No items found.

Sawyer Mini vs Sawyer Squeeze:  Which Filter Is Best for Thru-Hiking?

The Sawyer Squeeze has been the thru-hiker’s preferred water filter for many years. It’s lightweight, efficient, and affordable. The Sawyer Mini is an even smaller, lighter, and cheaper version of the full-size Squeeze, so it must be an even better choice for weight-conscious hikers, right? Right?

Maybe not.

For once, the lightest, smallest option is probably not the best choice for hardcore backpackers. The full-size Sawyer Squeeze is a better choice for thru-hiking than the Sawyer Mini even though it’s an ounce heavier because it’s a more reliable product. Let’s compare the two filters in more detail to determine why.

Continue reading the comparison written by Kelly Floro here.

LAST UPDATED

October 4, 2023

Written by
Photo thumbnail Blog Author

Kelly Floro

Oh hey there! I'm Ibex, the lead writer and content editor of this site. I mostly spend my spare time scheming new adventures and inadvertently setting my hair on fire while cooking. Appalachian Trail 2018 Wonderland Trail (+ a dozen or so other NPS trails) 2019 Colorado Trail 2020 Colorado Trail 2021.

Explore More Content

Media Mentions

Zenovia Stephens, ...told SELF it was her favorite bug spray for hikes and backpacking trips, and that she used it on herself as well as her kids.

Sara Coughlin

Media Mentions

[Sawyer Picaridin] the best bottle of bug spray we found after testing over 25 repellents and talking to everyone from the EPA to the American Mosquito Control Association.

Wirecutter Staff
Staff

Media Mentions

We have found the most effective and long-lasting solution to be a portable hollow fibre membrane filter that eliminates 99.99999% of harmful bacteria, the most common form of contamination seen in fresh surface water, rainwater and wells.

Christian Troy and Riley Garrison
Executive Director and Project Manager