TarGard Permanent Filter System

by TarGard

Product Features

• Most effective TarGard system; cleanable, reusable and economical
• System includes two contoured mouthpieces and one metal filter
• System should be cleaned after 7-20 cigarettes, depending on cigarette tar content and smoking technique
• Does not change flavor of cigarette
• Known as Hunter S. Thompson's cigarette holder.

Product Description

TarGard® filters provide people who smoke a sense of control and peace of mind about smoking. How? By effectively removing tars from cigarette smoke. TarGard filters fit on the end of your cigarette. When you inhale, our filters go to work, trapping the heaviest tars and particles, providing vastly improved and effective filtration.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000NBK0I8
• UPC: 070631012017
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,217 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
  • #4 in Health & Personal Care > Health Care > Smoking Cessation > Nicotine Gums & Lozenges

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TarGard Filter System, is it permanent, does it work......., July 20, 2009

By 

H. Branson (Willaminam, Or) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TarGard Permanent Filter System (Health and Beauty)

When I first started looking at this product I did a little poking around, looking for more information. I couldn't tell if the Targard Permanent Filter System was all you needed to buy. I saw links to some other products, like replacement O-rings ect. So I was a little hesitant to buy it, but I figured at the price they are asking, plus shipping...you really couldn't go too wrong. Plus the cost of the replacement part was very reasonable.
So, let me start off by saying....this System is complete. You do not need to buy any other item to start using it right out of the package. That said, I believe even though it says "Permanent" filter system you may eventually obviously need to buy more O-rings. Why do I say "obviously"? Well they wouldn't sell replacement O-rings if there wasn't a need to replace them! lol.
What are O-rings? They are the products name for the little rubber circle that goes on the metal part, its very small, barely noticeable but it provides the important seal between the metal and the holder (thats my best guess anyway). This system comes with two holders and 1 metal insert with an o-ring included. The metal insert is what actually does the filtering. It might be nice to have a holder by its self, but why not have the advantages of filtering at the same time? The metal insert grips the cigarette very nicely and I didn't once worry that it would fall out when I went to flick the ashes off.

Now, for its actually usage.... I did two trials. One right out of the box. I took it and inserted my 100 length cigarette in the Targard system. I noticed right away that I needed to pull extra hard to get a inhale from the cigarette. I didn't like it. Who wants to look like they are stuggling to be able to inhale?? So the next trial I cut a filter down to the length of a King size cigarette. This worked beautifully! I was able to inhale and smoke, the taste was the same, it didn't feel hotter like it sometimes does with the shorter filters and it didn't burn my fingers since the holder added the length I am normally use to.

My Actual Personal Results-
The first trial I did with the 100's length filter attached- When I finished smoking my cigarette I waited for everything to cool down. Then I took the metal insert out of the holder to look at it. It had a noticeable amount of brownish material around the small hole at the top and the "barrier slot" at the bottom. My best guess, without laboratory equipment to scientifically prove it, is that this brownish material is tar and or nicotine combined. This would normally have gone instantly into my lungs!

I cleaned the filter system thoroughly and was disgusted (but overjoyed) at how much it had actually gotten from only one cigarette!

The trial with the shorter king length filter- I again started with a very clean metal insert and holder. I placed the cigarette in the insert with holder attached. I smoked the cigarette and then once again waited for it to cool down. (just to be on the safe side, you know?) I had very similar results. I could not tell, without tiny calibrated machines, if there was less or more brown material. It appeared to my naked eye as if the Targard Permanent Filter System had caught the same amount of tar no matter the length of the cigarette filter.

I would, only from my own nonprofessional experience, recommend that you use this with a King size filter. It seems to be a smoother experience and without any of the normal drawback of using a King size filter. It didn't taste or feel any different then if I was smoking my normal 100's length.


I will absolutely continue using this product and if I need to occasionally replace the O-ring, then I count that as a very tiny price to pay for the added benefits I am gaining. I give this product 5 stars! A++ for ease of use and completeness.

On a tiny sidenote: The instructions for how to clean the metal insert and holder are on the back of the package. Normally when opening the package these would be ripped or damaged. With a little careful prying you are able to leave these instructions undamaged. However, in all honesty, read the package once and you should be able to take it apart,put it together again and clean it with no difficulty.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Smoker's Gizmo, September 16, 2007

By 

Jared N. Criswell (KY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TarGard Permanent Filter System (Health and Beauty)

This little gadget is an interesting addition to any Smoker's repetoire. While the health effects are questionable, it provides a smoker with several other perks. It somewhat prevents your fingers from smelling like smoke, a condition which few people like. Also, it does in fact collect a certain amount of tar, which would otherwise be in your lungs or on your teeth. I strongly recommend using the clear tip over the black one, as it allows you to see just when you need to clean the device. Speaking of, cleanup is really easy, I just drop it in a little bit of alcohol.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TarGard Filter, April 3, 2009

By 

John Doe (Des Moines, IA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TarGard Permanent Filter System (Health and Beauty)

Great little item ... it definitely fits its billing. I quit pack-a-day smoking ~10 years ago, but I still buy a pack if I'm on vacation, or occasionally for the golf course, etc. This thing is impressive because, with the clear handle, you can actually see the tar collecting in there. If you're trying to quit smoking or thinking about it, this would be a great motivator because you can see what's actually going into your lungs without one of these filters. Also, whether you're trying to quit or not, you should know that this filter does give you less of a quality "drag" off your cigarette --- you're not going to take as much smoke in with each inhale as you would without it. I think heavy smokers who plan to stay that way probably won't get much use out of this thing because it definitely limits the draw. It's not difficult to clean, but you have to keep it clean because otherwise it starts to get that ashtray factor. A Q-tip or the corner of a paper napkin easily does the trick for cleaning. OK,