Life Straw Gravity Filter vs. Sawyer Squeeze vs. Something Else

I don’t know about life straw, but I use Squeeze

I use 1 liter soda bottle, that works good.

I used the Sawyer bags and they worked fine but they seem sort of flimsy

I’ve also used Sawyer bag + Squeeze in gravity mode.  Just put the bag up higher and let the Squeeze hang down.  That works.  But, squeezing it is so easy and in gravity mode I’ll forget it for a bit and then it will start overflowing onto the ground

For a BPL reference, here’s Ryan recent article https://backpackinglight.com/ultralight-water-treatment-options-backpacking/

I carry Micropur as backup.

I have used the Squeeze (US), the BeFree (US), three RapidPures in China & the Versa Blue. The first three failed unpredictably with limited use. No amount of backflashing fixed the issue. The Versa Blue I have only had out a couple of times, but the reduction in flow is significant already. A while back there was a great thread about restoring flow to clogged filters. Perhaps you can dig it out with some luck…

Personally, I am moving away from filters, going to back to Steripen. I have owned two SteriPens for a few years–Adventurer Opti and Classic 3. Despite the discussions about the potential about failures, and the actual failures that many have suffered, they are actually the treatment that has always worked for me. The Opti batteries can be expensive and annoying to find at times. I prefer the Classic 3. Finacially, the investment in the above mentioned filters and their bottles has turned out more costly than the SteriPen route.

The SteriPen has another advantage for me. When getting home, unpacking and caring for gear, it is one last thing I need to worry about. At most, all I need to do is remove the batteries. Backflushing a filter with bleach, leave it out to dry and then store at a later time is not a big deal, but it is one more thing to do on top of everything else.

Regarding, the squeezable bottles that the Sawyers and BeFree require, my favorite is the Cnoc because of how easy it is to dry with the ZipLock style bottom.

I used the Squeeze for years.  I liked that it could be cleaned/cleared in the field, and while the bags sometimes developed leaks, they could still be used.

But last year I ended up getting a Sawyer mini gravity filter.  All the benefits of the Squeeze, without the leaks or the work.  Very nice system,

Of the filters I used, I got the most life out of the Sawyer Squeeze… Just another vote if you decide to go with a filter.

I used a Squeeze for years and appreciated it. But the hacks needed to make it more effective and keeping up with the parts, adapters and such was tiresome. I backpack to simplify, not add more technology! Then I read an article about the Hydroblu Versa Flow. Same flow and longevity as the Sawyer, but with added features: threaded on both end to fit a standard 28mm thread for soda bottles/CNOC bag. A garden hose washer makes the Hydroblu fit a Smartwater bottle without leaking – this is the only hack needed. Or, use a short piece of tubing (add optional pinch valve to turn flow off/on) to direct clean water into your chosen vessel of storage (my preferred method, easy to say in the mostly wet southeast US). Hydroblu is out of Utah and has passed stringent water quality testing procedures of the highest level (Before executive orders tried to eviscerate Water Quality laws). I backflush my Hydroblu filter about every 3rd day. If the water source was turgid, I would immediately backflush after each use with any filter.
Hydroblu Water Filter and other field tested reviews can be found at Section Hiker:
https://sectionhiker.com/sectionhiker-gear-guide/10-best-backpacking-water-filters/

I like the sawyer squeeze. It is simple and Lightweight. Faster than the sawyer squeeze and equivalent to everything else. I use the original bag it comes w as a dirty sack, a vapur bag as clean one, and the adapter off of Amazon for three dollars. By using this I don’t have to burp it and I don’t have to perform a balancing act or Enlist another camper to help me. I wrap the flattened bags around the filter altogether w a rubber band although a ziplock bag when the weather cools may be better for putting in my sleeping bag at night. The clean bag puffed up can be used to back flow it. If I travel w a group, I’ll grab a cnoc bag and set up a gravity filter

Though I’m sure everything I’ve said and more has been posted already. I’m beginning to think that can be said be said about ultralight backpacking has been said before.

I like the sawyer squeeze. It is simple and Lightweight. Faster than the sawyer mini and  equivalent to everything else. I use the original bag it comes w as a dirty sack, a vapur bag as clean one, and the adapter off of Amazon for three dollars. By using this I don’t have to burp it and I don’t have to perform a balancing act or Enlist another camper to help me. I wrap the flattened bags around the filter altogether w a rubber band although a ziplock bag when the weather cools may be better for putting in my sleeping bag at night. The clean bag puffed up can be used to back flow it. If I travel w a group, I’ll grab a cnoc bag and set up a gravity filter

Though I’m sure everything I’ve said and more has been posted already. I’m beginning to think that can be said be said about ultralight backpacking has been said before.

Thank you all – very useful information!

Talking with the boy and listening to the BPL podcast on family backpacking, we decided to stick with the gravity Lifestraw Flex for the larger family backpacking trip and are thinking of using a Platypus 1 liter bag – which conveniently connects to the Lifestraw Flex filter for solo or two person trips and reduces the weight from 9.4 oz to 3.35 oz

From what I am seeing, the Lifestraw Flex is slower than the Sawyer and there is also the need to change the carbon filter. That said, the carbon filter takes out heavy metals and is supposed to make the water essentially taste better.

Theory is worth nothing though, so I’ll let you know how it goes after this weekend’s trip.