What the Editors have to say:

"Here's proof that outside of the box thinking doesn't have to be complicated. This ingenious water treatment device works like a simple toothpaste tube to squeeze water through a hollow-fiber-membrane. Result: You get the effectiveness of a filter without the hassle of a pump.

"'It's light, compact, fast and ridiculously easy to use,' rejoices one tester. The soda-bottle size opening on the Mylar bag (kit comes with 16, 32 and 64 ounce capacities) makes it easy to fill from all but the weakest trickles. Then screw on the cylindrical filter element, which removes bacteria and protozoa, and squeeze or roll the bag to shoot a stream of water into your bottle (or mouth). Bonus: the bag system lets you filter anywhere, not just huddled over a stream, as pumps typically require. It's actually faster than most pumps and has no complicated mechanisms that can break.

"From California's Lost Coast to the Andes, we had zero field failures. Packed, the setup is as small as a Red Bull can. And longevity? It's cleanable, and Sawyer offers a million gallon guarantee."

"BACKPACKER gear reviews have many imitators, a few competitors, and no equals," said Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Dorn. "That's because no other magazine or website conducts in-depth field-testing as vigorously or impartially as the crew led by Gear Editor Kristin Hostetter. With a core team that has several centuries of combined trail time, along with first descents, decades of retail experience, and expertise in every backcountry discipline, Kristin puts new products through an unprecedented level of real-world abuse in every terrain and weather imaginable. She also oversees a transparent process that has earned an unrivaled amount of trust from readers, retailers, and manufacturers. The results are reviews that lead consumers to smart, durable products that consistently prove their worth with years of best-in-class performance."