Platypus Quickdraw Microfilter

Leagues better than the Sawyer. I picked up one of these from a local shop when my Sawyer unexpectedly failed alongside multiple Sawyer bag failures. The Quickdraw has held strong for 8 months and keeps going! I ditched the Platypus squeeze bag, it was worth it's salt, but I prefer my Vecto 3L for filling my three 1L Vesica's. I love that I don't have to carry around a syringe to backwash it. I've used it more times than I can count and have spent a total of 60 days on the trail using it exclusively. I watched a video by "Senior Hiker 77" on YouTube about the Quickdraw and it was extremely useful for learning more about the filter, especially to clearly check if it's still safe to use. I highly recommend this filter to everyone!

Bought 2. Neither flows. Takes tremendous effort to force tap water through either one. Filter 1 L at home to prime? Good luck! I had one a couple of years ago that flowed great. But not these 2 new ones. A great filter when it works, but buy yours from somewhere you can return it and try again if necessary.

I've done many long distance back country trips, and through the years have used multiple filters and chemical treatments. The last few years I've been using either Aquamira or the Sawyer filter. This is by far my favorite method. Compared to the Sawyer, it's very fast. I used mine for the first time on a thru-hike of the Great Divide Trail. I was amazed how quickly it filtered in the beginning all the way through to the end. (I always tried to find reasonably clean water, avoiding muddy or glacial water, and I'd back-flush once every couple of weeks or so.) Very satisfying to see the fast flow rate after weeks of daily use. This filter is a huge improvement over the Sawyer because of the flow rate, the fast flow rate lasting, the ability to back-flush with a bottle ... MoreI've done many long distance back country trips, and through the years have used multiple filters and chemical treatments. The last few years I've been using either Aquamira or the Sawyer filter. This is by far my favorite method. Compared to the Sawyer, it's very fast. I used mine for the first time on a thru-hike of the Great Divide Trail. I was amazed how quickly it filtered in the beginning all the way through to the end. (I always tried to find reasonably clean water, avoiding muddy or glacial water, and I'd back-flush once every couple of weeks or so.) Very satisfying to see the fast flow rate after weeks of daily use. This filter is a huge improvement over the Sawyer because of the flow rate, the fast flow rate lasting, the ability to back-flush with a bottle with compatible threads, the caps at each end that allow me to throw it in my sleeping bag to prevent it from freezing (with the Sawyer I needed a Ziploc). The gasket is a vast improvement over the Sawyer, whose gasket tends to fall out or leak from over-tightening. The Quickdraw is much faster than Aquamira and properly used should be somewhat more effective against giardia, my primary concern. Two criticisms of the QuickDraw: the end cap should be attached or a bright color. Get in the habit of watching where you put your filter and bottle caps. Also the OUTSIDE threads are a weak spot if you're using the "System." However, the INSIDE threads were bomber for me when using a smartwater bottle. Many other 28mm bottles also fit.The QuickDraw is my answer to water filtering.