Head-to-head · Best Backpacking Water Filters

MSR TrailShot vs Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.1 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Backpackers who are tough on gear and want the fastest-flowing, most durable squeeze filter and don't mind replacing the cartridge sooner. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

MSR TrailShot

4.1

3 sources$62.99as of Sep 16

The MSR TrailShot is the pocket pump for hikers who deal with shallow, hard-to-reach water. CleverHiker rated it 4.3 of 5 and OutdoorGearLab 77, both praising its ability to draw from puddles and trickles through a hose, which suits drought-prone trails and trail running. It is compact, outlasts the BeFree on filter life, and cleans by shaking. Pumping large volumes is real work, so treat it as a personal on-the-go tool, not a group filter.

Strengths

— Pump-and-hose design draws water from shallow streams and puddles other filters can't reach
— Compact and pocketable at 5.6 oz for fast, on-the-go drinking
— Decent 2,000-liter filter life, double the BeFree and QuickDraw

Watch-outs

— Manual pumping is more effort than gravity or scoop-and-go for large volumes
— Flow of about 1 L per minute is slower than the squeeze filters
— Not designed for filling for a group

$62.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Backpacking Water Filters

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

4.4

3 sources$55as of Sep 16

No filter has won over more testers in recent seasons than the Platypus QuickDraw. GearJunkie named it Best Overall after years of use, and CleverHiker praised it as more durable with a faster flow than other squeeze filters. It is light, tough, and easy to clean in the field. The catch is a 1,000-liter filter life dwarfed by the Sawyer Squeeze, so it trades longevity for speed and durability.

Strengths

— GearJunkie's Best Overall pick after several seasons of hard use
— Fast flow and a more durable cartridge than other squeeze filters, per CleverHiker
— Easy to backflush in the field with a simple shake-and-squeeze

Watch-outs

— Short 1,000-liter filter lifespan, a tiny fraction of the Sawyer Squeeze
— Real-world flow fell short of the advertised 3 L/min in OutdoorGearLab testing
— Like all hollow-fiber filters it is ruined by freezing

$55 · Buy at cascadedesigns.com Full review →

How they stack up

MSR TrailShot

Reaches shallow sources the squeeze-based Sawyer Squeeze, Katadyn BeFree, and Platypus QuickDraw struggle with via its hose and pump, and its 2,000-liter filter doubles the BeFree and QuickDraw; it is a personal pump rather than a hands-free group system like the Platypus GravityWorks 4L.

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter

Flows faster and has a tougher cartridge than the Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree, but its 1,000-liter life matches the BeFree and is far shorter than the Sawyer's; it is a personal squeeze filter rather than a group system like the Platypus GravityWorks 4L.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	MSR TrailShot	Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter
Type	Pump (squeeze-bulb) hollow-fiber	Hollow-fiber squeeze
Filtration	0.2 micron	0.2 micron
Weight	5.6 oz	3.6 oz
Flow Rate	~1 L per 1 min 6 sec (tested)	~44 sec per liter (tested)
Filter Lifespan	2,000 L	1,000 L
Removes	Bacteria, protozoa, sediment	Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics
Cleaning	Shake-to-clean, no tools	Shake-and-squeeze backflush
Freeze Safe	No	No
Dimensions	6"L x 2.4"W x 6"H	5"L x 3"W x 3"H
Material	Plastic	Plastic

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