Over the years we have used countless water filtration devices, aiding in our off-grid travel adventures. We have used everything from straws to pumping units, and from UV filters to drip bags. During the past eight years our plans evolved, and so did the requirements for our travels. The bigger the adventures became, the more serious we needed to be when it came to water purification.

Over the last few years of overland travel, we’ve been fond users of the LifeSaver jerrycan, a water storage container that includes a purification system. This was and still is our main filtration device for full-time travel. But whilst this jerrycan is great for around the vehicle and camp, we had some smaller products to bring along on our hikes in Europe. Now that we set off to Africa, it became essential to upgrade also that part of our gear selection. To us it became vital to bring along a device that would purify the water, also filtering viruses. This new device would be our main filter during hikes, and a backup solution around Rafiki.

Going into the tropics and less-developed regions of the world, our needs changed. That’s why we added the MSR Guardian to our gear before we left, and soon added the LifeSaver Wayfarer as well. With many months of use under our belt, we wrote their reviews. Now, it’s time for a comparison of these two giants on the market.

How do they compare to each other?

The MSR Guardian has been the go-to purifier for years, for anyone who went hiking and took purifying seriously. Last year, they got a competitor, the Wayfarer. Whilst both offer a great deal of viral protection, they are catering to a different market in our opinion. They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

If we are talking about capabilities, the new Wayfarer is beating the Guardian for sure. Offering the same level of protection against bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, the Wayfarer has added filtering capabilities for heavy metals and chemicals with its active carbon filter. Especially in less-developed nations, this is a great feature to have as mining activities and the use of agricultural chemicals are less regulated, possibly resulting in more contaminated water.

When looking at the actual water output – the amount of drinkable water the filter can produce – the Guardian wins. Thanks to its unique design it will comfortably provide 2.5L per minute, compared to the 1.4L per minute of the Wayfarer. The filter size is possibly one of the main factors contributing to this difference.

Both devices are tested thoroughly, to withstand years of use out in the field. The MSR Guardian was originally developed for military squads and tested to meet very high standards (including drop tests). The LifeSaver Wayfarer has been tested to the limit, exceeding the highest filtration and reliability standards, and its design protects the pumping handle very well. Both are robust for sure, but both also have their downfalls which you can find in our reviews.

Lastly, we want to talk about price. This is where the biggest difference comes in, with the Guardian being four times as expensive as the Wayfarer. We all know high-quality gear costs money and investing in a reliable water purifier is not only smart, it can prove to be vital. However, as both devices are proven to be highly capable we believe the output levels, the importance of filtering out chemicals and heavy metals, and filter longevity of the devices are most likely going to be the deciding factor for you.

MSR Guardian

• High output volume
• Ideal for larger groups
• Lightweight pumping handle
• High-quality backup for overlanding