MSR Guardian Review with Microscope Footage in 4k

Watch as we take a look at living creatures under the microscope. Continue watching as we filter them out using the MSR Guardian water purifier. Finally, stick around as we take another look under the microscope to confirm it works.
0:00 intro and sample collection
1:27 pond water slide prep
1:56 pond water under microscope
4:41 MSR Guardian integrity test 1
7:37 MSR Guardian O-ring lubrication
8:27 MSR Guardian integrity test 2
10:26 MSR Guardian integrity test 3
11:57 filtering pond water with MSR Guardian
13:43 filtered water slide prep
15:15 pond water under microscope one more time
16:15 filtered pond water under microscope
18:16 outro
Products used in this video:
MSR Guardian Purifier
US [affiliate]: amzn.to/2wS6nwH
Nalgene Water Bottle, Clear w/ Green Cap, 32-Ounces
US [affiliate]: amzn.to/2x1ssbe

[@robertdelorme8779]

Going on 4 years now using the MSR Guardian and I can tell you it is simply amazing. The filter is basically maintenance free but this year I took it all apart after it was getting a little hard to pump and I did a silicone maintenance and cleaning on the o rings and now it is working like brand new. No need to rush and buy the 60.00 kit, you can restore the o rings like I did and from now on I will do it once a year.

[@sensusfidelium9510]

I just bought one and am supper excited to try it out ! Any suggestions on any extra parts I should order? Thx

[@petermentes63]

At 7:56 your o-ring leak comment has to do with over tightening the base unit after u have removed it. Over tightening can cause warping of the internal unit and/or o-ring leading to leaks. Also when attaching a wide mouth bottle do not over tighten the bottle bc if you do ur retightening the base unit threads again causing leaks. Per MSR this is the most common cause for this issue. I had this issue recently but it was corrected simply by not overtighening.

[@createthisdotcom]

I agree. I’m a little confused why they allow this sort of design flaw to persist, however. Seems like a problem that could be engineered away.

[@kreidefelsen]

@@createthisdotcom Exactly!!

[@joefran619]

good point as it bothered me that the cost of this unit is not cheap

[@DylanLandro]

@@createthisdotcom You also never observed for 30 seconds... it might take like 25 seconds for the bubbles to stop. Maybe try that?

[@dcentral]

The more I watch about MSR filters leaking, breaking or failing, the more I distrust MSR brand. This filter is like $400 so it should be bomb proof and reliable out of the box. It’s disappointing because MSR has great innovating survival tools.

[@createthisdotcom]

I think this o-ring issue is a really minor issue, but if it bothers you buy another brand.

[@ericf7063]

I've had the older version of this for many years and haven't had any problems at all. Just followed the directions and its always worked fine

[@harrisonshao4537]

Don’t overtighten it.

[@brianalsum7706]

It leaks from the rim around the bottle because as you fill the bottle, air need to escape

[@hakunamatata289]

Thx for the work

[@EssexLadOutdoors]

Love the idea of these, but just seem to be flawed from a design perspective. I had one, but after one use it leaked. If you buy a top end filter, you should be able to have 100% faith in it.

[@bryanthornburg8636]

Mine leaked too, but realized it’s because you can’t tighten the bottom oring all the way. It’s kind of a design flaw that it lets you over tighten it, but if you loosen that a little it won’t leak anymore. I’m sure you either figured that out already or got rid of it by now though

[@lawrencemartin1113]

So, I just invested £275 of my hard earned cash here in the UK and was really desperate to love this bit of kit. Ten minutes out of the box, having thoroughly read all instructions, carefully connected to a brand new clear Nalgene 1Litre bottle (not too tightly as per the videos I have seen) I went to test it with clean tap water in the kitchen sink, from a large clear glass mixing bowl. As I began to pump and after it filled the main filter canister, it sprayed water under pressure all over the place from the bottom 'O' ring. This pump has only just arrived in the UK after a re-stock from my supplier and it is now October 2020. Any manufacturing issues should have been sorted several years back, but clearly not. Next, while continuing to carefully pump to check on the leak, the top plastic pin which 'secures' the pump arm to the main pump chamber, JUST FELL OUT and nearly went down the plug, leaving the arm detached! I managed to just grab it and then re-fit it correctly. It could not have been in place from the factory. I am completely shocked quite frankly. How on earth am I supposed to trust my life to this thing when it leaks like a sinking ship, sprays water everywhere and partially falls to bits in my hand!? I am really concerned that the hype for this device is just that...HYPE. It does not in any way represent quality value for money with the faults it has designed in. I was unable to perform a satisfactory 'integrity' test as water was spraying out all over the place and the handle had already fallen off. I am sad that another video for this product is partly entitled 'Troubleshooting your MSR Guardian'. For nearly £300 it should be perfect and bomb proof! I have written to MSR asking for an explanation and to see what they have to say for themselves. I await a response. I am sure the actual filter technology is excellent and could potentially do what they say it can (all over the box), but the fact that it seems so fragile and failed so badly straight from the factory, is beyond belief. Please think very carefully before buying one, you may be very disappointed at best and potentially very sick if it goes wrong in the field. It cannot possibly be of 'Military' standard as claimed....it would be laughed out of any procurement testing lab within minutes.

[@createthisdotcom]

Should be under warranty. Return it. I agree it isn’t military grade though.

[@lawrencemartin1113]

@@createthisdotcom Hi, Thanks for the swift response! I fully intend to, but am still reeling with anger and frustration. (you may be able to tell!) It has only been in my house two days and I only unboxed it properly today, having waited for the delivery of a couple of new clear Nalgene bottles to go with it. I have waited months for this to be re-stocked here in the UK and at almost £300 it was a major investment for me. I really want to believe in it, but with the design of that bottom 'O' ring being so incredibly and ludicrously sensitive to any movement and the massive risk of cross contamination if it starts leaking in the field, I am wondering if it is worth the risk. That and the fact the arm just fell off is incredible! Anyway, I am going to contact my supplier as well, and get them to swap it out for another in the hope that it is a one off. (I am not at all confident though!) The shop I bought from are a great store and sell brilliant kit so I trust them, but this experience has left me really disappointed and cross that vital kit like this can be so poorly made for such a huge price tag! Thanks again for your reply and I seriously hope yours no longer leaks!

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@createthisdotcom what filter would you recommend?

[@createthiscom]

@@stephenmurray2851 That's a loaded question. Recommend for what use? The MSR Guardian has limitations. If you read the reviews you'll see a lot of people complaining that it clogs up quickly in silty environments, like the Grand Canyon. That said, I own an MSR Guardian. I bought it with my own money. No one gifted it to me or paid me to review it. I wouldn't use it in every situation, but I do use it and I like it. I most recently used it in a rental RV in Alaska this year because everyone got upset stomachs after drinking the tap water and we started wondering if the tank was contaminated. We filtered all the tap water from that point on and everyone felt fine. Unrelated coincidence? Possibly. Still, I'd rather have the MSR Guardian than not have it. It has limitations and design flaws, but I'm not aware of a product that does the same job better.

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@createthiscom not really. It's what he would recommend in general. Not looking for a bespoke overview of the water filter industry. Just an opinion. I want one that is decent for a shtf scenario. Dependable. Obviously not heavy expensive. Most just recommended sawyer but life straw is cheaper.

[@ericf7063]

Wow. I've had mine for years and haven't encountered ANY of the problems described here. I will note that mine is a older model with a black body and blue top. The filter element has "O" rings top and bottom. The only problem I encountered was when I was filtering water from a frozen lake and ice began forming on the surface of the filter element clogging it, which required disassembly to scrape it off. It's no fun having to keep the filter in a pocket to keep it from freezing solid.

[@staveoff5326]

👍

[@katieh3236]

You can't use the same container to collect as filter unless you completely boil sanitize the container and lid

[@jamesgrows4591]

Thank you!!

[@conspirator8887]

Thanks Dude

[@mrmocro]

nice video

[@kreidefelsen]

I own a MSR Guardian and that integrity test looks not okay...

[@marcus102361]

Hope she didn't serve a salad in the blue bowl?!

[@johncooper8839]

Why didn't you use distilled water instead of tap? You just placed your filtered water in with the tap water. No wonder you didn't get a clean catch.

[@syindrome]

For a supposedly bomber, do-it-all filter, it sure is finicky...

[@Liljoozy]

I was also thinking WTF is going on with this thing given the price while watching this

[@dejayrezme8617]

What were the stationary specks when you moved the slide around? Dirt on your sensor? So you don't get much higher magnification than that? I know there is 100x objectives but they need immersion oil. So I guess this is it? I want to get into microscopy as well and use a micro four thirds camera and connect it to a 4k monitor via hdmi. There isn't that much out there in regards to videos of the microscopic imho. Or how to adapt cameras to microscopes or how to build adapters. Thanks for the video, very interesting! PS: Do you even have to be that concerned about viruses from such water sources? I figure most viruses won't be "compatible" with humans since their environment they'll have to work on microorganisms. Well they could also work on mammals drinking and contaminating the water of course.

[@createthisdotcom]

Dust. It appears to be on the field lens (bottom light emitting lens). I’ll have to disassemble the scope to fix it. Yes, my highest magnification objective on this scope is 60x at the moment. I’ll probably pick up an oil immersion objective at some point, but yeah, this is it for now.

[@dejayrezme8617]

I've read a bit and I think with koehler illumination dust on the light gathering lens shouldn't be in focus.

[@createthisdotcom]

You can read about what I've done to track this down here: photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37983

[@createthisdotcom]

Well, you appear to be correct. I did my best to clean the field lens and the mirror below it (filmed it, so video may be released soon), but the speck is still there. I guess I need to do more research.

[@dejayrezme8617]

Maybe it's the light filter? Sorry, I don't have much experience.

[@aliasaila8818]

Seems like this waterfilter is an odd and unreliable piece of plasic. Can't imagine doing the whole procedure every time using. I love my Katadyn

[@trouty7947]

I like not drinking viruses

[@Liljoozy]

1:01-1:06 If I had a nickel...

[@philippowell2232]

Ha

[@e.mthecrusader1446]

You sound similar to nick cage

[@TheChadWork2001]

That pond scum water is disgusting. I can see things moving in it in the bottle.

[@simonarmitage2591]

Needs dye.