Sawyer MINI vs LifeStraw Personal: which water filter should you pick?

Specs side by side

Specs as each maker states them.

The key differences at a glance

The Sawyer MINI uses a 0.1 micron absolute hollow fiber membrane that Sawyer rates up to 100,000 gallons, and Sawyer says it weighs approximately 2 ounces. The Amazon kit adds a 16-ounce pouch, a 7-inch straw and a cleaning plunger. The LifeStraw Personal is a straw measuring 9 by 1.2 inches and 1.6 oz, with a 0.2 micron membrane microfilter that LifeStraw says lasts up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters). You drink through it. For more options, see our water filter comparison.

What each removes, and what it does not

Sawyer says the MINI removes 99.99999% of bacteria such as Salmonella, cholera and E. coli, 99.9999% of protozoa and cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and 100% of microplastics. Sawyer's help center lists what it will not remove: metals, chemicals, pesticides, VOCs, hydrocarbons and salt, and its FAQ says dissolved solids such as fluoride, chlorine and tannins pass through.

LifeStraw says its membrane removes 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and 99.999% of microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudiness, and that it meets US EPA and NSF P231 standards for bacteria and parasites. LifeStraw's product page says the Personal is designed for biological contaminants (bacteria, parasites, microplastics) and points to other LifeStraw products for chemical or heavy metal reduction, and its manual says never to use it on seawater or chemically contaminated water.

Neither maker lists viruses. For water that may carry them, such as floodwater, see our guide to making water safe. If you want a virus claim from LifeStraw, it sells a different product, the Family, described as a purifier with virus removal; read our LifeStraw Family review.

How you use them

The Amazon listing says the MINI attaches to its pouch, standard 28 mm bottles and hydration packs, or you can use the straw to drink from the source. LifeStraw's manual says to prime it by letting the straw sit in water for 20 seconds, take 5 quick, strong sips to get water flowing, and blow air back through it after drinking. Its Amazon copy says you can drink directly or fill a container to use it on the go.

Sawyer says to backwash the MINI when flow slows, before long storage and before reuse, and that flow varies with filter cleanliness and altitude. Sawyer's FAQ adds that the MINI needs backwashing more often, and flows slower, than its larger Squeeze.

Freezing, drops and storage

Sawyer says the MINI is safe from freezing if it has never been wetted, recommends replacing a filter you suspect was frozen, and says there is no warranty for a frozen filter. LifeStraw's manual lists use in or exposure to temperatures above 140°F or below 32°F among conditions that can limit effectiveness, says not to drop it, and says to replace it if you can no longer sip water through it. For a LifeStraw you have used and plan to store for more than a month, LifeStraw publishes a separate storage routine. That matters for a kit left in a car or garage.

Which to choose

Pick the Sawyer MINI if you want a filter that works with pouches and bottles, a 100,000-gallon rating and a published list of what it will not remove. Pick the LifeStraw Personal if you want the simplest drink-through straw for each bag, with an unlimited shelf life while unused, as LifeStraw states. Neither treats a household's water supply, so store water first with our guide to how much water to store.

Common questions

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