Sawyer + Backpacking Part 1: Review of the Sawyer Micro Squeeze
The Sawyer Squeeze water filter is very popular among backpackers. Like other water filters, this system filters out bacteria (e.g. E. coli) and protozoa (e.g. Giardia). In this post I review the Micro Squeeze compared to the regular Squeeze.
Related Post:
Sawyer + Backpacking Part 2: Sawyer Squeeze and Sawyer Micro Flow Rate Tests
No company solicited this review, and I purchased all tested items.

Items in the Sawyer Micro Squeeze package
Sawyer introduced the Sawyer Micro Squeeze as a lighter-weight alternative to the Squeeze. I ran a series of measurements and tests to determine if I should convert from the Squeeze to a Micro Squeeze.
Weight
You can save up to 1.5 ounces if you use the Micro Squeeze. The filter is not only lighter than the Squeeze, but also smaller, providing a little extra room in your bag. In addition, the Micro Squeeze has a re-designed squeeze bag that is lighter than the Squeeze version.
Item* | Squeeze weight | Micro Squeeze weight | Difference in weight |
Filter, completely dry | 64 g | 47 g | 17g |
Filter, wet | 103 g | 69 g | 34 g |
Squeeze Bag | 25 g | 17 g | 8 g |
TOTAL DRY SYSTEM | 89 g / 3.1 oz | 64 g / 2.3 oz | 25 g / 0.8 oz |
TOTAL WET SYSTEM | 128 g / 4.5 oz | 86 g / 3.0 oz | 42 g / 1.5 oz |
* All other items in the Squeeze and Micro Squeeze kits weigh the same


Flow Rate
Next I tested the Micro Squeeze against the Squeeze to check flow rate. To get consistent results, I used tap water filtered through a Brita filter. I conducted each test 5 times and averaged the results.
I measured flow rate by taring a water bottle, measuring the volume of water that flowed into the container over a certain amount of time (1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram), then calculating volume per minute of water flow.

Filtration Methods
Hikers generally use one of three methods to filter water through the Sawyer Squeeze system:
- Squeeze filtration with a disposable water bottle with matching threads, such as the SmartWater 1-L bottle.
- Squeeze filtration with a soft-sided container, such as the bag that comes with your Sawyer filtration system or a water bladder such as an Evernew
- Gravity filtration
Most hikers force water through the Squeeze by pressing against the sides of the attached container. The advantage of this method is that it is much faster than gravity filtration. Bag leakage or breakage is a common problem with the Squeeze system (think of the pressure you are putting on the bag when you squeeze it), so some hikers opt to use a strong, disposable water bottle as the squeeze container. The SmartWater bottle’s threads match the Squeeze and you can easily replace the bottle whenever you get into town.
Gravity filtration means that water passively flows through the filter using only the force of gravity. This method takes a lot longer than forcing water through the filter by squeezing the water container, but some hikers use gravity filtration while taking a break. The advantage of gravity filtration is that you can set it up, walk away to do other tasks, and when you come back your water is filtered.

The Micro Squeeze filter used for tests, shown here with the blue back-flushing cleaning coupling.

Micro Squeeze filtering with the Sawyer soft squeeze bag

Micro Squeeze filtering with a SmartWater disposable water bottle
Results: Gravity Filtration
Gravity filtration is much faster through the Squeeze (0.32 ± 0.01 liters/minute) than the Micro Squeeze (0.18 ± 0.01 liters/minute). It takes a little over 3 minutes to filter one liter using the Squeeze and about 5-1/2 minutes to filter one liter using the Micro Squeeze.
Results: Squeeze with a Soft Squeeze Bag
I used the Squeeze bag that came with the Squeeze and the Micro Squeeze to test the flow rate for a soft-sided water container. The Squeeze bag flow rate (1.7 ± 0.1 liters/minute) is only marginally greater than the Micro Squeeze bag flow rate (1.6 ± 0.1 liters/minute). It takes about 36 seconds to filter a liter of water through the Squeeze and about 38 seconds through the Micro Squeeze using equivalent force on each bag.
Results: Squeeze with a Smartwater Bottle
I used a one-liter SmartWater bottle to test flow rate using a disposable water bottle. The flow rate through the Squeeze filter (1.6 ± 0.1 liters/minute) using a SmartWater bottle was much faster than the Micro Squeeze (1.1 ± 0.1 liters/minute). This difference is likely due to the fact that you cannot put as much pressure on the water bottle as on a soft-sided water container. Between this test and the gravity filtration test, it appears that the Squeeze operates at a much higher flow rate at lower pressure than the Micro Squeeze.
Summary of Flow Rate Results
Filtration Method | Squeeze Rate | Micro Squeeze Rate | Difference to filter 1 liter of water |
Gravity | 0.32 L/min | 0.18 L/min | Squeeze: 2min 26s faster |
Soft Squeeze pouch* | 1.7 L/min | 1.6 L/min | Squeeze: 2s faster |
1-L SmartWater bottle | 1.6 L/min | 1.1 L/min | Squeeze: 17s faster |
* 32-ounce soft Squeeze pouch that came with the filtration system
Cost
It’s difficult to do an exact cost-comparison due to the way the Squeeze and Micro Squeeze kits are sold. But it’s safe to say they cost about the same amount.
Conclusion: Micro Squeeze Pros & Cons
PROS:
- Lighter than the Squeeze (dry or wet)
- Similar flow rate as the Squeeze if using a soft-sided unfiltered-water container
CONS:
- Weight savings may not be worth the cost if you’re replacing your Squeeze system
- Flow rate much slower than the Squeeze for gravity filtration or disposable water bottle squeeze container
Read Parts 2, 3, and 4 of this Sawyer review series:
Sawyer + Backpacking Part 2: Sawyer Squeeze and Sawyer Micro Squeeze Flow Rate
Sawyer + Backpacking Part 3: Should I carry the Sawyer Syringe?
Sawyer + Backpacking Part 4: Sawyer Mini, Micro and Squeeze Compared