The Select Series Water Purifiers are a really neat line of portable water filters from Sawyer Products that allows you to choose the level of purification you want to pay for.
There are three filters in the series. The S1 will remove bacteria, protozoa, chemicals, and pesticides while the S2 will additionally remove viruses. The S3 furthermore removes heavy metals making it a pretty darn impressive filter – portability aside.
They are all around the same cost, but it’s still nice that you have the option to pay less if you know the water source(s) you plan on drinking from are free of viruses and/or heavy metals.
This filter system employs absorption foam technology paired with Sawyer’s 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane to REALLY purify freshwater sources. You simply unscrew and fill the bottle, re-screw and close the cap to the micro squeeze filter and then squeeze the foam bottle in an alternating motion. This works the water into the foam material for enhanced filtration.
You can then open the cap to the microfilter and drink directly from the bottle or dispense the water into another container.
Although it’s somewhat cumbersome, you have to consider the fact that this is both a filter and vessel for water which will save you on pack space. You won’t want to put anything other than water into the bottle, but for regular hydration purposes, it’s an awesome compact system that travels really well.
Sawyer Products recommends this filter system for wilderness water rather than tap water because the Chlorine levels in tap will clog the pores of the absorption foam sooner. It can still be used with suspect tap water if traveling internationally but if you’re looking for a portable water filter for travel in particular rather than use in the great outdoors then you’re better off with a different unit.
If this highly portable purification system fits your needs for water filtration then it’s an excellent value product that won’t let you down. Consider the applications of the Select Series Water Purifiers for you and choose your model wisely.
If you’re interested in this filtration system make sure to watch the attached video below for a closer look at its capabilities, ease of operation and required maintenance.