SweetWater Guardian Microfilter

Review Date
March 17, 2005

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: imacanuk ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $60.00 at MEC

Summary:
This is a quality product. I have owned mine for over 5 years now and it has never given me any grief. I go backpacking at least 3-4 times a year for at least 3 days at a time. I usually pump water for 3-4 people. I have used it in very silty conditions [can't see to the bottom of a 1 foot deep stream]. No problems. The thing to remember is that there is hydrostatic pressure in the unit when you are pumping. Trying to over-force the thing may cause damage. Just like over-reving a car will cause damage. If people would use a little common sense it may surprise them how well their equipment will perform. Even when making sure not to over pump the unit, it can deliver a litre of water in under a minute.
So when the filter gets a bit clogged from sediment, just pop the thing open, give a quick scrub with the brush provided, and you're good to go. Other models claim to be non-clogging [PUR], but WHEN it does clog, you have no options. I would rather have a unit that can easily take care of clogs than a unit that makes promises it can't deliver, and then breaks [PUR].
The Sweetwater is also lighter and more compact than the PUR.
I think the Sweetwater is the best unit available; right now anyways.

Customer Service:
Never needed

Similar Products Used:
PUR

Review Date
September 12, 2003

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Frank Hardly(Unregistered User) ,  Mountaineer , from Western Hemisphere

Price Paid:  $50.00 at MEC

Summary:
I bought this unit about 8 years ago for a mountaineering trip. I used it once for a 3 day trip. My kids are finally old enough to go backpacking - so I hauled the unit out this summer and tested it at my kitchen sink. We embarked on a backpacking trip to Cape Scott on the Northern tip of Vancouver Island. About two hours in - I wanted to replenish water at a lake. Deployed the unit and with the first stroke, I heard a snap and no water emerged on the outlet side. After much cussing, I determined that the pump plunger rod separated from the lifter. It is either glued or mechanically joined. Breakage rendered the device useless. I had to resort to boiling water for 3 days. I view these devices as essential and they should either be failsafe or field maintainable. The Sweetwater is neither. Its cheap plastic construction does not inspire confidence. If your health is on the line, investigate alternatives that can be field maintained or that use more robust material. I won't be replacing the Sweetwater.

Similar Products Used:
Katadyn - The 6 year old version my brother owns is bombproof - well worth the extra money

Review Date
July 8, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: markj1(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $40.00 at REI

Summary:
This is a lightweight, inexpensive, very easy to pump filter. The water it delivers tastes very good, also. I have had no problems with this pump in the year I have had it.

The pump requires a quick brushing after every use (which for me is about 8 liters, or roughly 2 gallons of water). This cleaning procedure is simple and takes less than one minute to perform.

My only complaint about this filter is that it delivers water more slowly than I would like.

Customer Service:
N/A

Similar Products Used:
Iodine tabs

Review Date
March 11, 2003

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Reviewed by: coe6688(Unregistered User) ,  Climber

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Local Shop

Summary:
Dont get this filter. After one trip it began to clog all the time, even after extensive cleaning at home. I went on a trip with my brother and we couldn't even get a litre of water at a time. It was terrible. We used iodine the whole trip. A friend of mine has a PUR Hiker. It is much nicer and very, very reliable. I bought the Sweetwater on the recommendation of a friend and am sorry I did. I got an Extreme Mackenzie as a gift. It is nothing special. See my review there.

Similar Products Used:
PUR Hiker, Extreme Mackenzie

Review Date
February 3, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: virgil_likes_rum(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Seattle, WA, USA

Price Paid:  $45.00 at Base Xchange

Summary:
Its worked fine for the most part. I have noticed that it clogs extremely fast and is a little difficult to pump. The siltstopper is nice and the weight and price are great too. I think that I should have looked around at the MSR and PUR filters before I bought this one though. They seem easier to pump and more reliable than the Sweetwater. If you buy it at a military base (like I did) it will be a olive drab color.

Customer Service:
Havent used.

Similar Products Used:
Iodine tablets ---yuck!
Boiling---pain in the butt, yuck!