REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Versatile
Durable and reliable
REASONS TO AVOID
Hard to suck and squeeze
Clogs easily
Low durability of the included bag
Sawyer Mini Review
This personal and versatile on-the-go filtration system offers great value
Sawyer Mini
Credit: Sawyer
Our Verdict
The Sawyer Mini is one of the lightest and most versatile options we've tested and a reliable filtration system for personal use. It can filter out particulates as well as bacteria and protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium but not viruses. It works in many configurations. The filter is super light and more reliable than other on-the-go systems. While we appreciate this versatility, we will say that filtering on the go always makes drinking a little harder. This filter has a narrow output nozzle, making it harder to filter water. In addition, the bags, because you have to squeeze so hard to get water through, break regularly. However, as a lightweight system, it still functions well during ultralight adventures. You just have to exercise patience and have a backup plan.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Sawyer Mini | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck | ||||
| Price | $27.24 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $40 List $39.00 at Amazon | $12.96 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $7.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $10.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This high-value filter is a lightweight personal hydration system | A soft bottle filtration system designed for lightweight travel | The best chemical treatment option that will kill all pathogens when given enough time | Lightweight and easy to use, these tablets can be used as an emergency backup to regular treatment | Lightweight and reliable, this chemical treatment is perfect for lightweight travel or emergency use |
| Rating Categories | Sawyer Mini | Katadyn BeFree 0.6L | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... | MSR Aquatabs |
| Water Quality (20%) | |||||
| Durability & Maintenance (20%) | |||||
| Treatment Time (15%) | |||||
| Weight & Packability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Set Up (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Filtration (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Sawyer Mini | Katadyn BeFree 0.6L | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... | MSR Aquatabs |
| Measured Weight (entire kit) | 3.7 oz | 2.1 oz | 3.0 oz | 2.3 oz | 0.1 oz |
| Removes Particulates (sediment, microplastics) | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Viruses | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Effective Against Chemicals | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Heavy Metals | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Bacteria | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Effective Against Protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Giardia = yes; Crypto = no) | Yes (Giardia = yes; Crypto = no) |
| Type of Filter/Purifier | Squeeze, in-line, on-the-go | Squeeze, on-the-go | Chemical treatment | Chemical treatment | Chemical treatment |
| Filter Media or Active Ingredient | Hollow fiber | Hollow fiber | Chlorine dioxide | Iodine and Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide | Sodium dichloroisocyanurate |
| Filter Pore Size (Advertised) | 0.1 microns | 0.1 microns | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of Liters/Gallons per Lifetime (Advertised) | 378,541 L / 100,000 gal | 1,000 L / 264 gal | 114 L / 30 gal (per package) | 25 L / 6.6 gal | 60 L / 16 gal (30 tabs) |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This personal filter is lightweight, versatile, and has many applications, including on-the-go filtration, perfect for lightweight missions and backpacking trips with ample water supplies. It's not suited for group use.
Grabbing water from a shallow puddle on a trail run in the desert is a perfect application for the on-the-go Sawyer Mini.
Credit: Amber King
Water Quality
Loaded with a hollow fiber membrane filter with a 0.1-micron pore size, it is effective against bacteria and protozoa, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. It does not treat viruses. It does well in clear sources but clogs easily after just a few uses in turbid water. Maintaining the filter is essential. If you use it in areas with high sediment, you might find yourself unclogging it often with the accompanying syringe.
Eddy filters water into his hand bottle during a long run. He takes water from a pristine alpine stream.
Credit: Amber King
To unclog, take the syringe and backflush the system for a few minutes. If you find yourself in areas where sediment is abundant all the time, carry a handkerchief or buff with you. Pre-filter using this system first, then use the on-the-go filtration system. Another tip is to take water from the top of the water column if it's a stand-alone puddle.
The filtration system provides storage and on-the-go capabilities that filters out bacteria and protozoans.
Credit: Amber King
Durability & Maintenance
This filter can treat up to 100,000 gallons of water, seemingly a lifetime's worth! This rating is far higher than that of other filters in this review. The Sawyer Micro sports this same spec.
Maintenance is relatively easy but frequent with the Sawyer Mini and back flushing with the provided syringe is required every few days.
Credit: Jessica Haist
We want to note a few things about durability and maintenance. This filter is sturdy and super easy to clean but requires diligence. After a few days of heavy use of treating personal water on a backpacking trip, we noticed it getting harder to squeeze water through the filter. This issue was easily fixed by backflushing it with a syringe after every use. The bag it comes with seems durable at first, but it has proven to leak (multiple times) if you squeeze it too hard. With this smaller filter, we wanted to squeeze harder and found the bag breaking much more than other Sawyer Squeeze products.
It's in these situations where we squeeze the bag hard to get some water flow and the bag bursts at the seam. Be careful when squeezing, and exercise patience.
Credit: Amber King
The nice thing is that this filter can be adapted to fit a water bottle, which is more durable. We'd recommend using this as an alternative for the squeeze bag configuration or ensuring you have a bag (or two) on hand for longer trips.
Bring the syringe to avoid clogged or slow-flowing filtration systems. Don't leave it at home!
Treatment Time
As a filtration system that works when you drink through it, time for treatment is instantaneous. It is compatible with in-line systems like a hydration bladder. While it's not advertised on the packaging, it is also suitable for a gravity filtration setup. When we tested the flow rate, it took us two minutes to squeeze a liter of water through the filtration unit. This decreased even more if we didn't take the time to backflush the unit. Overall, treatment when squeezing takes time, but it is instantaneous if you're simply drinking right through the filter.
Weight & Packability
The kit with the 16-oz bag, straw, filter, and syringe weighs about 3.70 ounces. The filter weighs 1.80 ounces, making the system incredibly lightweight and packable. While we wish it came with a little carry pouch for all its contents, it fits nicely into a large ziplock bag. The thin profile makes it easy to carry while trail running or embarking on long missions.
Ease of Set Up
The Mini is straightforward and can be used in several ways. Use it on its own, with the straw that comes with it, or attach the pouch for additional storage. If you have a hydration bladder, attach it to the end of the tube and drink directly from the filter.
Using this model is as easy as scooping water into the collapsible bag, attaching the filter, and drinking. It takes minimal time or effort and is a very reliable treatment system.
Credit: McKenzie Long
Given the versatility of this filter, collecting water isn't hard. You can use a standard-sized water bottle to collect water. The collapsible pouch is helpful but is limited to collecting water from medium to large sources. The straw allows you to get at small puddles and pools but requires you to get close to the ground, leaving muddy knees. Overall, setting up this filtration system in all uses is super easy.
Ease of Filtration
After setup, you need to either squeeze or suck. When used in straw mode, sucking force is required. Given the smaller output and narrow straw, getting water into your mouth takes a little energy. Squeezing it through the filter via the bag or filter is a little better, but it's still relatively slow. The Sawyer Micro is a little heavier and more expensive, but it offers a much better flow rate because of the larger output diameter.
The in-line system with a gravity filter is relatively fast, while the hydration bladder is a lot slower. In a lot of ways, we wouldn't even bother using it in a hydration bladder because of the effort required to suck through the bit valve once its in-line is too cumbersome.
You can attach this filter to the included 16 oz bag for drinking. Or, carry the included straw along on your adventures and you can also drink directly from the source, like you can with the Life Straw.
Credit: McKenzie Long
Should You Buy the Sawyer Mini?
This one sports some of the best value of the on-the-go filtration systems overall. The whole kit, which includes a filter, straw, bag, and syringe, retails for less than almost any other comparable option. It's lightweight, user-friendly, and highly versatile, making it easy to recommend this filter for your next trail run or mountain bike ride.
Jo squeeze filters her water while coming down off an August decent high in the mountains. The Sawyer Micro proved to be perfect for this clear, cool summer ski backpacking adventure.
Credit: Amber King
What Other Backpacking Water Filters Should You Consider?
Our testing team loves this affordable, lightweight, and versatile filter. While not the most durable filter nor the fastest treatment time, it certainly shines when it comes to weight, packability, and water quality. If you're willing to invest just a few more dollars, the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze provides a much faster treatment time within a more durable design. It is also our overall favorite when it comes to personal water filtration. Other options like the Hydrapak Flux 1.5L make for great lightweight filters that also easily fold into themselves to save space in your pack. The cousin to the Mini is the Sawyer Micro Squeeze, which doesn't increase the durability but provides a faster treatment time.
Sadly we lost the straw and had to get REALLY close to our water source, but the Mini kept us healthy and happy...despite this high sediment and stagnant water source. Here we trust it while running 20-some miles.
Credit: Amber King
—Amber King
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