Head-to-head · Best Backpacking Water Filters

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter vs Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

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

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System is best for: Thru-hikers and backpackers who want one proven, near-permanent filter that is light, fast, and works in any configuration. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #2 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

4.3

3 sources$55as of Oct 10

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
— Leak-preventing cap design keeps packs dry
— Light 3.6 oz filter that threads onto the included and most standard reservoirs

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

$55 · Buy at cascadedesigns.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

4.4

3 sources$30.5as of Oct 16

The Sawyer Squeeze has been the backpacker default for years, and the experts still rank it at or near the top. CleverHiker makes it their overall Editor's Pick, OutdoorGearLab scores it 78 of 100, and GearJunkie names it the best thru-hiking filter. Its defining trait is a 100,000-gallon lifespan, so one filter can outlast years of trips. The pouches are weak; the filter itself is fast, light, and essentially permanent.

Strengths

— Effectively unlimited 378,541-liter (100,000-gallon) filter lifespan, the best long-term value here
— Fast flow rate, filtering a liter in roughly 40 seconds when clean
— Versatile: squeeze, gravity, inline, or straight from the pouch

Watch-outs

— Included pouches are flimsy and prone to splitting; many upgrade to CNOC bags
— Backflushing with the included syringe is needed to maintain flow

$30.5 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

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.

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

Outlasts the 1,000-liter Katadyn BeFree and Platypus QuickDraw filters many times over, and is lighter and more versatile than the group-oriented Platypus GravityWorks 4L; faster and longer-lived than the MSR TrailShot but with weaker stock pouches.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter	Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System
Type	Hollow-fiber squeeze	Hollow-fiber squeeze
Filtration	0.2 micron	0.1 micron
Weight	3.6 oz	7.9 oz (kit)
Flow Rate	~44 sec per liter (tested)	~40 sec per liter
Filter Lifespan	1,000 L	378,541 L / 100,000 gal
Removes	Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics	Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics
Cleaning	Shake-and-squeeze backflush	—
Freeze Safe	No	No
Material	Plastic	Blend
Dimensions	5"L x 3"W x 3"H	4"L x 2.5"W x 7.5"H
Configurations	—	Squeeze, gravity, inline, straw

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