---
title: "Comparing the most popular water filters: Sawyer vs. Katadyn vs. Platypus"
description: "A comparison of the Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree and Platypus QuickDraw water filters. Reviewed by Martin Benc, who tested the filters on the PCT, in Madeira and in Jordan."
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/water-filter-comparison-sawyer-katadyn-platypus"
last_updated: "2023-01-09"
---

# Comparing the most popular water filters: Sawyer vs. Katadyn vs. Platypus

Authors: Martin Benc

Date: 2023-01-09

A comparison of the Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree and Platypus QuickDraw water filters. Reviewed by Martin Benc, who tested the filters on the PCT, in Madeira and in Jordan.

Why bother with a filter? Just knock back a shot in the morning so you don't get the sh*ts and you're fine. That's roughly how I approached [water filtration](/c/gear/water-filters) a few years back. It's true I can't recall any water ever running me through inhumanly, but once I started paying more attention to outdoor gear, a water filter took a firm place in my kit.

## **Sawyer Squeeze water filter**

I didn't get my first filter until 2019, in the US, right before the start of the PCT, and it was the [Sawyer Squeeze](/p/sawyer-micro-squeeze-sp2129). The price tag of around 30 dollars back then, the long lifespan and the mechanical principle – nothing to recharge – made it an obvious choice. Well, there was also the Mini version, but as plenty of hikers say – [Sawyer Mini](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-orange) was created purely so that you'd then go and buy the Squeeze as well. And it's true that most owners confirm this. The Mini works mainly as a backup filter for areas where you're not expecting to filter often. It's really not for daily water sessions, unless you want to go gray or take a holiday a week longer.

[Sawyer Mini SP128 Orange](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-orange.md)

[Sawyer Squeeze SP129](/p/sawyer-squeeze-sp129.md)

Across the pond you'll see the Sawyer Squeeze with most hikers. It's sold in various bundles with cleaning gadgets and accessories like a hanging mesh sleeve, a faucet adapter or plastic bottles. Those bottles are, for me, some of the worst you can pick, and I'd definitely recommend buying a [bottle from CNOC](/b/cnoc) instead. You'll save your nerves when scooping water and you'll manage to collect it even from shallow or awkward sources, mainly thanks to the double closure – one classic PET thread to screw onto the filter, and a second large one that opens the whole bottle (exactly like on the [hydration bladders](/p/platypus-big-zip-evo) in running vests). The wide opening can act as a kind of chute. Put simply, when there's a small trickle of water somewhere and the bottle won't fit, you just lay this chute into the 'stream' and hold the bottle underneath, and it slowly starts filling. A detail, but I've used it 100 times already.

The filter itself is a safe bet. In the US I met a few people who cut corners on filtration and it didn't end well. Bacteria and other pathogens can ruin a trip nicely, and you really don't want gut problems deep in the mountains, when you don't even have the energy to walk a few kilometers.

Three things about the Sawyer bothered me a bit. One is the more awkward cleaning out in the field. The filter gradually clogs and needs backflushing. For that you have to carry the special syringe (usually included) or the more packable and lighter [coupling for attaching a PET bottle](/p/sawyer-cleaning-coupling). That's understandable, but even with regular cleaning the flow gradually weakens, and you have to count on needing twice as much time to filter after a few months of daily use.

The second thing was the seal on the threaded side. The white silicone ring occasionally fell out, so you had to keep an eye on it and above all not overtighten the thread – but not undertighten it either. In both cases the joint started dripping a little and potentially contaminated water could get into the clean bottle.

The last thing to reckon with is that the filter has no cap on the threaded side. Besides the sealing ring falling out as mentioned above, dirt can get into the filter while you're hiking (especially if you keep it in the back mesh pocket and drop your backpack on the ground at breaks), but above all, leftover water can gradually seep out even though you shook the filter out well. In winter it's a good idea to protect the filter from frost, meaning tuck it under your jacket or into your sleeping bag so the water inside doesn't freeze and damage the membrane. And that's where the problem starts – always remember to put the filter into a ziplock or [anything waterproof](/c/gear/drybags-and-organisers) if you're putting it straight into your backpack or into your sleeping bag at night. If you don't, you may find a little puddle exactly where you don't want one.

For me this filter is the ideal choice for treks lasting many months (PCT, CDT, …) thanks to its long lifespan. Filtering 3 000 000 liters of water will be hard to beat, though I think that number is heavily exaggerated. Mine did give up after a few years, but probably partly due to poor storage, so I started looking for a new one.

- **Pros:** a claimed lifespan of 3 million liters
- **Cons:** harder to clean, no cap on the back end

- [Sawyer Squeeze SP129](/p/sawyer-squeeze-sp129.md)
- [Sawyer Mini SP128 Orange](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-orange.md)
- [Sawyer Squeeze SP131](/p/sawyer-squeeze-sp131.md)
- [Sawyer Mini SP128](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-blue.md)
- [Sawyer Mini SP128 Black](/p/sawyer-mini-sp128-black.md)
- [Sawyer 1 L – set of 3 pcs](/p/sawyer-1-l-bottle-set-3pcs.md)
- [Sawyer 2 L – set of 2 pcs](/p/sawyer-2-l-bottle-set-2pcs.md)

## **Katadyn BeFree water filter**

The war in Ukraine had its say in the outdoor world too, and a lot of products went straight to the front in donation drives. The filtration segment was hit as well. So that spring, practically the only mechanical filter you could get hold of was the [Katadyn BeFree](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l). And given that our departure for Madeira was fast approaching, there was nothing to debate.

For me this filter is the ideal choice for places with plenty of water sources where you don't expect to filter much water in reserve. You just scoop, screw it on, walk and drink straight from the bottle. Personally I'd say it's more of a filter bottle – thanks to the wide closure it's only compatible with the manufacturer's own bottles. On Madeira, though, that was exactly what you want. When you're not sure about a water source, you fill the one-liter bottle, and as soon as you hit a better source you top the remaining empty bottles right up. The stated lifespan of 1000 liters makes this filter better suited to seasonal and shorter trips.

The bottle can be the weak point under intensive, long-term and rough handling. The filter membrane, on the other hand, is permanently covered, because the filter stays screwed onto the bottle the whole time. The advantage of that is that this filter is easier to clean.

- **Pros:** a fast, easy system, cleans well
- **Cons:** only compatible with bottles with a 42 mm thread

- [Katadyn BeFree 1 L](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree Replacement Cartridge](/p/katadyn-befree-replacement-filter-cartridge.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree 1 L Black Edition](/p/katadyn-befree-1-l-black-edition.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree AC 1 L](/p/katadyn-befree-ac-1-l.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree AC 0,5 L](/p/katadyn-befree-ac-500-ml.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree 0,6 L](/p/katadyn-befree-600-ml.md)
- [Katadyn BeFree Gravity 3 L](/p/katadyn-befree-gravity-3-l.md)

## **Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter**

In autumn we were getting ready for Jordan, where we expected to filter a lot and wanted the fastest and toughest filter possible. I'd already been eyeing the [Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter](/p/platypus-quickdraw-microfilter) in spring. As I mentioned, it was out of stock. Fate – and our cooperation with the distributor – had it that we did get these filters for the trip to Jordan in the end. Yes, someone will say I won't be very objective, but for me there isn't much to fault this filter for. Perhaps only the stated lifespan of 1000 liters, which makes it a one-proper-thru-hike affair. On the other hand, I was replacing the Sawyer somewhere around 1000–2000 liters too.

What I enjoy most is that the filter closes up completely – there's a cap on both the front and the back. So you can flush the filter at home so the membrane soaks up water (a dry membrane = slow flow) and the flow is strong from the very first second on the trail, and you don't have to worry about anything leaking out. Overall the flow is greater than the Sawyer's, but count on waiting a bit longer over time even so. The back side also offers two threads – standard PET bottles on the inside and Platypus bottles on the outside. And just like the Katadyn BeFree, you don't need any special gadget to clean it: pour clean water into a clean bottle, attach the filter and shake it through.

The Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter can be bought either straight away [with a plastic bottle with a wider neck](/p/platypus-quickdraw-microfilter-system), or [on its own](/p/platypus-quickdraw-microfilter), and then you can add [Platypus soft bottles](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-platy-logo-closure-cap).

- **Pros:** caps on both ends, compatible with two types of closure (PET, Platypus), easy cleaning
- **Cons:** a stated lifespan of 1000 liters

- [Platypus Softbottle 1.0 L Platy Logo Closure Cap](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-platy-logo-closure-cap.md)
- [Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter](/p/platypus-quickdraw-microfilter.md)
- [Platypus Platy 2.0 L Bottle](/p/platypus-platy-bottle-2-l.md)
- [Platypus Big Zip EVO](/p/platypus-big-zip-evo.md)
- [Platypus Softbottle 1.0 L Waves Closure Cap](/p/platypus-softbottle-1-l-waves-closure-cap.md)

There's a whole range of filters on the market, bigger and smaller, mechanical or UV-light based. Mechanical filters generally won't remove viruses, so they're not much use in areas with heavily contaminated water. There I'd personally recommend combining a mechanical filter with a UV one afterwards. Or rather.. there I wouldn't recommend drinking water from obviously polluted sources at all. Filters aren't all-powerful, but they can make life on the trail a lot easier. Always think about which sources you're taking water from, whether there's a freshly fertilized field or cattle droppings above the valley. Unless it's an outright emergency, I use a simple rule and only collect water where I'd ultimately dare to drink it without a filter too. Take the whole article as my personal observations – what suits me doesn't have to suit you.

- [CNOC Vecto 2 L 28 mm](/p/cnoc-vecto-2-l-28-mm.md)
- [CNOC Vecto 2 L 42 mm](/p/cnoc-vecto-2-l-42-mm.md)
- [CNOC Vecto 3 L 28 mm](/p/cnoc-vecto-3-l-28-mm.md)
- [CNOC Vesica 1 L 42 mm](/p/cnoc-vesica-1-l-42-mm.md)
- [CNOC Vesica 1 L 28 mm](/p/cnoc-vesica-1-l-28-mm.md)
- [CNOC Hydriam 750 ml 42 mm](/p/cnoc-hydriam-750-ml-42-mm.md)
- [CNOC Hydriam 500 ml 28 mm](/p/cnoc-hydriam-500-ml-28-mm.md)
- [CNOC Hydriam 500 ml 42 mm](/p/cnoc-hydriam-500-ml-42-mm.md)

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