REI.com
  • Online: www.REI.com
  • URL for this product:
  • From the U.S. and CanadaCall 1-800-426-4840
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
  • InternationalCall 1-253-891-2500
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.
MSR SweetWater Purifier System
zoomZoom image

MSR SweetWater Purifier System

Item # 671111

$89.95

Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)

1.

2. Qty

3.

Product Rating
Share It
Bookmark and share Bookmark and share

This MSR system combines the proven filtration of the SweetWater® microfilter with the chlorine-based SweetWater Purifier Solution for safe, clean water worldwide.

  • Simply pump water and add the included MSR SweetWater Purifier Solution to innactivate 99.99% of waterborne viruses, bacteria and protozoan parasites
  • Chlorine-based purification has no unpleasant iodine taste
  • One of the easiest pumps to operate—features dual-action draw and a mechanical advantage to quickly supply you with clean water
  • Sturdy lever-action pump handle provides a 4-to-1 mechanical advantage, drawing water on both the down and up stroke
  • Lightweight polycarbonate construction is tough and durable; compact design stows easily
  • Built-in filter replacement safety indicator keeps tabs on usage, filters up to 200 gal.
  • Its 0.2 micron filter eliminates waterborne bacteria and protozoa such as giardia and Cryptosporidium
  • SweetWater Purifier Solution is able to safely disinfect "worst case" water sources
  • SweetWater Purifier Solution comes in a 2 fl. oz. bottle that treats up to 80 gal. of water
  • Field serviceable and easy to clean with no small parts to lose; includes a universal bottle adapter and a cover to keep the output clean

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

Made in USA.

Item 671111

MSR SweetWater Purifier System Specs

Specification

Description

Weight14 ounces
Dimensions7.5 x 2 inches
MaterialLabyrinth w/ chlorine-based disinfectant solution
Housing materialPolycarbonate
Removes/DestroysProtozoa, bacteria and viruses
Output1+ liters per minute
Pump force1.6 pounds
Pump strokes per liter81.6
Field cleanableYes

MSR SweetWater Purifier System Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
MSR SweetWater Purifier System
 
4.1

(based on 26 reviews)

85%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Good filtration (22)
  • Lightweight (22)
  • Easy to clean (20)
  • Easy to pump (17)
  • Maintenance (15)

Cons

  • Hard to pump (4)

Best Uses

  • Backpacking (22)
  • Hiking (18)
  • Day trip (12)
  • Car camping (10)
  • Reviewer Profile:
  • Avid adventurer (15), Casual adventurer (8)

Reviewed by 26 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Back to top

Previous | Next »

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Fabulous for the non-tekkie

By phrelanzer

from chicago suburbs

About Me Low-mileage backpacker

Site Member

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Easy to pump
  • Good filtration
  • Lightweight
  • Low maintenance

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Car Camping
    • Hiking

    Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

    I've taken this wonderful filtration pump (I have the older model) to Isle Royale, the Boundary Waters, South Manitou Island and North Manitou Island. It's easy to use AND easy to clean for someone who is very non-technical, and gives me great water every time. I use the anti-virus drops with it. Never had a problem. Highly recommended.

    (4 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

     
    2.0

    Questionable Durability

    By Bob83318

    from Burley, ID

    About Me Casual Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Easy to pump
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Hard to Clean

    Best Uses

    • Day trip

    Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

    I have had two of these manufactured under the Guardian label and both have broken in the field. One the stem inside broke and the other had problems with the pump handle. Filtration is great but the design puts a lot of stress on the plastic parts. For the same money a Katadyn is more durable, if not nearly as fast.

    • Gift:
    • No

    (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Durable, and Reliable

    By chas.locey

    from Cincinnati, Ohio

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Easy to clean
    • Good filtration
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Backpacking
      • Car Camping
      • Day trip
      • Hiking

      Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

      This was the first filter I have bought and it did not disappoint. I have used this 3 times in the Red River Gorge Kentucky. Every time this filter has performed well. I was the only one with a pump my first two backpacking trips and was pumping water for 5 other people both times, 3 other people the 3rd trip. Water was clean when it came out, pumping was easy, the only problem was that sometimes I had to stop pumping in between bottles and brush the filter 3-4 times to do some minor cleaning so it would pump easier. But besides that it pumped well and I love the fact that it pumps water with both the up and down stroke! The river where i got the water from those times too wasn't a clean river either. The 3rd time the water that i pumped from was actually down stream of a place where people were bathing i found out later! But all three times everyone who used my filter did not get sick. After I got back I washed the filter thoroughly and stored it back in my pack, when i used it the 2nd time it worked just as great as the 1st, same with the 3rd time I used it. I would recommend using a coffee filter over the prefilter in the water you are pumping to help preserve the filter. The filter works very well and i would highly recommend this product to anyone, great filter for the price!

      • Gift:
      • No

      (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      More than I was expecting

      By upupandAway

      from Spokane WA

      About Me Avid Adventurer

      Pros

      • Good filtration
      • Lightweight
      • Low maintenance
      • The platypus is great

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Backpacking
        • Car Camping
        • Day trip
        • Hiking

        Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

        [...]. We have taken it on several back country trips and high elevations. It has proven it's worth many times over. We ended up pumping for friends also because thier system was to complicated for them. I would strongly recommend this product!!!

        (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

         
        5.0

        good and fast

        By klam

        from Fayetteville, NC

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        Pros

        • Easy to clean
        • Easy to pump
        • Good filtration
        • Lightweight
        • Low maintenance

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Hiking

          Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

          This pump has been great for me. i have used it many times. During all seasons and in some murky water sources. Just make sure you follow the instructions and this pump wont let you down. It fills a 1 liter bottle in less then a minute. if water starts to come out of your over pressure valve good chance you need to clean the filter. This is a quick and easy processes. Make sure you do this i learned the hard way and broke my pump on the 2 day of a 4 day trip. This was not due to a equipment flaw. i was over taxing my pump and not performing the proper maintenance. luckily i had another one and remembered to clean it and had no problems after that.

          • Gift:
          • No

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          4.0

          Solid system with some minor flaws

          By akayaker

          from Northern Virginia,VA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Easy to clean
          • Easy to pump
          • Good filtration
          • Lightweight

          Cons

          • High maintenance

          Best Uses

          • Backpacking
          • Hiking
          • Kayaking

          Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

          I've used this system for the last couple of years, and recently relied on it completely during a weeklong summer trip to Lake Meade, where temperatures were well over 100 degrees daily and our water intake was massive. The system held up well and produced clean, clear water with no bad taste. It's actually useable while I'm still in the cockpit of my kayak, which was convenient. There are a couple of downsides, however. First, the intake tube is constantly making contact with the output tube, which could be a problem in contaminated water. There's no way to keep them seperate. Second, the end of the intake tube, which holds a pre-filter, never sits correctly or stays where you need it to in order to get a good pumping position. There's a float provided that would work great in deep water, but if you're pumping from the edge of a stream or a beach (freshwater, of course) it's constantly moving towards you and into silty water. In order to really get away from heavily silted or muddy water, you need to get knee deep in the water so that the float can be adjusted to keep the pre-filter above the mud or silt. The filter, like any micropore filter, clogs quickly because of this, although with a quick brushing with the provided cleaning tools, you can be up and running even with a filter that is towards the end of the useful life.

          (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Awesome purifier system

          By IssyHikerBiker

          from Issaquah, WA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Easy to clean
          • Easy to pump
          • Good filtration
          • Lightweight
          • Low maintenance

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Hiking
            • Moutain biking

            Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

            I used this on day hiking and backpacking trips, especially to Colchuck and Yosemite. Very light, easy to use, and simple and easy to pump. I have the original Sweetwater system before it was part of MSR, and it's working like a charm. Never broked on me (as other have mentioned). One thing I like about this filter is that I have those Camelback filter attachments, because I have had too many instances where I needed water, and I didn't want to take out the bladder. I can just change the bite connector, attach it to the end of the filter, and just pump cold, refreshing, filtered water.

            (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            Reliable and easy to use

            By akayaker

            from San Diego, CA

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Easy to clean
            • Good filtration
            • Lightweight
            • Low maintenance

            Cons

            • Bulky

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Kayaking

            Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

            This unit is easy to use and the water it produces is clean, clear, and odor free. It does take a bit of energy and time to get the water pumped through, but the end result is worth it. The pump is fairly compact when it's stowed, although the tubes tend to get in the way a bit. I use the drops, but they expire rather quickly, especially if you don't keep them refrigerated. Cleaning is easy.

            (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Timeless design. Dependable.

            By ydant

            from Frederick, MD

            About Me Casual/ Recreational

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Easy to clean
            • Easy to pump
            • Good filtration
            • Lightweight
            • Low maintenance

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Backpacking

              Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

              An old classic, the SweetWater has been around forever. It's not the fastest filter out there, but it filters really well, quickly, and with minimal effort. The design allows it to filter on both the up and down stroke, making things go by a lot more quickly. The pre-filter/silt-filter is great for keeping the SweetWater from getting clogged, too.

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              4.0

              Good & Fast

              By Gregoryjs7

              from New York, NY

              About Me Casual Adventurer

              Pros

              • Easy to pump
              • Good filtration

              Cons

              • Hard to Clean

              Best Uses

              • Backpacking
              • Hiking

              Comments about MSR SweetWater Purifier System:

              The filter is fast with its double action pump. Thought about sticking with iodine or buying a battery powered purifier, but with the filter, I don't have to worry about time or taste. The only down side is that it gets clogged up at times and needs field cleaning.

              • Gift:
              • Yes

              Displaying reviews 1-10

              Back to top

              Previous | Next »

              MSR SweetWater Purifier System Related Items

              Things you might need for this item:

              Other items like this:

              Join REI and Enjoy the Benefits

              Members are eligible for an annual refund on qualifying purchases. Plus, they enjoy many more benefits. Get a lifetime membership for $20.

              Add an REI membership to my order.

              How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.

              • Shopping Cart 
              • |
              •  
              • Buy REI Gift Cards
              • REI Gift Cards
              • Fast, easy and one size fits all.
              • Buy now!
              • Join REI today!
              • REI Membership
              • REI member benefits include an annual refund (typically 10% on eligible purchases).
              • Join REI today!
              • Sign up for REI Gearmail®
              • and get 15% off selected items!
              • Store Locator
              • Locate an REI store near you.