OutdoorGearLab

The MSR Guardian Purifier stands out for its exceptional ability to remove water-borne viruses and other pathogens, providing pure potable water unlike other hand pumps on the market. The hollow fiber filter has a massive expected lifespan &#40;which presents a great lifetime value&#41; with easy field maintenance. It's built to last, it's tough, and it's strong. We've owned one for over seven years, and it's performed well during international travel and hiking in the backcountry. Its flow rate is exceptional for a pump filter &#40;about 37 seconds for one liter&#41;, while the backflush system makes it functional even in the sludgiest of stagnant or turbid water holes. The filter is resilient to freezing, making it an option to consider for trips in colder climates. It's also the only system that performed remarkably well in turbid water due to its built-in backflushing system. If you encounter water muddied with sediment, this is the filter for the job.
While this purification system is quite incredible, it's not for everybody. The initial price tag is immense, and quite frankly, most people aren't willing to invest. If you're looking for a pump filter that will suffice in North America, you probably don't need this Cadillac of hand pumps; a normal hand pump will do. The Guardian is also rather large, adding weight and requiring more space in your pack. Still, if you need a purifier for international travel or one that offers a backflush system for turbid water, this one provides reliability that's worth the initial investment.

Switchback Travel

The MSR Guardian is ten times the price of many popular bottle filters here, but this pump is the real deal. Most importantly, it’s both a water filter and purifier, which means you get the highest level of protection against protozoa, bacteria, and viruses, along with a filter that removes debris. Further, the Guardian uses advanced self-cleaning technology (about 10 percent of water from each pump cycle is used to clean the filter) and is far less likely to break down than cheaper models. And finally, with a 2.5 liter-per-minute flow rate, the MSR is ridiculously speedy. The result is ultimate performance and peace of mind when backpacking and traveling in less-developed regions of the world or other high-use areas (viruses are most commonly carried in human waste). In fact, the Guardian is such a reliable and convenient system that it’s also used in the military and as an emergency water purifier after natural disasters.

You won’t find a faster or more reliable pump filter/purifier, but the MSR Guardian will be overkill for many. Aside from cost, it’s noticeably heavier and bulkier than most filters at just over a pound and packing down roughly to the size of a 1-liter water bottle. Further, while the purifying capabilities are smart for traveling and backpacking in certain regions of the world, they’re not necessary in most wilderness areas in the United States and Canada. Nevertheless, the Guardian truly is the ultimate backpacking purifier and worth the cost for those who need it. And MSR also makes the Guardian Gravity Purifier, which features the same advanced technology of the Guardian but in a gravity setup... Read in-depth reviewSee the MSR Guardian Purifier System

The MSR Guardian Purifier stands out for its exceptional ability to remove water-borne viruses and other pathogens, providing pure potable water unlike other hand pumps on the market. The hollow fiber filter has a massive expected lifespan &#40;which presents a great lifetime value&#41; with easy field maintenance. It's built to last, it's tough, and it's strong. We've owned one for over seven years, and it's performed well during international travel and hiking in the backcountry. Its flow rate is exceptional for a pump filter &#40;about 37 seconds for one liter&#41;, while the backflush system makes it functional even in the sludgiest of stagnant or turbid water holes. The filter is resilient to freezing, making it an option to consider for trips in colder climates. It's also the only system that performed remarkably well in turbid water due to its built-in backflushing system. If you encounter water muddied with sediment, this is the filter for the job.
While this purification system is quite incredible, it's not for everybody. The initial price tag is immense, and quite frankly, most people aren't willing to invest. If you're looking for a pump filter that will suffice in North America, you probably don't need this Cadillac of hand pumps; a normal hand pump will do. The Guardian is also rather large, adding weight and requiring more space in your pack. Still, if you need a purifier for international travel or one that offers a backflush system for turbid water, this one provides reliability that's worth the initial investment.
Read more: MSR Guardian Purifier review

amazon.com

expert-review

Switchback Travel | MSR Guardian Purifier Review

yotpo

bazaarvoice

MSR Guardian Water Purifier Review

MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier | Review

MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier - FeedTheHabit.com

MSR Guardian Purifier Review 2019 | Water Filter and Purifier Review | Backpackers.com

The Grayl Geopress quickly became one of our most used and favorite purification systems. In comparison to the rest, it supersedes most systems for a variety of reasons. It's easy to collect water, push it through, and drink right away. More importantly, it removes the most disgusting water contaminants that you might find. Not only viruses, but it's said to remove heavy metals, plastics, pesticides, and more. Our water came out clear when we tested this in a heavy metal polluted river in Ouray, CO. We believe that no other system could purify this well, either leaving some detectable smell or discoloration behind. The bottle is also incredibly durable and met our needs while traveling. Save yourself from buying tons of disposable water bottles during travel and get the Grayl Geopress instead.  
Compared to the Grayl Ultralight system, this bottle is much easier to push down to force the water through the filter, especially with the handgrips along the side. While we appreciate the use of this system, it's also not our first choice for lightweight travel in the backcountry because of its bulky, heavy design. The cartridge life is minimal, and refills are pretty expensive. Based on these cons and our comparisons, we find this product provides relatively low value for the price. But for traveling abroad, it offers peace of mind when collecting water from taps or other polluted sources.
Read Review: Grayl Geopress

The Grayl Geopress quickly became one of our most used and favorite purification systems. In comparison to the rest, it supersedes most systems for a variety of reasons. It's easy to collect water, push it through, and drink right away. More importantly, it removes the most disgusting water contaminants that you might find. Not only viruses, but it's said to remove heavy metals, plastics, pesticides, and more. Our water came out clear when we tested this in a heavily metal-polluted river in Ouray, CO. We believe that no other system could purify this well, either leaving some detectable smell or discoloration behind. The bottle is also incredibly durable and met our needs while traveling. Save yourself from buying tons of disposable water bottles during travel and get the Grayl Geopress instead.  
Compared to other similar systems, this bottle is much easier to push down to force the water through the filter, especially with the handgrips along the side. While we appreciate the use of this system, it's also not our first choice for lightweight travel in the backcountry because of its bulky, heavy design. The cartridge life is minimal, and refills are pretty expensive. Based on these cons and our comparisons, we find this product provides relatively low value for the price. But for traveling abroad, it offers peace of mind when collecting water from taps or other polluted sources.
Read more: Grayl Geopress review

Water Purifier Comparison