Sweetwater Guardian Review

"I've used my sweetwater for two years now, and I love it. The handle, which everyone complains about, is easy to pump, and it takes only several seconds to setup. New filters are cheap. Best of all, the filter element can be froze, dropped, and all in all, abused. I've done my research; I've used other filters, and I choose sweetwater."

"I have used this filter on many trips and in many less-than-optimal
water sources. In even the worst muddy springs the Guardian has
always done well. It does seem to get clogged rather quickly, even
with the pre-filter. Luckily, it is very easy to clean. The bottle
adapter is very handy and I would not recommend going without
one."

"I agree with Latta, the Sweetwater is a very good design. I
recommend always using the sweet water pre-filter (the latest
design has a cartridge with replaceable fiber elements). Even in
conditions when the water is visually good quality I have found it
can make a dramatic difference in the life of the main cartridge.
This last summer was my third season using the Sweetwater and
used the same cartrideg the last two seasons in a row and that
same cartridge is in the freezer waiting for this season."

"As with other filters I have used, I am not completely sold on the Sweetwater Guardian. It clogs surprisingingly quickily, although it is easy to clean and quite easy to pump. The water bottle attachment is nice. I highly recommend using the pre-filter, unless you enjoy cleaning the cartridge every three litres. On my last trip, the vertical portion of the pump shaft snapped, making the filter completely useless, except as a counter-balance to whatever got carried around in the other pocket of may pack. It may be that I just got a defective filter. Anyway, it's going back to REI. I am undecided if I will try another one, or get another brand of pump altogether."

"I agree with Tom--It plugs very easily--The only water I have ever
filtered with it was glacial lake water
at 7500 feet and it was plugged within three liters.This year I'm going to
use the cartridge pre filter for the first time
and if that doesn't do the tryci
I'm trying Pur"

"I've used this filter in many different types of water. My only problem with it is that clogging is almost always a problem on longer trips.
The pre-filter attachment (with extra elements) is a must, if using this filter."

"Actually everyone might use the silt adapter that
can be bought separately. where I live there is a lot
of silt and by using it I tend to cut down on the
cleaning. Most retailers I spoke with recommend
the use of the silt filter"

"I purchased the silt filter and highly recommend its use-but the biggest discovery came from a local shop---predip your water with a container and pump from the container into your water bottle-I use an empty plastic peanut butter jar,which is quite light and allows you to view the water you are pumping and allow any silt to settle in the jar prior to pumping"

"I like mine. It clogged quickly under very silty conditions, but it cleaned up quickly and easily with the little brush that came with it. It pumps a lot easier than a Pur."

"I just got done using the pump on a 5 day backpacking trip. It worked like a wonder, except for the cloggong, but again it was very easy to clean."

"I purchased the SweetWater Guardian 2 years ago and it was virtually problem free for two seasons of camping. I pumped an average of 200 litres of water per season. The litre/minute rate is approximately 0.75L/min. However this will be less if you are using the silt stopper. The silt stopper is useful if you can't get out to the middle of a lake and you end up pumping from the side of the lake or a shallow water source. The many hoses and accessories can tempt you into trying to pack the entire kit. But with a little planning you'll be able to scale things down.
The ceramic filter does require cleaning after about 20 Litres or every 2 days and it only takes about 5 minutes to do so using the brush that comes with the filter. Pumping is done most efficiently if you use an accordian motion and you won't tire as quickly, especially if you are pumping the days supply for a group of 5 or 6 people.
I always carry a spare cartridge just in case something were to go wrong. However, this past summer, I was completely unprepared for a malfunction in the plunger mechanism. On the 3rd day of a 6 day backpacking trip through Algonquin Park in Ontario, I set up the SweetWater and started pumping. After pumping about 3 litres of water, I noticed a distinct drop in pressure and only a trickle of water was coming out. I removed the filter cartridge and tried cleaning it. Hoping that as unlikely as it seemed (it usually gets harder to pump when the cartridge needs cleaning), this would be the source of the problem. It was not. The problem lied in the pumping mechanism which, by the way, is not field serviceable. We resorted to boiling water for the rest of the trip.
While the SweetWater performed well while it was working. I have come to question its reliability. My options and suggestions are to pack a small backup filter if you've already invested in the SweetWater or any fairly expensive, or look for something that is highly field serviceable. You'll find that for any water filter, the liters or gallons per minute and micron filter size won't mean much if the darn thing breaks while you're out in the bush."

"I used a SweetWater Guardian water filter for two years. Now I use a Pur Hiker.

The Sweetwater clogged VERY easily. There were times when I had to clean the Filter after every two liters pumped. This was a problem everywhere I have used the filter: the Appalachian Mountains, The Great Lakes, The Rocky Mountains. I tried the pre-filter, but it clogged as much as the filter did.

I finally found an excuse to spend money on a new filter when the Sweetwater broke (the plunger inside) on the first day of a ten day trip to the Wind Rivers. I used my brothers PUR Hiker for the rest of the trip and found out how a good filter works. I had to carry that broken filter for the rest of the trip, but it sure felt good to throw it away at the trailhead."

"These filters must be defective. Mark, Tom, and a nameless reviewer (Dec. 23/97) all had their filters break. Mine also broke. The plunger inside the filter broke in the middle of a trip and we drank a lot of unfiltered water (high in the Rockies - we didn't get sick). I was happy with the ease of pumping, and although it plugged easily, it was easy to clean. I have now bought an MSR WaterWorks II which I haven't used yet, but I hope it is more reliable than the SweetWater."

"Initially I liked my Sweetwater filter. It worked great for several kayak trips in Canada where the water was basically excellent. When I tried it here on a coastal Washington trip, it clogged really badly, yielding only a half liter between cleanings. I had to hike out for water. When we went on the Na Pali Coast Trail on Kauai this spring of 2000, it broke the second day. The handle just suddenly got real easy. Something broke inside. It is totally not field fixable. I had to use iodine (the crypto is real bad there) and wound up with iodine poisoning. Miserable aspect of an otherwise beautiful trip.

I bought a PUR Hiker based on multiple recommendations, but haven't tried it out yet."

"The first Guardian I owned lasted many years. Maybe they just don't make them the way the used to. 3 days in to the first week of my field season the internal seal on the plunger broke. It's a good thing another member of the field crew had a PUR Backpaker with him. I'm taking my Sweetwater back to REI, and I'm buying a PUR of my own."

"I have used my sweetwater for four seasons and have had no problems. It did seem to clog at first but I think that was my fault for not using it right. I like the fact that I can plug the hose from my water bag right to the discharge on the filter and pump away. I have filtered water from beaver ponds and mudpuddles and the water tastes better than my kitchen tap water. I have never used the prefilter and have never seen the need for it (nock on wood!). My only gripe is it is a pain to have to assemble the handle everytime I want to use it."

"When I bought this filter it was when Sweetwater’s were first brought out. At first I was very disappointed with it because it would clog about every 3 quarts of pumping. I now understand that these filters just have to have a break-in period before they start really working. Once I had the break in period over this filter worked great. Filter life can be extended a great deal by filtering water from a pot or bottle and not from the water source. After three years of pumping I had to replace the filter ($29 for replacements) and I lost a pin from the pump housing which I just replaced with a small cotter ring. About the only negative thing I can say about this filter is it is a pain in the butt to assemble every time you use it. I leave the handle assembled which makes it very bulky and not packable at all. I have heard a lot of negative reviews about Sweetwater Guardians in the last two years and wonder if quality has dropped off. This added to the bulky issue makes me think I would not buy another one. The filter industry is so close that one filter is as good as the other."

"I had used this filter for about three years without any real problems. That was until it failed in the field. The pump failed not the filter element. Customer service was very nice they told me to send in the old pump and they would send me a new on which they did. Not a very durable or reliable water filter."

"This is by far the best filter I have ever had. I will never use any other."

"We used one on our PCT hike last summer and it broke on the 3rd of 8days. It started squeeking and something on the inside broke. It worked great up to that point. The pump was totaly unfixable in the field so we were forced to use our iodine as a back up along with drinking from springs.

I'm actually pleased with the outcome of the breakdown. The iodine was much more convienent with little taste. I'm never buying a filter again! It's just not worth the weight, time, or energy spent to carry it."

"This year I went with the SweetWater Guardian microfilter that was offered on sale at REI for $59. It came with a free bottle of “ViralStop ” chlorine and a free 2 liter Platypus water bag. Theoretically, you shouldn’t need the chlorine though it is provided for those who wish to make double sure that their water is safe. This filter comes with a collapsible pump handle and a pre filter attached to the intake tube. When the cartridge filter becomes clogged with contaminants, a pressure relief valve is in place to prevent damage to the pump. They also provide a bottlebrush for filter cleaning and they suggest you freeze your filter cartridge for long term storage. I was please with the operation of this filter and I appreciated the detailed instructions they provide for cleaning and maintenance. It was refreshing to find a company that provided instructions on lengthening the life of their filter rather than the more profitable tactic of recommending the purchase of a new cartridge at the first sign of clogging"

"I've been cautious of water filters, since dealing with the early-generation ones that clogged at every turn and required three hands to operate. However, this one seems decent all right. I like the double action pump...fires out water on both the upward and downward stroke. It's clogged some, but the filter is very easily cleaned in the field. I've also learned to prolong the life of the filter by adding a bandana to the standard prefilter on the intake hose. THe whole assembly wraps up pretty neatly, too. Easy storage."

"I have used the sweetwater on many trips. It clogs very easy, but is also easy to clean. If a filter is clogging I would say it is doing it's job. Right? It's job is to remove particulate matter from water. It does this by trapping the matter in it's filter.
I have almost never had ideal water conditions on my trips and the filter has only failed once. I will add the siltstopper now, and expect better performance. I have used friends filters and still think the Sweetwater produces the best clean water."

"My Guardian is at least five years old, is on the second cartridge, and has pumped water from the Appalachian Trail to the Sierra Nevada.
I have not had any durability problems nor a high rate of clogging. I clean it before and after each trip, and even if you don't have the brush with you, using a fingertip works well in the field."

"I bought the Sweetwater because of it's weight and cost of replacement elements. OOPS. The filter is a piece of garbage. Pump plunger broke on me in the middle of nowhere. Didn't realize it was broken until I opened it to clean it, so I had been drinking contaminated water for a while. I love the siltstopper attachment though. It is a must with any filter. I use the MSR Waterworks II now with the the Siltstopper and get about 35 liters without cleaning. The Waterworks II is several ounces heavier, but man is it a workhorse and virtually imposible to break. Check it out."

"My new Sweetwater Guardian clogged up on just the second day in the field. We had a collapsible bucket, so silt was not the issue. Luckily we had a large group with a second filter that worked great (PUR brand). When I returned home I went straight to REI to exchange the Sweetwater for a PUR filter."

"I bought this as a new filter for use on a AT thru hike. In the 6 weeks I used it, the pump mechanism broke requiring a new pump, then water began shooting out, requiring it to be resealed. I tried to return it to my local retailer and then sweetwater, but they said it was fine and wouldn't replace it. As far as I was concerned, I could no longer rely on the filter for water treatment. The breakdown forced me to drink untreated water until I had access to iodine. In comparison my 6 year old PUR filter that I had sent to me worked great for 2 1/2 months without a hitch with just a new cartridge replacement.I'm never going to use sweetwater again, definitely a fan of pur filters."

"I've used my sweetwater since 1997 and pumped many a gallon with it. other than cleaning and replacing filters I've never had a problem. Reading some of the other reviews makes me think the later ones must had a bad defect in the pump assemy.we are doing the appalachian trail in sections. I've used my buddy's pur and i like my sweet water better,it pumps easier...."

"I purchased a Guardian for my trip on the A.T. I was very pleased with it and had no problems. One thing about this filter, if it is clogged with the particles (bacteria) from the water, it will "sqirt" until you brush the filter clean. That is a good indication of when it is time to brush. Also, as the filter gets clogged up, it is harder to pump, another good indication that it is time to brush. I see no need to change brands, the filter cartridge can be frozen when you return home to help insure killing of any bacteria left before you store it. It is a great product without the big price. I also helped a co-hiker pump water with her PUR and saw no grand difference except my filter fit my water bottle lip (Nalgene) and was easy to fill while hers just had a hose that flopped around."

"I have a sweetwater that I have used for probably 7 yrs. I have never had a problem. In fact I have had it so long I am starting to worry about it because I have had it a long time. I have never had a clogging problem. I clean it out occasionally and don't try to filter in the mud. I rated it a 4 because I don't have anything to rate it against. It is the only one I have ever had and have never had a reasom to replace it. Thank you Sweetwater."

"I just started using it again as I switched from the PUR systems and I love it.I agree with the fact that it does its job better then most filters that can be cleaned in the field and I also feel very strong about the fact that it pumps water on the up and down stroke which makes for faster pump time. I would strongly recomend this filter for all backpackers."

"I used a Sweetwater Guardian on loan during a week-long hiking trip in the Olympic National Park. I didn't know anything about these water filters prior to this trip, but I was impressed with its ease of use. The dual action pump really made a difference and the adaptor fit right on my Nalgene bottle. I had no problems, I wasn't worried about breaking it, and I bought one for myself right after I got back."

"The worst purchase ever! It clogged after 3 gallons of water. The water sat in a bucket and I used their silt guard. I love my PUR."

"This filter has been pretty reliable for me. It has a pretty good flow rate and is easily cleaned in the field. The instructions tell you the filter must be wet prior to pumping, and they do mean it--if you try pumping with a dry filter, it can break the pump handle. Wetting the filter takes all of three seconds. I've been through two filter cartridges, and this second one has developed small cracks in the outer plastic shell, which makes me question its long term durability. First filter cartridge did fine, just replaced it after it wore out."

"I am having difficulty understanding how the other reviewers managed to break off the pump handle. The pumping action seems so smooth. After two years, I have never had one problem with my filter."

"This is a great filter. I have had mine for years and it has been on several long hikes. I've never had any problems with early clogging or a broken handle. But then again, I always follow the instructions."

"Reliable filter, very field-maintainable with its scrubable filter. It is a bit fussy in one way: the filter must be wet when you start pumping, or you risk busting the pump handle. Wetting the filter takes only a moment, though, and can be safely done with unfiltered water. I've filtered pretty foul water through this unit and gotten tasty, clear stuff. I like the efficiency of the double-action pump handle. Like any filter: filter from reasonably clean sources, wrap a bandana around the intake if it's silty/leafy/green water, and all that."

"This has to be the best filter on the market....period. It's less expensive for starters, filters more out of the water than many higher priced ones, pumps faster than most and is one of the lightest. I've used this for about the last 10 years. I wouldn't trade it for any other filter out there. Easy to use, easy to maintain (field friendly) and easy on the wallet. Oh yeah, never broke a handle either."

"It worked well for the first twenty gallons. Pumping effort was lower than other filters I had a chance to try. I cleaned it well and maintained it properly. Then the insides of the plastic case cracked while on a trip. I purchased a second one since it worked well prior to the first one’s failure, which I thought was a fluke. The second one broke after several uses. Clogging was not the problem, the plastic body, while light weight, was simply not durable enough. I have been using an aluminum(heavy) bodied Katadyn for the past year and feel I have found a reliable filter at last."

"What a piece of garbage. This filter would work OK at home and then in the field it would fail to pump water. If you fiddled with it long enough you could get the O-ring in the pump to seal but it would pump about a teaspoon of water each stroke. We were two days into a week-long trip on Isle Royale and it had acted up twice already. After a long, hot 13 mile day I had managed to get it working and had pumped about 4 liters of water when the plunger just broke. This piece of junk probably hadn't pumped 25 liters in its short, worthless life. If another pair of packers hadn't lent us their filter during the rest of the trip, we'd have had to boil every night.
It's probably just as well that it broke because I would never have taken it anywhere ever again. Don't want a new one cause I wouldn't trust it either. Words can't describe how much I hate this filter.
Oh, yeah, we're supposed to cover positive aspects too so...um,...nice color."

"I have used this water filter for a number of years but have come to the conclusion it is not reliable.
Positive: I liked this filter because of the ability to clean it with a brush.
Negative: Yes, the pump handles do break and one broke for me two year ago in the Wind Rivers on the first day of a ten day trip. I managed to get out the pin out of the handle and use a tent stake to pump water, painfully I must say.
This year, using a new pump that had only been used on one or two trips, starting leaking so badly that little water was being pumped through.
Conclusion: This pump is not reliable and I cannot recommend it."

"Does not hold up to tough use in the field. Too many working parts made of plastic that just isn't very durable. I have had to break in the back country and would not trust this design again. I've switched to Katadyn...should have just done that in the first place!"

"okay, so its no katadyn, but I have had my sweetwater for six years and it has worked great. I love how it is so easy to clean and the prefilter has come in very handy when I was forced to filter water from a silty pond... crystal clear and tasty. the adapter for the nalgene bottle is a great feature. The handle is long for good leverage and collapsible for storage, and pumps on both the up and down strokes. the filter does have a lot of plastic parts, doesn't seem quite as sturdy as a katadyn I once used (indestructible), but again, I have personally had no problems with the (much cheaper) sweetwater. My advice, get the Katadyn if you can afford it, but if you'd rather spend the dough on some nicer boots, this filter gets it done and has a lot of nice features.
Happy trails,
Madeleine"