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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.

The short answer

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). 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.

MSR TrailShot
Ranked #5 in Best Backpacking Water Filters
MSR TrailShot
$62.99as of May 29

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 via a hose, ideal for drought-prone trails and trail running. It is compact, has a longer filter life than the BeFree, and cleans by shaking. Pumping is more work for large volumes, so it is 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 AmazonFull review →
Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Backpacking Water Filters
Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter
$55as of May 25

The Platypus QuickDraw is the filter that has won over the most testers in recent seasons. 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, easy to clean in the field, and tough. The catch is a 1,000-liter filter life that is 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 · Check Price on AmazonFull 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

SpecMSR TrailShotPlatypus QuickDraw Microfilter
TypePump (squeeze-bulb) hollow-fiberHollow-fiber squeeze
Filtration0.2 micron0.2 micron
Weight5.6 oz3.6 oz
Flow Rate~1 L per 1 min 6 sec (tested)~44 sec per liter (tested)
Filter Lifespan2,000 L1,000 L
RemovesBacteria, protozoa, sedimentBacteria, protozoa, microplastics
CleaningShake-to-clean, no toolsShake-and-squeeze backflush
Freeze SafeNoNo
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