Head-to-head · Best Backpacking Water Filters

MSR TrailShot vs Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Backpackers who are tough on gear and want the fastest-flowing, most durable squeeze filter and don't mind replacing the cartridge sooner. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

MSR TrailShot

4.1

3 sources1 derived$69.95as of Aug 1

The MSR TrailShot is the pocket pump for hikers who deal with shallow, hard-to-reach water. CleverHiker rated it 4.3 of 5 and OutdoorGearLab 77, both praising its ability to draw from puddles and trickles through a hose, which suits drought-prone trails and trail running. It is compact, outlasts the BeFree on filter life, and cleans by shaking. Pumping large volumes is real work, so treat it as a personal on-the-go tool, not a group filter.

Strengths

— Pump-and-hose design draws water from shallow streams and puddles other filters can't reach
— Compact and pocketable at 5.6 oz for fast, on-the-go drinking
— Decent 2,000-liter filter life, double the BeFree and QuickDraw

Watch-outs

— Manual pumping is more effort than gravity or scoop-and-go for large volumes
— Flow of about 1 L per minute is slower than the squeeze filters
— Not designed for filling for a group

$69.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

4.4

3 sources1 derived$55as of Aug 1

No filter has won over more testers in recent seasons than the Platypus QuickDraw. GearJunkie named it Best Overall after years of use, and CleverHiker praised it as more durable with a faster flow than other squeeze filters. It is light, tough, and easy to clean in the field. The catch is a 1,000-liter filter life dwarfed by the Sawyer Squeeze, so it trades longevity for speed and durability.

Strengths

— GearJunkie's Best Overall pick after several seasons of hard use
— Fast flow and a more durable cartridge than other squeeze filters, per CleverHiker
— Easy to backflush in the field with a simple shake-and-squeeze

Watch-outs

— Short 1,000-liter filter lifespan, a tiny fraction of the Sawyer Squeeze
— Real-world flow fell short of the advertised 3 L/min in OutdoorGearLab testing
— Like all hollow-fiber filters it is ruined by freezing

$55 · Buy at cascadedesigns.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

MSR TrailShot

Reaches shallow sources the squeeze-based Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree, and Platypus QuickDraw struggle with via its hose and pump, and its 2,000-liter filter doubles the BeFree and QuickDraw; it is a personal pump rather than a hands-free group system like the Platypus GravityWorks 4L.

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

Flows faster and has a tougher cartridge than the Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree, but its 1,000-liter life matches the BeFree and is far shorter than the Sawyer's; it is a personal squeeze filter rather than a group system like the Platypus GravityWorks 4L.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	MSR TrailShot	Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter
Type	Pump (squeeze-bulb) hollow-fiber	Hollow-fiber squeeze
Filtration	0.2 micron	0.2 micron
Weight	5.6 oz	3.6 oz
Flow Rate	~1 L per 1 min 6 sec (tested)	~44 sec per liter (tested)
Filter Lifespan	2,000 L	1,000 L
Removes	Bacteria, protozoa, sediment	Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics
Cleaning	Shake-to-clean, no tools	Shake-and-squeeze backflush
Freeze Safe	No	No
Dimensions	6"L x 2.4"W x 6"H	5"L x 3"W x 3"H
Material	Plastic	Plastic

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