As much as I would like to be an avid adventurer, I may only get the chance to go do something a few times a year. Unlike a lot of the higher end hand pump filters, the sawyer mini is almost disposable at its $20 price point, so instead of being super unsure about its status after months and months between use I planned to just get a fresh one. Great value for money.

There is no carbon element so it's not going to do much for taste and it won't get teeny viruses, but depending on where you live that might not be a big deal. I still have tablets and a means to boil so it's just part of a system.