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MSR SweetWater SiltStopper

$19.95

(10)

Item # 611748

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This prefilter attaches to the end of a SweetWater inlet hose to prolong the life of the water filter.

Removes 5 - 10 micron particles before they reach the main filter
SiltStopper is more porous than a SweetWater filter and may clog sooner—prefilter replacements sold separately
Attach the SiltStopper such that the red side filters the incoming water

Please note: MSR products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Made in USA.

Item 611748

View all MSR products

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MSR SweetWater SiltStopper Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

MSR SweetWater SiltStopper

3.3

(based on 10 reviews)

70%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Good filtration (6)
Easy to pump (3)
Lightweight (3)

Cons

Hard to pump (3)

Best Uses

Backpacking (6)
Hiking (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (7), Casual/ recreational (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 10 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Feb

2008

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Works Great with Other Brands

By Old School Bill

from Winston-Salem, NC

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good filtration

Cons

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

While I still have my Sweetwater, I use this pre-filter with a Katadyn Hiker Pro. It should work with other brands as well. I am amazed how much algae can be in water that looks perfectly clear.

Feb

2008

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Must-have accessory for the Sweetwater

By n2y2

from Reno, NV

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

Since even the clearest lakes can have an alarming amount of particulate matter, this really extends the life of your Sweetwater pump filter. Plus, you will not have to clean your ceramic filter as much in the backcountry.

I have even found that I can 'clean' the paper filter a couple of times before I replace it with a new filter tube. While the filter paper is wet, I gently rub the outer layer of paper off. This discards the clogged outer shell and exposes a fresh surface. It is perfectly safe since this is only the pre-filter.

Oct

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

SiltStopper Works

By Tangent PCT Hiker

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

I used the SiltStopper on my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. I went through a total of four pre-filters over about 2000 miles. Each pre-filter would last about 500 miles and I filtered all of my water. For the first 500 miles I didn't use a pre-filter and my Katadyn filter became difficult to pump and required replacement. After using the prefilter my Katadyn filter lasted over three times as long, over 1500 miles. I recommend back flushing the SiltStopper filter prior to the pre-filter clogging. When that doesn't work simply replace the prefilter cartridge. In summary the SiltStopper works.

Sep

2010

(4 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Worthless When Pumping Silt Water!!!!!

By Chuquiagomarka

from Los Angeles, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Hard to Clean
Hard to pump
Poor filtration

Best Uses

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

I used this filter to filter silt from glacial rivers. I have to say that this filter is WORTHLESS!! After pumping 4 one liter bottles, the filter clogged up so bad that it could no longer pump water. I followed the cleaning instructions on the label, but this did NOTHING!! The filter was worthless after my first day in a 5 day excursion through Denali i Alaska. Luckily, there are several clear water streams throughout Denali, however, had there not been clear water streams and had I not carried emergency Iodine pills, I would have been in a great deal of trouble. If you plan on using this filter for pumping glacial water, be sure to pack one filter per day and Iodine pills.

Upon reading reviews, it seems like people use this filter for pumping clear water to protect their pump's filter. If this is your intended use, the filter may work. However, if you plan on using this silt filter for pumping water with silt, DO NOT BUY THIS FILTER!!!!

Jun

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

It Works

By JonathanS

from Newbury Park, CA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good filtration

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

Prolongs the life and maintenance intervals of your main filter. When it clogs up, you can back-flow it by installing it on the pump output, and that usually works. Otherwise, in a pinch, you can peel the outer layer off like toilet paper to reveal a clean surface. It does make pumping a bit more work, especially to get the pump primed initially.

A filter insert lasts several hundred liters under normal use. To the guy who tried to use it in Denali in glacial silt, I have to laugh. NOTHING will last filtering glacial silt. That's death for any water filter. Always look for the clearest water possible. If you must filter the glacial silt, allow it to settle for an hour or two in a bottle or bucket, then filter it.

Sep

2007

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

works, but split during cleaning

By stancilmor

from Florida

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Filters debris and silt

Cons

Clogs Quickly
Split during cleaning

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

I just bought this as a pre-filter to my sweetwater that is over 20 years old. It definitely catches algae as the outer part quickly turned an olive green while the inner part remained white. It has a small surface area so it clogs rather quickly, but I suggest that you just buy extra filters rather than trying to clean it. When mine clogged the pump could still provide enough suction to evaporate (boil) the water through the silt stopper, but it was a very slow process to filter water. When clogged it took over 15 minutes to fill a Nalgene that normal took less than 3 minutes.
The instructions say to connect the silt stopper in reverse on the filter output to clean it, but that just caused the silt stopper cartridge to split in half making it worthless. Anyway now that I own the housing, I’ll just make sure to buy enough cartridges so I won’t have to bother cleaning them.

Nov

2007

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

great to save your filter

By RyanxOr

from Moscow, ID

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to clean
Good filtration
Saves main filter

Cons

Hard to pump

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

Great to save your main filter. You can reverse the filter inlet & outlet and discharge to quickly field clean the filter. Abuse this little guy and save your more expensive main filter!

Oct

2007

(2 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Good first line of defense

By Catfish

from Baltimore, MD

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to pump
Good filtration
Lightweight
Low maintenance

Cons

Best Uses

Canoe trips

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

It seems to work well (it turns brown and you replace it, since it is not meant to be cleaned). Disposal is the only issue. Carry soe extras, since it will turn brown quickly in some coditions.

Sep

2011

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

too slow!

By solocurt

from decorah, iowa

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Hard to pump
Poor filtration

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

this unit slowed the pump down too much. waste of [$] in my book. i just kept the ceramic filter clean and the pump worked great!

Jul

2011

(0 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Worthless is the SweetWater doesnt work

By DanTheMan81

from Baltimore, MD

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about MSR SweetWater SiltStopper:

Used this with the MSR Sweet water and had more water sprayed out of the bottom of the unit then came out of the output hose. It seemed to work as the clean white filter quickly turned brown, but it is useless if the Sweet Water still clogs. I was using this in clear mountain stream not pond scum water.