How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier

Designed to be used solo or with a crew, the Sawyer Squeeze water filtration system includes a rugged Cnoc Premium 2-liter bladder for fast, easy water refills on any backpacking adventure.
Made in USA.
View the Sawyer Squeeze Product LineView all Sawyer Gravity Water FiltersBest Use | Backpacking |
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Filter Type | Gravity Squeeze |
Filter Medium | Hollow-fiber membrane |
Removes/Destroys | Protozoa And Bacteria |
Housing Material | Polypropylene/polyethylene |
BPA Free | Yes |
Field Cleanable | Yes |
Dimensions | 19 x 6.5 x 2 inches |
Weight | 5.8 ounces |
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I’ve been using the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System on every backcountry trip lately, and it’s become one of those no-brainer essentials I always pack. It’s incredibly simple to use. The large, wide-mouth bladder makes collecting water fast and easy, even in shallow or awkward spots, and filtering is a breeze with no unnecessary steps. I was surprised by how fast the flow rate is; it moves water quickly without needing to squeeze hard or wait around, which is great when I need to hydrate fast or fill up for camp. It's also really lightweight and packable. It folds down small, barely takes up space, and doesn’t add any noticeable weight to my gear. I’ve stuffed it in packs, tossed it in the truck, and used it in rough terrain, and it’s held up great. I am definitely not nice to my equipment so durability is key for me. The system feels durable and reliable, even after repeated use in the field. Cleaning this is just as easy. Back-flushing the filter is straightforward and easy with the included plunger or coupling. Overall, this is one of those pieces of gear that just works. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and doesn’t slow me down which is exactly what I want in a water filtration system when I’m deep in the backcountry. *Sawyer Products gave me this free product to try, however, this was my honest review. Thank you Sawyer!
Sawyer Products gave me this free product to try. I love the 2L filtration bag. It packs nice and small into any pocket of my pack. It is fabulous to only need one container that I can just refill when I need. The stream is steady and you may squeeze the bag gently for speed. It cleans well, and is a breeze to use. I look forward to many hammocking trips this summer with this in my pack!
Hiking Mystery Canyon in Nevada the Sawyer filter was perfect for refilling the water bottles from the little pools formed by the creek. It was easy to use, small to pack in, and drinking mountain water is never a bad thing! The filter was small and fit easily into my daypack. It would be nice if it came with a waterproof stuff sack. The reservoir was the perfect size to filter two standard water bottles worth of water. Putting together the filter was quick and easy. A gentle squeeze was all it took and by rolling the bag down the water continues to flow into my water bottles. Cleaning the filter with the syringe was also simple, and the directions to backwash the filter are right in the bag. This is a great addition to my hiking toolkit. Sawyer Products gave me this free product to try.
I can’t review this specific product but I’ve been using CNOC bottles (Vecto and Vesica) with my Sawyer Squeeze for at least 5 years and have given an untold number of CNOC bottles to people who hated the original Sawyer bottles. (I always tossed them with the packaging; they were that useless.) Glad to see the word finally got through to Sawyer. I’ve had noting but success with the Vecto bottles (this one) and the Vesica (which Sawyer is including with some of its other filters.) The big plus to the Vecto is the full-width bottom opening that makes them so easy to fill. It changes the whole water-filtering experience.
I’m a huge fan of this collab. I used to swap out my sawyer filter bags for a CNOC one, now I get the best of both worlds. By far my favorite water filter!!
The product is simple. It is just the existing sawyer squeeze, sawyer adapter, sawyer flusher, sawyer cap, and cnoc reservoir. This combination has been used for years, but previously everything needed to be purchased separately. Now, you can get the total system, complete with sawyer branding on the reservoir, all in one package. It will be easy to recommend to others for this reason. I did add a little bit of extra cordage so that I can hang it at my desired height. Overall, nothing new on its own, but a great package of tried and tested products! Sawyer Products gave me this free product to try.
I’ve put this system through the wringer, testing it in some of the dirtiest waters Michigan has to offer: Red Cedar River, the Grand River, Flint (iykyk), and even Lake Huron and more. Not once did it fail me. What impressed me most was how confidently I could drink water that I’d normally hesitate to touch. Whether I was making freeze-dried meals or drinking straight from the filter, the water was consistently clean and tasted fresh. I especially loved having it when wading out to fish, it weighed nothing, took no space up, and anytime I got thirsty I just dunked it around me…no more carrying a water bottle of water into the water! • Super lightweight • Filters FAST (immediate flow) • Easy to fill & clean • Packs small • Built like a tank (yes, I threw it at trees and rocks) • Works hanging or on the go This thing turned water I’d be afraid to touch into stuff I’d confidently drink and cook with. If you’re hiking, fishing, climbing, or just want clean water anywhere, this is your new go-to. Sawyer Products gave me this free product to try.
Bought these items separately before they were offered together. This is how all "Squeeze" Style water system Bladders should be set up. The bladder opens wide and fills in a second. You can easily fill from small streams or trickling flows. And the bladder is much easier to clean compared to a closed bottom bottle.
I’ve used these filter for years, many trips. But… Im going back to the tablets. Sawyer filters require significant maintenance before, during and after your trip. And will go bad in storage. At $60 you want this to last and be reliable. If so, clean it rigorously after each trip. Bring the backwash tool to clean during your trip. Store it in water to keep it from drying out. And then test and clean before the next trip.
Sawyer squeeze + CNOC bag has been a classic for backcountry hikers for a long time for a reason. The CNOC bags are durable and superior for filling up than the Sawyer brand bags. Brought these out for a trip at Bryce Canyon, including filtering from a very iron-heavy spring. Performed excellently, and so convenient to just hang up the bag on a tree and let it do the work for you while you set up camp.