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We put the best backpacking water filters and purifiers to the test so you can stay safely hydrated on your next trip into the great outdoors.
You don’t need much to have a successful backpacking trip. Yes, you’ll need some gear (like a tent, a sleeping bag, and a pack). But most importantly, you’ll need a way to get clean, safe water while on the trail.
Before we explain in depth how each water filter works, here are a few things that will help you through this guide. There are many different methods of filtering (or treating) water. The most common methods are through a cartridge or tube, with either activated carbon, UV light, or chemicals.
Filters also come in different styles: straw-style, pump filters, gravity filters, and UV or tablet treatments. They all make water safe to drink but differ slightly in size, durability, and price.
We’ve spoken to thru-hikers, hunters, and mountaineers, and read hundreds of customer reviews to find out which water filters on the market are truly the best.
Our team collectively tested a plethora of diverse filters for the creation of this guide. Current author and Senior Editor, Chris Carter, has been squeezing water through countless tubes and dropping tablets in his Nalgene each season to bring you the streamlined selection of 18 filters you see today. From stagnant green pools in the African savanna to bubbling alpine brooks in the Cascade Mountains, Chris has filtered water of all consistency and color in the wild, and brings only the best filters on his excursions. Rest assured, we would trust every model in this guide to keep us safe and hydrated in the backcountry.
Be sure to check out our water filter comparison chart at the bottom, our comprehensive buyer’s guide, or our FAQ section for help in snagging the best backpacking water filter for your adventure.
Editor’s Note: We refreshed this article on November 24, 2023, adding additional details about our testing practices, more information regarding the difference between purifiers and filters, and several more photos. We also made sure our product list is up-to-date with current models, technology, and designs.
This water filter system is the gold standard for many thru-hikers and backpackers across the globe. The Sawyer Squeeze filters down to 0.1 microns, making it effective against bacteria and protozoa (thus, slightly more effective and safer than other filters).
It has a great flow rate and comes with a kit to attach to a hydration bladder as well. Thanks to the combination of price and weight, it earns the distinction as the best backpacking water filter.
The Sawyer Squeeze has over 1,000 five-star ratings. Top feedback from customers includes the ultralight trail weight, the ease of use (specifically the reusable roll-up squeeze pouch), and the durability over time.
Many customers love that there are no annoying tubes — you just screw the filter onto the squeeze bag or a bottle (Smartwater bottles work best), and drink. For overall ease of use and durability, this filter has earned its place at the top of the list.
The LifeStraw Personal is one of the most consistently high-rated water filters of all time. The simple straw-style filter uses a hollow-fiber membrane that filters out bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics down to 0.2 microns (the standard for water filters). It’s also the lightest on the market at 2 ounces and costs only $20.
That said, it’s only good for drinking water directly from the source and doesn’t work for filtering larger quantities into bottles, so it definitely has its limitations. For long-distance backpacking, you’ll probably need a secondary water filtration method. But it’s a great budget pick and solid option for emergency kits, backpacking, hiking, bugout bags, or international travel.
The LifeStraw works great, whether you’re going on a day hike or a month-long backcountry excursion. Our reviewers especially liked how easy it is to pack and carry, and we appreciate the clear taste on output.
For the ultra-minimalist, or the backpacker who wants an easy-to-use option they can pull straight from an outer pocket of their pack, the LifeStraw Personal is a must-have.
To justify taking anything on an extended thru-hike it needs to be dependable, lightweight, and durable enough to last for months of torture. Today, you usually see one of two popular filters being used by long-distance hikers going the length of trails like the PCT and AT: the Sawyer Squeeze or the Katadyn BeFree.
One of the authors of this guide has taken the BeFree on three different thru-hikes across America, and has nothing but praise for this tiny ultralight wonder. At 2.3 ounces it barely registers in your pack, has a lifespan of 1,000 L, and a flow rate of 2 liters per minute, bumping it just ahead of the Squeeze and many others in the flow department.
Its 0.1-micron microfilter allows you to confidently gulp down any water you encounter on a long trail (though the murky cow troughs in New Mexico on the CDT did have our tester filtering twice), and the high flow rate means you’re not wasting a bunch of energy just to get a sip in. The wide mouth of the flexible flask allows it to fill up in just a couple of scoops, and you can clean the filter by simply swishing water around in the flask.
It’s not flawless, though. First, it isn’t as versatile as the Squeeze in that it won’t fit over standard water bottle mouths (this isn’t an issue if you plan to just use the included flask). Second, it tends to clog a little faster in filthy water than other filters, including the Squeeze.
Those gripes aside, this is still the top pick for hundreds of long-distance hikers, and for good reason. If you’re looking for an ultralight filter with a solid flow rate for long adventures, don’t pass the BeFree 0.6L by.
If you really don’t want to sacrifice weight for a filter, chemical treatment is a great option. Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets have been a top choice over the years, thanks to their purifying powers and easy-to-use instructions.
Some claim there is a slight aftertaste, although we like these much better than other chemical treatments. Also, many users agree that 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.
For backpacking trips, you can use tablets in the evening to ensure that you have clean water for the next day. These are also great options for trips where you’re operating out of a backcountry base camp for side excursions. Most filters have the potential to fail, so having a few of these tablets stashed away for emergencies is smart.
Gravity filters use the force of gravity to pull water through the filter. For that reason, they’re extremely user-friendly. Just fill it with dirty water, hang it, and come back in a few minutes to find filtered water waiting in another container.
They work great for larger groups or when you want to filter a lot of water all at once. They’re also quite light, given their speed and ease of use.
At just 6.8 ounces, the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter is the lightest gravity filter on this list. The Katadyn BeFree filters 3 L at a time and comes with a quick-connect output hose to easily fill multiple bottles, pots, or bladders.
It also doesn’t require common filter maintenance like backflushing. Similar to the Sawyer Squeeze, the flow rate is great, and because the bag rolls down, it’s fairly packable.
It came in behind the Sawyer Squeeze overall, largely because it’s more expensive. For those who don’t mind spending a little more or are traveling as a bigger group in the backcountry, this is definitely one of the best backpacking water filters available. It’s proven itself over many backpacking and hunting trips in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
The Katadyn BeFree system can filter smaller particles down to 0.1 microns. The majority of reviewers love that it’s both easy to use and clean.
For more info, check out our full review of the Katadyn BeFree Gravity Filter.
Water filters aren’t just great for backpacking and hiking, but can keep you feeling healthy and fresh while road-tripping or traveling abroad. A few of the options below are great for both!
Below are some of our top choices for travel water filters, whether your adventures take you overlanding, RVing, on day trips, or on international adventures.
The GRAYL GEOPRESS uses electroabsorption and activated carbon to purify water. Simply fill, press down, and drink. It is that fast. (And yes, the convenience, fast filter time, and quality of this filter make it worth the $100.)
This is truly the best if you’re drinking from really sketchy, off-grid water sources or want a filter for backpacking that isn’t a bladder and hose system. The GRAYL protects against heavy metals, chemicals, and viruses in addition to common protozoa and bacteria.
We’ve tested this filter abroad and love it for international travel. It’s ideal for when you want to filter all tap water before drinking, and it works wonderfully as a constant companion to keep you hydrated on the go.
We’ve also used it backpacking and thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail. For one or two people, this bottle is an awesome purification method.
We love its fast flow rate of 5 L per minute (under 30 seconds to get clean water). The top complaint is its size (though it’s not any bulkier than a Nalgene). Also, the replacement cartridges are expensive and need to be replaced every 250 L.
Read our full GearJunkie review for more info on these unique purifiers.
Sleek, lightweight, and thoughtfully designed, the newly minted LifeStraw Go Series filter bottle is ready for a rowdy road trip across Mexico, or a casual day on the river. Its streamlined, stylish design joins forces with a 0.2-micron filter and 4,000 L lifespan to deliver a hard-working portable filter that’s equally at home on trail, or around town.
Muted and flashy colorways abound for whatever your vibe might be, and the quick-release top handle protects the nozzle, allowing it to be carried around with ease. It’s crafted with surprisingly quality materials for such an affordable model, and has a premium, top-shelf feel. While we love the ability to swiftly unscrew the top handle and snag a quick slurp, we found it can sometimes pop off when we don’t want it to, as it’s only screwed on by a couple of threads.
At $45, this is one of your best bets for a budget filter bottle. It uses the same type of hollow-fiber filter as the original LifeStraw but seamlessly incorporates it into a BPA-free plastic bottle, that’s now made from 50% recycled plastic. The filter straw takes a bit of a suck initially, but soon flows with ease, and has a phenomenally natural taste to it. We do wish it extended a bit lower into the bottle, as we regularly have to pour out a few milliliters of unfiltered liquid — which is a bit deflating on a backpacking trip.
The 22-ounce bottle is a solid alternative option to the straw if you won’t be near water sources as frequently. The activated carbon filter reduces chlorine, organic chemical matter, and odors for a better taste than other filters we tried, making it a fine bottle to tote around on daily outings.
Similar to the original LifeStraw, we love that this bottle is quick and simple to use. It’s even easier than just the straw, as the bottle provides a way to carry and store water when you aren’t near a source. We also dig the approachable price point.
The CrazyCap bottle uses UVC light to filter water and even took home an Innovation Award at the 2020 Outdoor Retailer trade show. Initial reviewers like the bottle’s design and the great-tasting water on output.
The 17-ounce purifier bottle is well-suited for those who travel often and want clean water but don’t want to pack filters or treatment tablets in their luggage. We also love that, unlike plastic, this stainless steel bottle is insulated and keeps water colder for longer.
The UVC light not only protects against viruses and bacteria but 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.
If you’re looking for an option that doesn’t involve filters or maintenance (aside from charging), this bottle is a nice choice.
While RapidPure is a newer brand, this bottle made our list due to its construction and convenience. The RapidPure Purifier+ Bottle is a purifier, meaning it protects against viruses, protozoa, and bacteria, making it suitable for traveling virtually anywhere.
It uses replaceable cartridges with both activated carbon and electroabsorption technology to filter out particles 100 times smaller than the standard 0.2 microns.
This bottle protects against everything, has a great flow rate, and we love how easy it is to use. But the extra $17 for each replacement cartridge makes it a pricier choice. And we found the plastic cap and shape — especially the base — a bit bulky.
A newer filter system on the market is the small and packable Platypus QuickDraw. We tested it for several months last year (and plan to use it a lot more this year) and love its low weight, packable size, and good filter rate.
The QuickDraw’s hollow fiber filter component and 1-liter plastic reservoir come in at just 3.3 ounces. The dual-thread design is awesome and allows you to screw the filter onto both the reservoir or a threaded plastic bottle (like a Smart bottle).
We found it super easy to use and backflush, and we experienced a good flow rate. The filter is good for 1,000 liters before it needs a replacement.
Factoring in the size, weight, and price, this filter nearly made it higher on the list. But the Sawyer Squeeze filters down to 0.1 microns — slightly better than the QuickDraw’s 0.2 microns — for a few bucks less. Overall, the Quickdraw is still one of the best backpacking water filters you can buy.
To learn more, check out our in-depth review of the Platypus QuickDraw.
The Katadyn Hiker has been one of our long-time favorites for its great price and performance in the long run. Several users found it can last for 2 to 6 years before having to replace the filter.
The Katadyn Hiker filters down to 0.2 microns for bacteria, protozoa, microplastics, and chemicals.
Hundreds of users have commented on how well this filter works and how long it lasts. We’ve also found it to work great in subpar conditions (think freezing temps and murky water).
A few reviewers did note, however, that the bulkiness is a downside, and some prefer the quality of the newer model, the Katadyn Hiker Pro ($100). Regardless of which model you choose, the Hiker filter performs great, and the price is right.
We put the new LifeStraw Peak Series — a personal straw filter, squeeze filter, and gravity filter — to the test this spring. The Peak Series Personal Straw Filter and Squeeze Filter turned out to work great for filtering water at various sources in the backcountry.
The personal Peak Series filter worked extremely well and had a good flow rate. After 20+ years of LifeStraw being on market, it was nice to finally see a big upgrade in materials and design.
The new design is comfortable, easy to use, durable, and easy to clean and backflush. If you’ve used a LifeStraw filter before and are maybe looking to replace it, we definitely recommend the Peak Series version.
The LifeStraw Squeeze Filter also performed well in testing, though not as much as others on our list. It’s modular, so while it has the filter incorporated inside the squeeze pouch, you can also move it to the outside (and swap out the cap) if filling bottles or not drinking directly from the filter. Both are a great price.
Check out our full GearJunkie review of the Peak Gravity 3L and Peak Squeeze filters.
This gravity water filter has won a spot on our list for the second year in a row. Why? The Platypus is good for when you need water for more than just drinking (straw filters are great, but not for filtering several liters of water at a time).
The Platypus GravityWorks system is easy to use and makes filtering significant amounts of water at base camp a cinch. It’s also a great filter choice for car camping along rivers or lakes.
Although this gravity filter is a different style, we found the disconnecting shutoff valves and flow system easy to learn — and reliable as well.
The system also can clog, so this filter requires pretty good cleaning and maintenance.
With an easy-to-fill 10L reservoir and a 1 L per 2 minutes flow rate (which MSR claims is 2.5 times faster than the competition), the new Guardian Gravity Purifier takes technology designed for the military and brings it to groups of backcountry explorers.
The purifier meets NSF P248 testing standards, removing bacteria, protozoa, pathogens, and viruses through the 0.02-micron hollow fiber media. With an activated carbon component, it also pulls out chemicals, tastes, and odors.
MSR’s 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 is ideal, and the bottle adapter fits a range of sizes to allow the filling of separate water bottles or a larger container with the entire 10 liters.
This new purifier is up there as one of the best backpacking water filters for larger groups. With no backflushing required and a mesh carrying case, teardown is quick and easy.
If you’re going where there are no trees for hanging, this could be tricky. Also, at over a pound, it really only works for larger groups where you can split up the load.
Read our full review of the MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier.
MSR makes a few pump filters, but this one is our favorite. The MSR MiniWorks EX protects against bacteria, protozoa, heavy chemicals, and particulates. One of our favorite features of this filter is the fact that it’s compatible with both dromedary bags and Nalgene bottles, so you can easily attach and pump into your drinking vessel.
The filter is ceramic, meaning you clean it over time instead of replacing it (although you may need to replace the tubing). Some users also noted an issue with pressure building up in the filter chamber, causing the flow rate to slow. If you don’t mind pumping, this is still a good filter option.
The MSR MiniWorks is the heaviest filter out of the ones we considered, though, and you’ll have to clean it often.
This gravity filter won a spot on this list for its price and lighter weight — just 6.9 ounces. The LifeStraw Flex Gravity filters down to 0.2 microns and protects against bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics (not viruses).
It’s also versatile. You can use it as a personal straw, as a gravity filter for groups, or screw it into a standard plastic bottle or bladder. It’s great for solo or group multisport adventures.
The flow rate is slower than advertised, and some users had issues with the seal on the bag. And while the hollow-fiber part of this filter is good for up to 2,000 L, the carbon filter portion only lasts 100 L (so you’ll need to buy replacements).
The Guardian filters out nearly everything (including viruses), has an excellent flow rate, and even self-backflushes during use. For most people and places, however, it’s downright overkill.
If you’re setting up for a serious adventure that requires filtering a lot of very sketchy water, you may want to consider forking over the cash.
The Guardian can filter a hefty 2.3L per minute and physically removes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and particulates, including hepatitis A, E. coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, and more. Just be ready to lug a large item that weighs in at over a pound.
The MSR Guardian is probably one of the best backpacking water filters on the market. So why didn’t it top the list? Well, in two words, price and weight. It costs a pretty penny at $390 and weighs considerably more than other filters.
Check out our full review of the MSR Guardian.
UV filters are popular for a lot of reasons. They don’t require pumping or filtering, and the wait time to kill bacteria and viruses is fairly short (between 60 and 90 seconds).
The SteriPEN made this list for its low trail weight, ease of use, and long lifetime. (The SteriPEN lasts for up to 8,000 treatments.) It’s also very small and packable, which makes it great for quick outings where you don’t want to carry extra water.
The downside is this pen is expensive and runs on batteries, which you’ll need to remember to pack for the trail.
Check out our full review of the SteriPEN Adventurer.
The GearJunkie team is made up of adventurers from a plethora of different outdoor sports and activities, but each of their hobbies requires a central discipline: proper water filtration in the backcountry. It’s key to survival, and if done poorly, can quickly put you in a dangerous situation.
Managing editor Mary Murphy curated our initial selection of 14 filters back in May 2020. A prolific backpacker, Mary knows the value of a reliable filter for constant, dependable hydration in the backcountry. Author and Senior Editor Chris Carter took over this guide in August 2022, and has been digging through his gear closet and scouring the internet ever since to bring you the most current, deserving selection possible.
Chris has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails, (the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail) and continues to pursue long-distance hiking around the world. Significant time backpacking and hitchhiking around East Africa forced him to purify water of the grimiest sorts, and made him religiously fastidious in his hydration practices. He’s suffered from his fair share of water-born pathogens, and will only rely on the best of the best to filter his fluids on any adventure.
For this guide, we carefully scrutinized the most reliable, functional water filters that outdoor enthusiasts from all ends of the spectrum depend on in the wild. We brought each of these filters on adventures and made sure that we would feel comfortable with all of them as our primary means of accruing filtered water in the field.
Water filters and water purifiers work in similar ways, but it’s helpful to know the difference when choosing. Filters protect against protozoa or parasites (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) as well as bacteria (like E. coli or salmonella), microplastics, dirt, and debris. Bacteria is the main concern when you’re drinking out of unsafe water sources in the backcountry or remote areas. Popular filters include the Sawyer Squeeze and the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter.
Purifiers go an extra step by protecting against and filtering out viruses. This is more of a concern when you’re traveling internationally or to rural places where clean water may not be accessible. Products like the MSR Guardian and GRAYL GEOPRESS Bottle will purify your water while also filtering out larger debris, while purifiers like the SteriPEN Adventurer use UV light to purify water, but won’t clear the water of visible dirt and sediment. You can run the water through a bandana or t-shirt first before using these types of purifiers to clean out the biggest particles.
For truly heinous dirty/stagnant water, it can be wise to use a number of different methods to make certain you don’t get sick. Some will filter their water with something like the Platypus QuickDraw, and then boil it, add a purification tablet like Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets, or add a couple of drops of bleach to ensure everything is killed. This can be time-consuming, and make the water taste interesting, but it’s far better than catching a trip-ending sickness in the wilderness.
There are a variety of different types of backpacking water filters, and we cover a broad range of them in this guide. Each one has its place in the backcountry, and which type you choose will depend on how clear the water will be on your adventure, how lightweight you are trying to go, and if you are traveling internationally.
These filters use gravity to pull water from a dirty bag, through a filter, and into a clean bag or directly into your mouth. These are often the easiest filters to use as you simply hook it up to a tree branch or tent and wait. These are usually heavier and take some time to set up, so aren’t the best options for fast and light missions. They tend to work best for large groups or to keep around a base camp.
Gravity filters allow you to keep a large amount of water handy, but they can be difficult to fill up in shallow water sources, so keep that in mind when choosing a campsite. We found the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter to be one of the best options for large group trips.
Inline filters are often used in gravity systems, but they can also be paired with a hydration pouch or water bottle for quick use. Filters such as the ubiquitous Sawyer Squeeze or the Platypus QuickDraw can be used in this way. These generally rely on the user sucking the water from a pouch or water bottle, through the filter, directly into their mouth. With the correct adapters, several models of inline filters can be used with a hydration pack you may already be carrying, offering easy filtration without adding much weight.
While we don’t recommend them as your primary method of water filtration in the wild, straw filters are undeniably one of the easiest ways of procuring fresh water fast. Our favorite budget filter, the LifeStraw Personal, fits this bill. These are great for trail running, mountain biking, or as a backup to your primary filter. These filters allow you to get down and dirty by a stream or lake and drink directly from the source by sipping the water through the filter like a straw.
The main downside to straw filters is that they don’t offer any way to carry filtered water with you, unless you can fit the straw into a water bottle of dirty water you are carrying with you, which can be really annoying. It can also get frustrating having to practically lie down on muddy or rocky banks to get a drink any time you get thirsty. These filters suffice for day hikes, but you’ll probably want something different for any extended backpacking trip.
Pump filters, such as the MSR MiniWorks, work great for pulling water out of shallow pools or creeks and can be a solid choice for small backpacking groups. They tend to run on the heavy side, take a little more effort to use, and can be quite complicated to clean. For these reasons, you don’t see as many pump filters in the backcountry as you used to, but they do still have their place.
In some cases, as with the MSR Guardian, pump filters do a better job at purifying truly nasty water, by removing viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, such as E. coli, giardia, and cryptosporidium. Something to consider a little more seriously while adventuring internationally.
Water filter bottles are handy to have for traveling, road-tripping, or light hiking, but are often on the heavy side for dedicated lightweight backpacking trips. Some of these bottles, like the LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle, filter water with a simple hollow-fiber straw that extends from the nozzle into the water, while others use fancier technology to deliver a pure, fresh swig.
The GRAYL GEOPRESS uses electroabsorption and activated carbon to purify water by simply pressing it firmly on the ground, while the CrazyCap bottle uses UVC light to remove viruses and bacteria. These aren’t your average Nalgenes! Check out our in-depth review of the GEOPRESS if you want to nerd out a little more.
Finally, purifying your water chemically, or with UV light, is another simple way to target viruses that may be present in a water source, as opposed to just bacteria and protozoa. Chemical purifiers use iodine or chlorine dioxide to deal with contaminated water, while UV purifiers employ ultraviolet rays. Some backpackers will also use bleach to treat their water (two drops per liter, then wait 30 minutes). This is a super simple solution but does leave your water tasting, well, somewhat like a pool.
We like Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets for chemical treatment, as they tend to leave a more subtle aftertaste compared to other brands. The SteriPEN Adventurer has been our go-to UV filter for its long lifespan and light weight.
This is a great way to purify your water more effectively, but since these don’t have filters with them, it’s important to use them with clear water that doesn’t have a lot of debris in it. Chemical or UV purifiers are lightweight and simple, but should probably not be used as your primary method of filtration on a backpacking trip. It’s hard to get filtered water fast, they can leave an unsavory aftertaste, and sometimes rely on batteries and electronics (in the case of UV purifiers). Since they are so light, however, it’s always a good idea to have them as a backup.
Our picks for best water filters vary widely in terms of how quickly they can filter water, ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes to 4 hours (chemical treatments). Types of filters and methods of purifying will play a part, as will flow rate.
Flow rate is a unit that measures how quickly a certain amount of water can be filtered. Flow rates for gravity, pump, or squeeze filters listed here vary anywhere from 1L to 3L per minute. If you are encountering a slow flow rate with your filter, it may require priming or backflushing.
Similar to needing to prime a stove, some water filters require priming before initial use. Check the instructions (it varies by filter) on how to do this. Backflushing is a process where you need to clean water out of the filter system after use. This mainly applies to filters with pumps, tubes, or tubing, and it ensures that the inside of the filter stays dry and clean.
Another consideration here is location: if you are going to be traveling through a desert landscape, there may be few to no trees (a necessity to hang some gravity filters properly). For that type of setting, a different style of filter would be best.
And if you are going to be traveling with a companion or group, the personal LifeStraw filter obviously won’t be the best option (although we love it as a backup!).
This is an important point for ultralight setups and lightweight backpackers. You’ll want to choose a filter that works best for you and how much water you’ll need, but one that can also fit in your pack.
Filters like the Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree are popular because the actual filter unit is so small, and the weight is close to nothing. The Sawyer Squeeze weighs just a couple of ounces, while the Katadyn weighs 6.8 ounces (but remember, it can filter up to 3 L of water at a time).
Filter systems that have water reservoirs and tubing also roll and pack down fairly small. Our personal preference on group trips is a gravity filter system, whereas on solo trips — though they weigh slightly more — our preference is a water bottle filter/purifier, given that we always carry a 1L bottle anyway.
The lifespan of a filter greatly depends on its filter method (cartridge, hollow membrane, chemical, or UV light). Backpacking water filters can last anywhere from 250 to 4,000 L. Cleaning your filter regularly using the methods that the manufacturer recommends will also help prolong the life of your filter.
Filters that use a cartridge tend to last anywhere from 200 to 500 L before you need to replace the cartridge. On the other hand, with other filters that last longer, you may need to replace the entire unit at the end of its life. The LifeStraw is an example of this; it can filter around 4,000 L, and then it will stop working and need to be replaced.
For UV methods like the CrazyCap filter bottle and SteriPENs, they’ll last forever as long as you charge or continue to replace the batteries (barring any damage, of course).
The best way to clean your water when backpacking is to use and find the cleanest water source possible. You’ll want to look for clear, running water — somewhere between a babbling brook and a rushing river.
Avoid stagnant ponds or areas where there might be runoff (from livestock, urban areas, etc.) or debris. You’ll also want to find a safe place to refill, pump, or hang your gravity filter.
With some filtering methods, like chemical filters and tablets, you’ll want to wait longer to ensure that the water is clean if it’s below a certain temperature (or cloudy).
Filters most commonly use a tube, pump, or gravity method of filtering. Purifiers use a combination of a tube or chamber with activated carbon or another chemical component to fight against one key difference: viruses.
All of the choices on this list protect against at least bacteria and protozoa, and many also protect against things like toxins, chemicals, and viruses. We recommend choosing the one that will work best based on your situation, budget, and preference.
The lifespan of a filter largely depends on the type of filter. Most hollow fiber or activated charcoal cartridges will need to be replaced every couple hundred uses, or after a certain number of liters have been filtered. Some filters, like the LifeStraw, can last for years, but when it’s run its course you’ll need to buy a new one.
There are also some filters and purifiers that just need new batteries or to be charged.
Yes! Purifiers like the Grayl Geopress Purifier are built especially to filter and protect against everything you could encounter, whether in the backcountry or in a developing country.
As long as you are following the instructions on your filter or purifier, it will protect against whatever it’s rated for (usually something like 99.999999% of bacteria and 99.999% of parasites and microorganisms).
Our top two considerations when buying gear like this are always: (1) how often we will be using it, and (2) price. Another important factor for many is how long a filter will last. If you backpack or hike 9-12 months out of the year, you probably want to drop more money on a filter that has a longer lifespan.
When all else fails, you can boil water to be safe. But let’s be honest, having a water filter on hand is much better.
We tested the best insulated water bottles for 2023 with options for every budget. Top picks include YETI, Hydro Flask, and more!
The right stove makes life on the trail better. From ultralight canisters to four-season and multifuel options, we’ve found and tested the best backpacking stoves.
Mary Murphy is the Managing Editor of GearJunkie. She has been writing about hiking, running, climbing, camping, skiing, and more for seven years, and has been on staff at GearJunkie since 2019. Prior to that, Mary wrote for 5280 Magazine in Denver while working as an outdoor instructor teaching climbing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and mountain biking. Based in Denver, Colorado, Murphy is an avid hiker, runner, backpacker, skier, yogi, and pack-paddleboarder. Mary also serves as the leader of AllGear Digital’s DEI Committee.
Based in beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chris Carter is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie, while squeezing in side gigs as an adventure filmmaker and content creator in the outdoor industry. Drawing from his childhood in Africa, experience as a rock climbing and backpacking guide, ultra-marathon running, and years of extensive thru-hiking, he’s passionate about journalism that gets people into the wild. He has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails in America: the Pacific Crest Trail (2018), the Continental Divide Trail (2021), and the Appalachian Trail (2021), and has explored, rock-climbed, and backpacked all over the world. He hopes to spread his love of adventure and travel through his writing, art, and videography.
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