It slowed at about the same rate as the Sawyer and the BeFree, and it backflushes easier than the Sawyer and the same as the BeFree.Īt its maximum, this filter was going about 1.5 liters per minute with serious squeezing. This thing is definitely built to last longer than either of the other two filters, and I found the flow rate to mostly be comparable as well.

The sports cap is way more heavy-duty than the Katadyn or Sawyer, and so it probably won’t break off after three open- and-closes like the others.It has the O-ring built into the screw cap instead of having it be removable.Namely, there are two features that set it apart: This filter has a lot to love about it, and certainly improves upon a few shortcomings in the very similarly constructed Sawyer Squeeze. Then, for continuity’s sake, the BeFree and the QuickDraw were tested side-by-side on trips where water was drawn from THREE different Texas rivers (Brazos, Trinity, and San Gabriel) so you know they’ve all been put through the ringer.Īctually pretty clear for the Trinity. All in all, each filter has had 50+ liters put through it, so I feel pretty confident in knowing how each of them will hold up. On the other hand, I used the Platypus QuickDraw for a few different multi-day trips through a bunch of different types of desert, and then later for another hike on the AZT. I carried the Katadyn BeFree filter through some of Northern California, and most of the Oregon section on the PCT. This year, I used a Sawyer Squeeze for all of the Ouachita Trail, Arizona Trail, and most of the PCT. At any rate, in terms of performance, I would say that one of these three filters certainly seems to edge out the others. I’m having trouble envisioning where we go from here. In fact, they probably cozy up about as close as we, as a species, have come to perfecting the backcountry water filter. And in terms of longevity, I would say that both of them appear to outdo it.

Especially when you’re planning a thru-hike.īoth the Katadyn BeFree and the Platypus QuickDraw offer appealing alternatives to the consensus that has been built around the Sawyer Squeeze in the thru-hiking community. Why These Two? What’s Wrong With the Sawyer?įor starters, I definitely agree with Katie’s article about what to look for in a filter: “weight, ease of use, packability, and price” are all important factors, but I would also add that I think longevity is super important too.

Platypus water bottle review