Stoney,

I haven't used the mini, but I have carried the Pocket for about the last 30 years. A top notch way to clean water. Like anything it has pluses and minuses, but all in all it is still my primary. Biggest down is extreme cold. Icing in the filter will crack it. It is possible to break the filter, but I have never broken one, even with a pack filled with rocks I still carry and use MicroPur tabs as well as the MIOX and SteriPen plus, of course, boiling. All have their uses and times they are less effective.

Good Luck,

Jerry