MSR Guardian Purifier Review
Our Verdict
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MSR Guardian Purifier | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Price | $390 List $359.90 at Amazon | $39 List $29.08 at Amazon | $44 List $43.95 at REI | $119.99 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $15.00 List $14.95 at REI |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Super fast flow, easy to use, very durable, self-cleaning, filters out viruses, can be frozen, excellent long-term value | Lightweight, adaptable, easy to use, lifetime guarantee | Excellent design and quality, durable and lightweight, versatile filtration options, extended filter life | Fast, easy, hands-free filtration, large volume, storage | Lightweight, inexpensive, kills all pathogens (including crypto), reliable |
Cons | Expensive, bulky, heavy, excessive for use in North America | Not great for group use, better if you replace the bags | Extra maintenance to maintain microfilter | A little expensive, can't gather from shallow sources, clogs with heavy sediment | Takes a long time to kill crypto, slight taste to the water, chemical treatment |
Bottom Line | This investment provides unbeatable water quality all over the world so you can drink without worry | Simple filtration that is lightweight and reliable for individual use | This filter is an excellent choice for lightweight and durable collapsible bottle filtration | A fast and easy to use gravity filter perfect for small groups | These drops are a reliable and lightweight option to carry all over the world |
Rating Categories | MSR Guardian Purifier | Sawyer Squeeze | LifeStraw Peak Squeeze | Platypus GravityWorks | Aquamira Treatment... |
Water Quality (20%) | |||||
Durability & Maintenance (20%) | |||||
Treatment Time (15%) | |||||
Weight & Packability (15%) | |||||
Ease of Set-Up (15%) | |||||
Ease of Filtration (15%) | |||||
Specs | MSR Guardian Purifier | Sawyer Squeeze | LifeStraw Peak Squeeze | Platypus GravityWorks | Aquamira Treatment... |
Type of Filter/Purifier | Hand pump | Squeeze, in-line, on-the-go | Squeeze | Gravity filter | Chemical treatment |
Measured Weight (entire kit) | 20.5 oz | 5.7 oz | 3.8 oz | 11.5 oz | 3.0 oz |
Number of Liters (L)/Gallons (gal) per Lifetime | 10,000+ L / 2,642+ gal | 378,541 L / 100,000 gal | 2000 L / 500 gal | 1500 L / 396 gal | 114 L / 30 gal per package |
Filter Media or Active Ingredient | Hollow fiber | Hollow fiber | Hollow-core membrane microfilter | Hollow fiber | Chlorine dioxide |
Effective Against Bacteria? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Effective Against Protozoa? (Giardia,Cryptosporidium) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Effective Against Viruses? | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Effective Against Chemicals? | No | No | No | No | No |
Effective Against Heavy Metals? | No | No | No | No | No |
Removes Particulates (sediment, microplastics)? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Filter Pore Size | 0.02 microns | 0.1 micron | 0.2 microns | 0.2 microns | N/A |
Advertised Flow Rate | 2.5 L / min | 1.7 L / min | 3 L / min | 1.75 L / min | N/A |
Dimensions | 8.2 x 4.7 x 3.5 in | 11 x 6 in | 9.48 in x 4.8in x 2.67in | 9.4 x 3 in | N/A |
Storage Capacity (L) | 0 | 2 L | 1 L | 8 L | N/A |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The MSR Guardian is our favorite hand pump and one of the most reliable options out there. Although it's a little bulky and very expensive, it's super easy to use and filters out everything from bacteria to viruses. This purifier can be used anywhere in the world, filtering out the meanest microbes to keep you healthy and happy while traveling internationally or heading into the backcountry. It can't, however, remove heavy metals or chemicals.
Performance Comparison
Water Quality
This purifier comes with a kickin' filter with a pore size of 0.02 microns. Most filters in this review only have a pore size of 0.1 - 0.2 microns, but this one is capable of filtering out bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. The filter has a hollow fiber design and produces water that is clean, healthy, and tasty.
Unfortunately, because it doesn't have activated carbon, it doesn't remove chemicals, heavy metals, or odors. However, we are impressed that it's the only model that can stand up to the most turbid streams. This model is excellent for international travel or backpacking with one to two people.
Durability and Maintenance
This water filter is exceptionally well-constructed and quite durable. Not only has it been drop tested up to six feet on concrete, but it can withstand freezing temperatures! Maintenance is minuscule. Every time you pump the filter, it is continually self-cleaned with every stroked. Unlike other models, the filter doesn't get clogged easily, even in turbid water.
This bomber design is highly reliable. The filter itself will last up to 10,000+ liters, which is far more than any of the gravity filters that we've tested. Of the purifying systems, this has by far the most extended lifespan that we've seen that can remove viruses. If a reliable and well-built machine is what you're after, this handpump is our favorite — self-cleaning, low maintenance, with a wide range of applications.
Treatment Time
In comparison to other hand-filters, this is the fastest, and one of the fastest filtration systems, period! After many trials, it produces, on average, one liter in 37 seconds.
Overall, you don't have to worry about the filtration process taking forever with the Guardian. It's quick and easy to use. This treatment time slows a bit in turbid water, but it offers consistency in treatment, unlike any other system.
Weight and Packability
While this purifier is super fast, providing amazing water quality, it's heavy and pretty bulky. Weighing 1 pound, 4.50 ounces, it's one of the heaviest filtration systems out there.
In terms of volume, the Guardian is rather bulky and is a little larger than a Nalgene bottle. We like that it doesn't have a lot of loose parts and comes packaged nicely in its included carry case.
Ease of Setup
Setting up this filter is easy. In the box, it comes with all parts together and intact. There are no loose parts that you might lose. Pull it out of its pouch, take off the cover, and place the hose in the water for direct filtration.
The handpump setup allows you to direct the intake hose to any water source. It works well in medium-size water sources, but can also be used in small puddles or hard-to-reach areas like steep banks or off the side of a boat. The hose also features a mini-filter screen that will sift out larger particulates, so your hand pump filter doesn't need to deal with algae or debris sitting in the water — it's pre-filtered first.
Ease of Filtration
As a handpump, it's not hard to use at all. The large handle is super easy to grab and the cartridge body provides another place to hold the pump firmly. When pumping, the high flow output easily sucks water and pushes all of it out in one cycle. Of all handpumps we've tried, it's one of the easiest to use, making filtration nice and easy.
The only real issue we've come across is that sometimes the intake hose's float gets turned around in the water source, and sucking becomes less efficient. Therefore, you need to watch and make sure that it is in position for the most efficient pump action. It may also present a problem in shallow or small water sources because the float is quite large. Also, this pump comes with a bottle top adaptor that fits most wide-mouth water storage containers. You can also easily screw on a Nalgene bottle to the bottom of the filter. If neither of those work, pump into your water storage container.
While this is a smooth hand pump to use, hand pumping in general kind of sucks. Hand pumping requires a lot of effort, forces you to sit in one spot and not accomplish other tasks around camp, and can take a while. While it does provide an excellent output, if you can swing it, a gravity filtration setup is preferable and is a lot less work. But, it can't access the same hard-to-reach water sources.
Value
So now that you've fallen in love with this filtration system, we're going to offer a kick in the pants: the price. It is the most expensive filter or purification system in this review. Most people don't have this kind of cash to throw down on a system that purifies water. That said, the investment is worth it for the durability of the product. Don't expect to buy another one for your lifetime. If you're a guide or a service looking for an option that will continue working for you, this model is good for multiple uses. And with its ease of use, it works for anybody. Since its niche is in its ability to filter out viruses, which we don't require in North America, there are better options for a much better price if you stay stateside. That said, in the long run, value is actually pretty good given that replacement cartridges rarely need to be bought and no maintenance is needed.
Conclusion
The MSR Guardian Purifier stands out as an easy to use handpump that can get rid of viruses along with everything else. Its hefty price and heavier weight are two big downsides that might have some people looking in other places. Although, if you can afford it and you don't mind the extra weight, it's a perfect companion on any backcountry mission or international trip. If you're looking for something that can do it all, this is truly it.
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