Our Verdict
An unrivaled price-to-weight ratio in our extensive review, the Sawyer Mini takes the cake for our Best Buy award. It's inexpensive, lightweight, and small, making it the optimal option for backpacking - even if you aren't on a budget. Weighing only 1.4 ounces for the filter and costing a mere $25, you'll get a filter that Sawyer claims will last for 100,000 gallons. The similar and popular LifeStraw weighs a bit more, is four inches longer, and is less versatile than the Mini, but it does cost $5 less. We find the Mini to be the best filter for personal use in the backcountry.
Review by:
Jessica Haist
Review Editor
OutdoorGearLab
Click here to read the full comparison on OutdoorGearLab.com.
May 7, 2022
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LIFE OUTDOORS
MEDIA MENTIONS
My only complaint is that eventually, backflushing won’t be enough. These can clog up after some time and no amount of back flushing will fix its low flow. I went through 2 on the AT. However, it will attach to Smart Water Bottles and most bladders!
MEDIA MENTIONS
Built for backcountry reliability and portability, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is our pick for the best portable water purifier.
MEDIA MENTIONS
The Sawyer Squeeze was (by far) the most common Pacific Crest Trail water filter this year – for the fifth year in a row. It’s a $39, 3 oz / 85 g hollow fiber filter that rids your drinking water of protozoa and bacteria (and floaties). It can be used with Sawyer bags (included with the filter) or with compatible water bottles (Smartwater is the bottle of choice for many hikers).
