Updated September 2, 2024
As you enjoy the exhilaration of backpacking you can’t ignore the effects of the exertion on your body. Keeping hydrated with clean, healthy liquids is paramount. Carrying a large supply with you can increase the burden substantially thereby increasing the energy expended. To kill two birds with one stone, many backpackers use a lightweight water filter that can eliminate the risk of bacteria, parasites, and in some cases even viruses that can really take you down, compromising your health. At the same time, a filter allows you to decrease the load of liquids you need to carry.
There has been a lot of technological development recently that has resulted in a marketplace filled with a variety of effective water filters suitable for backpacking. To help sort through that array, some of the best have been selected as an introduction. To begin there is a comparison table, followed by descriptions, specifications and features, pros, cons, photos, videos, and a basic buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Best Backpacking Water Filter Reviews
- Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System
- Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle
- Katadyn BeFree Water Filter
- Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Filter
- LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
- Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration System
- Aquamira Frontier Max Water Filter System
- Steripen Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier
Backpacking Water Filter Comparison Table
| Picture | Water Filter | Weight Filter Action | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System | 11.5 Oz Gravity | 4.6 | $$$ |
  | Grayl Ultralite Water Purifier Bottle | 10.9 Oz Press, Bottle | 4.3 | $$ |
  | Katadyn BeFree Water Filter | 2.6 Oz Squeeze, Bottle | 4.0 | $ |
  | Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Filter | 11 Oz Pump | 4.2 | $$ |
  | LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle | 8.6 Oz Bottle | 4.2 | $ |
  | Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration System | 2 Oz Straw, Squeeze | 4.4 | $ |
  | Aquamira Frontier Max Water Filter System | 7 Oz Gravity | 4.2 | $ |
  | Steripen Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier | 3.8 Oz UV Light | 4.0 | $$ |
| Picture | Water Filter | Weight Filter Action | Rating | Price |
Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System
The gravity system requires no pumping and can turn 4 liters of dirty water scooped from a stream or lake into drinkable clean water in 2.5 minutes.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking
- Weight: 11.5 ounces
- Filter Type: gravity
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa
- Output: 1.75 liters/minute
- Capacity: 4 liters (also comes in a 6-liter version)
- Microfilter lifetime up to 1,500 liters
- Field-cleanable – backflushes in 4 seconds
- Includes one 4-liter dirty water reservoir and one 4-liter clean water reservoir, hollow-fiber microfilter, shut-off clamp for on-demand control, storage bag
- Warranty: limited lifetime
- Price: $$$
- Rating: 4.6
Pros: convenient, no pumping, filters quickly, fairly large capacity, can supply for groups, shut-off clamp to change easily to another clean-water reservoir, packs small
Cons: a bit expensive, slightly heavy
Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle
It includes a water bottle with a purifier system inside that removes a wide array of pathogens including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, along with chemicals, pesticides, microplastics, and chemicals.
Pressing a plunger, it takes 15 seconds to produce 16 ounces of safe drinking water.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, travel, emergency kits
- Weight: 10.9 ounces
- Filter Type: press, bottle
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa, viruses
- Output: 2 liters/minute
- Capacity: 16 ounces (473 ml)
- Purifier cartridge is replaceable and rated for 150 liters (40 gallons)/300 uses before requiring replacement
- Warranty: 10-year limited
- Price: $$
- Rating: 4.3
Pros: convenient, filters quickly, compact, durable plastic bottle
Cons: takes some effort to press, a bit heavy, water with too much sediment may be difficult to process
Simply fill it from a water source, tilt it, and squeeze it to drink the water filtered of protozoa and bacteria.
Easy to clean by swishing and shaking water through the membrane, the filtering rate is 2 liters per minute with a 1,000-liter lifetime for the filter.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, hiking, running
- Weight: 2.6 ounces
- Filter Type: squeeze, bottle
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa
- Output: 2 liters/minute
- Capacity: 1 liter (collapsible flask)
- Filter tested to 1,000 liters
- Easy to clean membrane through swishing or shaking, no back-flushing necessary
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Price: $
- Rating: 4.0
Pros: ultralight, low-priced, easy to stow, filters quickly
Cons: questionable durability of the soft flask
Katadyn Hiker Pro Water Filter
You can choose the reservoir and a convenient bottle adapter is provided.
The transparent housing lets you see the action and state of the filter and there’s a field maintenance kit that makes it easy to clean and service.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking
- Weight: 11 ounces
- Filter Type: pump
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa
- Output: 1 liter/minute (48 pump strokes)
- Capacity: depends on the size of the reservoir used
- Field maintenance kit, easy field cleaning
- Includes pre-filter, carry sack, and bottle adapter
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- Price: $$
- Rating: 4.2
Pros: reliable, connects directly to reservoirs, can access hard-to-reach water sources
Cons: a little heavy, labor-intensive pumping
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
Employing two-stage filtration it has a hollow fiber membrane and carbon filter to remove bacteria and protozoa to safe levels. Both components are easily replaceable after significant use, and regular maintenance and cleaning of the mouthpiece and bottle are simple.
A carabiner enables easy attachment to your pack or belt.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, hiking, yoga
- Weight: 8.6 ounces (1-liter model)
- Filter Type: bottle
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa
- Capacity: 1 liter (34 ounces), also available in .65 liters (22 ounces) version
- 2-stage filtration system: hollow-fiber filter membrane lasts up to 4,000 liters (1,000 gallons), carbon filter lasts up to 100 liters (26 gallons) or 3 months
- Includes water bottle, water filter, cap with detachable silicone mouthpiece, carabiner
- Every Lifestraw purchase results in a needy school child receiving safe water for a school year
- Warranty: 3-year limited
- Price: $
- Rating: 4.2
Pros: durable, easy to use and maintain, charity efforts of the manufacturer, low-priced
Cons: not lightweight
Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration System
Use the straw to drink directly from the source or fill the included 32-ounce reusable drinking pouch and immediately drink from that at a natural flow rate.
Protozoa and bacteria are removed to a safe level and a plunger is provided for cleaning the filter after use.
It will last for years with its 100,000-gallon rating.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, hiking
- Weight: 2 ounces
- Filter Type: straw, squeeze
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa
- Capacity: 32 ounces for the reusable squeeze pouch
- Filter rated to 100,000 gallons
- Includes 32-ounce reusable squeeze pouch, drinking straw, cleaning coupling, spare gasket, and cleaning plunger
- Attaches to hydration pack tube and common plastic water bottles with 28mm threads
- Warranty: limited lifetime
- Price: $
- Rating: 4.4
Pros: low-priced, lightweight, compact, rapid flow rate, 100,000-gallon life for the filter
Cons: prone to clogging if there is a lot of sediment
Aquamira Frontier Max Water Filter System
The package includes adapters that connect to a range of hydration reservoirs and it can also be used as a straw filter using the bite valve.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, hiking, international travel
- Weight: 7 ounces
- Filter Type: gravity
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa, viruses
- Output: 16.9 ounces (500 ml)/minute
- Capacity: depends on the size of the reservoir used (includes adapters to any quick connect and a bite valve for use as a straw)
- Certified filtration to 120 gallons (450+ liters)
- 2-button release prevents accidental disconnects
- Warranty: limited lifetime
- Price: $
- Rating: 4.2
Pros: reasonably-priced, compact, can convert to a straw, also removes viruses, durable construction
Cons: fairly slow filtration, especially for sediment-filled source water
Steripen Adventurer Opti UV Water Purifier
Sterilizing up to 1 liter of water in 90 seconds, all you do is push a button and stir it in any water container and then drink. No filter or further treatment is necessary.
Powered by an internal Lithium-ion battery, it is USB rechargeable and can deliver around 50 treatments per charge.
Specs & Features
- Best Use: backpacking, international travel
- Weight: 3.8 ounces
- Filter Type: UV light
- Removes/Eliminates: bacteria, protozoa, viruses
- Output: 16 ounces (.5 liters)/60 seconds, 32 ounces (1 liter)/90 seconds
- Auto turn-off when treatment is complete
- Approximately 50 treatments per charge
- Uses USB rechargeable internal Lithium-ion battery
- 8,000 use lifetime
- Warranty: ask the seller for full details
- Price: $$
- Rating: 4.0
Pros: labor free, removes viruses, compact, suits a variety of water containers
Cons: not cheap, best used with sediment-free water
Backpacking Water Filter Buying Guide
Water filters and purifiers suitable for backpacking are available in numerous forms.
- Straw: This form has a filter attached to a straw that allows you to drink filtered water directly from the source.
- Bottle Filters are located in the cap of a bottle and filter the water as you pour it directly into your mouth.
- Squeeze Filters attach to a bottle or pouch that is soft and pliable enough to squeeze putting some force into the flow of water as it passes through the filter for cleansing.
- Pump or Press Filters: With this type, a pump or press is employed to force source water through a filter. Though easy enough to use it does require a bit more effort than other methods to accomplish. Considered reliable, they tend to be heavy and less compact.
- Gravity Filters: This type positions the source water above the filter and uses gravity for it to pass through. Little effort is involved but it tends to be more time-consuming.
- UV Light: This method employs a battery-powered device to kill or render harmless bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Typically it takes a minute or two to complete the process for a liter or so of water.
- Chemical Purifiers: The two most commonly used historically and still in use today are iodine and chlorine dioxide. Taking at least 15 minutes to effectively purify the water, they do have a bit of a taste but are compact and easy to carry in small containers. They are a convenient choice to use as a backup.
- Boiling for one minute or three minutes when the altitude is above 6,500 feet effectively kills bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. You’ll need a time-consuming fire or stove for heating and a period of cooling. If you’re already cooking, it’s more convenient.
Protozoa, Bacteria & Virus Removal
Most filtration systems can remove harmful protozoa and bacteria. For protection from viruses as well, it takes a higher-tech filter or UV light treatment. Viruses can especially be a concern when traveling to so-called third-world countries. Each model reviewed here has a clear indication of which is removed. Otherwise, chemical treatment or boiling will handle all three, as well.
Weight
Water is heavy. Keeping the amount of weight to haul to a minimum is a primary concern for backpackers, making a filtration or purification system a necessity, especially for longer hikes.
These systems are much more lightweight than drinking water but there is substantial variation in weight between models. Purification tablets and UV systems are compact and lightweight. Generally speaking, the smaller and lighter systems require more time in the filtration and purification process. Look at each model to determine its suitability for your needs weight-wise.
Speed of Purification/Filtering
How fast you can turn source water into safe drinking water is a factor to consider when planning your expedition.
If there are a number of people it can mean a longer period of treatment time. Some methods like the straw or squeeze bottle can take little more time than what it takes to find a source. Pump systems take some effort as well as a bit of time. Gravity systems require a bit of time, too, and if there is substantial sediment, that can also slow down the process. If you are stuck with chemical treatment using iodine or chlorine it takes from 15 minutes to several hours depending on the condition of the water.
Source Water Pre-Filtering
If your source water has a substantial amount of debris, sediment, or silt, pre-filtering may be necessary. This holds true for UV treatment and some filter systems. Sometimes a prefilter is included with the device. Otherwise, the manufacturer provides instructions on what you need to do. It may just be a matter of using a handkerchief or cloth to separate the excess material from the water prior to filtration or purification with your device.
How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier
For more information on hiking and camping gear, please check out these reviews:
Headlamps Night Vision Binoculars Marine Binoculars Backpacking Stoves Backpacking Tarp Shelters Camping Knives Backpacking Tents Backpacking Backpacks Backpacking Sleeping Pads Camping Beds Portable Toilets Bivy Sacks Camping Hammocks Backpacking Sleeping Bags Ultralight Tents SUV Tents 4 Season Tents Truck Tents 4 Person Tents Beach Tents
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