Sawyer Squeeze vs Lifestraw Peak Series Solo: Battle of the Backpacking Water Filters

Summary

This video compares two popular portable water filters, LifeStraw and Sawyer, focusing on their features, effectiveness, and ease of use. Both filters are praised for their sustainability efforts, with Sawyer donating 90% of profits and LifeStraw providing water purifiers to schools. The video details the filters' sizes, filtration capabilities, and longevity, with Sawyer having a smaller micron filter and longer lifespan. The flow rate and backflushing processes are tested, leading to the conclusion that Sawyer is the better option for long-term, sustainable use despite being slightly heavier.

Takeaways

• 💧 Both LifeStraw and Sawyer are popular water filtration systems for outdoor use, filtering bacteria, protozoa, parasites, and microplastics.
• 🌍 Sawyer donates 90% of its profits to nonprofits focused on providing clean drinking water to communities in need.
• 🌱 LifeStraw is a B Corp and climate-neutral certified, and their Peak Series Solo is made of 50% recycled plastics.
• 💸 LifeStraw costs $30, while Sawyer is slightly more expensive at $40, but the difference is negligible considering the features.
• 🧪 LifeStraw filters 99.999999% of bacteria, while Sawyer filters 99.99999%, with the key difference being bacteria versus protozoa/parasite filtration efficiency.
• ⏳ LifeStraw filters up to 2,000 liters of water, whereas Sawyer boasts a 10-year lifespan with proper maintenance.
• ❄️ Both filters can be damaged if they freeze after use, requiring replacement.
• 🚰 The Sawyer filter system has a quicker and more compact backflush system compared to LifeStraw's plunger tool.
• 💡 Sawyer's longer lifespan and ease of use make it a more sustainable option for long-term use.
• 🛠 Despite being heavier, Sawyer is favored for backpacking due to its long-lasting performance and simpler backflushing process.

Q & A

What are the two water filtration brands compared in the video?

The two brands compared are LifeStraw and Sawyer.

What sustainability practices does Sawyer engage in?

Sawyer donates 90% of its profits to nonprofits focused on providing clean drinking water to communities in need. They also offer hands-on training to ensure proper use of the filters.

What sustainability certifications does LifeStraw have?

LifeStraw is B Corp certified and climate neutral certified. Their LifeStraw Peak series solo filter is made of 50% recycled plastics.

How do the filtration capabilities of LifeStraw and Sawyer differ?

LifeStraw filters out 99.999999% of bacteria, while Sawyer filters out 99.99999%. Sawyer removes 99.9999% of protozoa and parasites, while LifeStraw removes 99.999%. Both remove microplastics and dirt, but Sawyer claims to filter out 100% of microplastics, while LifeStraw filters out 99.999%.

What is the difference in filter pore size between the two products?

The LifeStraw has a 0.2-micron filter, while the Sawyer has a 0.1-micron absolute pore size, meaning no fiber in Sawyer’s filter is larger than 0.1 microns.

How does the longevity of the two filters compare?

The LifeStraw filter lasts up to 2,000 liters, while the Sawyer filter has a 10-year lifespan, with some filters still working beyond the 10-year mark.

What happens if the filters freeze after use?

If either filter freezes after being used, it becomes ineffective due to damage to the hollow fibers, and a replacement is needed.

What is the difference in backflushing between the two filters?

LifeStraw requires a special plunger for backflushing, while Sawyer offers a simple backflush tool that can be used with a water bottle, making it more convenient in the backcountry.

Which filter was faster in filtering water during the flow rate test?

LifeStraw filtered water in 18.56 seconds, while Sawyer took 20.31 seconds.

Why does the presenter prefer the Sawyer filter for backpacking trips?

The presenter prefers Sawyer because of its longevity (up to 10 years), the convenience of backflushing without extra equipment, and the overall sustainability benefits.