Ray Hollis here. I've been hiking the high desert east of Bend for thirty years, and for the last six of them I've carried a Sawyer Squeeze water filter on every single trip, even the short ones. Here are ten reasons why.
I'm not an ultralight guy. I drive a 2013 Toyota 4Runner with 210,000 miles, and Dana and I car-camp most weekends from May to October. The high desert is dry and dusty, and water sources are few. That's exactly why I never leave the filter behind.
The filter I trust in the desert
The Sawyer Squeeze has been my go-to for six years. It's light, reliable, and I've never gotten sick from water I filtered through it.
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A clear spring in the high desert can look like something out of a postcard. Then you remember the cattle grazing a quarter mile upstream, the algae on the rocks, and the fact that the water has been sitting in the sun all day. I've filled from springs that looked like drinking water and still used the filter. The Sawyer Squeeze catches the stuff you can't see: bacteria, protozoa, and sediment. It's the difference between a good day on the trail and a very bad night in the tent. Dana and I once passed a sign warning about giardia, and that was the day I decided the filter was non-negotiable.
You can't always carry enough water
On a hot day in the high desert, I go through about a liter an hour. Two liters gets heavy fast. If there's a spring or a creek on the map, I carry less and filter more. That's the whole reason I bought the Sawyer Squeeze: it lets me carry a couple of liters instead of six. Dana and I did a loop near Smith Rock last June with a 2-liter bladder each and the filter. We passed three water sources and never ran dry. It's the kind of freedom you don't appreciate until you've carried a full pack on a 90-degree afternoon.
It works when you're farthest from the trailhead
The filter isn't just for the planned refill. It's for the moment you miscalculate, the map is wrong, or the spring you expected is dry. I've had days where the only water was a puddle in a rocky wash. The Sawyer Squeeze handled it. It's not a delicate piece of gear. I've dropped it, stuffed it in a pack, and left it in the sun. It still works. One year I forgot the filter in the back of the 4Runner for two weeks in July. I rinsed it out, and it filtered fine the next weekend.
It's not just for backpacking
A lot of people think a water filter is for multi-day trips. I use mine on afternoon hikes. The high desert is dry, and even a two-hour hike can end with you wanting a drink that isn't from a bottle you carried. If there's a creek on the way, I'd rather filter than run out. It's the same reason I carry a headlamp on day hikes: it's cheap insurance. Dana and I did a three-mile loop near the Deschutes last fall. We didn't bring any water, just the filter and a couple of empty bottles. It felt reckless until we found the stream.
The filter is lighter than the water you'd carry
A full liter of water weighs about 2.2 pounds. The Sawyer Squeeze with the pouches weighs less than a quarter of that. When I'm debating whether to add a third liter to my pack, I do the math: I can carry a lighter load and filter at the next source. That weight saving matters when you're walking uphill in the heat. On a long day, that's a couple of pounds you don't have to lift with every step. It's the difference between a slog and a hike. I've measured it: the whole setup, filter and two pouches, comes in under six ounces.
It takes seconds to use
I've used filters that need pumping, priming, and careful setup. The Sawyer Squeeze is simpler: fill the pouch, screw on the filter, squeeze into your bottle or hydration pack. No moving parts to break. I can filter two liters in a couple of minutes, even with gloves on a cold morning. That's fast enough that I actually do it instead of skipping it. When you're thirsty and the sun is beating down, the last thing you want is a complicated ritual. The Squeeze is about as close to effortless as it gets.
No chemical taste
Purification tablets work, but they leave a taste and they take time. The Sawyer Squeeze filters physically, so the water tastes like the spring it came from, minus the grit. After a day of hiking, I want water that tastes clean, not like a swimming pool. That's one reason I switched from tablets years ago. Tablets also need a wait time, often 30 minutes, which is annoying when you're standing next to the only water source for miles. With the Squeeze, you filter and go. I've had friends who swear by tablets, but they're the first to borrow my filter when they taste the difference.
It's a backup for when things go wrong
Getting lost in the desert is easier than people think. Trails fade, cairns get knocked over, and a wrong turn can put you miles from the trailhead. If that happens, having a way to make water safe is the difference between a scary afternoon and an emergency. The Sawyer Squeeze is small enough that I always have it, and I've never needed it for that. But I know it's there. One time Dana and I took a shortcut that turned into a three-hour detour. We finished the day's water with two miles to go. The filter turned a stressful walk into a manageable one.
It saves money over bottled water
I used to buy a case of bottled water for every trip. That adds up fast over a season. The filter is a one-time purchase that lasts years. I've used mine for six seasons and it still filters as well as day one. Even if you only hike a few times a year, it pays for itself in the first season. I don't miss hauling plastic bottles to the recycling bin either. The filter is the more responsible choice for the desert and for my pack.
It's the one piece of gear I never leave behind
I've forgotten a lot of things over the years: a spare fuel canister, a map, even a tent pole once. I've never forgotten the Sawyer Squeeze. It's become as automatic as my boots. When Dana and I plan a hike, the filter goes in the pack before we leave the driveway. That's the kind of habit that comes from knowing exactly what it's for. It's not the most exciting piece of gear, but it's the one that could save a trip. If you're heading into the high desert, make it a habit too.
What I'd Skip
If you're new to this, skip the ultra-light titanium bottle that costs a fortune and doesn't filter anything. Skip the tablets if you hate the taste. And skip the idea that you need a filter only for long trips. The high desert will test you on a three-mile walk. I'd rather have the Sawyer Squeeze in my pack than wish I'd brought it.
It's the one piece of gear I never leave behind.
The filter I trust in the desert
After six seasons and hundreds of miles, the Sawyer Squeeze is the one thing I always pack. If you hike the high desert, make it yours too.
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