Sawyer Mini Water Filter Review (Testing in Dirty Water, How to Use, Tips & Hacks)

In this Sawyer Mini water filter review, I share my experience from one year of use. Read the full review over here: hikemuch.com/sawyer-mini-review/
I've used the Sawyer Mini for over a year now, and In this video, I share all the tips & hacks that I've found over the years. In addition to that, I explain how to use the Sawyer Mini water filter, and test it out in a really dirty water source.
Essentially, the Sawyer Mini allows me to bring less water in my backpack whenever I'm overnight hiking, as long as there's a good water source nearby. Personally, I use it in combination with two Sawyer 1-liter / 32-ounce pouches. Although the pouches could be more durable, they do the job just fine, and they're very lightweight, which is really all that I need.
I like that the Sawyer Mini is very versatile. You can use it as a life straw, you can screw it on a bottle with dirty water, and drink straight from it, you can use the Sawyer pouches or any other water bladders with a standard 28-millimeter cap, or you can filter the water through a gravity feed system.
Though, there are also a few things that I don't like about the Sawyer Mini. The water flowrate could be faster, and it needs to be backflushed very often. Also, as I already mentioned, their original pouches burst pretty easily if you apply too much force. But for a water filter that's this affordable, I think that it's a really good product that any beginner backpacker should own.
▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Beginning
00:53 - About the Sawyer Mini
02:10 - What's included in the kit
03:02 - How to use the Sawyer Mini
04:50 - Testing in dirty water
06:39 - Backflushing & flowrate
08:58 - Tips & hacks
11:28 - Final verdict
▼ GEAR TESTED IN VIDEO (affiliate links)
Sawyer Mini Water filter ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3uLcxv0)
Sawyer 3x 32oz water pouches ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/2O0HhaK)
▼ MY FULL GEAR LIST (affiliate links)
Silverlight socks ➜ (Silverlight: ) (15% discount code: hikemuch15)
Osprey Talon 44 backpack (new model) ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3pZUZHK)
Black Diamond Distance FLZ trekking poles ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3xkFazq)
Water filter ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3riXlDf)
Cicerone guidebook ➜ 54(www.cicerone.co.uk/the-gr11-t...)
Set of 3 dry sacks ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3bTlwBB)
Tent ➜ (Rei.com: www.rei.com/product/168564/re...)
Camping pillow ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/2MzzUWT)
Decathlon Microfiber towel ➜ (Decathlon: www.decathlon.com/products/ul...)
Sleeping pad ➜ (Rei.com: www.rei.com/product/157892/re...)
Cooking pot ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/2NRcywv)
Spork ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3b2moVk)
Silicone camping cup ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/37YIOoq)
Cooking stove ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/37W4SzS)
Power bank ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3gmqRER)
Headlamp ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/37X41iH)
Camera ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3r8OALH)
Lense ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/301mCWh)
ND filter ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3q5GrX1)
Camera mounted microphone ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3r7Yyge)
GoPro Hero 7 ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3dXVpvO)
Peak designs capture clip ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3dVRQq7)
Fanny pack for my camera gear ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/37UJfA4)
Sunglasses ➜ (vallon.store/collections/shop...)
Sea to Summit trowel ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3iHAMGB)
Gear Air repair kit ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3pXnnfq)
Swiss Army Knife ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/2MAHrVr)
Decathlon Down Jacket Trek 100 ➜ (Decathlon: www.decathlon.com/products/me...)
Marmot PreCip rain jacket ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3gqiBE3)
North Face beanie ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3zqR7pd)
Decathlon Evadict Mt2 ➜ (Decathlon: www.decathlon.com/products/me...)
▼ SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
hikemuch.com/newsletter/
▼ FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
/ hike_much_official
/ hikemuchofficial
/ hikemuch
/ hikemuch
▼ AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
In some of our videos and articles, we sometimes use affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking our affiliate links, we might get a small commission from the total purchase, at no additional cost for you. We participate in the Amazon Associates affiliate program and other affiliate programs.

[@SawyerProducts]

Hey thanks for using and recommending our filter! We can definitely pass your feedback along!

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks, you guys make a great product! In the future, I'm planning to try out the squeeze in combination with the select system, and see how well those perform. ;)

[@vipnetworker]

Send the man some free products!!! He just sent you a TON of business.

[@ezrabaker2617]

i dont mean to be offtopic but does anybody know a method to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the account password. I would love any tricks you can offer me

[@kasoneduardo1634]

@Ezra Baker Instablaster =)

[@rowerowyja9982]

# 1. Czy płukanka powinna być octem winnym (białym)? # 2. Czy można stosować ocet kwaśny (spirytusowy)? Jest bardzo mocny i skuteczny w walce z kamieniem i osadami. Posiada również właściwości dezynfekujące/dezynfekujące. # 3. Proporcja płynów: ocet 4 części + woda 1 część? Daje to słabe rozwiązanie. # 4. Czy mogę używać wodnego roztworu sody oczyszczonej (NaHCO3)? Do czyszczenia membrany w filtrze należy użyć zimnego lub ciepłego płukania (optymalnie 18°C, max 30°C). Ciecz nie może być gorąca - uszkodzi nanorurki membrany kapilarnej. Do kąpieli octowej należy używać ciepłej wody. Im wyższa temperatura, tym lepsza reakcja chemiczna. Aby przywrócić optymalną aktywność membrany filtracyjnej i uzyskać max. czynnik retencji zanieczyszczeń (osadów), konieczna jest regeneracja i dezynfekcja. Osad nieorganiczny z membrany w filtrze jest usuwalny za pomocą związków kwasowych. Osad organiczny z membrany w filtrze jest wypłukiwany związkami alkalicznymi. Best regards.

[@scottmoore4039]

Great Vid, just one recommendation . You can wrap your thumb and pointer finger around the threading of the bag to blow it up, so your mouth is in contact with your skin not the bag with possible contamination.

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks, that's a good tip!

[@demonchild8452]

Now hold on. You can't look at the water like that and just move on. Lol was there something in it?

[@user12852]

Thank you very much! The test in that kind of dirty water was what I was looking for!

[@thewilliambarraza]

Great product review. Very clear and well-presented information. You answered all the questions I had about the product! Thanks!

[@DartmoorPaul]

Great review. Clear, informative, thorough and great editing with additional shots. nice one👍

[@vipnetworker]

This might be the best product review video I’ve ever seen. Well done sir.

[@dattgiantoberder]

me n my friends r jst starting out in backpacking and i find ur channel very helpful!!! keep up the good work :)

[@KathysOutdoorAdventures]

Awesome information! I have had a sawyer for a year and never used it. Now it will stay in my pack Just found your channel and looking forward to watching your journey

[@theorangecircle1066]

Finally a good vid where someone just talks about their experience. I really enjoyed your thourough review. Liked how you told of your problems too; makes for a honest review.

[@BucketListTravellers]

Thanks for the really useful information! I'm just about to use my filter for the first time, and it's good to get some tips to make sure I'm using it the right way

[@VoodooViking]

I’m an over the road truck driver in the USA and I just bought one for just in case. Great to hear a comprehensive list of what I’m to expect

[@klwenz9375]

Just got one of these for hiking and I appreciate the tips and tricks!

[@nelsona2396]

Just bought my mini filter twin system last week but with no instructions, great video, most informative among the others..thank you

[@runningintohistory]

Great review and channel! I just picked one of these up after relying on my Steripen for years.

[@RyansNextAdventure]

Great video 👍🏼 very informative. I’ve just purchased this filter and it looks great, looking forward to using it on my next thru hike and carrying less water 😊

[@supervivet911]

Very good review! Quick, informative and to the point.

[@4leafmetal]

After watching your wonderfully informative video I believe I will go ahead and purchase one! Thanks!

[@mike_outdoors4918]

Great tip with the vinegar, had mine for 2 years now and noticed the flow rate had dropped, thanks 👍🙂

[@UltraTrailSteven]

Great video! Explained all the pros and cons well!

[@TheStevenhull]

Great video, thanks for the tips. Very helpful!

[@childofthesun32]

Great video. Everything I needed and was looking for. Liked and subscribed.

Thanks for all the info. Best video about these filter. Got one from China, now i know how to use it!

[@XCBen]

Awesome review my friend. Thanks for that.

[@andersulvekrans]

Nice video. I like sawyer mini and always have one with me in my backpack.

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

Excellent review and instructional video! 👍🔥

[@JaspervR1111]

Very informative video. Thanks!

[@trackpackgt877]

I keep one of these on my Enduro me and my friends have used it for years we can drink out of any water source without having to pack water into the woods there great we have drank out of a lot of creeks ponds lakes rivers over the years with that Sawyer and never got sick

[@50calorie82]

Very well , in detail explanation. Good job man .

[@chuckpotter1209]

Enjoyed our video and demonstration of how it works and tip on using it....both good and not so good aspects of the Mini.

[@RomeoEdward]

Excellent, I learned a lot. Thank you.

[@smal167k]

Excellent review! 👍

[@summervibes9931]

Greaaat stuff dude, appreciating from Canada

[@JoeElliotSA]

Brilliant review. Many thanks.

[@Maryam-ue3vw]

Great video with helpful information. many thanks

[@Sudipto17Kolkata]

Love such detailed videos. Thank you very much.

[@dog-so1vj]

Great video. I learned a lot. Thanks.

[@patsikora5169]

thank you so much.IT WAS VERY HELPFUL

[@randysoutdoorgearopinions9748]

Great review video. I love the filter but am not a fan of the water pouch; very difficult to fill. I now use a CNOC water pouch with the Sawyer filter and problem solved. Thanks for a great review. Very well done.

[@kelloggscuts1820]

I’m looking on Amazon, which CNOC pouch would work best for this? Or do all of their pouches fit this filter?

[@randysoutdoorgearopinions9748]

I use the vecto 2l cnoc pouch. They are great.@@kelloggscuts1820

[@williamh8713]

Really good informative video thank you :)

[@patsikora5169]

Thank you for the info.Very Very helpful !!!!!

[@James_Mabry]

Dude awesome fix!!

[@sprocastersprocaster]

you made that water so appetizing

[@UnlicensedOkie]

I’ve ordered one from Amazon Adding it to my bugout bag

[@IamMrWWW3]

Subscribed, this was a wonderful demonstration. I would love to see a review of the Squeeze as well, I am up in the air on which to get.

[@OscarHikes]

I'll review the Micro Squeeze pretty soon. It' very similar to the Squeeze as far as I know, just slightly lighter without compromising on the flow rate. But in a nutshell, get the Squeeze or the Squeeze Micro, not the Mini. They're slightly larger/heavier, but the flowrate is like twice as fast.

[@anthonyremotecollaboration7332]

Appreciation from Oz (Australia). Leaned that the back-flush syringe isn't necessary. Great to know cuz I lost mine, ha ha. In the Blue Mountain west of Sydney, being able to stop at a clear stream on a steep cliff-side path - and use the Sawyer mini as an in-line straw-type filter was a quick, easy solution. Gravity filtration would be neat to try too.

[@LennonAlatorre]

awesome review

[@Salrous]

I always use aqua tablet after the filtration, if I'm camping I usually bring water with me if close to my truck if I have to go to a distance I use gravity kit plus boiling and tablets, filter boil, fill flask cool tablet . And hiking sawyer mini squeeze it to sawyer bottle and add a tablet. Expensive but my health is priceless and yours too

[@Pickles96]

Great video, very educational

[@jackraves7363]

thnx for this very helpful demonstration 🙏

[@OscarHikes]

No problem!

[@Zedoutdoors]

A great and informative video, a tip if I may when inserting the timestamp into your description. If you add '00:00 - Beginning' then KZbin will automatically add the sections to the timeline on your actual video, It's a cool new feature they recently introduced ~Peace~

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks a lot, didn't know that. Will definitely update the video descriptions.

[@brightantwerp]

Thank you! Very helpfull info

[@MTIGROUP]

Great video man.

[@WalkingofftheCrazy]

How can u tell if the filter has been compromised by freezing? Great vid have subed!

[@SouthernHike]

We love Sawyer!

[@onedaywellallbedead4338]

Hey, thanks for the info....😎👍

[@Nuilogin]

Good job man!

[@redriver6541]

I use these....they're everything you need to get water.....way better than my old tech MSR waterworks (even those are great...just huge). I have actually given these out,along with emergency kits, for my family and friends. I always tie the filter to about three feet of paracord and spin it around pretty fast. It gets it really dry doing that.....for long term storage. I've always flushed them a diluted bleach/water (4:1) mixture as well. Never had a problem.

[@stijn2472]

Can I ask a quick question? I am currently looking at buying a never used MSR waterworks II with a spare filter, but not sure about it as it is hard to find any info about it. I currently already own a sawyer mini, but I am looking for something that can filter chemicals and viruses as well which the sawyer mini can't do. Would you recommend buying the waterworks II, or would you (or anyone else reading this comment) recommend something else? And about the mixture, is 4 parts bleach one part water correct, or the other way around? 80% bleach seems a bit much, but I might be wrong.

[@uffa00001]

@@stijn2472 Bleach, if used to kill viruses in the water, is used as 2 drops per litre for what I know, and 30 minutes wait. If you need to filter chemicals as well, you might want to have a look at the Sawyer S3 system. Also, the "Survival filter PRO" is able to filter out some chemicals or metals in the water.

[@SuperJohnfoster]

very very helpful thanks so much

[@shk9269]

Great video 👍🏻

[@ignaziocalabria923]

Amazing I’m getting one tomorrow

[@jamesdelaney4741]

great job!

[@jacobdolekchuol8761]

thanks for your teaching

[@Brad-99]

Good job 👍 you so did not want to drink that water haha took one for the team😋

[@atteroljones6936]

This system, while light weight, is complicated. I use The Guardian Purifier to filter my drinking/cooking water at home and in the woods. Weighty, and maybe cumbersome, it is comprised of three parts: the prefilter/hoses/filter. You provide the 1000 ml bottle or camel bladder. Strait forward. A feature I like very much with the Sawyer Mini is the handy drinking straw option.

[@jayl24]

Thanks for the video! Any other water bottles (other than Smart Bottle) May work with the filter? Thank you!

[@wrealestate8778]

thank you very good tutorial

[@farieddrianfariedadrian4675]

Saya memakai sawyer mini 2016 dan masih berfungsi 2022. Dan sawyer mini di simpan dalam tas dengan filter active carbon hydroblu dengan aquatabs tablet untuk emergency survival bug out bag.

[@UrbexPolska]

Thanks for the vid

[@NyajanyHoth-op2gp]

Thanks you for messages.about water Filters training.

[@paulshuter6807]

Excellent, thanks.

[@user-dx9qb9iu8q]

Great video!!!!!!thanks

[@BraiytryeneGibbons]

Just bought one . $20 is great price for this . Great buy

[@BushcraftEurope]

Hey man.. did you use it as a water bladder ever? I was thinking about having some water filled at home in 2L pouches. I had it on last camping on top of the backpack, inside. Also nice video and greetings from Croatia :D

[@juliamarple3785]

Yeah, I bot mine, kept it in my backpack, never used it until the ONE time I really needed it. Could not get it to work, almost squeezed the bag until it broke. Went thirsty up the side of a cliff on a dry hot day. Now I'm studying up and practicing.

[@gorannovak1625]

Good video. Thx

[@ShivSilverhawk]

Great review!!! You nailed everything! If there’s anything I can add to help the community, it would be that Platypus water bladders fit perfectly on the sawyer mini! Saved my bacon a few times;P

[@roylerroycerickson]

Can you get a replacement straw or a work around ive lost mine?

[@dwaynerobertson383]

Excellent video. Very nicely done. Something some people need to realize is that this is only one option (there are many), and this filter should not be your only option to pack, even for just a short day hike. There are purification tablets, boiling, charcoal and carbon filters, desalination/solar stills. THEY ALL TAKE TIME. There are a million ways to create fire, and knowing only one of them will suck real fast if it's windy and raining, dark, snowing, hands are cold, wet and numb, maybe an injury has occurred. It's exactly the same with collecting and preparing water, so understand how to use and carry as many different methods as possible. Pack as many methods as you can.The easier the methods the better, and this Sawyer fits that bill very well; especially at 2 oz. and $20.00. Always be prepared to boil water anyway, carry purification tablets AND a Sawyer (or other compact practical lightweight filter), in your kit/day pack combined. I find it difficult to believe that 15 or 20 minutes (beside a lake, river, stream or even a swamp), to fill a few containers with drinkable water with one of these Sawyer's is any problem for anyone, considering the alternatives. Far, far better than having no filtration system at all. Imagine suffering from giardia out there, in the woods? "There goes that trip." No thanks. I am a firm believer that if you have clean water (100,000 gallons?), and fire you have everything. Shelter and food are all but useless without a steady supply of both safe, clean drinking water, and fire. The only downside I see to these filters is that they are not free - they are a whopping $20.00.

[@brucenunn3268]

Helpful 👊😎

[@fullsleevetats]

It looks like you have the perfect water bottles and the blue part that comes with the water bottle seems to fit the Sawyer perfectly. Here in the US (and in Canada), I've tried 7 popular brands of water bottles and not a single one fits the Sawyer or the various adapters it comes with. The threading doesn't match, the cap depth is too shallow to 'grab' the threads, and the bottle end itself is made of such a hard plastic, the Sawyer male end doesn't fit into any of them. I'm stuck using the squeeze bags, unfortunately, but at least the kit I have came with 3 of them!

[@xderiwx]

Great review! Quick question. When you were talking about back flushing it, do you back flush later when you get home, or immediately after using the filter while you’re out? Thanks!

[@_Stormfather]

He said it has to be done with clean water

[@jeffgerbino7021]

Some helpful stuff there but lots of little important things that are confusing to newbies.

[@glennmarr5663]

you might trying filter through a coffee filter before using the sawyer filter

[@ed5311]

Hi, just got my one. But it gives a really nasty plastic flavor to the water. So bad that I wanted to throw up!... I did put 3 pouches of tap water through the filter before tasting but still.... Was it like that with yours? Anything to do to fix that?

[@MsBoudicea]

I’ve just bought one of these and wondering if it could be used to filter London park pond water or small streams running through local parks. Obviously London is an incredibly built up urban environment with rats everywhere etc… Or to filter rainwater from a water butt?

[@chrisagler8472]

Thanks for showing me that Sawyer mini still looks the same after filtering and that it does not filter viruses, heavy metals and some other stuff less than .01 microns

[@eqlzr2]

Actually, most of the complaints I've read about this filter combo are about the Sawyer bags breaking and leaking. Therefore, I ain't gonna use any of their bags. I'll use a standard soda or water bottle instead since I always carry one anyway.

[@OscarHikes]

I know some people use different pouches from other brands instead. Haven't tried them but they're supposedly more durable.

[@queerlibtardhippie9357]

Croc bags work

[@ParrotEater]

Great video. You look a bit like Michael Palin

[@canny3d]

I just bought this but haven't tested it out yet. Have you tested the PPM levels? I've heard it actually increases the TDS levels 'after' filtration. I'm reluctant to use this in the outdoors.

[@OscarHikes]

The only test that I did is dirty water test with visual and tasteful inspection. 😅 came in dirty, went out clean. Good enough for me

[@arovilla3049]

min 5:55 - ¨And the academy award goes to...¨

[@rowerowyja9982]

# 1. Should the rinse be wine (white) vinegar? # 2. Can acid (spirit) vinegar be used? It is very strong and effective against limescale and deposits. It also has disinfecting / disinfecting properties. # 3. Liquid ratio: vinegar 4 parts + water 1 part? This produces a weak solution. # 4. Can I use an aqueous solution of baking soda (NaHCO₃)? To clean the membrane in the filter, use a cold or warm rinse (optimally 18 ° C, max 30 ° C). The liquid must not be hot - it will damage the nanotubes of the capillary membrane. Warm water should be used for the vinegar bath. The higher the temperature, the better the chemical reaction. To restore the optimal activity of the filter membrane and obtain max. impurity (sediment) retention factor, regeneration and disinfection is necessary. Inorganic sediment from the membrane in the filter is removable with acid compounds. Organic sediment from the membrane in the filter is washed away with alkaline compounds. Best regards.

[@Delta922]

Can you demonstrate filtering and drinking toilet water?

[@olmatt1366]

So what was in it when you cut the video??

[@THIRSTYGUMS]

How are you after that yellow water!?

[@NikosShowClips]

thx

[@gabeitch3542]

I've always wondered what the difference is between the different colors? Is it just because, or is there an actuall difference? I imagine not but still wondering

[@OscarHikes]

Haha never thought of that. I got the orange one because it was cheaper. I think there is no diff but maybe I'm wrong.

[@rez7576]

There is no difference between the colors that goes under the sawyer mini. I was also confused earlier when I discovered that they also had different product numbers like SP128, SP107 etc etc.. but thats just because they are available in different colors, thats all.

[@gabeitch3542]

@@rez7576 haha, yeah okay. A bit confusing tho

[@Mocha69A]

Our water went out here in Texas so I bought one for emergency from Walmart.

[@raymondsanchez808]

Been working amazing for water

[@westsenkovec]

How much are they?

[@LeWacoKid]

Bought a 2 pack for the impending global power outage lol.

[@eliteinventor]

@@westsenkovec $20

[@timmcclary5137]

EXCELLENT 🌺 INFORMATION. MAHALOS.

[@metroplexchl]

the color is from the tannins in the water from your local foliage.

[@nevisstkitts8264]

The good thing about the water-soluble polyphenol tannins is they are antimicrobial and antiviral. That is why red wine is good for you, in addition to boosting immune response. The bad thing about tannins is they are an enzyme inhibitor (anti-nutrient) which can cause protein deficiency and GI problems. There are a wide variety of tannins with varying effects. For example, tea tannins may be anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic, a good thing. Knowledge of the natural environment and the source of the specific tannins in a particular water source is highly advised.