Sawyer Micro vs Sawyer Squeeze - Which should you buy?

Sawyer Squeeze (Affiliate Link): amzn.to/39UEJ4X
Evernew Bag (Firm and Rigid) (Affiliate Link): amzn.to/2Y7XImS
CNOC Vecto (Stretchy) (Affiliate Link): amzn.to/2Yl2X2L
I tested and compared the Sawyer Squeeze to the Sawyer Micro and found that in all tests that Squeeze was the better filter in all areas except volume and weight. The Squeeze filter weighs 1oz more than the Micro. Disposable water bottles are faster to filter through than a bag.
Results (each tested 5 times with 1L of water):
Sawyer Micro with Smart Water bottle: Average 50.55 seconds
Sawyer Squeeze with Smart Water bottle: Average 23.84 seconds
Sawyer Micro with Evernew: Average 1:16.55
Sawyer Squeeze with Evernew: Average 21.67 seconds
Sawyer Micro with CNOC Vecto: Average 1:23.55
Sawyer Squeez with CNOC Vecto: Average 27.87 seconds
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[@jonsanford2515]

I heard the ceo of Sawyer on a podcast. He said the Micro was designed as a shorter version of the squeeze to be used on their bottles that filter the heavy metals, etc. The bottle acts as a prefilter used this way, so it isn’t designed to be abused the same as the squeeze. He said they never intended to sell it as a separate unit, but did because customers who liked the size, but not the flow rate of the mini were were asking for it. He claimed if it’s back flushed with the syringe, and with a lot of force, it will function close to the squeeze, but most people don’t know all of this, and don’t use enough force when they backflush, so it never gets cleaned properly and clogs. I don’t know if all of that is true, but it made sense when he explained it.

[@twhite19782012]

The biggest disservice that you tubers have done is promote the smart water trick. It does not properly backflush the filter and leads to premature filter death and or clogging. In addition to this, the filter should be routine;y soaked in water/ vinegar solution to break down the mineral deposits that will also clog the filter. Unfortunately Sawyer has not really been clear on distributing this information. It’s hard to read between the lines and people have to actually search out the information. Also one big factor in filter flow is how it is back flushed the first few times. If not done with enough force, paths of least resistance will form inside the hollow fiber tubes and this will lead to diminished flow rates. Bottom line is that most people don’t seek out this information and are not properly backflushing the filter. Then they complain about its poor performance. It’s a shame really.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Dude, 2200 miles of backflushing it through a smart water bottle was fine. I never experienced a slow down until I backflushed it with tap water. Used the syringe that time and it sat for 4 months. They also recommend running a bit of bleach through it as well for extended periods of non use.

[@meganc243]

@@twhite19782012 white vinegar is fantastic for cleaning.i use it clean my coffee pot machine from mineral and calcium buildup.

[@bradyschickinger9331]

Your results with the Micro vs. the Sawyer Squeeze are consistent with what we've found in Michigan with our large group of backpackers. As far as the Katadyn BeFree goes, a brand new BeFree is going to have twice the flow rate of a brand new Sawyer Squeeze. The problem with the BeFree is that it has poor longevity. One day that BeFree will slow to a trickle and it'll never go back to where it was. There's nothing sexy or fun about the Sawyer Squeeze. But it's dependable. The same can't be said of the Sawyer Micro or Katadyn BeFree.

[@brandondang7156]

Yes, for sure will last a long time. As a matter of fact I’m trying to figure out how to run it cause I feel like the constant squeezing of a plastic bottle would eventually lead to breaking. Any ideas on how to run a sawyer squeeze

[@lynx7906]

Nice to hear from you again Frozen!

[@easydoesit9584]

Thanks again for putting a video out because you have something to say and not just because it's Tuesday 🙂. Good stuff, as always.

[@russbennett1601]

I had bought the Sawyer Mini thinking it was the same as the squeeze. My son and I attempted a through hike for Father's Day weekend, and even though a tropical storm cut us out at the halfway mark, 22 miles in 95 degree heat was enough to get me shopping for a more effective filter. We would filter from a dirty Smart Water bottle to a clean one, and occasionally some extra bags or bottles for long stretches, and it took forever... And drinking straight from the bottle wasn't great either. I'm definitely picking up a squeeze!

[@BenMcmillen]

I don't have nearly as many miles on my filters as some but I've tried several and I always come back to the squeeze. It just works.

[@spnemec]

The best thing that happened to my BeFree filter was it freezing so I'd have an excuse to stop using it and go back to the Sawyer Squeeze. In over thirty years of backpacking, the Squeeze is the overall best backpacking filter I've encountered. Keep up the good work, Frozen, and may your beard touch your toes!

[@FrozensAdventures]

😂

[@toesockoutdoors3627]

Thanks! I used the micro for a long time with no problem until my most recent trip it slowed to about the flow rate of the mini. I plan to get the squeeze next

[@IamMuddy]

Thanks for doing the research!

[@nedsled2994]

Great test. I have both, I like the micro for shorter trips when I leave the filter on the bottle and drink right from the bottle,. easier size to deal with. Just adding I don't think anyone thinks or expects the smaller micro to works as well as the squeeze, it's smaller and has less or shorter tubes in it, kind of easy to know it will not do as well. ;-)

[@RyanSchell]

Thank you for putting in the work to get the data. Very helpful!! I'm not surprised by the CNOC coming in slower, as it is a stretchier material, so "squeezing" the water in does not play to it's strength. Which for me is the large opening on the other side and packing down small. I screw my Squeeze on to the bag directly, then the blue coupler on the clean side to my bottle then gravity filter. I'm not putting in the big miles so I have a little extra time to rest and filter. I picked up the BeFree as well and only tested at home at this point. I'm curious to see your results with it, as well as my own.

[@soggybottomhikes6915]

Awesome video. Thanks!

[@uptrail7169]

I bought a new Micro for my 2019 SHT hike and it was a nightmare after a few days. I also went back to the Sawyer Squeeze after that trip.

[@unpavedexplorer338]

Hello my friend, thanks for sharing your test results. I have the micro but have not used it yet. I should have bought the original. Take Care and Keep Exploring The Outdoors.

[@sergeykaprantsev5192]

you all testing flow speed like it's the most important part of water filtering :)

[@claramullen]

I love the squeeze with a smart water bottle. I tried the micro but Florida water sources has to much sediment it clogs to fast. I don't really have to worry about my filter freezing here either. Thanks for putting you opinion out there Jason

[@bwacek]

I liked the video and your findings in terms of flow rates. I think it would be interesting to take this test even further to test other aspects (it may be too difficult to do without access to a laboratory). For example, maybe the Micro's flow rate is worse because there is more filtering going on which would result in cleaner water. If other aspects of the filters were tested like that, it might make the Micro a better buy for certain situations.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Nice video and comparison! I tried the Micro earlier this year...didn't last long. Switched to Katadyn BeFree and love it - paired it up w/ a Hydrapak Seeker 2L for extra water capacity! My only complaints are when I need to tuck it in my pocket or quilt at night it's kind of bulky. Also very hard to do the backflush/unclogging. I would say it was great for about the first 300-400 miles (included day hikes and several overnight trips) and then flow rate went way down...for a thru hike I'd plan to swap out the filter every 400 miles or so. Thinking about trying the Squeeze because it looks a little more compact and the backflushing is much easier.

[@papolymerchemist]

I like the BeFree for trail running (mainly because it fits nicely in my vest), but I wouldn't take it backpacking or fastpacking. The flow rate can be fickle and it requires constant attention/cleaning. Still, the BeFree is a must-have for long runs in the summer.

[@richyoung4051]

yea i boight the be free and it clogged up and slowed down realy quick on me and i ditched it. and the fact the filter only lasts like 10k gallons or something little like with the replacement being 20 dollars,where a sawyer lasts 100k gallons

[@ricdonato4328]

Question, for y'all saying your filter flow rate diminishes, do you first pre-filter your water? Example, depending on the turbidity and particulates you can see in the water, filter water through a bandana folded or not into another container. Using the bandana will remove a tremendous amount of water particulates and turbidity well known for clogging filters. Do not drink this water! Then run the bandana filtered water through your water filter of choice, now you can drink the water. Time between backflushes will greatly lengthen the useful life of your filter.

[@happyhoppy74]

Appreciate the informative video... would you think about doing a video of thru hiking during the pandemic, specifically the AT.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Nah I'm burned out on the pandemic.

[@happyhoppy74]

@@FrozensAdventures i shouldve worded diff, my apologies... i was looking for thoughts if it has affected thru hiking negativly... appreciate your responses.

[@FrozensAdventures]

I think being outside and hiking is fine. But for the protection of trail towns I feel people should social distance. A lot of trail towns rely on hikers for business but the ATC shut a lot of it down and then people shamed other hikers.

[@TooTall_hikes]

PCT that's awesome! It would be nice to see those filters in a color that you won't lose. Frozen, what do you recommend for waterproof pants? Or would you just go with rain pants

[@kurt9609]

Nice comparison! I prefer sucking through my 8yo Sawyer 3-Way Inline with a Platypus dirty bag ..plus a small bottle for side pocket. It’s 3-4oz heavier than a Squeeze/SWater setup but scoop, wipe and go is worth the extra weight. I also have the quick-connects to hang and gravity fill the bottle (plus my friends lol). Bite valve tube section stays on my pack. Con: tubing needs to be cleaned often.

[@dirtyfilthee]

the micro is easy to turn into a gravity system with the male to male joiner it comes with. that's the main advantage for me.

[@momoftwins7]

Did you ever check out the hydroblu? I have both the full size and the mini. They don’t have the gaskets we kept breaking in the sawyers.

[@joshwood3]

Looking forward to watching u on the pct in 2024 :)

[@tca83]

I have the Sqeeze for my work bag. 😁

[@andyhall4599]

ditching my sawyer after 3 yrs....Katadyn making big name seems like. trying this. looks easier to refill when taking off shoulder strap and putting bag in stream.

[@mountainwmn70]

My only experience is with the micro squeeze, and I found it to be just fine.

[@matthewstanko2478]

Been there, done that, switched to the BeFree and have never been happier.

[@chuckychuck]

🤣🤣🤣 Befree is junk, after 3 or 4 months the filter turns in to a slow turtle walk flow. i'll stick with sawyer squeeze.

[@SgtSpartyOutdoors]

I will say that I loved my BeFree for the first year of overnighters and a few multi nighters, but by year two, which was probably only maybe a dozen nights on trail it was so slow and difficult to filter through that I've switched to the Squeeze. We have really a lot of sediment in our water and it just seemed to do a number on the BeFree after a short period but I'm very interested to see your results.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Thanks for the info

[@Flockingtheherd]

Everybody’s saying the mini drastically drops off in flow rate. But then again everybody’s using them incorrectly. You should never force the water through micron filters, your lodging the contaminants into the tubes, even flushing might not work anymore. Micron filters really should be used in gravity systems. Despite the name “squeeze” it says clearly on the box not to squeeze water through it. You can lightly add pressure but should never squeeze the bottle as hard as u can

[@danieltantram82]

Doesn't it depend on how you maintain and backflush your filter ?

[@danielkutcher5704]

Thanks for the info. (and teaching the correct pronunciation of Katadyn, which has nothing to do with the mountain, Katahdin (different spelling should be a clue). Looking forward to your PCT hike. Most folks say that most of it is easier than the AT. The miles that aren't, from what I've seen and read, are much more difficult. Best wishes!

[@getlost3094]

I'm sure the micro was not intended to replace the squeeze but rather the mini. Fliwvrate compared to the mini is better. I wasn't expecting it to flow as well as the squeeze.

[@jtucker4201]

I know it's probably not feasible to test at home, but I'd like to see if there are an differences in the removal of pathogens between the two.

[@garrycollins3415]

I think your test will show the BeFree to be better. However there have been a lot of complaints and my bad experience with it clogging that probably won't show in your tests. It's either much faster than Sawyer or clogs up solid with no explanation or warning.

[@flopflipped_at3762]

squeeze or befree basically only options worth considering these days, IMO

[@TheAnon26]

Bit late, but relevant question: Was that a new filter of each, or was it after your 100-odd mile treks? If the latter, how did you clean the filters? How often did you backflush, did you do the hot water/vinegar bath when it slowed down? Just curious cause those data points absolutely matter when comparing the two. The micro is a lot more compact, so it will clog up faster - theres less material the water can pass through after all. For the same reason, the squeeze will *always* be faster than the micro. Just like a municipal water plant will be faster than your kitchen filter. So in the end, its a matter of priorities: weight and (especially) bulk vs filtering speed. If Im only interested in speed, definitely get a bigger, faster filter. But if,say, space in your pack is already limited and youre just taking a filter as backup? Then the micro is probably the better choice, possibly even the mini (which has an even worse flowrate). As for the befree: general consensus seems to be its significantly faster and a bit easier to use (ease of filling the larger opening, cleaning), but at the cost of longevity and price. Again, a matter of priorities. Personally, Im not fussed about it being slower. Im not in a hurry. But since I need to be somewhat budget conscious, my gear is bulkier than most. So space is at a premium. Micro it is. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@FrozensAdventures]

This was flow rate about 10 liters of water of use on each with no backflushing. Thanks for the tip about the hot water and vinegar!

[@TheAnon26]

@@FrozensAdventures My pleasure. ^^

[@venturefree.]

Yea I can't find another filter to switch to

[@findingnory]

did you happen to compare these to the sawyer mini at all? it's cheaper so a little slower flow wouldn't be too big a deal.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Mini is worse than micro that was the 2nd filter I started using.

[@davids9549]

The Micro will do the job if you're not in a hurry, as will the Mini (I have both, and I'm never in a hurry). I don't doubt the Squeeze is faster, but it's also heavier and larger, so it's a question of whether carrying the extra weight is worth the 45-seconds-per-litre faster filtering time. I prefer the Micro over the Mini because you can use the coupling ring (4g) which comes with it for backflushing on the trail.

[@chuckychuck]

Yeah, I'm happy with my mini, slow flow means a cleaner and better filtering, everyone wants a faster flow, Ever hearing of this saying the slower you chew and swallow your food the more healthy it becomes because the enzymes from your mouth help the acid in your gut with the break downs.

[@SelionFieldsOutdoors]

How on earth did you wreck the Sawyer Squeeze?

[@mikedidomenico1]

How does the Squeeze compare to the Katadyn BeFree

[@bradyschickinger9331]

Out of the box, the BeFree has a faster flow rate. For the long haul, the Sawyer Squeeze wins easily.

[@joefryfry]

I was up in Maine two summers ago and saw a girl using the regular sawyer squeeze and she was using the bags that come with the kit. Is there a reason why you should avoid using those bags that come with the kit from Sawyer? I’d like to know because I’m going back to this this summer

[@joefryfry]

I used the bottle method like you do in the past and didn’t like that and went back to my katadyn pump and now I’m ready to go back to the Sawyer squeeze. I like my pump but it’s a little heavier and kind of messy in the woods

[@FrozensAdventures]

I've had a lot of them break on me. Use em till they break then go evernew. That's my advice.

[@natashaletourneau5368]

Your not going to the PCT for another 3 Years??

[@dubon6372]

Can someone give me a link to the video where frozen has that encounter with a black bear, and it bluff charged him?

[@FrozensAdventures]

Look up the smokies video from 2018 maybe 2017. It's about halfway through don't expect great filming as I was being charged by a bear.

[@elmafudd9703]

Did you clean it regularly, under pressure?

[@FrozensAdventures]

Yes

[@elmafudd9703]

@@FrozensAdventures Then that is disappointing when many have very few problems outside the bag. You should inform the company. If you filtered 1 ltr a day it would last 274 years. They can not say you possibly did that .

[@beamer6136]

I assume you used tap water for the test, imagine if you used lake water or creek water. Im sure micro would have been alot slower

[@FrozensAdventures]

For sure!

[@teamgala2030]

how bout the price difference?

[@riffoutdoors3673]

I know you hated buying it, but at least you can write it off on your taxes

[@GoThruIt]

Can't you just cut the squeeze in half to save weight?

[@Jakelol1980]

You know you can open up the Squeeze and clean it out so i have a hard time thinking you used it so much that its done for plus you need to back flush it like every time you use it and as long you do this there is no way you will use it that much unless you use muddy water from a puddel.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Yes I am aware you can open it up and look at the fibers. Again I used the squeeze for over 2000 miles before I replaced it.

[@Jakelol1980]

@@FrozensAdventures Miles but how many gallos/liters? They are good for up to 100.000 gallons and i cant imagen that you got even to 1000 gallons.

[@FrozensAdventures]

@@Jakelol1980 idk something like 4 to 5 liters per day for 200 days over tits lifespan. Not going to sweat a $20 filter. If it's slow I'm going to replace it.

[@Jakelol1980]

@@FrozensAdventures thats only like 1000 liters and it should be good for 400.000 liters.

[@markjthomson]

Interesting data... but seriously... a few seconds... if you are racing then maybe... but hey... we are walking... or riding... not really a compelling argument. All you looked at was flow rate to determine the "superiority" of a filter. For me size is critical. All other things being equal, I'll happily spend a couple more minutes enjoying the view while I filter the water.

[@FrozensAdventures]

The data was to be used to indicate how the min filter slowed down considerably after only a few uses. It will get worse the longer you use it. With that said, do what ya want man

[@markjthomson]

@@FrozensAdventures Sure, I get that... but there is more than just time for rating. Would be good if you gave a greater perspective. Reality is we are doing this often to get away from time pressure... :) All the best on your walks.

[@johnlord6222]

Micro sucks

[@patrickstockton1797]

Nice link to a product not available on amazon. Why not link to the mfr? Oh right. You are monetizing us.

[@FrozensAdventures]

Why wouldn't I to help fund making new videos or going on trips? I am upfront on the links with the label (Paid Link) I get the small commission if someone uses my link to buy it at no cost to the buyer. It just gives a little kick back each month to upgrade things or make new stuff. If you don't want to buy it then don't buy it. Or if you want to buy it at your local REI or other outdoor store, then that's ok too.

[@razzbazle1582]

Patrick, take your saltiness somewhere else please

[@outdooradventures996]

Nice