protects the ultra-fine virus filter membrane from premature clogging, maintaining consistent flow rates and extending the lifespan of this sensitive component. A metal pump piston ensures durability for frequent and demanding field use. The system is designed for complete disassembly and maintenance in the field without the need for additional tools.
Intended usage
The Explorer Pro is designed to provide reliable water treatment across variable environments and risk levels.
- Trekking and mountaineering in areas with variable water quality
- Long-distance thru-hiking
- Hunting in remote terrain
- Expedition use in high-risk environments
- Emergency preparedness
- NGO and humanitarian field operations
Target group: Trekkers, mountaineers, hunters, and long-distance thru-hikers requiring a single adaptable system for varied conditions. Also relevant for professional and institutional applications including expedition teams, NGOs, and emergency preparedness organisations.
