I wanted to bring some clarity and information that I am not seeing when people do reviews of the Sawyer filters. And to be clear, I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system. Now for the clarity. Sawyer filter must be back-flushed to maintain flow rate. You can use the syringe provided or use the coupler with a bottle, but it must be done. Also, and most important is the technology of the Sawyer. While the Katodyne and the life straw and other hollow-fiber membrane use the same basic technology, the Sawyer is ABSOLUTE .1 micron while all others are just AVERAGE .1 micron. This is a HUGE difference and can make the difference between health and sickness. The final point is the quality control Sawyer uses. They test all filters before shipping. We at The Last Well, along with other NGOs, use the Sawyer around the globe to save lives with clean water. I know some that are still using the Sawyer for 10 years and it works as well as it did on day 1 and it is used every day. When my health is on the line I will use NOTHING but Sawyer.
@@bobbuilder4345 I am in Thailand. I just returned (2 days ago) from a 10 day 150KM trip through a river and lake (dammed at end) system, Mae Ping river, running through the Mae Ping National Park. Doi Tao through to Bhumibom . The water level was very low. At the beginning I was literally in two ft of water - brown mud, getting stuck and having to pull kayak while sinking in mud of sand. During this time both banks had cattle, and it was a very miserable hot place and the water was brown silt. Frankly, it overwhelmed the Sawyer mini filter, as the water out the other end was not clear. This is nothing you would find in the USA. During these early days of the trip I used the sawyer mini - and then - used Aquatabs. This water was not a joy to drink. As I do not enjoy the chlorine taste, but the sawyer mini alone does not protect against viruses , and I had worries because of the presence of so much livestock and the mucky water. I backflushed after every 64 oz bag. After the early days when the water changed to clear and was larger and deep, cool and more lake like, I stopped using the Aquatabs, and did not get sick, and the sawyer was now providing clear water. I think different methods for different places until sawyer makes a filter that is going to take out viruses as well. As I understand they have a new one - not the mini or squeeze that will do this. The micro?
Thank You Devin! I keep upgrading as I do more Backing Solo then I do with my little brother Dan. Your reviews are done with a delivery quality that lets me know exactly where I stand with important gear, My brother gets the hand me downs of fine quality as a result! We get more time to be together doing what We LOVE MOST IN THE WORLD! So yes Devin, your REVIEWS are So vital to Our Family as they come from a trusted Friend! As Always, Blessings from Oregon Pal!! ... Mike. & the Kody dog too. :)
If you back flush with tap water (particularly hard water) you can clog a Sawyer. Had one that I back flushed at the tap and let it sit for months and it was totally clogged. Back flush with bottled water or filtered water.
Same happened to mine. I will test that out of curiosity, but I'm DONE with Sawyer. My Mini has been used so infrequently and yet it's completely clogged.
@@supernoobsmith5718 Try to put it into some warm water with vinegar and let it in for couple of minutes. Then backwash. Repeat two or three times. It could help.
You can get calcium buildup if your water has a lot of it. Try soaking in warm (not hot) water and then add vinegar to the back flush and it will clear it up. Does it take maintenance, yes. Do ALL hollow fiber membrane filters require the same maintenance, yes. And stick to the squeeze or micro squeeze. The mini just doesn’t have the capacity and so flow is just not there. The larger ones are AWESOME
you all prolly dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb lost the password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
Had the Sawyer Mini. Output end popped off on my 2nd use at the start of a 7-day hike. Used a ziplock bag to repair and keep hiking. Bought a gravity feed system upon returning home
I had the same flow problem with the squeeze and the Mini but yet the squeeze still lets more water through for me personally. Great look at the filters Dev!
I've used the squeeze for a few years now and have never gotten sick. I don't gravity feed it because I'm always on the go. I have to get up and down the mountain before the thunder storms hit. No flow problems but the creek water is crystal clear.
Sick! I just bought this cause it was smaller and less expensive than the Squeeze but looked beefier than the Mini and had a threaded inlet/outlet. ‘Preciate the confirmation!
I've had no problems whatsoever with degraded flow rates with the Sawyer squeeze, but I make sure to backflush it every 2-3 days. It only takes a minute, and it keeps your filter working like new.
I can’t believe I didn’t think about using a clean squeeze bag or bottle instead of the syringe 💉 🤦🏻♂️ this is why I watch multiple videos on the same topic you never know when someone is going to say something that blows your mind 🤯…😁👍
Good overview of these popular filters. Better than my old Pre mac travel pump which was much lighter and smaller than my mini and also killed many viruses but had iodine balls in the filter body, it produced really safe water but the taste was truly horrible. i am happy with the mini and only use a certain make of supermarket soda bottles that we have here in the UK Short body long neck 1ltr that are perfect for my backpack mesh side pockets.
Things not mentioned : first the S1 micro is featured , you can also get the micro s3 which has even tighter filter and removes 99.9% of viruses . This is great as far as I know the 400 msr military filter (not the cheaper backpacking version msr sells) is the only other one that does this . One problem I see with this video is it says the total opposite of every other backpacking UA-camr. Literally dozens of others say the squeeze outflows the mini by far and the micro is almost unusable due to flow rate issues . I also get the impression in this video he’s doing a first impressions the way he talks about the micro and hasn’t used it extensively yet. Maybe he has a follow up I plan to look for it . But I mainly wanted to suggest since we are all dealing with a global pandemic unlike the world has ever seen (yes it’s worse than Spanish flu , imagine how deadly covid would be with no vent or iv fluid or other modern medicine) people buy the s3 to filter sars-covid-2
I've been using the squeeze since it first appeared and immediately gave away the squeeze bags. I use it as a gravity filter with one main difference from your setup. I have a platypus gravityworks hose from my dirty water bag leading to the sawyer. I even have a carbon filter attached to the sawyer just before it empties into the clean water bag. Gravity pulling on the water volume in the hose makes this more efficient. So much so that once I fill up my water bag, I can use it as needed by attaching a shutoff valve.
@@yellowroseoftexas2890 www.platy.com/gravityworks-carbon-element - the Platypus GravityWorks™ Carbon Element. It comes with a small hose that I also add either a platypus shutoff or inline valve
As a serious hiker with very limited funds, I'm a big Sawyer fan, but I have to nention a few cons: Freezing, freezing, freezing After a few years, including Fall and Winter outdoor living in Washington and elsewhere, I've learned that you cannot trust your life to this type of water filter. It simply freezes far too easily and there's no wiggle room. It's not enough to keep it in a cargo pocket. It needs to be kept INSIDE closer to your torso than to your outer layers. Forget once and it's kaput, but you might never know. (btw if anyone knows how to field test this, plz plz share) I strongly suspect that cases where a filter has frozen once or more has led to cases of giardia where hikers thought their filtered water was ok. To keep this short, I will continue with another comment, sediment, my own comparison, etc.
Although I see most other hikers use these filters more-or-less as prescribed, I typically detect an overwhelming ignorance of the basic concept: Filtering. It does not magically stop bad stuff at the input end of the device. It is more accurate to say that it holds ALL the crap (literally that and more) that goes in. That's a lot of garbage trying to pass through those 0.1 micron pores. It is extra work, but I always pre-filter my water to remove 90% of the sediment +/- to give my filter a break. I do this by simply straining it through a cloth from my water collector bottle to my squeeze bottle. I like to use a microfiber cloth, but many different kinds will do. Doing this routine sediment filtration greatly extends the time between my need to back flush, and I hope, also extends the life of my filter.
Is the flow rate slower on the Squeeze if you do not screw it into the bottom collection bag, just into a jug or something, as the air in it under pressure may slow the flow rate??
I think this is the best product out there in terms of water treatment, however, if you fancy a little extra safety and you have plenty of time at camp, boil a bit your filtered water and keep some for the next day.
Great video, Brother ! I have been leery about which one to buy. Have been using a pump "Katy" since the military, so maybe I could change. Keep up the great work !!!
Was ready to pull the trigger on the Micro now that Sawyer finally sold it without the bottle. Love the versatility but after a few different reviews on Reddit filtering water in high tannin / beaver pond water it seems like the Micro slowed down a lot more than the normal squeeze, and doesn't backflush as well as the Squeeze. I still might get it to do my own testing though. Good video man.
Backcountry Exposure I’m thinking you have a bad Squeeze. I’ve used mine for nearly two years with no problems. I’m an AT lasher and most hikers on the trail seem to be using the squeeze. If kept properly backwashed and not allowed to freeze they seem to work great. I’m going to get the micro and give it a try. Thanks for the video brother. Happy hiking! 👊🏻
@@maryellenhikes5953 a lot of the problems for the Sawyer squeeze have been traced back to backflushing with hard water when back at home. It causes the fibers to clog with buildup. Probably the case with BE as well. Happened to me. Now I filter a litter of trail water before I get off the trail and backflush with the trail water.
@@BackcountryExposure if your squeeze filter's flow rate is not being restored via a traditional backwash, we would recommend soaking it in hot water and/or vinegar to loosen up any built up particulate or mineral build up within the fibers. A successful backwash can restore up to 98.5% of the flow rate.
The difference is that the micro have a foam membrane in addition so it filter a great part of chemicals, pesticides, viruses and heavy metal. The other filters only remove bacteria and protozoa, which is great for almost all of the north american continent. In addition to that, there is 3 different micro filter (s1, s2, s3), they have a life spent of 1600, 800 and 400 uses due to the fact that the foam membrane is better/smaller the more the number of the model is high in the case of the sawyer micro.
Or there is the MSR Thru Link Filter which has quick link ends so you don’t need to cut any tubing to install it to your bladder system. It also features a carbon filter to improve water taste.
I've heard a lot about Sawyer but have yet to use them. Good info. I'm in the market to either replace the actual filters I currently have or change to something different. I'm a big fan of the gravity system for certain applications. I find I use it often especially when backpacking (as opposed to backpack hunting trips).
Did I see that you're using an old PUR system? I've totally stopped using pump filters and do hollow fiber and aquamira drops as a back up. Worth the weight and space savings for me.
Just wondering, why do you have the tube attached to the micro via two threaded adapters when it looks like there's a tube nipple already built into both ends of the filter?
I put a QD on my bladder line about 4 inches above the mouthpiece. When i want to fill up ill just connect my mini filter to there instead of pulling out my whole bladder.
Has anyone put some of this "purified water" under a scope and checked for protozoa and such? What were the results? Thx, better a lab report than an anecdote.
I use the regular Sawyer and it has never done me wrong...the micro one that comes with the bottle looks pretty good for all kind of heavy metals and diseases it takes out..great video and info dude..try to clean it with vinegar..heard it works good..theres a good video on it by backcountry banters channel..
Yeah I need to do that. I've watched that video before. I had the Micro out in the desert the past weekend and filtered something like 12-14 liters of water from desert pot holes without back flushing and it was awesome. Im pretty sold and may not go back to the squeeze.
Sounds like some gnarly water sources...okay well everyone filters water from all over..some harsher on filters Im guessing....the other one u r using here looks like it's pretty well made..
That long tube with screw adapters on each end, did that come with the kit or you bought it separate? Where and how much? What’s the exact model? Also what’s that tube’s internal and outside diameters? Thanks!
Yeah man give it a shot. I've heard a couple people say the Micro hasn't been awesome for them, but I've been happy with how well it's done, especially with the water i've pushed through it.
I want to see just one video of the filters on these under a microscope then photos of the filter after a few weeks of use, especially those to power use them like a straw instead of gravity fed. I bet those filters get all torn up after a few weeks of use.
No offense but flow speed doesn't always = good quality water. Think about it. If there was no filter inside, water would go from one bottle to the next super fast. Add a filter it slows. Is the blue cleaning it as good as the sawyer or just allowing more water to flow through faster? Water that could be not as clean? Or is the technology of the BLU just better than the sawyer. No way to know unless you test them side by side in a lab. One thing i will say is BLU is apparently chinese made not USA. (founded in utah) but not made in Utah.
Great vid thanks! Just threw one of my minis away as I pulled it out of my cold weather kit to make sure it worked for an upcoming trip and I could not get any water through it or back flush it. Dont know if it froze during my last cold weather trip or what. Going to take a look at the new one.
Where is the red blanket from? Is it water proof or just water resistant? Do you get a wet butt when you sit on the blanket and it is on wet ground (gras, sand,..)
At the 7:57 mark, you can see inside the outlet threaded collar what looks like a hose connector built into the micro filter. Is that what it is and can you connect your hose to it, or do you still need the blue and grey components to connect a hose, as you have with the filter that's on the tent floor in the same frame?
I like my Sawyer Squeeze, but would like to give the micro a try. I did have the flow rate on my squeeze slow down and now I backflush with filtered stream water or distilled water at home. The hard water seems to have been the problem. Frozen recommended this to me.
It has been about 10 years since I have backpacked, and I am now finally to start up again later this year, so I have been researching different gear. I plan to go the non filter route and use Aquamira liquid drops Water Treatment. None of the filters kill viruses, so why use a filter at all? Am I wrong with this thinking??
So you don't have the chemicals in your water. If you get sick because the filter, that would make them liable. As small as this community is, word would spread quickly and people would advise against getting it. People are not getting sick, even with nasty water.
Yeah most backpackers in North America don't have much to worry about in terms of viruses. There's a reason why these filters still sell and hikers aren't puking their guts out every time they go outside. If you're really worried about your water source, boil or use chemical purification in addition to the filter. But as others have said, viral contamination is basically a non-issue here.
Did you actually try the Micro, or is this just a spec sheet comparison? Hearing a lot of people getting them permanently clogged up after surprisingly little usage... This is the first video that speaks for it.
I've been using the Sawyer mini for 6ish years now? It does the job, the price is great and weight is great. But filtering water has become my least favorite thing to do backpacking and I finally switched to a pump filter haha
I’m with Amy on this one. I have a micro for when I’m solo, but if bring the family along I take the hit weight wise and use a pump filter. They are much more efficient and if you get one with a carbon core they remove taste and odor from the water too.
Your scale is wrong, my dude. I just reweighed my Sawyer Squeeze to make sure I wasn't imagining things and it weighs 3.1 ounces with no cap, and 3.6 oz with cap, coupler, and gaskets. I don't see how yours can weigh that much less unless there's something wrong with it.
Sawyer Squize is now price gouging, raising there price from 29$ to 45.99 absolutely reduclous our troop was going to purchase these now they made it impossible. I will not use or purchase any product from the ever again. There price gouging goes against everything they stand for. Will be releasing a video on this reduclous price gouging Sawyer is doing. Do not purchase from this company. There head is getting to big and now money is more important than the mission. I have formally removed all my support and referrals for there product.
This comment is quite short sided. I would absolutely disagree they are price gouging. You don’t know their manufacturing costs, whether or not increases in that area have increased. They are well within the market for pricing. Katadyn, platypus, MSR, etc are all well within the same price point. Price gouging would mean Sawyer would be charging 3, 4, 6 times what the competition is charging for their product. Increasing the price of a product has many moving parts and reasons. To conclude what you have is just short sided and miss understood.
Are you kidding me?! Over a few hundred videos, I get hundreds of comments on my channel. It’s impossible to see and respond to every single comment I get on the FREE content I am sharing. I work full time, have a wife and kids. I don’t spend all my time on UA-cam.
For more camping pleasure use Hyperflow filter and leave the rest of the nonsense at home. Set your self free from the ball and chain known as Sawyer whatever..
Their "smallest and lightest" is nearly $100 USD. Even if it is much better in terms of quality, in terms of portableness, and cost, "Sayer whatever" definitely wins.
Your review is about the Sawyer filters but at the 3:00 minute mark you start talking about Hydroblue and say you stopped using the Sawyer mini because you like the hydroblue better and don't use the mini anymore...WTF? What kind of stupid review is this? Never click on your link again..
You are severely missing the point. I bring the Versaflow into the conversation to specifically say that I stopped using the Mini because I found the Versaflow to be a better filter than the Mini. I don't understand how this results in a stupid review.
I wanted to bring some clarity and information that I am not seeing when people do reviews of the Sawyer filters. And to be clear, I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system.
Now for the clarity. Sawyer filter must be back-flushed to maintain flow rate. You can use the syringe provided or use the coupler with a bottle, but it must be done. Also, and most important is the technology of the Sawyer. While the Katodyne and the life straw and other hollow-fiber membrane use the same basic technology, the Sawyer is ABSOLUTE .1 micron while all others are just AVERAGE .1 micron. This is a HUGE difference and can make the difference between health and sickness. The final point is the quality control Sawyer uses. They test all filters before shipping.
We at The Last Well, along with other NGOs, use the Sawyer around the globe to save lives with clean water. I know some that are still using the Sawyer for 10 years and it works as well as it did on day 1 and it is used every day. When my health is on the line I will use NOTHING but Sawyer.
Do you have any experience in your ine of work with Aquatabs? Thanks
@@ronnieo9571 In my opinion, chlorine is not a long term solution.
@@bobbuilder4345 I am in Thailand. I just returned (2 days ago) from a 10 day 150KM trip through a river and lake (dammed at end) system, Mae Ping river, running through the Mae Ping National Park. Doi Tao through to Bhumibom . The water level was very low. At the beginning I was literally in two ft of water - brown mud, getting stuck and having to pull kayak while sinking in mud of sand. During this time both banks had cattle, and it was a very miserable hot place and the water was brown silt. Frankly, it overwhelmed the Sawyer mini filter, as the water out the other end was not clear. This is nothing you would find in the USA. During these early days of the trip I used the sawyer mini - and then - used Aquatabs. This water was not a joy to drink. As I do not enjoy the chlorine taste, but the sawyer mini alone does not protect against viruses , and I had worries because of the presence of so much livestock and the mucky water. I backflushed after every 64 oz bag. After the early days when the water changed to clear and was larger and deep, cool and more lake like, I stopped using the Aquatabs, and did not get sick, and the sawyer was now providing clear water. I think different methods for different places until sawyer makes a filter that is going to take out viruses as well. As I understand they have a new one - not the mini or squeeze that will do this. The micro?
Wowza why would you let those kids drink water with viruses still in it
thank you so much for the work you do!
Thank You Devin! I keep upgrading as I do more Backing Solo then I do with my little brother Dan. Your reviews are done with a delivery quality that lets me know exactly where I stand with important gear, My brother gets the hand me downs of fine quality as a result! We get more time to be together doing what We LOVE MOST IN THE WORLD! So yes Devin, your REVIEWS are So vital to Our Family as they come from a trusted Friend! As Always, Blessings from Oregon Pal!! ... Mike. & the Kody dog too. :)
If you back flush with tap water (particularly hard water) you can clog a Sawyer. Had one that I back flushed at the tap and let it sit for months and it was totally clogged. Back flush with bottled water or filtered water.
Same happened to mine. I will test that out of curiosity, but I'm DONE with Sawyer. My Mini has been used so infrequently and yet it's completely clogged.
@@supernoobsmith5718 Try to put it into some warm water with vinegar and let it in for couple of minutes. Then backwash. Repeat two or three times. It could help.
You can get calcium buildup if your water has a lot of it. Try soaking in warm (not hot) water and then add vinegar to the back flush and it will clear it up.
Does it take maintenance, yes. Do ALL hollow fiber membrane filters require the same maintenance, yes.
And stick to the squeeze or micro squeeze. The mini just doesn’t have the capacity and so flow is just not there. The larger ones are AWESOME
you all prolly dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb lost the password. I would love any assistance you can give me!
@Jalen Jordan Instablaster =)
Had the Sawyer Mini. Output end popped off on my 2nd use at the start of a 7-day hike. Used a ziplock bag to repair and keep hiking. Bought a gravity feed system upon returning home
Try back flushing and then soaking the filter in vinegar for an hour. I was very impressed with how much better the flowrate became for the Squeeze
I had the same flow problem with the squeeze and the Mini but yet the squeeze still lets more water through for me personally. Great look at the filters Dev!
Great video review. I have a couple of the Squeeze and also a couple mini. The Squeeze is the primary, and the mini is normally packed as a back-up.
I've used the squeeze for a few years now and have never gotten sick. I don't gravity feed it because I'm always on the go. I have to get up and down the mountain before the thunder storms hit. No flow problems but the creek water is crystal clear.
Why dont you strap it to your pack and gravity feed on the trail...
Always have loved my mini... but what stood out the most to me in this video was actually the hydrablu I’ll have to look more into that!
Backcountry Forward the hydroblu is super rad!
Which leads us to the next video; Micro vs. Hydroblu!
Sick! I just bought this cause it was smaller and less expensive than the Squeeze but looked beefier than the Mini and had a threaded inlet/outlet. ‘Preciate the confirmation!
I've had no problems whatsoever with degraded flow rates with the Sawyer squeeze, but I make sure to backflush it every 2-3 days. It only takes a minute, and it keeps your filter working like new.
I can’t believe I didn’t think about using a clean squeeze bag or bottle instead of the syringe 💉 🤦🏻♂️ this is why I watch multiple videos on the same topic you never know when someone is going to say something that blows your mind 🤯…😁👍
Also new sub 👍
Good overview of these popular filters.
Better than my old Pre mac travel pump which was much lighter and smaller than my mini and also killed many viruses but had iodine balls in the filter body, it produced really safe water but the taste was truly horrible.
i am happy with the mini and only use a certain make of supermarket soda bottles that we have here in the UK
Short body long neck 1ltr that are perfect for my backpack mesh side pockets.
Things not mentioned : first the S1 micro is featured , you can also get the micro s3 which has even tighter filter and removes 99.9% of viruses . This is great as far as I know the 400 msr military filter (not the cheaper backpacking version msr sells) is the only other one that does this .
One problem I see with this video is it says the total opposite of every other backpacking UA-camr. Literally dozens of others say the squeeze outflows the mini by far and the micro is almost unusable due to flow rate issues . I also get the impression in this video he’s doing a first impressions the way he talks about the micro and hasn’t used it extensively yet. Maybe he has a follow up I plan to look for it . But I mainly wanted to suggest since we are all dealing with a global pandemic unlike the world has ever seen (yes it’s worse than Spanish flu , imagine how deadly covid would be with no vent or iv fluid or other modern medicine) people buy the s3 to filter sars-covid-2
First review ive seen prefering the micro over the squeeze
Doesn't seem like he actually have tested them...
I like my mini just got a squeeze to compare. It's awesome that the new offering is the best of both.
the micro doesn't have an arrow for flow direction like the others and can be hooked up backwards. does that matter?
I've been using the squeeze since it first appeared and immediately gave away the squeeze bags. I use it as a gravity filter with one main difference from your setup. I have a platypus gravityworks hose from my dirty water bag leading to the sawyer. I even have a carbon filter attached to the sawyer just before it empties into the clean water bag. Gravity pulling on the water volume in the hose makes this more efficient. So much so that once I fill up my water bag, I can use it as needed by attaching a shutoff valve.
JP Carballo What brand of carbon filter & where did you pick it up to attach the the clean water end of your sawyer?
@@yellowroseoftexas2890 www.platy.com/gravityworks-carbon-element - the Platypus GravityWorks™ Carbon Element. It comes with a small hose that I also add either a platypus shutoff or inline valve
Thanks for the video. I'll probably get a micro now.
As a serious hiker with very limited funds, I'm a big Sawyer fan, but I have to nention a few cons:
Freezing, freezing, freezing
After a few years, including Fall and Winter outdoor living in Washington and elsewhere, I've learned that you cannot trust your life to this type of water filter. It simply freezes far too easily and there's no wiggle room. It's not enough to keep it in a cargo pocket. It needs to be kept INSIDE closer to your torso than to your outer layers. Forget once and it's kaput, but you might never know.
(btw if anyone knows how to field test this, plz plz share)
I strongly suspect that cases where a filter has frozen once or more has led to cases of giardia where hikers thought their filtered water was ok.
To keep this short, I will continue with another comment, sediment, my own comparison, etc.
Although I see most other hikers use these filters more-or-less as prescribed, I typically detect an overwhelming ignorance of the basic concept: Filtering. It does not magically stop bad stuff at the input end of the device. It is more accurate to say that it holds ALL the crap (literally that and more) that goes in. That's a lot of garbage trying to pass through those 0.1 micron pores.
It is extra work, but I always pre-filter my water to remove 90% of the sediment +/- to give my filter a break. I do this by simply straining it through a cloth from my water collector bottle to my squeeze bottle. I like to use a microfiber cloth, but many different kinds will do.
Doing this routine sediment filtration greatly extends the time between my need to back flush, and I hope, also extends the life of my filter.
Is the flow rate slower on the Squeeze if you do not screw it into the bottom collection bag, just into a jug or something, as the air in it under pressure may slow the flow rate??
I think this is the best product out there in terms of water treatment, however, if you fancy a little extra safety and you have plenty of time at camp, boil a bit your filtered water and keep some for the next day.
Does anyone know how many litres it will go through before getting stuck? If the water has always been clear?
Bonjour So which one is the best ?
Great video, Brother !
I have been leery about which one to buy.
Have been using a pump "Katy" since the military, so maybe I could change.
Keep up the great work !!!
The SGT FU Channel a good pump filter is hard to move on from, but I’ve found it worth it.
@@BackcountryExposure, I may try it.
Christmas is coming up.
LOL !!!
Was ready to pull the trigger on the Micro now that Sawyer finally sold it without the bottle. Love the versatility but after a few different reviews on Reddit filtering water in high tannin / beaver pond water it seems like the Micro slowed down a lot more than the normal squeeze, and doesn't backflush as well as the Squeeze. I still might get it to do my own testing though. Good video man.
The squeeze has been a lot of trouble for me. So hoping long term the micro performs better.
Backcountry Exposure Love the info, thanks for the review! Hundred have raved about the squeeze, including me. Might you have just got a bad squeeze?
Backcountry Exposure I’m thinking you have a bad Squeeze. I’ve used mine for nearly two years with no problems. I’m an AT lasher and most hikers on the trail seem to be using the squeeze. If kept properly backwashed and not allowed to freeze they seem to work great. I’m going to get the micro and give it a try. Thanks for the video brother. Happy hiking! 👊🏻
@@maryellenhikes5953 a lot of the problems for the Sawyer squeeze have been traced back to backflushing with hard water when back at home. It causes the fibers to clog with buildup. Probably the case with BE as well. Happened to me. Now I filter a litter of trail water before I get off the trail and backflush with the trail water.
@@BackcountryExposure if your squeeze filter's flow rate is not being restored via a traditional backwash, we would recommend soaking it in hot water and/or vinegar to loosen up any built up particulate or mineral build up within the fibers. A successful backwash can restore up to 98.5% of the flow rate.
The difference is that the micro have a foam membrane in addition so it filter a great part of chemicals, pesticides, viruses and heavy metal. The other filters only remove bacteria and protozoa, which is great for almost all of the north american continent. In addition to that, there is 3 different micro filter (s1, s2, s3), they have a life spent of 1600, 800 and 400 uses due to the fact that the foam membrane is better/smaller the more the number of the model is high in the case of the sawyer micro.
Or there is the MSR Thru Link Filter which has quick link ends so you don’t need to cut any tubing to install it to your bladder system. It also features a carbon filter to improve water taste.
I've heard a lot about Sawyer but have yet to use them. Good info. I'm in the market to either replace the actual filters I currently have or change to something different. I'm a big fan of the gravity system for certain applications. I find I use it often especially when backpacking (as opposed to backpack hunting trips).
Did I see that you're using an old PUR system? I've totally stopped using pump filters and do hollow fiber and aquamira drops as a back up. Worth the weight and space savings for me.
Where do you buy the little blue thread adaptor to fit the cnoc bottle on the mini?
Just wondering, why do you have the tube attached to the micro via two threaded adapters when it looks like there's a tube nipple already built into both ends of the filter?
I put a QD on my bladder line about 4 inches above the mouthpiece. When i want to fill up ill just connect my mini filter to there instead of pulling out my whole bladder.
Great review thanks for the info
Has anyone put some of this "purified water" under a scope and checked for protozoa and such? What were the results? Thx, better a lab report than an anecdote.
Which is the best?
I use the regular Sawyer and it has never done me wrong...the micro one that comes with the bottle looks pretty good for all kind of heavy metals and diseases it takes out..great video and info dude..try to clean it with vinegar..heard it works good..theres a good video on it by backcountry banters channel..
Yeah I need to do that. I've watched that video before. I had the Micro out in the desert the past weekend and filtered something like 12-14 liters of water from desert pot holes without back flushing and it was awesome. Im pretty sold and may not go back to the squeeze.
Sounds like some gnarly water sources...okay well everyone filters water from all over..some harsher on filters Im guessing....the other one u r using here looks like it's pretty well made..
I doubt it'd work on heavy metals and certainly not viruses. It's bacteria and solids that these work on.
I have mini and water always tastes like plastic from any water source, even bottled water. Anyone have that issue?
That long tube with screw adapters on each end, did that come with the kit or you bought it separate? Where and how much? What’s the exact model? Also what’s that tube’s internal and outside diameters? Thanks!
May have to try the Micro out. I was using the BeFree when it clogged up on me on the HST.
Yeah man give it a shot. I've heard a couple people say the Micro hasn't been awesome for them, but I've been happy with how well it's done, especially with the water i've pushed through it.
I want to see just one video of the filters on these under a microscope then photos of the filter after a few weeks of use, especially those to power use them like a straw instead of gravity fed. I bet those filters get all torn up after a few weeks of use.
Another awesome review. Looking forward to taking these lightweight filters over my heavy katadyne hiker.
Great review!
I’m definitely picking one up to test out.
Tim Watson yay! More gear!
After 3 years what are you using now?
No offense but flow speed doesn't always = good quality water. Think about it. If there was no filter inside, water would go from one bottle to the next super fast. Add a filter it slows. Is the blue cleaning it as good as the sawyer or just allowing more water to flow through faster? Water that could be not as clean? Or is the technology of the BLU just better than the sawyer. No way to know unless you test them side by side in a lab. One thing i will say is BLU is apparently chinese made not USA. (founded in utah) but not made in Utah.
Great vid thanks! Just threw one of my minis away as I pulled it out of my cold weather kit to make sure it worked for an upcoming trip and I could not get any water through it or back flush it. Dont know if it froze during my last cold weather trip or what. Going to take a look at the new one.
Sean Duncan yeah best to toss it if you have any feeling of it freezing.
Minis dont like the cold, if it freezes it pretty much ruins it.
I've heard different - the micro isn't as good as the mini. I'll stick with the mini.
Where is the red blanket from? Is it water proof or just water resistant? Do you get a wet butt when you sit on the blanket and it is on wet ground (gras, sand,..)
Jasiwardas this is just a tent footprint
At the 7:57 mark, you can see inside the outlet threaded collar what looks like a hose connector built into the micro filter. Is that what it is and can you connect your hose to it, or do you still need the blue and grey components to connect a hose, as you have with the filter that's on the tent floor in the same frame?
Yes it is and yes you can hook it up to a 1/4" inner diameter tube.
How about filters viruses in Sawyers filters?
I'm going to tryout the Sawyer micro
Does the Squeeze and Micro Squeeze thread to Smart Water bottles like the Mini?
Yes
And both are better than the trash mini
I like my Sawyer Squeeze, but would like to give the micro a try. I did have the flow rate on my squeeze slow down and now I backflush with filtered stream water or distilled water at home. The hard water seems to have been the problem. Frozen recommended this to me.
uptrail71 yeah I hadn’t heard that but makes sense.
How does the micro compare to the hydroblu?
Micro is smaller. I feel like the Hydroblu has better flow rate, but the weight and size of the Micro is nice. Both are a winner for me.
It has been about 10 years since I have backpacked, and I am now finally to start up again later this year, so I have been researching different gear. I plan to go the non filter route and use Aquamira liquid drops Water Treatment. None of the filters kill viruses, so why use a filter at all? Am I wrong with this thinking??
So you don't have the chemicals in your water. If you get sick because the filter, that would make them liable. As small as this community is, word would spread quickly and people would advise against getting it. People are not getting sick, even with nasty water.
Depends on where you're hiking. Viral contamination of water is virtually non-existent in North America. That makes the concern unwarranted.
Yeah most backpackers in North America don't have much to worry about in terms of viruses. There's a reason why these filters still sell and hikers aren't puking their guts out every time they go outside. If you're really worried about your water source, boil or use chemical purification in addition to the filter. But as others have said, viral contamination is basically a non-issue here.
Did you actually try the Micro, or is this just a spec sheet comparison? Hearing a lot of people getting them permanently clogged up after surprisingly little usage... This is the first video that speaks for it.
Are the coupler and hose included with the micro? If not where did you get them?
Yes a coupler is included, at least it was in my kit. You can also order them on Amazon.
hyy xsj hose is not
hyy xsj all of that stuff you can get on amazon for cheap. 😁
How durable is it
Where did you get the tube that you have attached to the Sawyer micro? It looks quite handy
It is an accessory you can get from Sawyer.
Backcountry Exposure what is it called?
I've been using the Sawyer mini for 6ish years now? It does the job, the price is great and weight is great. But filtering water has become my least favorite thing to do backpacking and I finally switched to a pump filter haha
Amy Routt I can agree with that. It’s a big reason why I’ve worked to find a good gravity setup so I can let it sit while I do other things.
I’m with Amy on this one. I have a micro for when I’m solo, but if bring the family along I take the hit weight wise and use a pump filter. They are much more efficient and if you get one with a carbon core they remove taste and odor from the water too.
Your scale is wrong, my dude. I just reweighed my Sawyer Squeeze to make sure I wasn't imagining things and it weighs 3.1 ounces with no cap, and 3.6 oz with cap, coupler, and gaskets. I don't see how yours can weigh that much less unless there's something wrong with it.
Yeh, I can see how waiting a few extra seconds on that flow rate can ruin a trip. Lol. Gimme a break. Are you happy with the color scheme?
is the micro squeeze available for sale or still in promo mode?
Yosef621 I think it’s still in promo mode, but I hear available soon. I got my minis from the Select filters that have been out for a while.
@@BackcountryExposure I just looked on Amazon and they are selling them, but currently is packs of 2 or 4.
I am UF filter manufacturer. 😀
P.S. thank you for this video...
does it fit a smart water?
jeska edmisten sure does
Bigger the better is true in this case.
Does the micro come with that blue connector to allow the back flushing you mentioned?
Yes.
Thanx
Where did you get the hose with the 2 threaded ends?
How do you back flush
James Smith depends on the filter. But basically just pushing clean water in reverse through the filter.
A gallon of water weighs about five pounds so the weight of the filter is negligible.
good point, but a gallon weighs 8.4 pounds.
@@donaldscott3921 X
Survivor Filter Pro and Pro X are MUCH better
7 min video doesnt have a test, waste my time.
plenty of other videos showing testing out there.
01:29
06:54
07:03
Just buy a Hiker Pro...it lets you pump one liter of water...a minute.
It is far from lightweight though, which is essential to some, that's why there's more than one alternative :)
Sawyer Squize is now price gouging, raising there price from 29$ to 45.99 absolutely reduclous our troop was going to purchase these now they made it impossible. I will not use or purchase any product from the ever again. There price gouging goes against everything they stand for. Will be releasing a video on this reduclous price gouging Sawyer is doing. Do not purchase from this company. There head is getting to big and now money is more important than the mission. I have formally removed all my support and referrals for there product.
This comment is quite short sided. I would absolutely disagree they are price gouging. You don’t know their manufacturing costs, whether or not increases in that area have increased. They are well within the market for pricing. Katadyn, platypus, MSR, etc are all well within the same price point. Price gouging would mean Sawyer would be charging 3, 4, 6 times what the competition is charging for their product.
Increasing the price of a product has many moving parts and reasons. To conclude what you have is just short sided and miss understood.
What's the point showing the video if your not gonna respond back to people that asked you a ? That's low man
Are you kidding me?! Over a few hundred videos, I get hundreds of comments on my channel. It’s impossible to see and respond to every single comment I get on the FREE content I am sharing. I work full time, have a wife and kids. I don’t spend all my time on UA-cam.
Sawyer filters SUX. They consistanly fail. Sawyer has very poor Customer Service. JUST SAY NO TO SAWYER.
For more camping pleasure use Hyperflow filter and leave the rest of the nonsense at home. Set your self free from the ball and chain known as Sawyer whatever..
Their "smallest and lightest" is nearly $100 USD. Even if it is much better in terms of quality, in terms of portableness, and cost, "Sayer whatever" definitely wins.
Your review is about the Sawyer filters but at the 3:00 minute mark you start talking about Hydroblue and say you stopped using the Sawyer mini because you like the hydroblue better and don't use the mini anymore...WTF? What kind of stupid review is this? Never click on your link again..
You are severely missing the point. I bring the Versaflow into the conversation to specifically say that I stopped using the Mini because I found the Versaflow to be a better filter than the Mini. I don't understand how this results in a stupid review.
bro do some squats and get over the weight already