Sweet Water Guardian

“I just purchased the Sweet Water Guardian Water Purifier. When I got home I looked up some old TT threads in which most people were bashing the Guardian and recommending the PUR Hiker.The Guardian supposedly filters water of bacteria down to .2 microns in size. The specs for the PUR hiker says it can filter Bacteria down to .5 microns. Isn't this worse? The Guardian I purchased is a new and improved edition that now uses a chlorine based anti-viral solution as opposed to iodine. It also came with a free two liter Platypus bottle and included the viral stop solution.
Should I take it back???”

“YES! Buy a First Need Deluxe.”

“I have a Gardian and will use it until it quits.
But, I will replace it with a First Needs Deluxe!

Take it back.”

“Yes, return said piece of sh!t from winst it came. First Need or Pur IMHO.”

“I have one. Let me put it politely. It sucks.”

“Sounds like Sweetwater became aware that there product sucks, so they offer the platy as insentive.

I have the pur Guide. Litter heavier than the Hiker. Does anyone know off hand how the Guide compares? I likes it. I believe that it's a level 2.”

“As a matter of a fact Laqtis, I do. I have the purifier/filter fact sheet from REI right here. I'll email it to you if you like. Already have it scanned. It doesn't say anything Bout levels but tells what the thing will remove, weight, pump force in pounds, water output per pump, if it's field cleanable, what it's made of etc.”

“BTW, the First Need Deluxe doesn't use chemicals.”

“Hey Sass - That would be great! I feel kinda stupid trying to find out what how a piece of my gear will perform AFTER I buy it. I know that there was a good reason, though.

Reason for the question: Been doing a lot of reading on doing an Isle Royal trip later this year and I just want to make sure that this filter will take out the tapeworms.”

“I like my MSR personally.. :)”

“I have a sweetwater filter,but I won't buy another.”

“I've got a Sweetwater Guardian, used it for 4 years. It's fine. What's the big deal, why all the heckling?”

“I am switching over to the pur guide....”

“I have a guardian and its' worked fine for two years. Will probably go with an MSR when I replace it just to get the ceramic filter.”

“On those tapeworm egg filtering concerns, just about any of these filters will stop the eggs. Tapeworm eggs are huge, microscopically speaking.”

“I have one and thinks it works as well as most and better than some. I got mine when they first came out and the pump sucked, they have since redesigned the pump and I have had zero problems. The only failure was my fault, I pushed a filter to the limit using it for 1.5 years and it clogged. I say keep it, I personaly do not like the ergonomics of the Pur though I will disagree with no one about output...it is the champ.

No matter what filter you use get the Sweetwater slitstopper, it is the best for the $.”

“The last time I was at Isle Royle I used the first need...worked great. BTW, I also will be in Isle Royle 2nd and 3rd week of August. Have you been there before, when are you going, and what is your plan. Just curious.

I just bought a MSR Miniworks based on an enthusiastic recommendation from a hiker I me last fall, but havn't yet tried it. Anyone ever tried a Miniworks?”

“Hey Cow Patty! - Good to hear from ya. Thanks for looking out for me. I kinda thought it would, it's just that thought - tapeworm -

gives me the willies.....


Compost - Don't have a plan set yet. I'm trying to get the research done. 2nd/3rd week of August seems to be THE time to go. That's what I've heard. I might be going then as well, but right now, don't know. Never been, but since I started looking in to it - I feel like that place is calling me. Weird, for some reason, I must go.....”

“Laqtis, have you got Jim Dufresne's book on Isle Royale yet? Most libraries carry it and it's invaluble for planning where ya want to hike. You should come over sometime and we'll load ya up with maps and books and show ya pictures. Bring the wife and kid, we'll drink beer and eat.(and probably bore the wife to tears talking hiking!):o) Did the attachment reach you w/ the email?”

“Laqtis, I've got the book Sass is talking about if you want to borrow it. I've also got a topo map of the island. I'll bring them on our next hike. I went to IR in August 2 years ago. I though it was great (my first backpacking trip).

I'm not sure if you're looking to go with a large group or maybe just you and Super B, but I know Sass and Sunshine were thinking about going.”

“I have seen several sweet water filters on the trail that seemed to work very well. I'm wondering what everyone's problem is here.”

“Mine worked fine for a few gallons and then started to clog up really bad and spray out the overflow every quart even though I cleaned it repeatedly. By the time I get done filtering water with this thing I could be 2 miles down the trail. I use a safewater anywhere inline and aquamira now. No pumping required and lighter and more compact too.”

“SG - Thanks for the offer. Could ya bring the topo map? It might be the same one as what I've gotten of the internet, but if ya don't mind, I'd like to see the one you have. I don't know if LeSubtil's offer is still good, but I remember he had doubles of the book and I called dibs on his extra. I don't know what kinda group I'd like to go with. Right now, I'm just inhaling all the info I can find.”

“Hey Laqtis, just remind me before the next hike. I tend to forget things easily.”

“My problem was it clogs asfter one week of use, and I don't like having to assemble a filter to use it.”

“The sweetwater we had clogged constantly. Every few cups and I had to scrub that d@mnable cartridge out. The stupid squirtgun mounted on top really pissed me off. I ended up with more water on me than in my platy...

I replaced it with a Firstneed deluxe. I can filter a quart of h2o in less than a minute.

According to REI's fact sheet..

Sweetwater Gaurdian 1.6lbs of force to pump,.74 liters per minute

First Need 5lbs of pressure to pump,1.34 liters per minute”

“I love my Sweetwater, nee ner nee ner!”

“Hey, don't horn in when we're dissin' the sweetwater!”

“I love my Sweetwater, nee ner nee ner!"


Loser. :o)”

“Loser! Loser? I can only take this as personal affront!!!
Water filters at 10 paces!!

The lever action of the Sweetwater is far superior to that pull and push of the 1st Need (I have 2) or the Pur. And the MSR clogged to quickly for me (took it back to REI).
So, nee ner nee ner still stands!! 8^P”

“Us sweetwater types are the pumpin' fools.”

“I like my mini works.It's easy to clean.The ceramic filter lasts a long time and it screws on to my nalgene bottle.”

“Alright Naviguesser! Meet me on Isle Royale this August and we WILL see who has the superior filter. We'll run some of that icey cold, silty Lake Superior water through that sweetwater of yours and soon you'll be showered in cold, unfiltered water. The gautlet has been thrown!:o)”

“And if you remain respectful Sass may even let you use her filter for the rest of the trip. Hey look on the bright side, with as much water that blasts out of the top of the Sweetwater after clogging you guys will have a portable shower!

[tongue firmly planted in cheek]”

“I accept the challenge! But we'll have to meet in the Sierra. That's where I have my vacation planned.
Just a note, when my Sweetwater started squirting out the top in the middle of a trip, I just put a baggie over the top and kept on pumping. No it wasn't great, but it was still better than my 1st Need.”

“eh hem, it's a purifier. No chance of me getting out to the Sierras this year. Someday you'll see the light :o).”