Description
Rikkar Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Hollow-fiber squeeze water filter |
| Weight | Approximately 2.4 oz / 68 g |
| Length | Approximately 7.4 in / 18.8 cm |
| Filter Pore Size | 0.2 micron |
| Flow Rate | Up to approximately 3 L/min when new |
| Filter Life | Up to approximately 2,000 L |
| Water Treatment | Removes bacteria, protozoa, and particulate matter |
| Compatible Containers | Platypus reservoirs and standard threaded bottles |
| Backflushable | Yes |
| Field Cleanable | Yes |
| Country of Manufacture | USA |
Weight
The QuickDraw weighs approximately 2.4 oz / 68 g, making it one of the lighter full-size squeeze filters available for backpacking.
Its low weight is especially appealing when paired with a lightweight soft bottle or reservoir. The filter itself takes up very little room in a pack and doesn’t require a pump, batteries, or other equipment to operate.
Key Features
- Approximately 2.4 oz / 68 g
- 0.2-micron hollow-fiber filter
- Fast flow rate
- Squeeze filtration design
- Backflushable and field cleanable
- Compatible with Platypus reservoirs
- Compatible with standard threaded bottles
- Compact and lightweight
- Removes bacteria, protozoa, and sediment
- No batteries or chemicals required
- Designed for backpacking and outdoor use
Why We Like It
The QuickDraw gets the important things right for backpacking: it’s light, fast, compact, and easy to use.
The squeeze-style design is particularly convenient on the trail. Fill your dirty-water container, attach the filter, and squeeze the water through. There’s no pumping motion to wear you out and no complicated setup.
The filter is also designed to be maintained in the field. Backflushing helps restore flow when the filter begins to slow down, which is important when you’re using it repeatedly on longer trips.
The combination of low weight and high flow rate makes the QuickDraw especially appealing for hikers who filter a lot of water throughout the day.
The Tradeoff
The QuickDraw is a filter, not a purifier.
It is designed to remove bacteria, protozoa, and particulate matter, but it does not provide protection against viruses. That means water-source selection still matters, particularly when traveling internationally or in areas where viral contamination is a concern.
Like other hollow-fiber filters, the QuickDraw also needs to be protected from freezing. Water trapped inside the filter can damage the filter fibers if it freezes, potentially compromising its ability to filter safely.
The filter’s performance can also decline as it accumulates sediment, making field maintenance important when filtering particularly silty or dirty water.
Who It’s For
The QuickDraw makes the most sense for hikers who:
- Want a lightweight squeeze filter
- Prioritize fast filtration
- Are building an ultralight backpacking kit
- Regularly filter water from natural sources
- Want a filter that can be maintained in the field
- Prefer mechanical filtration over chemical treatment
- Are preparing for thru-hikes or longer backpacking trips
- Want a compact system without pumps or batteries
It’s less suitable for travelers who need virus protection or hikers who frequently encounter heavily contaminated water sources.
Rikkar Take
The Platypus QuickDraw is one of the filters we really like for lightweight backpacking because it doesn’t require much of a compromise.
At roughly 2.4 ounces, it’s light enough for an ultralight kit, while its fast flow rate makes filtering larger quantities of water relatively painless. The squeeze design is simple, and the ability to backflush the filter in the field makes it practical for longer trips.
The biggest thing to remember is that the QuickDraw is not a virus purifier, so it needs to be used with appropriate water sources.
For typical North American backpacking where bacteria, protozoa, and sediment are the primary concerns, the QuickDraw offers an excellent balance of weight, speed, simplicity, and field maintainability.
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