undoubtedbest Best Backpacking Water Filters for outdoor excursions
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Best Backpacking Water Filters for outdoor excursions

Published In Outdoors and Sports & Fitness

We review Backpacking Water Filters for outdoor and provide a buying guide to help you choose the right one for you next outdoor trip. Because clean water is essential for outdoor excursions but carrying a lot of it can weigh you down.

Recommendations

 

Whether you are backpacking, cycling, camping, hiking or doing any other outdoor activity, you need to make sure that you have enough and clean water to drink. 

While finding a source of water is easy with proper planning, getting clean and safe water can be a little hectic. But, it does not have to be hectic if you have a good backpacking water filter.

A backpacking water filter is a compact and portable device that helps you filter or purify water to make it safe for drinking. 

The size makes it very convenient to carry around as it does not add any significant weight to your backpack. But, the best thing about it is that it gets rid of all those nasty and harmful pathogens and bacteria in the water. 

See also: Best Packing Cubes for Backpacking to carry more things

And because there are many types of these filters from different manufacturers, we help you choose the best ones with our detailed shopping guide and reviews.

Here's our picks

Our Pick

01

Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter System by Sawyer Products

Our Pick

Pros

  • Lightweight and highly portable
  • Compatible with standard water bottles
  • Highly affordable filter
  • Comes with a free squeeze pouch and drinking straw
  • Available in various colors to suit your taste

Cons

A relatively slower flow rate.
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Despite this being the cheapest item on our reviews it is still out top pick thanks to its convenience.

It is a lightweight and highly portable water filter that is very versatile as you can use it to drink directly from the water source or squeeze the water into a bottle.

It comes with both the squeeze pouch and drinking straw.

This highly affordable water filter is compatible with the standard disposable water bottles and it is available in various colors to ensure that you get something that suits your tastes.

Besides being a highly affordable water filter, it is still quite effective in getting rid of pathogens.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter System, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon



Also Great

02

Survivor Filter PRO 3-Stage Filter by Survivor Filter

Pros

  • Triple filtration design
  • A relatively faster flow rate
  • Built from a tough ABS shell for long-lasting service
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Backed by a lifetime warranty

Cons

It is a little weighty and bulky.
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When you think that you will have to filter a lot of water when on your outdoor excursions this will be a great water filter for you.

It is made from a tough ABS material to ensure that it can withstand the outdoor abuse, and it is a straightforward filter to set up and use.

This filter is designed with triple filtration to ensure it can get rid of all kinds of pathogens, virus and heavy metal.

Also, it has a relatively fast flow rate as it can deliver up to half a liter ever minute. Also, it is one of the few that come with a lifetime warranty.

This is the best choice when you want a water filter for filtering a lot of water.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Survivor Filter PRO 3-Stage Filter, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon



03

LifeStraw Family 1.0 Gravity Powered Water Filter by LifeStraw

Pros

  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Easy to use even first time owners
  • Made from high-quality and both BPA and chemical free materials
  • Does not give water an aftertaste or weird smell
  • Proven to get rid of most bacteria, viruses, and pathogens
  • Long service life

Cons

Slower flow rate.
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Gravity powered water filters like this one from LifeStraw are easy and convenient to use, and this is what makes them a great buy.

This one is tested and proven to get rid of most viruses and bacteria to ensure that you always end up with clean and safe water.

It is also made from high-quality but BPA and chemical-free materials, and it will not give the water an aftertaste or annoying odor.

And it will filter up to 18,000 liters which is enough water for a family of four to drink for up to 3 years.

If you prefer the ease of use and speed of gravity water filters, here is a great one for you.

For more about LifeStraw Family 1.0 Gravity Powered Water Filter, check out customer reviews on Amazon. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

04

Survivor Filter Virus Tested 0.05 Micron Portable Water Filter by Survivor Filter

Best Value

Pros

  • Replaceable filters for long lasting service
  • Three stage filtration for even cleaners and safer water
  • Protective mouthpiece helps to keep bacteria out
  • Ultra-lightweight and portable
  • Improved water tastes and smell
  • It will screw into most canteens and water bottles
  • Comes with both money back guarantee and lifetime warranty

Cons

Flow rate seems to slow with every liter your filter.
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Here is another compact and ultra-lightweight filter that will be very handy on your outdoor excursions.

It has three stages of filtration to help ensure that you get rid of all the pathogens and it uses replaceable filters to make it highly long lasting.

This filter will improve both the taste and odor of the water, and it comes with a protective mouthpiece to help keep bacteria out. And it is made from a heavy-duty ABS shell to ensure maximum durability.

This is a great filter that does not cost much to buy but still offers excellent service.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Survivor Filter Virus Tested 0.05 Micron Portable Water Filter, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

05

Platypus GravityWorks 4-Liter Complete Water Filter Kit by Platypus

Pros

  • High-capacity filtration system
  • No-pumping required
  • Includes reservoirs for both dirty and clean water
  • Faster flow rate
  • Antimicrobial and BPA-free system
  • Water will not have an aftertaste

Cons

A little pricier.
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With this Platypus backpacking water filter, you will get up to 1.75 liters of water every minute which makes this very useful not only for drinking water but also for other domestic uses.

And since this is a gravity-fed system, you will not need to do any pumping.

The system includes 4-liter reservoirs for both dirty and clean water and it uses replaceable cartridge filters for enhanced durability.

With this water filter, there will not be an aftertaste on the water and it is also both antimicrobial and BPA-free.

If you want a filter that delivers a lot of clean water within a relatively short time, this is what you need to buy.

If you’re interested in reading customer reviews of Platypus GravityWorks 4-Liter Complete Water Filter Kit, you should check from Amazon Now. If this is what you're looking, Check current price and Buy Now on Amazon

What to Look for When buying

You cannot afford to go wrong with your choice of backpacking water filters as this means you can end up taking unsafe water which can come with adverse effects. 

Hence, it is vital to know what to consider when it comes to picking these water filters. 

Below are some of the key factors you need to watch out for. 

Type of Water Filter

The first factor to always consider when it comes to buying a backpacking water filter is the types as there are quite a number of options. 

However, the most common ones are straw, pump, and gravity. Each of these types has some merits and drawbacks that you should understand before making your choice. 

For instance, the straw water filters are light and straightforward to use but they will not be useful when you want to filter and store large quantities of water.

Size and Weight

Size and weight matter a lot when it comes to choosing these water filters as you do not want something that will add unnecessary weight to your pack or become awkward to carry. 

But, also note that the most effective filters can be a little weighty because they have several components that work together to ensure maximum efficiency.

Flow Rate

The flow rate or speed of the filter is vital as it determines how much water you can get. 

And to simply state it, the higher the flow rate the better as this means you will be able to filter more water within a short time and in turn fill up your water bottles faster. 

Gravity water filters tend to be the fastest as some models can filter close to 2 liters every minute. 

Conclusion

A water filter is an essential component of every outdoor excursions trip, and so it is vital to make sure that you always have the best. By considering factors like the flow rate, size, and weight, getting a good one should be easy. 

As for our recommendations, the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter System is the best overall and the Platypus GravityWorks 4-Liter Complete Water Filter Kit is a good buy when you want something with a large capacity and fast flow rate.

See also: Best Backpack Rain Covers to get for backpacking or trekking in wet weather

Buy Now

01 Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter System image large Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter System
by Sawyer Products
Besides being a highly affordable water filter, it is still quite effective in getting rid of pathogens. Buy now on Amazon
02 Survivor Filter PRO 3-Stage Filter image large Survivor Filter PRO 3-Stage Filter
by Survivor Filter
This is the best choice when you want a water filter for filtering a lot of water. Buy now on Amazon
03 LifeStraw Family 1.0 Gravity Powered Water Filter image large LifeStraw Family 1.0 Gravity Powered Water Filter
by LifeStraw
If you prefer the ease of use and speed of gravity water filters, here is a great one for you. Buy now on Amazon
04 Survivor Filter Virus Tested 0.05 Micron Portable Water Filter image large Survivor Filter Virus Tested 0.05 Micron Portable Water Filter
by Survivor Filter
This is a great filter that does not cost much to buy but still offers excellent service. Buy now on Amazon
05 Platypus GravityWorks 4-Liter Complete Water Filter Kit image large Platypus GravityWorks 4-Liter Complete Water Filter Kit
by Platypus
If you want a filter that delivers a lot of clean water within a relatively short time, this is what you need to buy. Buy now on Amazon
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