Reddit reviews Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System

Sawyer Mini water filter. $20 Arguably the best lightweight backpacking filter available.
Also, the Leatherman Squirt is on my backpacking wishlist this year.

Patently false, and shill for Lifestraw detected.

Sawyer (and the one I have, full disclosure): http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

Lifestraw: http://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-LSPHF017-Personal-Water-Filter/dp/B006QF3TW4

Sawyer has a .1 micron, Lifestraw is a .2. Next time please post accurate information, thanks :)

edit: my mistake on this statement, I thought the personal stick model was being discussed and NOT the Family model which can filter out viruses. I retract against the Family model but maintain it still applies to the personal "straw" model since that one is .2.

Get a Sawyer Mini and some disinfectant tablets or drops (Aquamira is popular). Use the Mini when you need water right then, use the tablets when you can wait.

So say you have two water bottles and you come up to a stream and need water. Fill one with water from the source and put the disinfectants in there (making sure to bleed the threads), and put it in your pack. Then take the Mini and fill your other bottle using the squeeze bag OR you can get a bladder and fill it with water straight from the source and have the Mini connected between the bladder and the mouthpiece so it filters as you drink. By the time your bottle with the filtered water runs out, the other bottle of water will be purified. You can also fill both bottles with the filter when you stop if you're gonna take a rest, but you should always have drops or tablets as backups.

EDIT: Outdoor Gear Lab did a good review of water treatment options. It's very comprehensive (as are all their reviews).

Personally, I don't like hatchets. Too much room for error. I'd advise the Bahco.

I'd also consider the Sawyer for water filtration, as I think most water purification tablets taste nasty. If you are going to use them, bring some Crystal Light, or sweetened Kool-Aid or Gatorade to kill the taste.

Definitely need a map and compass, otherwise ... how do you know when you've reached your destination?

What are the Sharpies and the tampons for? How long is it supposed to sustain you? Are there any options to procure more food after the 4 days of rat bars run out?

I'd say that it needs work. 5/10? But these things really aren't quantifiable like that. Try it out for a weekend, and objectively analyze the deficiencies.

/$0.02

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

Change the color to from the special edition black to blue or anything else and set the quantity to 1 and it comes out to around $20.

Pretty tough to beat this.

Just don't let it freeze.

For trail hiking the LifeStraw didn't meet my expectations or my needs. Ever try hiking a 14er in Colorado while one hand hold your Nalgene of "dirty" water and the other is holding a straw with your trekking poles tucked under your arms? For the same price the Sawyer Mini beats the life straw hands down. The Sawyer is even on sale right now. Though it was 19.99 yesterday...

Including shipping its the same price as on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

Sawyer mini with water bottle
it's the best system in my opinion. However, the Sawyer squeeze might be better, but still use it with the water bottle.

It's probably fine, but if it concerns you at all, it's probably worth the $20 to just buy a [sawyer mini] (http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2). You'll gain some peace of mind and save some weight off your back.

Have you considered a retail filter? I really like my Sawyer Mini and it's only $20.

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

Sawyer Mini

• Best filter out there.

I would go with a squeeze or gravity fed filter instead. They'll be lighter and usually cheaper than a pump filter, too. Most people prefer the Sawyer Squeeze or the Sawyer Mini.

I have one of these filters and it serves me well if there is a water source on long rides http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

Thanks.

Linkage.

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

If I'm going to be near water on a really long ride or hike, I'll throw my Sawyer Mini in my pack. Cheap, light, and you can fill a Camelbak through the drink tube by taking off the bite valve.

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

if it's an urban area (i'm assuming because you said apartment its a city/town) your going to need to leave. and local streams won't be safe whatsoever possibly even after boiling if sewage systems are no longer functioning. not to mention the types of people you could find in control of a water source. best to leave to crown land and find a pond/stream. also lifestraws great but the sawyer http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2 is my go to. i use both and one huge drawback i've found on the lifestraw is in the winter you can't get all the water out after use and the ice REALLY degrades the filter

the sawyer mini is so much better than the life straw and it's less money. The sawyer is smaller, filters 10x smaller particulates, and has a lifetime much longer than the lifestraw (100,000 gallons).

If you can stay away from iodine tablets in the long run, especially for a 3 month trip, try to do so. Iodine tablets are okay to use for short periods of time, but can be extremely unhealthy and damaging to your kidneys and liver if used for too long. I would recommend the Sawyer Mini Water Filter. Sounds like an awesome trip though!

Based off my many years of backpacking, 70 pounds is way too heavy. Honestly, I would seriously try doing a 20 mile 2 day 1 night backpacking trip with that setup (replace the guns and ammo with water that weighs as much and you cant touch if you are backpacking in gun restricted areas). However, I'm 90% sure you will find that you're ditching your stuff left and right. Even when I am backpacking and sleeping out in 5 degree weather, my pack weight is only 25 pounds at max. I would look at the r/ultralight to learn what you really need.
Ways to lighten up your pack load:

-titanium pot

-alcohol stove instead of the butane/propane stoves (http://www.woodgaz-stove.com/starlyte-burner-with-lid.php)

-use a sawer mini (only $20 at 2 oz and filters 100,000 gallons) instead of a pump filter https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2)

-Switch to a cuben fiber tarp and try tarp camping (https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/flat-tarp.html)
-if bugs are an issue you can get a net tent insert with the tarp http://www.yamamountaingear.com/bug-shelter-2p/)

-ditch the nalgene water bottle/stainless steel kleen canteen (you already have the titanium pot that weighs less, just use a platypus soft water bottle, they weigh less/can be rolled up for storage/can hold boiling water so you can put that in your sleeping back to stay warmer at night) (https://www.rei.com/product/849826/platypus-softbottle-water-bottle-34-fl-oz)

-switch to a hydrophobic treated down sleeping bag instead of a synthetic bag (https://www.rei.com/product/895819/marmot-hydrogen-down-sleeping-bag?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-34947-_-46631-_-NA&avad=46631_cdb0d0a3&CA_6C15C=120217890002095893)

-Ditch the wilderness gps. Put your phone on airplane mode, turn on the gps, and use the app gaia gps. (https://www.gaiagps.com/)

Highly recommend the Sawyer Mini. It might not be the most efficient but it's crazy lightweight and get's the job done.

If you're not worried about viruses, this is a better option. If you are worried about viruses I'd get a Steripen in addition to that. With some iodine, bleach or aquamira as a backup for course.

I got the cheaper one:
http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2/ref=pd_sim_468_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=51XhN0Nb-CL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=00YVJJ5S1FENCBG2QDW5

Get a cheap Sawyer water filter. I usually only take a 32oz bottle of water with me and take my mini water filter. You can get one for $20 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

I have a few of these. I keep one in my car, one in my motorcycle saddlebags, one in my hiking backpack. It's always the first thing I check for when packing my gear.

There's a bunch of different ways to use it, you can even use it as a straw and drink from a puddle in a muddy pothole in a dirt road. But mostly I fill the bag full of water from a stream and squeeze it out of the filter into my regular water bottle.

inline - so I use mine with a camel back. I put dirty water in the camel back... and the filter is between my bag and my mouthpiece. saves time by just filling my camel back and walking away. usually have to buy these adaptors in addition to the mini, but not always so double check.

screw top - fits on top of most plastic bottles (water, soda, etc). Already included as a feature of most sawyer filters.

I suggest these methods because the bags that come with the sawyer filters can be problematic and why should you have to keep up with one extra thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

Very reliable, if you're looking to get one with longer use Id recommend the https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2

I day hike quite a bit and I've been backpacking for years.

For a long day hike I carry:

Water
Food(high protein/low weight)
Flashlight
Lighter
First Aid
Hat
Sunscreen
Weather protection(warm jacket/rain jacket depending)
Probably some other misc things I'm not thinking of.

Also with some modern water filters like this filtration is so cheap and lightweight that if you're hiking somewhere with good water sources(much of Colorado) carrying a filter only makes sense.

Backpacking is a bit more complicated of course. On top of the day hiking kit I carry:

Extra clothes/socks(you need less than you think, but don't skimp on the socks)
Tent/shelter
Sleeping pad
Backpack
some kind of pack cover/liner to keep your stuff dry
Stove/Pot
bowl/spoon
Camp food

I think that's most of it. Obviously there are more things you could bring, this list is a bit spartan so some luxury items might be nice.

The other big thing to think about is footwear. Everyone has strong opinions about what footwear is the best, but if I was starting out I would just pick up a nice pair of mid-height lightweight hiking boots, probably non-waterproof(for ventilation) from a good manufacturer(I swear by Merrell personally).

I have a pair of these that are great.

Nowadays I usually just wear lightweight hiking/running shoes that are really comfortable but don't offer a lot of protection. Just the other day I did a 15 mile day hike largely off trail at elevation in the Sierras with no problems. But I have strong ankles and tough feet so that may not be advisable for a beginner.

Hope that helps!

Sawyer Mini is the way to go for water filtration. I use mine inline on my hydration pack, but you can also use separate bags to make a gravity filter.

When are you going to be here? I can loan you a water filter or if you have enough time, you should get this one https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-Water-Filtration-System/dp/B00FHRADQ2
Amazon.com : Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System ...