New Sawyer filters coming in May

Interesting. I don’t see anything about them online. Can you provide a link?

There’s an ad in the Backpacker gear guide issue. It says a new filter is coming in May….that’s it.

Didn’t see anything from reports from OR. Missed due to the drama there perhaps.

This is why I asked.

And I haven’t even had a chance to use my new befree filter yet.

I’ll ditch my BeFree in a split second if Sawyer packages a filter with the Katydyn’s flow and easy “flush” that uses a standard threaded bottle.

http://sectionhiker.com/outdoor-retailer-2016-new-backpacking-and-hiking-gear-roundup/

Ken,

This might be what you are talking about.

Sawyer Foam Filter:

Sawyer plans to release a new foam filter that augments the Sawyer Mini and Sawyer Point One filters. This photo above is a prototype with release expected next spring. This is a foam filter that removes heavy chemicals, fertilizer, and heavy metals from your water in order to augment the biological filtration provided by their existing filter products. Final packaging is still up in the air. It will either be a foam filled pouch as shown above, or a proprietary soft water bottle filled with their foam, but not compatible with other water bottles or reservoirs.

I think I’d rather do an inline charcoal filter than that, but maybe it has its niche.

Thanks Tony.

Ken,

You are welcome….when I read your post, I got all excited that the new filter would be an improvement on the Squeeze.

I am looking to swap from the Mini to the Squeeze for a better flow rate/ease of use.

Would be nice if the Squeeze had the same design as the mini with the built in “inline filter nipples” to make it easy to attach to hydration line tubing vs. having to buy the adaptor kit.

Tony

Three to choose from depending on needs. Limited life. Looks like you will have to squeeze. Not interested.

Yeah, not for me either although I bet they are perfect for any number of applications.

I recently bought the BeFree filter.

Only have pushed tap water through it.

Sawyer would have to do something pretty amazing to beat the BeFree to get me to go back to them.

(I have been using versions of the Sawyer from 2008 til 2017)

Tony

I feel the same way, Tony. Someone will have to do something amazing to pry the Befree out of my hands. I love being tube free and the flow rate is incredibly fast.

I’d like to see a BeFree style filter narrow enough to fit down a standard 2L soda bottle neck with screw threads to match and an aquarium check valve (air inlet) built in.  Then the bottle volume, shape and weight is up to me.

heck yeah that would be very nice

https://sawyer.com/foam-filters/

This looks to be very interesting. They had an ad in backpacker this month. Should be lighter since it’s foam. Couple of thoughts:

1- hopefully those images don’t suggest some proprietary screw top.

2- hopefully lihpghter since it’s foam

3- one reason I like filters over steripens is b/c UV doesn’t kill the giardia egg in the early phase while a filter will capture it. But the micro filter can freeze under 32f and crack rendering it useless and you wouldn’t know it. So I must admit a foam version rated to a colder temp and lighter is highly appealing if it’s true.

Reading the fine print it states the foam, assuming its in the bottle, is paired with the hollow fiber filter which I again assume sits on the top of the bottle is still retained in the system. So in the bag/quilt at night it goes. I would have liked to have see a foam filter add on to the squeeze so I wouldn’t have to pay for another hollow fiber filter.

It does seem that the Befree filter has stolen the thunder from Sawyers base line of filters. Maybe they will sell a few of these. Wouldn’t it be great if the foam filter attached to the Befree and Sawyer sold them as a separate part. Maybe not so much for Sawyer.

What kind of “foam” do they use? Wasn’t aware that foam could filter out or absorb that kind of stuff, as well as be non toxic, non leeching in and of itself.

Would have been nice in cow country part of CT. It’s rare for me to truly despise something or some condition, but I absolutely despised getting water from the cow poop infested stretch of the CT.

It was only slightly better that after I filtered it through the Sawyer, I then filtered it through my Brita soft bottle which has a little activated charcoal filter on it which improved taste and appearance somewhat at least.

BARF!

Any guesses what the bottle massage does? Is the foam in the bottle?

Any guesses what the bottle massage does? Is the foam in the bottle?

That would be my guess. Working the watet though the foam element. Possibly the foam is somehow chemicaly treated to absorb the nasties. That may also explain its lifespan limitations in comparison to just a mechanical filter.

I got an email from Sawyer this afternoon about the filters. I’m not sure how much of this is new information, but they’ve got a page for what they are now calling Select Filters and Purifiers.

Highlights:

• 20 fl oz capacity
• 400-1600 uses (depending on model), or about 240-950 L. The more and smaller the contaminants it filters, the shorter the lifespan.
• All models reduce pesticides.
• S2 and S3 models effective against viruses
• S3 reduces heavy metal content
• Weight not given, but “in-packaging” weight is 18 oz
• Includes the foam bottle and a Sawyer Micro filter.

It looks like the main advantage over filters like the Squeeze, Mini, and BeFree is that these new filters reduce pesticides, viruses (S2 and S3), and heavy metals (S3). If you’re not backpacking in areas where those are concerns, these don’t seem compelling to a UL backpacker.

Edit: Added mention of pesticides.

What is the Micro filter??

These foam filters seem pretty “meh” to me from a weight/function perspective.

Erik, the Micro appears to be smaller than the Mini. I’ll hold out for the Nano or Pico. ;)

the Micro appears to be smaller than the Mini. I’ll hold out for the Nano or Pico. ;)

Wonder if the flow rate is reduced in accordance with the size reduction? :)