For the price and the effectiveness, the Katadyn Steripen Ultra is a worthy buy. If youre hiking solo or on a trip where each person takes care of their own drinking water, we think the Sawyer Squeezehas the speed-to-weight ratio that works best for most folks. While the integrated squeeze pouches aren't the most durable, they are easy to use, squeezing water through the filter and into your bottle. That water source that has a lot of dirt/leaves/bugs in it? For example, to filter out giardia and cryptosporidium, illness-causing microbes that can be found in some US water sources, you need a filter with an absolute rating of 1 micron; all the filters we reviewed have openings that are 0.2 microns or smaller, unless they purify through UV light. Features Quick-deploy performance with zero setup and simple 1-handed operation lets you fill a 1-liter bottles in as little as 60 seconds I have to say that the water bags that come with the Sawyer Squeeze's are terrible. You can hang up the Sawyer Squeeze with the CNOC bag and use it as a gravity system. A few reports of filter failure, somewhat higher (IMHO) number of flask failure reports. The 2L was $18 and the 3L was $19.95 at REI. $14.95-Micro (REI/Amazon) / ~75 grams / Treats up to 100,000 gallons. If you are drinking directly from the source the clean water is immediate and therefore much faster than filling a bottle! So I'm back considering my options. These bags are intended to store and help filter contaminated water, and theyre collapsible. Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. 8 Lifestraw Water Filter Alternatives: Are They Better? I did read about bottle failures, but word is that the new BeFree bottles are marginally heavier, but are more durable/thicker material. Sawyer Squeeze filter . We independently buy, test, and rate all the products we review. With all that said, they come with lifetime warranty (Sure there is fine print and interpretation of the warranty, but it is a good sign). The squeeze is half the cost, lighter weight, more filtered water, able to be back flushed. For me, the sawyer squeeze packs really small and has become part of my "oh-crap-kit" for the summer months in case I didn't plan for enough water in bottles or bladders. If the water is suspect, I like to dry the outside of the bottle on my shirt before drinking. The Sawyer Micro Squeeze can be prone to clogging, especially if you're filtering water with a lot of sediment. Nothings instantaneous when youre outside doing things for yourself and water filtration isnt any different. The TrailShot was faster and simpler than the Mini. Its worth noting that the MSR TrailShot filters down to 0.2 microns, while the Guardian filters down to 0.02 microns. Thanks in advance for spreading the word! Havent used the Squeeze yet, but have used the Mini a few times. Gear Comparison Video: MSR TrailShot vs Katadyn BeFree vs Sawyer Mini Squeeze. Since then I got the original sawyer squeeze and use the bags for short solo trips and a gravity bag for longer trips with multiple people which makes things so much easier, just fill and forget. So I had to insulate this newly-formed gap with whatever I had in my backpack. http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/5-4-oz-water-filtration-for-1l-in-1min.294407/. Theyre too inconvenient and the flow rate is too slow. ), Liz Thomas using the Sawyer Mini in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. REI clearanced a bunch of these out last fall at a super cheap price (1st generation? This draws water up the hose to a comfortable height and pumps it through the filter. And having a water purification tablets of droplets is always a good idea, as they take up . Then, just scoop the water into your dirty container for filtering. The Sawyer Micro Squeeze is the latest in Sawyer's ongoing line of palm-sized hollow-fiber water filters. If youre traveling outside of the US or Canada in a place where sewage contamination is more of a concern, youll want a purifier like theMSR Guardianor theSteriPen Ultra, to make sure those viruses are eradicated as well. Outdoor Gear Lab and Backpacker also reported leaks, and while those leaks were easy to fix, this makes us nervous about its use for longer trips. Though you can filter from the dirty bags the Squeeze comes with into a clean filtered water bottle if you like, we prefer to drink straight through the sports top, getting our fix instantly. I only use it for drinking on the fly, not as a gravity system for my main filter I use a Platypus and typically filter 4-5 liters of water to have around camp using that. Still, different water filters have different wait times the length of time you have to wait to turn that dirty water into clean water. Its best used by highly mobile athletes who are in a big hurry and *maybe* carry very small water bottles in vests. Purifiers remove protozoan cysts, bacteria, AND viruses. Scoring well across the board, the TrailShot is a Jack-of-all-trades kind of filter. We were pleasantly surprised because it looks like a much smaller quantity of water coming out, but when you start filling a bottle it goes quickly. Im literally standing in the water for hours at a time, so it seems silly to lug around bottles of the stuff or a hydration pack. ), youre going to have a thirsty time. On this particular trip we pumped directly from flowing rivers, clear mountain streams, murky trickles, and agricultural runs. MSR Trailshot Review A great option for someone who does it all and wants their filter to come with them, from backpacking to trail running $47 at Backcountry $47 at Evo $54 at Amazon Price: $63 List Manufacturer: MSR By Jessica Haist Review Editor May 23, 2017 77 OVERALL SCORE Reliability - 25% 8.0 Weight - 20% 9.0 Treatment Capacity - 20% 7.0 Micropur MP1 is very easy to use; just take the tablet out of the package, drop it in a liter of water and wait! Using the TrailShot to drink directly out of a shallow, muddy water source on a day hike in Death Valley. Traveling in the US or Canada, or going farther afield? While weve sorted out the ones we think are best for any application, below are points to ponder when youre making your personal choice. Thanks for the information about getting the filter wet before heading out in order to give it time to absorb water and unclog. And at night, that same system can be hung as a gravity filter. You must log in or register to reply here. Its also the most expensive when it comes to price per liter filtered; as each replaceable filter only goes for 150 liters, the cost per liter shakes out to $0.40 per liter. Drops and freezing temperatures are not your friends. Each issue features a collection of inspiring writing and beautiful photography. Thank you for supporting us! Like Clever Hiker, we questioned the use of this bottle for longer backpacking trips: "The soft bottle of the BeFree isnt built to withstand squeeze-filtering 4-6 liters per day and hauling water from one source to the next. Sign up with your email address to be the first to know when we release new gear reviews! Marginally less effective, but much easier to use. Some of the water sources contained sediment, but generally speaking they were mostly clear. No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. I have been using the Trail Shot for a couple of months now and I am very happy with it, even though it sometimes takes a bit of fiddling to get it pumping well. I was going to upgrade from an oh-so-slow Sawyer Mini to a Squeeze but ended up purchasing a TrailShot instead. AFA flow rates as the BeFree has aged, my experience mirrors others: filter is a bit slow when dry but ramps right back up after saturating for a few minutes. So I spent twenty (20) minutes trying to stick a circular piece of polyethylene correctly in that gap to insulate it and have the water going. Finally, if youd like something that purifies it all waterborne bacteria, cysts, and viruses, an ultraviolet purifier like the Katadyn Steripen Ultra is your best bet. One of the biggest sources of contamination? Its a very different way to think about water resupply for highly mobile activities. But its a filter, not a miracle worker: consider pre-filtering your water, or at least gathering it into a bottle or bucket and letting it settle a bit before filtering off the top. If you're into ultralight backpacking, chances are that you've owned a Sawyer Squeeze or a Mini. Been rock solid for me, but the flow/filter rate is painfully slowespecially with the mini. It seems to be the most effective of the 3 and perhaps this strength contributes to low flow rate and pressure required to filter water. Jackets with Pit Zips: When Are They Effective? We interviewed desert adventuristSirena Dufaultwho likes that unlike other gravity water filters, the Platypus GravityWorks could process large amounts of drinking water (a necessity when finding water might be a once per day affairor even less frequent). Do people fill their bottle with dirty water, attach the Sawyer and and drink directly? What Are The Best Backpacking Water Filters In 2023? Turns out, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to backpacking water filters. Insert the filter to connect the two pieces. But you pay for what you get: the MSR Guardian is the heaviest of our reviewed filters at 22 ounces, and is five times the price of systems like the Sawyer Squeeze. MSR's Pocket-Sized TrailShot Water Filter - Review - Pinkbike to support us + get The Bikepacking Journal. OSPREY-PACKS: Backpacking Pack Sale! The price of a filter is very close to the price of a new system. MSR also does not list filtration size and say its not a meaningful number due to lack of standards and wide testing variances, but if you look further you will see them saying it will protect from anything larger than 0.2 micron. Youll also want to think about that filters end-of-days. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Take the sports top off the Sawyer and attach the inline pieces to both sides. However, the Guardian weighs about 482g (1lb 1oz) and costs about $350. And it does seem pretty easy to use: toss the tubing into the water, set the filter on top of your bottle, and hand-pump clean water into your container. Or are people carrying a dirty bottle/bag and then squeezing water into a clean bottle to drink from? The collapsible bottle is perfect for storage. The TrailShot' is also very easy to backflush but it is hard to tell how effective it actually is since you're just forcing the water back out the hose hole and not forcing it through the filter's fibers. Thats why we think that if international travel and water purification is in your cards, the MSR Guardian is the best purifier you can get. The Grayl Ultralight Compact Purifier Bottle works by pressing down slowly. Without water residue, the Sawyer Mini weighs about 1.3 oz. As such, youre going to want to check on how long each filter lasts and, if youre choosy, the price of the filter per liter of clean water it produces over its lifetime. Always check to make sure your backpacking water filter is working before you leave. It worked. If for some reason your filter becomes inoperable, its best not to have to sit around your stove and boil water for the 1-3 minutes the EPA says it takes to purify it every time you want a drink. Theyre best left for other situations. Best Water Filters Review of 5 Brands! - Garage Grown Gear While we reviewed the 1-liter version, 0.6- and 3-liter versions also exist, if you need more or less drinking water for your excursions. The GravityWorks has a 0.2-micron filter, which means youre safe from the major microscopic concerns in the US and Canada. That should diminish that distasteful flavor. I fail to see the appeal. . Where 0.2-micron filters like the Platypus GravityWorksare big enough for viruses to pass through, the MSR Guardians 0.02-micron, military-grade pump water filter catches everything. Most filters have a recommended method of cleaning. The customers using Sawyer Mini has called it a lifesaver. We create reader-supported, objective gear reviews independently selected by our editors. As far as adapters are concerned, the best one (for any drip filter) is the TornadoTube. If you are looking for a traditional pump that you can use more elbow grease with check out the MSR Sweetwater Microfilter. On average, Gin and I consumed about 6-8 liters per day. Ive used the Sawyer, and it is a great filter, but I just find the BeFree system to be easier and better. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. She also uses the [clean and dirty] bags for additional water storage in the desert and as backups in case theres a problem or [I] lose a container., Related: Long Term Review of Arizona Trail Gear, The Platypus GravityWorks system uses a dirty bag and a clean bag system. Photo by Sirena Dufault. Related: The Best Cooking Pots for Backpacking. I just used it for the first time on a three-day backpacking trip it was great! rei Flash1. Also MSR trailshot vs Sawyer micro : r/JMT - Reddit Its a purifier like both the MSR Guardianand Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle so it removes viruses as well as protozoa and bacteria. Between those hikes and a stint as a Traveling Trainer for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, I've slept outside for nearly a year of my life. Join the 30,000 SectionHiker readers who've subscribed to our newsletter and get the latest backpacking and hiking gear reviews and skill articles. 2023 Gear Guide to Lightweight Hiking @ REI. Home Forums Gear Forums Gear (General) BeFree vs Saywer vs MSR TrailShot effectiveness, reliability and choice? But it only filters 16 ounces at a time, and dependent on how you press, this is likely the slowest filter in the review (the manufacturer claims 2 liters per minute). MSR TrailShot Review, Hell or No Water - BIKEPACKING.com Related: Pacific Crest Trail Gear List & Strategy. While you can use it for refilling water bottles for hiking, I think a BeFree 3L, BeFree 1L, Sawyer Squeeze and better solutions for hikers because you can filter more water with less effort and they include the ability to transport water if you dont need to use it right away. Ive just placed an order for BeFree and 2L bottle as I dont quite trust the 0.6L that comes with the filter. For fast travel or trail running, you might want something quick and light like the MSR Trailshot. You decide. But the Squeeze is just six inches long while the LifeStraw is nine inches in length. However, with the rise of Norovirus outbreaks on the Appalachian Trail, some hikers are choosing to carry a purifier instead. I use it both as a sip and go system, and a drip system, and Im happy with it. Its also worth noting that Ive heard equally good reports when using the Trailshot on pre-strained turbid desert water. Also, if you dont screw on the threads of the filter tight enough, obviously untreated water may leak out and down into your mouth as you invert it to drink. I was pretty impressed with the one liter set up. Then, cut your hose, and attach the cut ends to either side of your filter, with the Clean side facing towards your bite valve. Unlike tubing, it wont pull out, which means you can hang the whole thing off of a branch (with three liters of water in the lower container). Katadyn recommends storing your water in an opaque container in a dark place if possible. Others agree with Switchback Travel, suggesting that this is not a filter for groups the Platypus GravityWorks is a much better water filtration system if youve got a lot of people.