Sawyer Bottle Water Filtration System Review

JUMP TO: SPECS  /  PROS & CONS  /  HOW IT PERFORMED  /  FEATURES  /  SUMMARY

Author: Steve Edgerton

The Sawyer Bottle Water Filtration System is a straightforward and effective filter for backcountry use. It integrates a Sawyer MINI filter within a hard-sided bottle, treating your water as you drink it.

Although it is not the most versatile or efficient water filter available, this latest offering from Sawyer has a rightful place as a no-nonsense option for day trips out in the woods. Here is what we liked about the Sawyer Bottle Filter, and where we felt it missed the mark.

SPECS

VOLUME: 24 oz. / 710 ml

WEIGHT: 7.5 oz. / 213 g

LIFESPAN: Up to 100,000 gallons / 378,000 liters

FILTER MATERIAL: Hollow Fiber Membrane

REMOVES: Bacteria, protozoa, E. Coli, giardia, vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, and microplastics

WHAT’S INCLUDED: Hard-sided bottle, integrated Sawyer MINI filter, screw cap with straw, backflush syringe, carabiner

PROS

  • Easy to use: just fill and drink right through the filter

  • Filter and bottle are resilient and durable

  • Screw cap fits most standard wide-mouth bottles

CONS

  • Sucking water through the filter is tedious

  • Heavy for a small-volume filter/container

  • Only useful when water sources are abundant

  • Sediment clogs filter quickly and is hard to clean out of water bottle

HOW IT PERFORMED

WATER QUALITY: The bottle system is equipped with a Sawyer MINI filter. It is a 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter that will remove all microplastics, protozoa, and bacteria, including salmonella, giardia, and cryptosporidium. It will not filter out viruses or heavy metals.

The filter can treat turbid, sediment-laden water, but it does clog quickly. And sucking from a bottle of murky water is not exactly appealing—this system is better suited for clear, fast-moving water sources, like mountain rivers and creeks.

FLOW RATES: The bottle works by sucking from the foldable plastic straw in the lid, pulling water through the filter as you drink. Like most filter bottles, the flow rate is not spectacular, and it does take some effort to suck water through the system. Backflushing with the syringe after every two or three fills will keep the flow rate as fast as possible.

 

The Sawyer Bottle uses an integrated Sawyer MINI as it’s filtering mechanism.

 

DURABILITY: As with all Sawyer products, the durability of this system is a definite strong point. The lifespan of the MINI filter is unmatched by any other bottle filter, assuming diligent backflushing and cleaning.

The BPA-free hard-shell bottle withstood our drop tests on river rock and pavement. But even if it were to crack or break on you, the cap and filter system will fit onto any other equivalently sized wide-mouth bottle.

EASE OF USE: Filtering water is not much easier than this. Just fill up and drink as you go, no squeezing, pumping, or pulling out extra gear required. For long hikes or days spent climbing at a crag with freshwater nearby, the bottle is an effortless way to stay hydrated without hauling out liters of water.

 

The Sawyer Bottle has a screw top lid that includes a foldable plastic straw.

 

FEATURES

SAWYER MINI FILTER: The integrated Sawyer MINI filter is affordable and effective. The flow rate leaves something to be desired, but it provides high quality and safe water, with a lifespan that will outlast any other filter cap or bottle system.

COMPATIBLE SCREW TOP: Like how other Sawyer filters are compatible with any standard water bottle, the Sawyer Bottle’s screw top lid works with other wide-mouth bottles. This allows you to use the system with higher-volume or insulated bottles as needed.

CARABINER: An included carabiner allows you to clip and carry the bottle wherever is most convenient.

 

The bottle has a standard screw top, so if you happen to break it — or want to switch it for a larger or more insulated bottle — then the lid should fit any wide mouth bottle with a similar thread.

 

SUMMARY

While the flow rate or the weight-to-volume ratio of the Sawyer Bottle is less than impressive, it is nonetheless a user-friendly and reliable filtration option for casual days out exploring.

We would not recommend it as your primary filter for backpacking, trail running, or hiking in drier climates, but the Sawyer Bottle is ideal for hikes, climbing at creekside crags, or any day spent exploring when a simple, effortless filter system is all you need to stay hydrated.

DISCLOSURE

Sawyer provided me with a free sample for this review – but the views expressed here are all my own. The review also contains affiliate links, which help us keep churning out more content!

MORE INFORMATION

If you’re to read more about Sawyer products — then jump across to our comparison of the Sawyer Squeeze vs Micro Squeeze. Or for more water filtration advice check out our round up of the Best Backpacking Water Filters.

Otherwise, looking for more information on hiking and backpacking? Be sure to check out some of our other tips and gear reviews:

Or check out our entire Gear Reviews Page, our Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.

Happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!