Backpacker's guide to the SAWYER SQUEEZE

In this video I review the specs of the Sawyer Squeeze, tips for how to effectively use it, how to clean it, how to sanitize it and I also discuss a couple of common issues and how to address them. This is aimed at backpackers who are considering buying the Sawyer Squeeze or current owners of the Sawyer Squeeze that are looking for helpful tips.
I am not sponsored by Sawyer. The opinions shared in this video are from the heart and based on my own personal experiences.
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Website: jonallenoutside.com
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DISCLAIMER: The content of this video is based on my own personal experience and is shared for informational purposes only. I assume no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use the information at your own risk.

[@SawyerProducts]

Hey thanks for using and reviewing our Squeeze Filter! If you are having trouble restoring the flow rate of your filter, be sure to be very forceful in the process! Our fibers are 75% stronger than other hollow fiber filters on the market so they can handle the higher pressure to maximize the restoration of the flow rate.

[@jonallenoutside]

Thanks for the tip! I love the Squeeze!

[@StuartB_]

I think it's fair to say you owe Jon a nice little thank you package of your latest products for both advertising how good your product is, how to use it effectively and it's care. Just saying.

[@vvs3796]

here in uk all bleach is thick,what else can be used?? chlorine tablets for water purifying?

[@cotteeskid]

@@vvs3796 there are a few types of sanitizers in the Homebrew market, which would be a good alternative. They are also safer than bleach. I have two different brands which have different ingredients and to use at different dilution rates. With these sanitisers you do a quick rinse a wine bottle in the solution and then use straight away without rinsing with water.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

I have three of your various filetes and they are nolong working. They have only been lightlly used and now are just junk. I will never get another one of your filers. And have seen multiple videos on your poor Customer Service. Sorry but made in USA means nothing.

[@pakelly1980]

One of the best Sawyer videos so far!

[@jonallenoutside]

Thank you!

[@s.jamessavell6995]

I watched a video about a hiker going to south America and learning how water women have been using sawyer squeeze for 15 years. Those women learned to flush the device more than once once and a gentle wack to clean it.

[@wanderworm]

The included Sawyer bags are excellent for holding filtered water. I’m aware they’re not good for squeezing dirty water through the filter but make excellent, lightweight, compact water storage bags that you’re essentially getting for free.

[@ElementofKindness]

Best advice I received was, to use white vinegar after backflushing, after a trip. I had a Squeeze that was down to just a slow drip no matter how much backflushing I tried, and I set it aside for over a year. (used a Mini in its place) So, after sitting all that time, I pushed vinegar into it with the syringe, and left it sit for 48 hours. Afterwards, to test/flush out vinegar, I just put water in the squeeze bag, and just by inverting bag and NOT squeezing it, it was flowing like a brand new, unused unit again! Also was advised, after sanitizing, final flush with DISTILLED water, do NOT push air through afterwards, Place in a new/clean ziplock, along with a distilled water dampened paper towel, roll out the air, seal, and store in a cool, dark environment.

[@jonallenoutside]

I have an old one that was clogged after improper storage. I’m going to try the vinegar thing right now.

[@jonallenoutside]

It worked amazing! I could hardly push a drop through and after the vinegar treatment overnight it's working like new. Thanks for the tip!

[@ElementofKindness]

@@jonallenoutside Awesome! I was not optimistic and quite surprised myself, when it worked. Drying out, and the crystallization of tap water minerals blocking the pores of the membrane, is theorized the reason for them to plug up.

[@TimelordUK]

For ages I have thought this was called a Soya Squeeze and thought I'd need to keep buying soya to filter the water!!! This was a very informative video. Thank you

[@jonallenoutside]

That’s what they call it in Boston😎

[@behindenemylines9033]

Another great review. Much appreciated.

[@MrSandmanGto]

Thanks for the review...great info

[@juju1435]

Great job

[@person.X.]

Outstanding video. Many thanks Jon. You have clearly addressed every question I had about this filter.

[@belagaspar929]

Great video. I really enjoyed your video. You covered everything well. Thank you.

[@jonallenoutside]

Thanks!

[@rueda82nd]

just got one thanks for review

[@mitchzimmerman3330]

Great video. Thank you so much. Answered all of my questions…and then some. Very detailed. Appreciate it!!!!!!!

[@cotteeskid]

Some excellent first hand practical experience shared. Really appreciate the additional points on cleaning and sanitising for the longevity of using the squeeze which I just ordered only yesterday. cheers

[@nmartin5551]

Thanks for a great video! Appreciate you sharing your experience and tips!!

[@jonallenoutside]

You are welcome!

[@charlesmckinney]

Already own one as well as the sawyer filter bottle. Love them.

[@TaborPrzemyslaw]

Thanks, its a great and informative video. It helped a lot!

[@jonallenoutside]

Glad to have helped.

[@mickeyavery3960]

Jon, thank you for this excellent video. It is both informative and to the point. I especially liked not having to listen to several minutes of obnoxious music some use for their intro. Your intro was perfect. Thank you again, and please keep producing these outstanding videos.

[@jonallenoutside]

Thanks for the kind words. I have quite a few ideas on deck. Stay tuned.

[@wavebend1474]

excellent video, thanks a ton

[@jonallenoutside]

Glad you liked it.

[@CaptApril123]

Very informative. Thanks

[@jonallenoutside]

I still love the Sawyer Squeeze. Regular backflushing keeps it going strong even with dirty water.

[@dons1643]

OK, great you are the first person video that I’ve seen that mentioned the mildew smell. I’ve been using one for at least nine years the same one and just had that smell and taste in the water and I just had to go out and buy a new Sawyer squeeze. I did use the bleach method like you mentioned but maybe the last time I went out I didn’t use that but I do let it sit and dry for at least a couple two weeks but still ended up getting that mildew smell and I don’t think you can get rid of it ...

[@jonallenoutside]

It seems to go away after pushing a few liters of water through it, but it does seem to taste bad at first.

[@michaelestes681]

Great segments on the Sawyer squeezes [I watched both the beginning one and the one on the best of the two bladder comparisons]. So info packed and very informative. Very well thought out videos and so thorough. Do you do any guiding? Thanks very much!

[@jonallenoutside]

I do not do any guiding. I've always wanted to take the NOLS Wilderness First Responder course and would want to have that education under my belt before taking responsibility for the safety of others. I'm happy to help others plan though.

[@allen_p]

Thanks for the video. I had been looking online at the Squeeze. Today, I found Walmart had them on clearance for $25.50. They had Sawyer gravity filter on clearance, too. The water bottle tip is a great idea.

[@jonallenoutside]

That’s a great price.

[@dawnkulak7078]

Thank You Jon for this VERY DETAILED tutorial!! I have such brain fog…year to year…and just trying to get my filter to work again…(soaking it in a mild vinegar solution) 😎

[@jonallenoutside]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stevenvitali7404]

Very helpful video for me as I’m looking for a new water filter, I used to have a Sawyer mini in 2016, I used it then it was left for over a year, when I went to use it again it was blocked so I sucked on it and got a nasty mould taste in my mouth so I threw it out, the bleach in water sounds like a good idea, anyway I’m going to get the Sawyer squeeze as it seems to have a better flow rate, thanks for the advice it was really helpful

[@jonallenoutside]

You are welcome!

[@TheEtiben]

Thanks for the great video. Helped me choose the Sawyer. What about the first time you used it? Was there anything you did different?

[@jonallenoutside]

No, but each time I use it I squeeze a bit of water through it before filling my water bottle. Just a few tablespoons though.

[@enilkja]

Great review. I’m a fan of the Grayl, but this would be great on a longer hike where weight is a concern.

[@jonallenoutside]

My friend Bill uses one of those. Heavier, but very convenient and also filters viruses from what I understand. He loves it.

[@enilkja]

@@jonallenoutside Yep, viruses and even industrial waste. (I’m not planning on testing that one).

[@germainefamily]

Great video! I’m always having a hard time finding out how people store it in their pack between uses. Do you cap off the clean end and throw it in a bag or dry it off and toss it in a ziplock bag?

[@jonallenoutside]

I squeeze air through it to clear it out and just put it right in my pack. It doesn’t leak once you do that.

[@davef5916]

hey Jon, do you think vinegar would work as opposed to bleach for long term storage? Also, under what circumstances do you additionally filter with chlorine dioxide to battle viruses and other baddies if that's something you ever do.

[@jonallenoutside]

I’m not sure how long term exposure to vinegar would impact the filter media. I carry tablets as a backup, but just in case my filter stops working.

[@user-bb2nn1vl6u]

Is there an adapter to attach the Sawyer Squeeze to a sink faicet to filter tap water during travel to countries without clean water?

[@jonallenoutside]

You might be able to use the blue adapter, but it really depends on the threads on the faucet. I have connected mine to water spigots before using the adapter.

[@505fastlife6]

This might be a dumb question but why do you have to put the water in a second bottle couldn’t you just drink it out the first one with the filter still on of course?

[@jonallenoutside]

Some people do that. I prefer to drink from a bottle and I don’t mind filtering. HYOH as they say.

[@vvs3796]

here in uk all bleach is thick,what else can be used?? chlorine tablets for water purifying?

[@jonallenoutside]

Vinegar could be used as well. That also will help remove any deposits from the fibers.

[@vvs3796]

i m yet to try vinegAR.BUT seems that it s the last option aloong with hot water for me to restore flow. on my last trip flow was so so at first but then on a 3rd day it was useless,despite water was from mountain streams. i watched some tricks on cleaning it so gonna give it a go. main thing i found that most of the time it can be fixed and filter overall got long life.

[@cypvh74]

Is the filter membrane replaceable?

[@jonallenoutside]

No

[@theranberceau8684]

Katadyn BeFree is where it's at. --> former sawyer user

[@jonallenoutside]

Also a good product. The Sawyer is rated to last longer, but let’s compare flow rates in a few years and decide for ourselves. Maybe you can join me for a Sawyer vs. Katadyn video at some point.

[@NatureBoy711]

or just use white sawyer cap for backflush

[@parcomolo256]

I'd wish people didn't add background music to videos.

[@charlesmckinney]

One million? Both of mine say 100,000.

[@jonallenoutside]

I think they revised it down to 100k at some point.

[@simonmaguire5250]

I buy the pink one as no man ever wants to be seen with the pink one so mine is the only one.

[@davidrenz5886]

I would...Lol...

[@simonmaguire5250]

@@davidrenz5886 I did in fact buy a pink Sawyer Mini as it was on offer as no one wanted that colour, I also have some Light My Fire Sporks in pink on the way for the same reason, if anyone asks I'll tell them it's Salmon.

[@ricdonato4328]

Turn off the background music. It is beyond me why KZbin content creators think playing background music over their voice is somehow enhancing their videos, it is not, it is distracting. We came to hear you, not to fight background music which quickly becomes extremely annoying and intrusive. Many folks have hearing difficulties, thus while concentrating on your voice they must also concentrate on tuning out the music; frustrating. Your background music ruins an otherwise exceptionally good presentation.

[@jonallenoutside]

Thanks for the feedback. For what it's worth, I have stopped using background music on my informative videos where I am talking.

[@charliehooks5801]

Sawyer Squize is now price gouging, raising there price from 29$ to 45.99 absolutely reduclous our troop was going to purchase these now they made it impossible. I will not use or purchase any product from the ever again. There price gouging goes against everything they stand for. Will be releasing a video on this reduclous price gouging Sawyer is doing. Do not purchase from this company. There head is getting to big and now money is more important than the mission. I have formally removed all my support and referrals for there product.