This is probably the best thing to bring if you’re an ultralight backpacker. Heck, it’s the best thing to bring if you go camping or hiking, period.
It’s easy to clean, easy to use, quick to filter and does such an amazing job, I didn’t even chemical treat the water by the end of the week-long trip in Algonquin.
It can be used as a gravity filter, or you can stick it onto your water bladder and drink straight from the end.
As the title says, it’s a lifesaver.

Absolutely a first-choice personal water filter if you value weight, reliability, and versatility.

First, the obvious. This is likely the lightest filter available. It’s about the volume of a roll of quarters but a fraction of the weight. However strong you are, there’s no advantage to carrying more weight to do the same basic task – water is water.

Second, this filter has no moving parts, no batteries, no pump or anything else that can fail. It’s a solid piece. As long as you keep it from freezing and damaging the internal filter pores, you can depend on this to keep right on being a filter. It can be easily cleaned in the field using nothing more than the syringe it comes with.

Last, and maybe greatest of all, this filter can be used so many ways. Just look at the reviews for how everyone has used it differently to do the same basic task. The Sawyer can be used for on-demand filtration, in-line filtration, or filtration on the move. It comes with a dirty water bag, but it can be screwed on to most small-mouth bottles with standard threading (NOTE: does not work on Platypus, they use proprietary threads), so you can use a big bag, or a disposable bottle, or whatever.

The tradeoffs: although it flows sufficiently to drink on demand, it’s slow-ish for filtering quantities of water, say to refill your pack at a stream that you will not be hiking alongside or seeing again for a while. It’s not so slow that most people will find it frustrating to filter enough water for themselves, but relying on a SINGLE Sawyer to filter water for a whole group is not going to be a speedy process. It does not filter (all) viruses and does nothing for chemicals, so it should not be relied on for that – but most water in developed countries won’t need that kind of filtration.

This is the Raspberry Pi of water filters. Small, simple, and “hackable” in practical and sometimes creative ways. Even if you own a larger filter for group hydration, pick up a Sawyer.

They are very effective perfect for a long camping trip or a long drive better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

I’ve been backpacking for 24 years and have to say Sawyers products are a game changer. I’m a minimalist and travel light when I’m out in the backcountry. This is as light as it gets. I spend a lot of time on the Appalachian trail and this has become the standard for backpackers. I bought the original sawyer squeeze about 4 years ago and until my last backpacking trip which I just got back from worked perfectly. The rubber gasket on the back is falling out and it’s impossible to screw on a dirty bag without fear of contaminating water that leaks from the side. I’ve been using the mini for 2 years now flawlessly. Thankfully I had both filters with me on my last trip. The mini doesn’t filter as fast but it’s half the weight. Don’t use the included dirty bags platypus work better. I also cut the bottom of a plastic water bottle big enough to scoop water if I need to and carry that with me. I crush it in half to make it more compact when not in use. I always have this filter with me in the backcountry. I would also make a few suggestions don’t thread it too tight over your dirty bag or you will strip the plastic causing unfiltered water to leak out the side and risk contamination. Always being extra dirty bags just in case one breaks or busts. Sleep with the filter in your aleeping bag, top quilt, or bivy in freezing conditions if the filter freezes it will crack on the inside and be rendered useless even if you can’t see the damage. I don’t waste time filtering at my water source when I’m low on time I fill the dirty bags and carry those with me and filter at camp or when I have time or just drink straight out of the bag or dirty bottle.