Description
This system helps you say bye-bye to viri whether you're hiking up mountains in Peru or camping closer to home.
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What do you think of the
MSR SweetWater Purifier System
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MSR Sweetwater Purifier
bucp25330
Member since
Just got back from Denver. Used the purifier on two overnights and it worked great. Saved hauling water which helped keep the backpack weight down. 2 people it is easier but one can do it just fine.Didn't use the sweetwater. From other reviews didn't see the need. Save yourself from carrying all that extra weight!
go to filter
Shaun
Member since
great for the back country back pack or hiking. I love the double action filter flow compared to filters that do not have that.
Great For Backpacking
ThankYou
Member since
I have used the Sweetwater purifier extensively while backpacking throughout Utah. It works great in the swift rivers and high alpine lakes of the Uintas and also the trickling creeks and remote waterfalls of Coyote Gulch and Dark Canyon. On average I can efficiently pump about 3 liters in 10 minutes after a fresh cleaning. You need to clean it about once every 9 liters or so. Its easy to clean, easy to store, easy to pack up, and easy to carry. Five stars and I highly recommend this thirsty backpacker's best friend!
Transcendental Hydration
Zach Elmblad
Member since
I did a substantial amount of homework before purchasing this filter system, and I am far beyond satisfied. Over the last few months, I've romped all over Kentucky and West Virginia sticking my MSR Sweetwater into rivers and enjoying fresh mountain water with no illness whatsoever. After first pumping out the black carbon dust, this filter performed flawlessly. There were a few things that I was worried about that I didn't see mentioned in other reviews, so I want to help anybody out that may have the same weird questions that I did:
"That pump handle attachment looks SUPER SKETCHY. Won't it break in a backpack?"
No. This thing is not going to break. The handle detaches at the top of the filter and neatly folds back on itself.
"How is this going to be easy to clean? It seems sort of complicated."
The Grey part is the filter, and it screws right off of the orange part, which is the pump. The ease of use comes in the construction. The pump takes in water from the bottom of the filter, forcing it through the element and out of the side. The pump itself never comes in contact with clean water, and everything can be taken apart, cleaned to your heart's paranoid content, and dried. There are all sorts of methods you can use to prevent cross-contamination.
"Should I save up a bit more money and get one of those super-expensive Katadyn filters? Am I missing out on something?"
No. This filter is awesome. My buddy has a Katadyn Combi, and it's done him well for years. I've used it before, and I think the Sweetwater is much easier to clean, and the pump mechanism is totally genius. I would much rather have the Sweetwater in my pack than his Combi. Instead of spending extra cash on a fancy Combi, I got a new sleeping bag!
"I'm really cheap. Should I spend a little less and go for a fiber filter like a Katadyn Hiker?"
Something about paying ten dollars more for a ceramic filter seems reasonable to me. I'm definitely cheap, which is why I didn't just splurge on the most expensive one I could find - which is what my buddy with the Combi did - but I don't mind paying a little bit more for peace of mind.
"Do I really need this 'Purifier Solution?'"
You mean bleach water? Maybe, but I didn't use it. I figure that pulling near-freezing moving water from a nice stream is clean enough already, the filter is the extra precaution. Carrying around bleach water might be necessary in some third-world country's stagnant poo-trough creek, but I don't think it's necessary on a romp through Appalachia.
If I'm chemically treating the water anyway,...
Rob Kalsbeek
Member since
If I'm chemically treating the water anyway, what is the point of having the filter?
Phil Maher
Member since
Hey Rob,.
If you're simply asking why you would want to use this in addition to something like Micropur tablets, try using one in a 1L Nalgene and leaving it in the sun for a couple hours and have a smell. This tastes infinitely better. I generally only rely on the tablets for emergencies, filter malfunctions, or when I'm being seriously lazy. But to answer your question: No, you don't need to do both.
Jason Livingston
Member since
I would also add that filtering the water first and them chemically treating it takes away the 'dwell time' disadvantage. Because viruses are so easily taken care of with chemicals, and the fact that filtration takes out protozoa, bacteria, etc, all you have to wait is a total of 5 minutes to get purified water. Super importante=> always filter first, then add the chemical.
As has already been mentioned, adding the right chemical (Cascade Designs makes Sweetwater Solution which is a diluted sodium hypochlorite designed primarily for free-floating virus) will result in zero chlorine smell or taste when compared to chlorine dioxide tablets.
REAL GOOD
dav4768337
Member since
No complains here, like all water treatment systems you need to let it dry out before you store it in your pack for a week. Filters out water real well, its light compact and its one of the most complete systems out there
worked well when i needed it
Richard Fletcher
Member since
I used this on long range patrols in Afghanistan, this was a great piece of gear that allowed my platoon to lighten our loads. It pumped much faster than the PUR filters that we were provided and, most importantly, no one got sick after pulling water from watering holes that were normally used for livestock.
I need to purchase a new bottle of purifier...
Alicia
Member since
I need to purchase a new bottle of purifier solution. If I bought it today what would the expiration date be?
jason spellman
Member since
most reagents have a shelf life of 90 days after the package is opened an exposed to air. that being said, MSR does not list these specs with their product information (nor does backcountry.com)...you would probably be best served by calling MSR customer service (cascadedesigns) at 1-206-505-9500.
Phil Maher
Member since
Hey Alicia,
Hard to say exactly what date whatever you ordered today was actually made, but MSR's shelf-life for the solution is 2 years. Probably best to call Backcountry customer service and ask them if they can read you the expiration date off a bottle from their most recent batch. If it's a recent shipment, go for it, but for the freshest solution, it might be something that you would want to order directly from MSR.
Perfect for 'suspect' areas, but heavy
Perry
Member since
Love the taste of the fresh, filtered water, but slow and heavy as compared to a gravity feed system
awesome!
_e_
Member since
spent a week in using this for a water source in banff and was very pleased with the ease of use, and taste of the water filtered. great product so far!
r u thirsty?
bozsbox241298
Member since
its my 3rd try at this staple. i just keep givin' em away, every 7 years or so.
Broke within a week
Hans
Member since
loved this filter while it worked, bought mine from REI and it didnt come with chlorine solution... i had no idea i even needed it. Either way the pivot system is delicate and broke on me after a few uses. im going to return this and try a UV light filter
bozsbox241298
Member since
u bought th wrong tv silly
The lever is a PITA
Ultra Duper
Member since
I don't like the design of the handle for a portable unit. Every time you want to use it you have to pin the handle to the plunger or risk breaking the handle.
I exchanged this for the katadyn hiker pro
Do you have to use the chemical or is it...
jb123
Member since
Do you have to use the chemical or is it just for extra precaution if you are taking water from a sketchy place.
Member since
Yes, you need to add the chemicals..otherwise you're going to get slightly filtered water that still has all your aquatic hitchhikers still in it..no bueno. Just add the solution.
Matthew Niedermiller
Member since
The chemical solution is only to take care of virus's. If you are traveling in the US there is very little chance of getting sick from virus's in the water. If you travel outside the US I would say use it.
Erika
Member since
The pore size of the filter is 0.2 microns (or 0.2 micrometers). Anything smaller than 0.2 microns will pass through the filter, which would be any virus (hence the name). Giardia and Cryptosporidium are protozoa, large enough to be filtered out, and most all bacteria will be filtered as well.
The active ingredient in Viral Stop is sodium hypochlorite, a common chlorine-based disinfectant. Your tap water at home is likely disinfected with this chemical, but probably was not filtered with a 0.2 micron filter first.
filter size: 0.2 microns
viruses: 0.05 to 0.1 microns
bacteria: ~0.5 to 50 microns
Giardia: 10 microns
Cryptosporidium: 5 microns
So use your best judgement. If you suspect the water has lots of bacteria (perhaps from a muddy pool), you could add it to be on the safe side.
Julie Penner
Member since
On Denali, we of course had no water to filter, but we melted water and added drops. No problems- except the person who didn't use drops got sick. I agree with others, if I think there are other people around my water source, I use the drops too. If it's pretty pristine, say back in the wilderness, I sometimes just filter. It's a judgement call, but other people are the most likely contaminate. If they are around, so are their germs.
First and Last I'll ever own
OH-ME-GA Dan
Member since
Got one for a thru-hike on the AT 15 years ago, yeah, 15 years... and it's still working! (New filter elements obviously). Ive used this to siphon anything from clear spring water to mudwater from a trailside puddle and it's always produced clean good water; never got sick. I loved the old one so much that I got another for my wife's kit. Same old design, new colors.
I dont mean to be rude but I honestly cant figure out how someone could break the handle or any other part of this thing unless you handle it like a gorilla. It's not overly fragile nor tempermental. Follow the instructions and replace the filter as needed and yours should last as long as mine.
bozsbox241298
Member since
indeed, u bought th good tv.
Best of the rest
Dan Kirkpatrick
Member since
MSR sweetwater is the most versatile filter I have used. The filter itself is high quality and I do not hesitate using it for almost any water source. It also comes with iodine drops in case I travel out of the country. The stuff sack is compact and fits the brush, filter, nalgen adaptors, and platypus bladder that also came with the filter. Pens are great for ultralight packing, but for 3+ day treks I can't down sludgy H20. and at 11 oz, its worth using it full time.
I should've listened
Angel
Member since
I read the reviews that said this clogged right away. I decided to buy it anyway. It worked well when tested at home. Out on the field, it sucked. We were using it to filter water from a faucet (rainfall, a bit murky). The first liter was ok, no go on the 2nd liter. I cleaned filter and tried again, no go. I pumped slower and still didn't work well. It's going back.
Adequate, but Better Choices Out There
Sean Chism
Member since
This is a good filter, when it worked. It makes good tasting water, and is easy to clean in the field. My main complaint was that it almost always failed me in the field. It would filter the first liter or two well, but after that it either pumped slow, required great force, or quite pumping all together. I have since replaced it with another brand filter, and have had no such problems with the new one. I always found a way to make it work, but it was so difficult at times that I would not recomend this filter to others.
Madison
Member since
what filter are you using now?
Sean Chism
Member since
I use a Steripen for the most part, but I do like the MSR Autoflow Gravity Filter. As far as pump filters go I like the Katadyn Hiker Pro.
One Sweet Purifier
Matthew Brown (Olympia, WA)
Member since
I've had my Sweetwater filter for about 5 years now and I have filtered plenty of water with this beauty. It is a "must-have" in my pack. I really like the double action pump (pumps on the up and down stroke). There are other systems that are smaller but they filter slower (I prefer not spending all day pumping water). When you get home from your trip, put the filter canister in the freezer to prevent mold and to kill any bacteria.
Good filter
Josh Leslie
Member since
This unit was my first filter, and it still serves me well. After about a gazillon gallons of water I have no complaints, well it is a little slow, but no big deal.
View all contributions... Be patient, it might take a while.

djop95712
Member since