Also, many users agree learning the wait times is important. The tablets destroy viruses and bacteria in 15 minutes, but it takes 4 hours to kill the pesky cryptosporidium parasite. Lots of us who use water filters for backpacking or hiking also use them for other types of travel — traveling through airports, locally or abroad.
Bonus: A few of the options below are great for both! Here are our top choices for travel water filters, whether your adventures take you overlanding, RVing, on day trips, or on international adventures. Simply fill, press down, and drink. It is that fast.
The GRAYL protects against heavy metals, chemicals, and viruses in addition to common protozoa and bacteria. In this case, it works wonderfully as a constant companion to keep you hydrated anywhere. For one of two people, it is an awesome purification method. What customers said: Users like its really fast flow rate of 5 L per minute under 30 seconds to get clean water. The No. Also, the replacement cartridges are expensive and need to be replaced every L.
This is your best bet for a budget option. The ounce bottle filters down to 0. What customers said: Similar to the original LifeStraw, customers love that this bottle is easy to use. Users also love the price point. Cons: Some customers have noticed the bottle is prone to leaking, and there is no cover or dust protector for the nozzle on the flip cap. Some customers also wish the carabiner was sturdier for clipping to packs when the bottle is full.
We also love that unlike plastic, this stainless steel bottle is insulated and keeps water colder for longer. What customers said: The UVC light not only protects against viruses and bacteria, but it also sterilizes the bottle referred to as self-cleaning and can be used to sterilize other surfaces.
Its rechargeable nature is awesome. During testing we used it once each day , we found the cap to last over a week — making it 8 days until it needed a recharge. And our bottle has suffered a few dents and dings. While RapidPure is a newer brand, its bottle made our list due to its construction and convenience.
The bottle uses replaceable cartridges with both activated carbon and electroadsorption technology to filter out particles times smaller than the standard 0. And we found the plastic cap and shape a bit bulky. This gravity water filter has won a spot on our list for the second year in a row.
The Platypus is good for when you need water for other than drinking straw filters are great, but not for filtering several liters of water at a time. What customers said: Although this gravity filter is a different style, most customers found the disconnecting shutoff valves and flow system easy to learn — and reliable to boot.
It also tends to clog with silty water, and some reviewers wished the seals on the reservoir bags were better. The purifier meets NSF P testing standards, removing bacteria, protozoa, pathogens, and viruses through the 0. The setup is simple, even if you do need ample space to get the dirty reservoir at least 6 feet above the clean water receptacle fairly common for gravity water filters.
The speedy flow rate and bottle adapter fitting a range of sizes allow filling of separate water bottles or a larger container with the entire 10 L. Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L Water Filter is our top pick for the best backpacking water filter for base camp big groups.
Instead of having everyone in your group carry their own small filters, having a large gravity filter can save a lot of time and effort in the long run. The Katadyn 10 liter is perfect for groups, and with a filtration rate of approximately 2 liters per minute, everyone will have clean water quickly.
You can connect the hose to personal hydration bladders, or set up a large water jug to collect the water for distribution. Another cool add-on you can purchase separately is a Shower Adaptor which can be attached to the large filter bag.
This way not only can you get clean drinking water thanks to gravity, but also a clean shower after a long day on the trail! Depending on your own personal camping style and needs, you may find one of these fits your situation perfectly!
Pumps are one of the oldest forms of water filters, and some people still prefer this method above the newer varieties. Katadyn has a good reputation for reliable water filters, and the Vario certainly stays in the competition for best water filters. The thing we love most about this pump is that it has two function modes: fast-flow and longer life.
However, if you want to extend the life of your pump, opt for the slower mode. To keep the filter functioning for longer, the Vario comes with a lubricant and cleaning pad. The second thing is that the HyperFlow is equipped with a Quick-Connect bottle cap, which fits directly on most Nalgene and MSR hydration bottles anything with 63mm opening.
This way you can filter directly into your favorite bottle and keep the process quicker. Another cool feature of the HyperFlow is a little pre-filter which is attached to the hose and floats near the surface of the water. This helps immensely to eliminate taking in extra sediment and contaminants which can clog the filter up much faster. To keep it functioning properly, you will need to clean and backflush the filter regularly, and generally speaking the longer you use it the slower the filter becomes.
Pocket-sized really means just that-this tiny little water filter will comfortably fit into your pocket, making it super easy to take with you wherever you go.
The simplicity of the TrailShot is what makes it so great; simply place the hose into your water source and begin pumping either into your water bottle or directly into your mouth! Okay, in comparison with our other options on the list, the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter is out of the ballpark in terms of price. The ceramic micro-strainer in the Katadyn will dutifully do its job to take out any protozoa and bacteria in the water.
The filter comes with two abrasive pads which you can use to clean out any sediment and residue from the ceramic filter. As long as you keep the sediment clear, the Katadyn will continue to work just fine. For starters, LifeStraw has done some false advertising about their product by claiming or having influencers claim that this is a water purifier. In fact, the LifeStraw is just a basic filter and will not protect you against viruses.
The second thing is that there have been way too many reports of this thing failing after one or two uses. So, even though the idea of drinking out of a filter straw is great and practical, LifeStraw needs to go back to the drawing board for this one and come up with a better design before we can consider it for our list of best water filters.
There are a lot of different water filtration systems on the market now, and a lot of debate between travelers about which ones are the best. At the end of the day, most of it comes down to your personal style and in what context you plan on using the filter to determine which is best for you. Gravity filters do all the muscle work for you by simply using gravity to pull the water down through the filtration system.
Once you fill the water bag with the contaminated water, you can simply let the system do its work. The other consideration to take into account is that, in order to be successful, a gravity filter needs to have a suitable place to set it up. Besides chemical purifiers, these styles of water purifier have been on the market the longest, and have a good reputation of dependability.
Of course, the effectiveness does depend on the model and style, but thanks to modern technology, filters have gotten smaller and more efficient. Pumps clean water by forcing the contaminated water through a filtration system. Water filter pumps will allow you to obtain water from very shallow sources, and filter exactly the amount of water required.
They sometimes require a bit of cleaning but are generally very long-lasting in design. Bottle Filters-For many backpackers and travelers, bottle filters have become the preferred method for filtration thanks to their compact size and ease of use. Just as the name suggests, bottle filters are water bottles and water filters combined in one. You fill up the bottle, then let the device do its work. Depending on the model, some filter sort of like a coffee press while others have a sort of filter straw built into them.
Downsides are that you have a limited amount of water in the bottle and the filter needs regular cleaning or replacement. Generally quite a bit cheaper and very transportable, squeeze filters usually attach to the top of a water bottle or water bag.
You can either drink directly from the filter, or squeeze the water into another container. However, if you want to filter large amounts of water, squeezing all that water can be tedious. The filters usually need to be replaced after a certain number of uses, or when it becomes difficult to squeeze water through the system. Plus, you can stick the straw directly into a stream of water or your own glass or water bottle. Everyone has a different comfort level for how much they carry with them.
Of course, another option is for everyone to bring their own personal filter if you each have a specific preference. As materials improve, the weight of water filters has also gone down. The heaviest filters are definitely pump style filters, but the best pump filters are also designed to last a lifetime, so the extra weight might be worth it in the long run.
What sold me on this filter, besides the weight, is it also comes with a carbon filtering component for removing some of the chemicals.
The Aquamira Frontier Pro main kit comes with the added screw-on piece for the pre-filters, along with several extra replacement filters. Maybe not many people realize the filter weighs less than an ounce without the pre-filter and plastic casing? I used a Frontier for years before Sawyer miniaturized their purifiers and filters. I think Aqua Mira just got out marketed. I usually carry my LifeStraw personal water filter on my trips, hiking or camping. Just bring a wide-mouth bottle to refill with the water you find.
Once filtered the water was delicious, completely satisfied with it. Your email address will not be published. Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter. The Versa Flow The Katadyn BeFree Water Filter can be used as a squeeze filter or hung for group use as a gravity filter if you purchase the 3L version.
It has a 0. It can filter water up to 2 liters per minute, which is very fast for this style of filter. An integrated wide-mouth soft bottle, available in three different sizes, 0. Weighing 3. Aquamira Water Treatment Drops use chlorine dioxide used in municipal water treatment plants to kill Each package of Aquamira contains two bottles, Part A and Part B, which you mix together before treating your water.
The drops are effective in clear, muddy, warm, and cold water and have a shelf life of five years, making them an excellent solution for international travel, hiking, backpacking, and emergency preparedness. Each Aquamira package contains enough drops to treat 30 gallons of water.
Many people carry Aquamira as a backup in case their water filter breaks or for purifying several liters of water at once. The Platypus Gravity Works water treatment system is a gravity filter that includes two x 4 liter water reservoirs, a water filter, and connecting hoses arranged in a gravity filter configuration.
The Gravity Works filter physically removes particles, protozoa, and bacteria down to 0. Quick-disconnect valves and a hose clamp make cleaning easy. The expected filter lifetime is liters of water. The entire system weighs The Katadyn Hiker Water Filter is a pump-based filter that removes particulates, protozoa, and bacteria down to 0. It includes a pre-filter at the hose outlet that filters to microns, good for use with cloudy or sediment-filled water, which removes large contaminants before they reach the main filter and increase its life span.
Quick-connect fittings permit removal of input and output hoses: the hoses also connect directly to hydration reservoirs with 0. The expected filter life is liters before replacement is required. The Hiker weighs 11 ounces. The Steripen Ultra is a water purifier that uses ultraviolet light to neutralize bacteria, protozoa, and viruses that can make you ill. The Ultra is USB rechargeable and fits in narrow or wide-necked bottles.
To use it, you simply dip it in a container of water and stir, until an indicator lamp signals that the water is purified, after about 90 seconds. Weighing just 4. The GeoPress has an outer bottle and an inner bottle, with a filter at one end and a drinking spout with a screw-on top at the other.
Straw Filters Used by day hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers who prefer not to carry water as they move, a straw filter allows you to drink directly from the source, as though sipping through a straw some setups also include a bottle, like the LifeStraw Universal. Straw filters have their place for simple applications and day trips, but are not a very versatile setup as they offer no way to produce or store clean water for cooking or drinking later. Further, many bottle and inline filters also can be used as a straw such as the Sawyer Squeeze Mini , and are by far the more well-rounded choice.
UV purifiers like the SteriPen use ultraviolet rays to achieve the same effect. But keep in mind that both chemical and UV purifiers forgo filtering, making them good options only when you have access to clear water sources like glacial streams.
That said, these purifiers offer a nice alternative to bulkier filters, and we especially like chemical options like Aquamira and Potable Aqua for large groups, weight-conscious outings, or as a backup to a filter. Water filters and purifiers range in weight and bulk, from super lightweight tablets that are just a fraction of an ounce, to the 1-pound 1-ounce MSR Guardian.
Pumps and gravity systems are the heaviest and bulkiest, and include multiple components like storage bags and hoses. Pore size refers to the size of the tiny openings in the filter, and is measured in terms of microns. The smaller the pore, the more particles the filter can block. Viruses, on the other hand, can be as small as 0. Most backpacking filters on this list have a pore size of 0. Because they are so small, the best way to combat viruses is through chemical or ultraviolet purification.
Alternatively, the MSR Guardian pump purifier uses 0. The flow rate indicates the speed at which a filter treats water, and is most often measured in terms of liters per minute. In general, gravity filters have the fastest flow rates: the Platypus GravityWorks filters 1. Leading pump filters are listed at about 1 liter per minute, although that seems fairly optimistic to us the exception is the pricey MSR Guardian, which is speedy at 2. Finally, squeeze and straw filters can only move as fast as you can drink, and some will require more suction than others the Sawyer Squeeze Mini takes a ridiculous amount of effort.
Keep in mind that the flow rates listed by the manufacturers are going to be realized in optimal circumstances and are likely to be slower in the field, and most filters come with recommendations for backflushing or light maintenance to keep things moving properly more on this below. However, they do have a wait time that must lapse before water is safe to drink, usually between 15 and 30 minutes and sometimes a full 4 hours for Cryptosporidium for chemical purifiers, and 90 seconds per liter for a SteriPen.
The good news about chemical purifiers is that you can sit back and let them do their work, rather than pumping or squeezing as in the case of some filters. All told, flow rate will be an important consideration for groups and time-conscious endeavors, but less of an issue for more casual hikers and backpackers. A key product specification that we reference in this article is filter life, or how quickly your filter will need to be replaced. As with any manufacturer-provided spec, the listed filter life is optimistic and probably should be thought of as a maximum.
Finally, keep in mind that the liters referenced above for the Katadyn is actually a lot for most casual backpackers that get out a few times a year. Given that their task is to remove contaminants from water, it should come as no surprise that many water filters need to be cleaned of this buildup.
Most gravity and straw filters are maintained by backflushing clean water or air through the filter. With a product like the LifeStraw Universal, this is as easy as blowing out after each drink.
Others require a separate piece of equipment, including the syringe that comes with the Sawyer Squeeze. Cleaning pump filters is a slightly more intensive process, as you'll need to unscrew the apparatus and either remove the filter or extend a brush down the interior. Instructional videos are available online for almost every product on our list, and you should expect basic maintenance to be part of owning and using a water filter.
Another option is to scoop the dirty water into a Ziploc bag, let the sediment settle, and transfer the clear water from the top into a bottle for treatment. Almost all water treatment systems have some way of connecting to either a water bottle or hydration reservoir, if not both.
This often takes the form of a simple hose or cap that fits onto commonly sized water bottle openings. Sawyer has played into the fast-and-light community of hikers who use disposable plastic water bottles on the trail, making their Squeeze and Mini versions able to screw into the mouth of a standard plastic water bottle great for weight savings, less great for the environment.
All in all, be mindful of the compatibility for a water filter or purifier to make sure it works with your drinking vessels. Another way to combat foul-tasting water is to use a carbon filter. Used in the popular Brita kitchen filters, carbon removes chlorine, organic compounds, and other bad odor and taste-inducing materials. Additionally, some models offer carbon filters as add-ons: the Platypus GravityWorks, for example, sells a carbon element separately that can be added to the existing filter, and the LifeStraw Steel edition uses carbon instead of a hollow-fiber membrane.
Last but not least, we should mention that just about every water filter and purifier can malfunction, which may leave you without clean water in the backcountry. In this scenario, you can boil your drinking water provided you have a backpacking stove and extra fuel, but this a time and labor-intensive method. Getting sick in the backcountry can be a serious medical concern, so we think having a backup is a smart way to go.
From ultralight chemical purifiers to gravity filters for large groups, we break down the top outdoor water treatment options. Photo Credit.
See the Katadyn Hiker Microfilter 8. See the Aquamira Water Treatment 9. See the LifeStraw Flex See the Sawyer Mini Filter Unavailable , gallons 16 oz. A water filter is a fine choice for most backpacking trips in North America Second, by definition, a filter routes water through an actual sieve, which physically removes debris such as dirt, algae, leaves, and tiny critters. The Katadyn Hiker Pro is a classic pump filter option Bottle Filters Bottle filters—also known as squeeze filters—attach to the spout of a soft-sided bottle or pouch and filter water as you drink.
Using the Sawyer Squeeze to fill another container Straw Filters Used by day hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers who prefer not to carry water as they move, a straw filter allows you to drink directly from the source, as though sipping through a straw some setups also include a bottle, like the LifeStraw Universal.
Chemical purifiers are lightweight and inexpensive Weight and Bulk Water filters and purifiers range in weight and bulk, from super lightweight tablets that are just a fraction of an ounce, to the 1-pound 1-ounce MSR Guardian. Flow Rate The flow rate indicates the speed at which a filter treats water, and is most often measured in terms of liters per minute. Filter Life A key product specification that we reference in this article is filter life, or how quickly your filter will need to be replaced.
The Sawyer Squeeze has a lifetime warranty As with any manufacturer-provided spec, the listed filter life is optimistic and probably should be thought of as a maximum. Silty water can quickly clog a filter Compatibility with Bottles and Reservoirs Almost all water treatment systems have some way of connecting to either a water bottle or hydration reservoir, if not both.
Drinking straight from the source with the MSR TrailShot Another way to combat foul-tasting water is to use a carbon filter. Taking in the view while drinking from the Katadyn BeFree bottle Emergency Backups Last but not least, we should mention that just about every water filter and purifier can malfunction, which may leave you without clean water in the backcountry. Powered by Drupal.
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