MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier

Will use the Purifier for the first time on a Sierra backpack trip in Sept, but today use the purge hose to get rid of the carbon deposits, then filtered about 5 liters of water into a bucket. Am really looking forward to no longer backflush, like we had to do with our old MSR filter (which is on its way to Geartrade). Also, very happy that the Purifier gets rid of viruses, which is a major concern now.

This is my nomading travel companion, not just my backcountry water treatment. Warding off microbiome disasters wherever I go; rural Mexico to remote Nepal, and everywhere in between (including sketchy airbnb tap water).

I bought this after using MSR's regular gravit flow system for years. It's great to have the self-flusing feature, instead of having to back flush the old model. Very fast.

Very satisfied. Used every day to provide drinking water for a family of five in the Philippines.

utilisation is very simple. i drink lake water all week and i was ok.

If budget is no object - then this is the filter to buy. I also have the Sawyer Gravity system which costs 4x cheaper. Not just a mere filter, it is a also purifier - and the carbon filter is the icing on the cake and makes the filtered water pleasant tasting. Everything about the package is pure premium. MSR did not skimp on the components and it looks and feel as expensive as it actually is. Operating is easy. Long term storage is a bit tedious - it is a 1 hour procedure - but I don't mind doing to ensure tip top performance and longevity. I know some complain about the flow rate. I never measured - I mean between the claimed 2 mins to reputedly slower 2m30secs in the field .. it is rather irrelevant to me for my use. Which is base camp use where I wont be moving for days. Part of enjoying the outdoors is the being calm about everything and 10L filtered water that comes about a few mins late, is a non-issue for me. And it is really great to produce so much filtered water for camp use effortlessly AND it is supercomforting to know that it is (if the claims are to be believed) the only filter to meet military grade specifications. That seems overkill for me but then why not! Downsides : long term storage and PRICE. This filter is insanely priced.

It's just a great and reliable system. Even my kids can use it. We are a family of 5 who go camping with friends and we need a lot of water often we use 70 liters on a weekend. With the gravity system we never run out of water and the system does not require attention so it's very good for camping with small kids.

After reading The Road by Cormac MacCarthy I purchased both a Guardian and a Guardian Gravity Purifier. I figure that they will either not get used much or they will save lives in the long run. That said I now only have the Guardian Purifier as my Guardian Gravity Purifier was donated by me to a disaster relief friend. Now all I need is a sale for me to be able to buy my family another one.I am glad I helped someone but now I can't afford another one. I never even got to use it.