A light welldesigned filter I've had a Sweetwater filter for years going back to before MSR acquired the brand and I've been very happy with it. On a recent long backpack I was able to compare it to the MSR Miniworks since I tried my hiking partners' Miniworks several times. If I had to get a new one I think I'd give the edge to the Sweetwater but it would be close and both are excellent. Before the Sweetwater I had a First Need and both of these MSRs are far better.Filtering ability is of course the most important criterion but I can't test that and so I leave it to the lab folks. I can say that I've never gotten sick drinking water from either model and given how much I sweat when hiking I've swallowed a LOT of filtered water much of it downstream from beaver habitat so you know what that means so for my purposes I consider the two to be functionally equal in that regard. The Sweetwater is noticeably lighter which matters to me. The Miniworks does feel more robust hence the extra weight and perhaps it is though I've never had anything break on my Sweetwater. Also it's cleverly designed to give the pump handle extra mechanical advantage to make the pumping easier see the pictures and you'll see what I mean but note that the handle folds down for easy packing.
Worked well on first trip out I was talked into the Sweetwater by a salesperson who has one after the Katadyn I wanted was out of stock. We took it to the Ozette Loop on the Washington coast which is known for very tanic water. It worked like a champ for 3 days. Of course it did not remove the yellow color of the water but we did not expect it to and the water tasted wonderful! It started to get a little harder to pump on the last day but I will use a piece of pantyhose over the prefilter next time to help that out. It pumped smoothly after cleaning the filter when we got home. My only complaint is the foam float which I found to be pretty useless. It did not matter how far up or down the hose I placed it it caused the prefilter to tilt sideways and not stay in the water so all I was pumping was air. Also I ran into another hiker with a Sweetwater who said his was cracked after storing it in the freezer as recommended in the user manual so I dried mine out real good before I put it in the freezer.
Effective and compact This very light model gets the job done. I've taken it on several camping trips and have no complaints. Overall I'm very satisfied with my purchase.
MSR Microfilter Gold standard I have had an original white model of this filter for many many years and the center filter pump column cracked just a short while ago. The new filter is almost identical except for the color. I consider this filter to be my gold standard for water filters. It works flawlessly and effortlessly. I have had other filters but they are always more difficult to pump. This one has never let me down. You would also find that the company honors the lifetime warranty without question. Great company.
MSR SweetWater DOA I've seen the MSR SweetWater used by friends and my experience with their equipment has been great. This product works as required in colder waters whereas the ball valve in the MSR MiniWorks Ex would fail.I purchased one of my own on Amazon since it was the lowest price I could find. Upon reception I read the instructions and performed the initial filter scrubbing as directed. However upon testing in my kitchen water gushed out of the rubber seal between the filter housing and the pump. Visual inspection of the orings revealed a small divot in the filter housing seal allowing pressure to force the seal apart just enough to cause the leak. Through all of my testing not even one drop of water was filtered. I still give the product 2 stars because for those that are functioning I have been pleased with the product.This is the first time I've used Amazon's return system and I was pleased with the ease. I will try the SweetWater again but this time I'll pay a little more at my local REI.
A perfect fit I have been on trips with people who already had filters for years thus I never had the need to buy one myself. I just recieved this filter as a present from my inlaws before a big trip in the smoky's and I have to say that the price weight and flow fits the average adventurer. I know there are some lighter options and some faster flows as well but if you want an all around filter this fits the bill. I used to work at a gear store in college and couldn't decide but this filter will work in any situation. Unless you have a special situation for ceramic filters or ultra light This is the way to go.
Easily portable This is a very handy filter for active fishermen who fish miles of stream daily. We have used one for years which eventually developed a crack in the main cylinder and never gotten any waterborne sickness. Flow is just right for active drinking and you don't have to wait for a drink to perk out or carry a bottle. The design makes it easy to carry in a creel or butt pack because it breaks down flat very quickly.
Defective in the field Intake nipple is cracked at base therefore it does not pump. This was the first usage. Test first is obvious but I was busy getting ready to camp with kids. First usage in the field and it failed me. I was able to make it work by submerging the entire base in the creek. I owned one of these many years ago and it was flawless. If it were not for my previous experience with this company I would not trust my kids drinking from a filter made by a company that can't even make the intake nipple strong enough.
Works as Advertised I used this on a long hike in Hawai'i. I also chemically treated the water after filtering it just to be safe. No ill effects. Takes about a minute to filter a liter Nalgene bottle.
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