At some point, when you are involved in some outdoor expeditions where survival is a real possibility, it’s imperative to have the best water filter the market can provide. It’s a fact that in a survival condition, the need for clean, fresh, and drinkable water is crucial as this may mean the difference between life and death.
The human body requires water to function, and if you go longer without it, you will be as good as dead. There have been situations where people lasted for days without taking water, but the message remains the same – water is life.
A water filter can help you to purify water from various sources, including lakes and rivers so as to ensure you remain hydrated while on the trail. In a survival condition, equipment as simple as a filter can increase your chances of survival.
Today, we review the mini sawyer filtration system, which is just what you need for all your outdoor adventures. Be it for camping, hiking or even for emergencies, this product has been designed to suit your every need. No more worrying about drinking contaminated water or catching bacteria diseases when you are out there.
The filter will come through for you whether you are drinking from fresh or dirty water sources.The best part? It’s easy to set up, use and carry around. Keep reading to get the full details about this amazing product.
Packaging
The mini filtration system comes in nine colors, ranging from black to lighter shades like pink. You can order either a single pack, a 2-pack or a 4-pack. With only a weight of 0.26 pounds when shipping, you will have your package delivered hassle free a few days after your purchase. You can always have your package gift wrapped if you want.
Other items you will get with the package include a 16 Oz., reusable, squeeze pouch, a 7 inch drinking straw, and a cleaning syringe. The total weight of the whole system is therefore 3.98 Oz; filter 1.98 Oz., syringe 1.13 Oz., and pouch with screw cap 0.87 Oz.
The system doesn’t come with fill adapters. You will have to buy these items separately because they will come in handy. The Fast Fill Adapters will cost you approx. $8.
Design & Durability
This filtration system has been designed for total convenience while you are out travelling, hiking, camping or just for emergency purposes.
It’s made out of lightweight material and weighs 2 ounces, which means it fits in your backpack perfectly. The best part? It has undergone the highest level of filtration which speaks volumes about the performance. And that’s not all. The filtration system is super small and convenient such that it can fit just effortlessly in the palm of your hands.
The product is impeccably designed to enable you sip water from a container or even from a water source easily. If you have a hydration pack, you can also attach it inline and use it without any complications.
The Sawyer Mini boasts of a life of a hundred thousand gallons (this is 378,541 liters) so you are confident that your equipment can last for a long time without losing its efficacy.
Size and Weight
At only two ounces and just 8*3*4 inches, the Sawyer Mini Water Filtration equipment is a no-brainer for a person looking to travel light. Before even thinking about its potential drawbacks, the weight and size alone are aspects that justify its inclusion in your backpack
Versatility
Apart from being utilized in a similar manner as a Sawyer Squeeze (filtering from a Sawyer bag into a water containment device), this product lends itself to all kinds of filtering. If you want to drink directly from a store-bought bottle, the Sawyer Mini will attach onto most devices and save you the amount of time you would have used to filter the water.
If you do not want to think about filtration, you can use the Sawyer Mini inline with your bladder. This product also allows you to drink straight from a lake of a river without having to worry about water purification as the equipment takes care of that part.
Effectiveness/Reliability
With the 0.1-micron pore size in the hollow membrane filter, the Sawyer Mini is effective against bacteria, protozoa, and the Cryptosporidium although it doesn’t treat for viruses.
Since this equipment does not utilize batteries and lacks moving parts, it’s highly unlikely that the Sawyer Mini will break or break down when you are in the wilderness where it’s needed the most. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you will find this equipment very reliable.
However, you will notice that after a few days of utilizing the filter in treating your water as well as your friend’s it begins to get much difficult to squeeze the water out of the filter. As mentioned earlier, when this happens, you have no option but to backflush and this can be done using an included syringe. It’s an easy process and only takes a few minutes.
This process is less involving than with pump filters. The syringe weighs about an ounce and it’s advisable always to have it with you whenever you are in the wilderness for an extended period. Although the included soft bottle is relatively long lasting, you may need to replace it after a few long trips.
Always be keen not to ensure your filter unit freezes as this destroys the hollow fiber membrane. You can take it to your tent at night, to ensure such a case does not occur.
Ease of use
In addition to its simplistic nature, the Sawyer Mini can be used in different ways. You can use this filter to drink water directly from the source. This is achievable if you have an extra straw attachment which is included in the filter package. However, this has a downside in that the straw could get lost since it’s a separate piece, but it’s also advantageous in that having a separate piece allows the filter to be smaller and lighter.
The Sawyer Mini can be screwed onto any small-mouthed bottle making it possible for you to drink directly as long as you squeeze the bottle. A single 16 oz. soft bottle is included with the filter, but the Sawyer Mini can also work with other small bottles. This is handy as it makes it possible for you to carry water between sources.
Unique Features
Has a high performance filter weighing just 2 oz. which can fit faultlessly in the palm of your hand, making it convenient for use and portable. The mini Sawyer is fitted with absolute hollow fiber membrane inline filter that has 0.1 microns, which make it impossible for harmful bacteria, protozoa or cysts to pass through and contaminate your water.
It can easily remove 7 log (99.99999%) bacteria and 6 log (99.9999%) protozoa, which even exceeds US EPA standards. The product is designed to attach perfectly to your drinking pouch, standard disposable bottles, hydration packs and has a straw you can sue to drink directly from your water source. You won’t have to use any adapters.
The system can filter up to 100.000 gallons of water therefore you will be sorted all throughout your camping trip.
Value for Money & Guarantee
The particular mini sawyer comes as a single pack and will only cost you approx. $20 which won’t break your bank. Keep in mind that if you want the hydration packs and the water pouches, you have to buy them separately.
If you need more than one pack, and are looking for the best value for your money, just buy 4 individual systems as opposed to one system with a 4-pack. This will cost you less and you will end up saving money, you can use to purchase the other items. Unless of course you are going for 4 different colors and the price is no factor.
Currently, there is no guarantee or warranty given with the purchase on Amazon. When it’s time to make the purchase, please contact the manufacturers to inquire on whether they offer any refunds in case you are not satisfied with your product.
