Tonight, I want to give a shout out to Cascades Designs, the folks who make the MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter.

I had mentioned that the filter gave me grief on the wagon train.

I troubleshooted the problem with a service rep and we got to the point where I isolated the problem as being related to the umbrella valve. The rep asked me for my address and said he would send one out ASAP. That was July 16th. The package I got from them today, August 6th, was postmarked July 19th. So the length of time in getting the part is due to the postal service, not them.

I just installed the new umbrella valve and, SURPRISE, my pump works again! This was apparently one of those one in a billion fluke failures. But did I have to go back to Amazon to get a replacement pump? No, the manufacturer stood behind its product. Needless to say, I know where to go the next time I need outdoor gear!