MSR SweetWater Microfilter

hey Richard,

I agree with Jeff, water sources dictate a filters life span. Filtering water from seeps you dig will shorten it life faster than clear running water. The silt from glacial water also clogs filetrs faster.

On the Pct a filter would last me around 700 miles, but I would use a toothbrush to clean it to prolong its life.

On the AT a filter would last me a lillte more than 800 miles, but I didn't drink as much water as I did on the PCT.

These numbers only work for me, everyone's will be different...carry a spare filter with you
or have easy access to one until you are confident with it..!!

hope this helps

MSR claims a very subjective 750 liters. This number all depends on the quality of water being filtered. I use the resistance method. When the filter becomes noticeably harder to pump, change the filter!

Just to add to the previous review, ceramic elements are cleanable & last much longer. For this reason they are also more expensive.

Having the carbon in the system helps to remove tastes and odors from the water. That is about the item that I've ever heard that one holds over the other. Either ceramic or carbon are gonna be great systems, just if you go places where the water tastes funny you might go carbon.

I wouldn't worry about viruses in backcountry water sources in the US. Not really a problem here. If you are going to be overseas in a 2nd or 3rd world country or a warm climate then it is more of a concern. Any other method to treat water, like a Steripen, chemicals (Aqua Mira or iodine), or boiling will get rid of viruses.

You're exactly right. The top pump seal/gasket has been compromised however this doesn't effect the water being filtered. It's still filtering like it should. If this still makes you uneasy, talk to the store where you purchased it & they should replace the unit for you. Mine did the exact same thing & the entire unit was replaced.

Awesome, thanks alot!

You'll be fine filtering Great Lakes/Lake Superior water with this filter. It will also filter out crytosporidium which is approximately 1 micron in size & a major concern in these parts.

On the MSR website it lists the filter pore size as 0.2 microns and that it is effective against bacteria and protozoa so it should definitely meet their standards and work well for the trip. Also, any of the MSR models(SweetWater, HyperFlow, and MiniWorks) would work for your trip as they all according to MSR are .2 microns in filter pore size.

The standard answer is it should last approximately 250 gallons before the filter element needs replacing. However this is highly dependent on the quality of water filtered and how often it was cleaned. The best indicator of whether or not the element needs to be replaced is if it can filter or not. If it's really hard to filter or the pressure release valve is spurting water everywhere then you should replace it.

If the filter has sat for 6 months or more without proper maintenance, I would replace it. There isn't a concern on whether or not it will still filter the bugs out of the water (i.e. it's efficacy), but if it can still pump water. I would use that as the determining factor.

Really tough question to answer because everybody's definition of "quite a bit" varies greatly. as with any filter, the best method of extending filter life is to seek the cleanest water available, and be careful of where your prefilter/intake hose rests. avoid it sitting on the bottom of silty water sources etc..

Don't rely on the 200-250 gallon filter replacement estimation. It's very subjective & based entirely on water quality.

Simply stated, when your filter becomes noticeably harder to pump, replace the cartridge!

This depends on a number of things. The first thing to consider is the water your filtering from. Certain lake water and high sedimented water will cause the filter to slow down much faster than clear mountain river water. This will greatly reduce the amount of water that can be filtered. The other thing to consider is how often it is cleaned. Often this isn't done enough and can also reduce the filter's life. The key is as soon as you see water come out of the pressure spout, it needs to be cleaned.

Generally speaking, it will filter about 250 gallons. For most people this means it needs to be replaced about every two years. However if it's used every weekend for an entire summer, you may need to replace it 2-3 times a season, again depending on how its maintained and what kind of water is being filtered.

Currently MSR is not manufacturing the Sweetwater Walkabout Filter or Element. The only option is finding it on Ebay or similar website. Cascade Designs, the parent company of MSR, should have a .pdf of the instructions. Good luck finding a filter cartridge! Although the Walkabout is a descent filter (subpar to many of the current filters available however), the best option would be to purchase another filter due to the fact that finding another cartridge will rear its ugly head again. The complete MSR Sweetwater Filter will cost more than a replacement cartridge for the Walkabout (if you can find one), but it's filter element is readily available.

I would just give MSR a call at (800) 531-9531 they would be able to most likely get you that part as well as provide you with instructions.

You can leave this out to freeze, but you must be SURE that all of the water is out of the filter. If there is any decent amount of water in the filter you could damage the filter element. All you need to do is give it several extra pumps out of the water and then detach the pump from the filter element. This will insure that there is no water in the pump and that all pressure is out of the filter.

Those cracks are normal and will widen with time/use. Your filter needs to be replaced when you can see the mesh underneath the ceramic in the core of the filter.