Which Sawyer water filter kit?

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lostplanet

Full Member
Aug 18, 2005
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First time buying a water filter, For those who have a Sawyer,
KWYKN which version/model would you recommend?

Thanks
 

henchy3rd

Settler
Apr 16, 2012
611
423
Derby
Depends what country you’ll be visiting.. pathogens, microbe’s, chemicals,metals, fertiliser run off, that sort of thing?
For the uk the Sawyer mini does a good job as a backup to boiling.
Also use a mill bank bag to rid off the debris in the water.
If you can, catch the rain water & use that.
 

nigelp

Native
Jul 4, 2006
1,417
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New Forest
newforestnavigation.co.uk
The Sawyer Micro Squeeze has a better flow rate than the mini for only a few pounds more. Works better than the mini as a gravity drip/flow filter. The mini can be a somewhat tiresome to get a lot of water through with the squeeze bags, or drinking directly. The Sawyer is fine for UK except for removing pesticides/metals etc. The sawyers can be easily back flushed do I don’t bother using any pre filter unless the water is really, really gritty.
 

lostplanet

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Aug 18, 2005
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I have a millbank, It will be UK Only, puddle, stream water that can be boiled.

Thanks muchly
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
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Manchester
I had all of them and I can confirm what other forums and the whole thruhike community says.

Get the biggest Squeeze SP129 filter, the mini and the micro is a bit lighter but they have a significantly reduced flow. For regular use it's a pain in the a...
Also the pouches are known for bursting (had 2 pop on me) so don't pay extra for more/bigger pouches, instead use a platypus or ordinary plastic bottle.

And the last thing, once used it will always be wet, so don't let it freeze.
 

Van-Wild

Full Member
Feb 17, 2018
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Sawyer mini with a mountain warehouse 1ltr soft bottle. Works a treat. The slower flow doesn't bother me. Gives me time to rest....

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk
 
And the last thing, once used it will always be wet, so don't let it freeze.
haven't tested this theory, but someone i met 19 years ago during my walkabout told me to suck the water out of the "clean end" of my katadyn filter after use to reduce risk of frost damage...

sadly my katadyn filter is stored with friends in Oz, so i've to get another filter it one day things improve and i manage to explore the country (and the rest of central america), so i'm following this thread with interest ;)
 

BigMonster

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Sep 6, 2011
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haven't tested this theory, but someone i met 19 years ago during my walkabout told me to suck the water out of the "clean end" of my katadyn filter after use to reduce risk of frost damage...

sadly my katadyn filter is stored with friends in Oz, so i've to get another filter it one day things improve and i manage to explore the country (and the rest of central america), so i'm following this thread with interest ;)
Sawyer says this in their manual. Also watch on YT "sawyer filter disassembly", I don't think I would trust the filter after the fibers have been exposed to frozen water.
 
Sawyer says this in their manual. Also watch on YT "sawyer filter disassembly", I don't think I would trust the filter after the fibers have been exposed to frozen water.
fair enough, as said before: i didn't test this theory myself...
i guess storing the filter close to your body during a trip is the best precaution to prevent frost damage.
fortunately there are not too many places in central america where frost is an issue apart from high mountains :)
 

lostplanet

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Aug 18, 2005
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Thanks for all the replies. Now is where to buy a squeeze? My usual shop would be amazon but there are loads of new negative reviews saying they are possibly fake and coming from Amazon US.

Nothing on tamarack or heinnie.
 
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lostplanet

Full Member
Aug 18, 2005
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does the squeeze also act as a gravity filter so if left overnight it does the same thing as the mini sawyer?
 

lostplanet

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Got my filter and bits a couple of days ago. All good, have watched a couple of videos on use and it looks very easy.

I guess my only question is what water can't be used though the filter? obviously salt sea water, but are there other sources to avoid In the UK?
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
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Manchester
Got my filter and bits a couple of days ago. All good, have watched a couple of videos on use and it looks very easy.

I guess my only question is what water can't be used though the filter? obviously salt sea water, but are there other sources to avoid In the UK?
Remember those kind of filters only make water safe to drink, they don't magically distil H2O out of anything.

So you still have to find a decent source (not chemically contaminated like a salt water or turbid puddle next to agricultural field). Also it have to be fairly clear so you don't block the filter too fast.

Sawyer just makes sure you won't end up in hospital with runs or parasites. So you are protected from a dead sheep up stream or any brain amebas floating around.
 

lostplanet

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Aug 18, 2005
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Yes, its surprising the pools and places we used to play in years ago now have toxic warning signs and don't even let animals in. Mostly Brackish and ditches nearby now.

There are some local streams I would trust with the filter. Large rain water puddles occur around too which filter and boil should be safe in a natural area? as you say away from industry etc.
 

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