Sawyer 4 L Water Filtration System

A few links that sum up each of the three filters fairly well. Note that Sawyer is only listing bacteria and protozoa. Sawyer does not even mention other contaminants. Both Berkey and Trio list a plethora of other contaminants that their filters reduce well below EPA standards for drinking water. I am merely pointing out what is plainly there before us. I point it out simply because most people seem to overlook these life affecting facts. Y'all do your own research and make your own decisions.  Sawyer Mini:  https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-mini-filter/ http://prepforshtf.com/sawyer-mini-water-filter-vs-lifestraw/#.VNDzzYFOKrU This guy calls the Mini "the best water filtration system so far" yet in his article flat out admits the Mini is inadequate and recommends using a Berkey. Maybe he was unaware of the Trio and how easy it is to DIY a replacement Berkey filter into a gravity system.  http://graywolfsurvival.com/3151/prepper-gear-review-sawyer-mini-water-filtration-system/ "the Sawyer Mini filter, as with almost all filters out there, doesn’t filter chemicals so you need an extra step to be absolutely positive that the water you’re drinking is safe. The Berkey SPTREP Replacement Filter for GSPRT Sports Bottle is what he’s talking about. Run the Sawyer first and then into the Berkey so it lasts longer."  Renovo Trio:  http://briangreen.net/2014/07/renovo-trio-water-filter-review.html http://www.renovowater.com/products/renovo-trio http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0352/9633/files/Renovo_Trio_Test_Results.pdf?226 Berkey:  http://www.berkeyfilterreview.com http://www.waterfilterbyberkey.com/blog/berkey-technical-specifications/ http://www.berkeyfilters.com/berkey-answers/performance/filtration-specifications/

Howdy KeWa. Thank you for your reply. Technically you are correct that the Berkey and Trio reduce. All filters reduce contaminants, no surprise there. The fact is 100% pure water is an unreachable goal outside of a strictly controlled laboratory setting. Every drop of water we consume contains contaminants. Zero exceptions.  The point is, what we are engaged in is risk reduction in a backpacking setting. The full size Berkey and the Renovo Trio both reduce a wide range of contaminants beyond the ability of laboratory equipment to detect. The Sawyer Mini does not. If we look at some popular backpacking gravity filters we see that the Trio (.05 microns) filters out particles half the size of the smallest particles the Mini (0.1 micron) filters and the Mini filters out particles half the size that the LifeStraw (0.2 microns) filters. The Berkey filters out much more than the Trio. Do some research on the size ranges of the pathogens we are dealing with and you will find that 0.05 micron filters out many more pathogens with much greater surety than 0.1 micron. Huge difference. Think coffee filter vs window screen.  You are correct on boiling even filtered water. Never hurts and can make or break a multi day backcountry trip. I highly recommend boiling and personally boil my (filtered or unfiltered) water before consuming. Boiling is hands down the most sure and effective way to reduce organic contaminants (bacteria, protozoa and viruses). Boiling does not reduce salt, heavy metals, etc - it CONCENTRATES them. Properly performed distillation does remove salt, heavy metals, etc. However distillation CONCENTRATES volatile organic compounds - petroleum products, some pesticides, herbicides, etc. In this modern world it is mission critical to know what contaminants you are dealing with and the most effective ways to reduce them. There is no universal panacea. Unfortunately the majority of products the backpacking water filtration industry is currently offering have not caught up with the realities we face. Especially those of us east of the Mississippi.  Bottom Line: Will you get sick using the Mini? Probably not. Will you be ingesting a far greater amount of contaminants thereby taking a much greater risk with your health? You absolutely will be. In the end it is up to each of us to weigh the risks and live with our choices. I am merely pointing out what a considerable amount of backcountry experience and research has taught me in the hopes that it helps others make safer and more informed choices.  Happy Trails. :-)

FWIW, both the Renovo and Berkey do not remove your list of things either... they simply "reduce" levels. You should boil too.