This Water Filter Is Amazing... (Sawyer Micro Squeeze Review)

In this video, I review the Sawyer Micro Squeeze water filter, which I've been using for the past nine months as my main water filter in all of my overnight hikes. In addition to sharing all of my personal experience, I also test the Sawyer Micro Squeeze in dirty water, show you how to use it, and give my own personal tips that I learned over time. Full review: hikemuch.com/sawyer-micro-squ...
▼ GEAR MENTIONED IN VIDEO (affiliate links)
Sawyer Micro Squeeze water filter ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3riXlDf)
Sawyer 3x 32oz water pouches ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/2O0HhaK)
Sawyer Mini Water filter ➜ (Amazon: amzn.to/3uLcxv0)
▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Testing in dirty water
01:15 - Background
01:37 - What's included
02:27 - When & Why to use
03:33 - How to use
04:32 - Backflushing
05:27 - Flowrate
06:31 - Sawyer pouches
07:39 - Using in winter
07:57 - Final verdict
▼ 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)
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...)
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▼ 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.

[@dianev100]

I love your style. No ums, ohs, hair flips, cute quips, stupid jokes. Just pure info. which is all we're looking for. Thank you!

[@twhite19782012]

it’s good to see someone who has a clue what they are doing when making a product review! Thank you for testing this. A very well made video about the pros, cons and limitations of hollow membrane water filters. It’s also important to use the included syringe to do the back flush and it’s even more important to do so the first few uses. There are paths of least resistance that form in the tubes from not being properly back flushed. Don’t use the smart bottle water trick if you want longevity, use the syringe.

[@lucaduer6252]

nice tips!

[@Ivaneck_]

VERY good review, Oscar. All that is relevant, clearly and succinctly. Thank you.

[@swervedriver5260]

Great info, thanks! I did an oil change on my truck there once. That explains the yellow water in the pond.

[@MontyOutdoors]

Thanks, Oscar. I recently purchased this and had no idea what I was doing. This helped. Subbed.

[@eddyg1794]

Watched your first video. Was hyped and bought the Sawyer mini. Then I see this video a few days later after the mini arrived at my door and now I'm bummed....lol. I think I'll live. If the Mini ever fails or I lose it I'll order this one.

[@sli6868]

Hey Oscar, been watching you for a while now. Don‘t worry, your channel will grow! The quality of production is great and your videos are straight to the Point. regards!

[@OscarHikes]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@SevanoSG]

Thanks man... Very informative

[@alfred1925]

Great video thanks, lots of useful info.

[@fawn1785]

Subscribed! Thanks from east Tennessee!

[@marcusaurelius49]

I’ve been using the Platypus system for years but just bought this one for shorter trips. Looks to be a good system.

[@Marcus_PG]

mind boggling....you're a magician!

[@Draculapin]

nice review. thanks

[@Jake-Drake]

Excellent video.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

That yellow color is from tannins. Red wine has them, too.

[@february6189]

Very helpful. Now i know there is a mini and also a micro filter. Will get a micro.

[@davidcarothers3311]

Great Video!! Thank You!! 😀😊😄😎

[@lupessa]

Thank you!

[@uffa00001]

First, thank you for the informative and useful review. I see a problem with drinking this water with only the Sawyer treatment: It is often not really possible to know that there isn't some kettle up the stream, or some carcass, or some isolated house with a cesspit, or just plenty of wild boars. I know many persons "just drink it", in the Alps in Italy many just drink from any clean stream coming from above. That's normally OK, until the day it isn't. An anti-viral added purification, such as pills, or a Steripen, adds little weight (for the Steripen) or little time (30 minutes wait for pills) but gives 100% safety. And as we say: "hai fatto 30, fai 31" (you did 30, do 31, add a little complication and get the job done properly ;-) ). I am beginning using my Sawyer Mini metodically now, just to save weight, but I will add an anti-viral treatment (already have pills, but I think I will buy a Steripen).

[@lucaduer6252]

I get where you are coming from but most streams in the US that are not near populated areas or farmland there isn't much problems with virus but in other areas I'm not sure.

[@yokusi]

Good point about the virus. I bought the Micro Squeeze for my bug out bag; initially I was looking at MSR Guardian which filters viruses, but thing is huge and expensive. So I opted for the Sawyer and also bought Katadyn Micropur tablets to cover the virus elimination part.

[@moorejl57]

I recently got the mini with dual threads but haven't taken it out yet. Hopefully the flow rate won't be too bad, wanted to use for gravity filtration.

[@OscarHikes]

A quick google search shows that it should be fine. If you're using it as a gravity system, does it really make much difference if you filter 1 liter of water in 120 seconds or 80 seconds? The Mini is a great water filter, just a bit slower. But on the plus side, it's about 30g lighter.

[@jarikorhonen5109]

How do you dry it? Can you for example get cap off from other end or something

[@USATAZZILLA]

My brand new never used not even home tested failed when I tried to use it 6 miles into the sawtooth wilderness here in Idaho. Sawyer has the worst CS ever and still fighting them to replace it. They suck as a company and don't have a quality built product. Here is the emails from them and I am still waiting on another response from them. Hi Doug, Thanks for reaching out to us and for choosing our filter. Sorry you've been having issues with the flow! It sounds as though your filter has just been blocked from particulates and/or minerals. Please try the process below for a blocked filter and let's see if that increases the flow. Please contact me again and let me know if this helped. A blocked filter can almost always be recovered by soaking the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for an hour or so, and then backflushing several times with hot water as hard as possible. The trick to a successful backwashing is to be very forceful with the process. Water will always take the path of least resistance, so in order to fully flush out the filter and restore its flow rate, make sure you are exerting as much pressure as you can, especially during the first couple of passes. The pressure of backwashing needs to be greater than the flow of the filtered water in order to dislodge the particulates. In cases where filters are very blocked, we would even recommend going back and forth with the backwashing process in order to "rock" the particulates out. If that doesn't work and your flow rate is still slow, your water source might be mineral rich, so we would suggest soaking it in plain, white, undiluted vinegar for an hour or more (you can even leave it overnight), and then repeating the process with hot water backflushes. This cleaning process is the key to filter maintenance and may need to be repeated a few times as it is normal for filters to get blocked by particulates and mineral deposits over time. The hot water soak helps to loosen up embedded particulates and the vinegar soak dissolves mineral deposits. We recommend repeating both the water and mineral soak processes when the flow is very slow as the pores are so tiny (0.1 micron is smaller than a human hair) that it may not be possible to reach all the pores the first few times around. To sanitize the filter, we'd recommend using a weak bleach solution (one capful of bleach per Liter of water). Slosh the weak bleach solution around in your pouch and run it through the filter. After the pouch and filter have been sanitized, let the filter sit upright with sufficient ventilation to dry out before storing the filter in a cool/dry location away from direct sun exposure. Some tips: For general maintenance, we recommend backwashing your filter after each outing, when your flow rate begins to diminish, before prolonged storage, and when you're ready to start using your filter again. Backwashing your filter after storage is a great way to re-wet the filters and restore the flow rate before use. Soak the filter in hot water (not to exceed 135 F) for ~30 min to loosen up any residual particulate built up in the filter fibers and then backflush several times with hot water as hard as possible. If the flow is still slow, repeat the process for a blocked filter above. Always sanitize the unit (as described above) before storing your filter. Our backwashing tips and tricks video can be seen here: sawyer.com/videos/backwashing-tips-tricks/ FYI, while we recommend dry storage, some people opt to store them wet. You would just need to be careful about mold growth in that situation and resanitize every so often. Many of our filters in developing nations have been being used on a daily basis for 12+ years. Hope that helps! Jeannie Sawyer Customer Service [phone] My response This is a 100% brand new filter never used till this trip!!! First thanks for yoyr concern of our situation of a filter failed to work 6 miles in the back country. This could have been a very bad situation. I don't feel the need to back flush anything as this is brand new and never used. A replacement is what I expect !!!. Thanks Doug Their reply back !! Okay, apologies, didn't realize you had never used it before. While it's normal for new filters to need initial wetting (this is on the pouch directions) and for flow to increase after initial uses, inexplicably, some filters are hydrophobic and need more attention. Your first option would be to follow the directions that I sent for a blocked filter and see if that starts the flow. It is very possible that this will solve your problem. If it does not, you can send it in to us and one of our engineers will review/restore it (directions below). As long as there is no physical damage, your filter will either be restored or replaced. Note: please check with us to see if we are receiving them in the months from September through June, due to possible freezing conditions in various parts of the country. We are currently receiving them. Please safely pack and send just the filter in a properly sized box with sufficient packing material to avoid physical damage in transit. Envelopes and utility mailers will be returned. Include either a note stating the issue or a printed copy of this email chain. Packages can be sent to the address below. Sawyer Products Filter Review 605 7th Ave North Safety Harbor, FL 34695 Best, Jeannie Sawyer Customer Service [phone] WTF I have to pay return postage for a brand new item that is faulty Screw them !!! Here is my reply back and I have heard nothing back not a word, Wow I am shocked I must send in on my own dime so you can inspect and restore or replace ?? There is 100% zero damage to the unit just one really pissed off consumer that bought a product that was life dependent and it FN failed to work the first try in the Mountains 6 miles in and no way to filter my water. This is 100% the worst service I have had in a very long time. Your product that is life dependent fails and I mean fails to work and instead of showing real concern and trying to resolve ASAP as what Oh its hiking season and I have 3 more major trips planned. Thanks for messing up my plans while I play this game of getting a faulty lifesaving product replaced under a lifetime warranty and first time ever using it. Send me a replacement please I will send the other back and pay via CC for deposit if for some reason you can find me at fault then charge my card but I am 100% confident your product is faulty and 100% new as I stated. Also I feel I should have my postage for the return covered as the product is NEW and FAILED to work in a life-or-death situation. Yes, we had a backup but what if we did'nt. Please fix this before I lose it and blast this all over social media and all my major hiking groups and explain this situation and how it has been handled As you can see I am holding up my word and sharing this all over the internet. $5.00 item and they can't take care of a real customer. Bad company

[@katarinabengner770]

I had such great hopes for this, my first water filter. I was looking forward not having to carry around all that weight in water. BUT. It's SO hard to squeeze the water through. It litterally takes a rather large amount of muscle power and just gets me frustrated and annoyed. Probably my expectations were too high - but I'll actually rather keep boiling or carring water rather than use this.

[@OscarHikes]

If any of your friends have water filters, try using theirs. Maybe there's an issue with yours.

[@katarinabengner770]

@@OscarHikes HA HA HA... yeah. I really wish I had friends with water filters. I tend to be the only one.

[@explodingdog]

@@katarinabengner770 Do you have the squeeze? The flow on that is pretty good and it really shouldn't take too much power honestly. I'm a fairly small female, not super strong and it doesn't take too much effort. Maybe contact the customer service to check this because that doesn't sound right to me either!

[@explodingdog]

@@katarinabengner770 like the man in the video says (sorry I dont know his name, first time I am watching one of his videos ;) ) don't try to squeeze crazy hard, you have to have a bit of patience. The stream that comes out what he show is normal.

[@NikosShowClips]

the dang thing costs 2x in euro in austria

[@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse]

Rivers is misleading as they can often pass through industrial, farmland where pesticides are sprayed and residential areas.

[@HardyBunster]

Always check the route of the river on a map. 👍

[@str4tegyy506]

Tip of the day dont ever buy a down jacket like this, The more little baffles the more cold air passes through the seams.

[@maxinpains6937]

Naw. I would not gonna go for that. LoL and that straw you lost might kills sea turtles in a future .

[@jeremyhodges775]

I’m convinced this is actually an AI person.

[@JakkeLehtonen-Jagster]

Tastes like regular water… how bad water you get from taps then 😂 I defenetly not clean taste.

[@JakkeLehtonen-Jagster]

*It

[@JPazer]

6:05 80 seconds per minute with the Micro. So you're telling me I can filter water whilst keeping my youth? Or maybe it is the other way around?? Time travel is confusing..

[@4th_Lensman_of_the_apocalypse]

The yellow tint is animal urine, deer, foxes, dogs etc….