Best Backpacking Water Filter [Reviews, Top Picks & Buying Guide]

You cannot survive without clean water, Right? Nobody can! No matter where you go, you’ll always need clean water. Continue reading to learn about some of the best backpacking water filters.

An effective, top-quality, cost-effective, and reasonably portable filter is a must-have for everyone. A portable filter can alleviate your difficulties because you won’t have to carry water with you or worry about running out of water in the jungle. It’ll make your trip 10x better. Not having to worry about clean water and getting an unlimited water supply is a blessing.

A portable water filter also reduces plastic waste and saves money by eliminating carrying or purchasing numerous water bottles. If you’ve ever had a stomach infection (which we do, and it’s awful), you understand the importance of clean water.

Even if you haven’t yet, you might have if you drink water full of contaminants. Save yourself and buy today a good water filter for yourself. Clearly, nobody wants to get sick on a trip.

What are the best water filters for backpacking? That relies totally on your preferences, the state of the water you’re filtering or purifying, and the number of people. We’ve also chosen a winner; keep reading to find out who it is. Let’s start!

10 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2023

It is not easy to find a water filter that meets all your requirements, and it may get boring for you to search for one that is the finest.

We’ve made a list of the finest water filters for camping, especially for your ease. We’ve done extensive research and even used water filters ourselves, so you don’t have to do that, and you end up buying the best product.

	Backpacking Water Filter Comparison
	Editor's ChoiceSawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System Weight: 3.5 Oz (Filter Only) Filter Life Span: 100,000 Gallons	LATEST PRICE →
	Grayl Geo press Water Purifier Bottle Capacity: 24 Fl Oz Filter Type:-Bottle Press	LATEST PRICE →
	Platypus Gravityworks Water Filter System Weight: 11.5 Oz Filter Lifespan: 1,500 Liters	LATEST PRICE →
	Our Top PickHydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter System Weight: 0.13 Pounds Capacity: 20 Liters	LATEST PRICE →
	Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter Weight: 0.14 Pounds Capacity: 10 Liters	LATEST PRICE →
	LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Weight: 2 oz Capacity: 1000 Gallons	LATEST PRICE →
	MSR Guardian Purifier Weight: 1.17 Pounds Capacity: 10 Liters	LATEST PRICE →
	Best Budget FriendlyCrazyCap 2.0 UV Water Purifier Weight: 12.6 oz Material: Stainless Steel	LATEST PRICE →
	MSR AutoFlow XL Gravity Filter 10 LTR Weight: 1.1 Pounds Capacity: 10 Liters	LATEST PRICE →
	Lifesaver Liberty Portable Water Purifier Weight: 1.5 Pounds Purification Method: Activated Carbon, Mechanical Filtration	LATEST PRICE →

Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System

The Sawyer Mini is known for its little weight and that a lifetime warranty covers the filter. You will never have to update it. We think it is the best water filter for backpacking in this guide. It is durable, this feature of the Sawyer Mini attracts us. Not only us, but it has also attracted millions of users. Who doesn’t want to spend on something that lasts forever?

The flow may decrease over time, demanding backflushing with the given pump, which could add an ounce to the advertised weight. It is, perhaps, advisable to go on longer hikes where you’ll see less people. It is suitable for solo use.. At a rate of 1.7 liters per minute, it claims to eliminate 99.99 percent of germs and other hazardous organisms from water.

This filter includes two mini filters, a 16 oz reusable pouch, two 7 inch straws, and cleaning plungers. It is affordable given the fact that it comes with all this. It is a cost-effective filter. It can remove all the harmful contaminants to get clean water whenever you want.

Pros

• Lifetime filter capacity.
• It can remove all harmful components from water.
• The flow rate is good.
• It is cost-effective.

Cons

• The flow rate might slow with time.
• The filter may not last forever.

Our Verdict

We 10000/10 recommended this top-notch water filter. Sawyer Mini Water Filter is the best water filter for camping. It is cost-effective, and the best part is that its filter will last a lifetime. We might die by then, but this filter will not (pun intended). This feature sets it apart from its competitors as no brand has made a forever-filter life claim like Sawyer Product has. You must give it a try.

Grayl Geo press Water Purifier Bottle

Grayl Geopress is the finest water filter. We’ve personally tried this water filter, and we highly recommend this because of its exceptional performance. It can easily filter harmful components from water, so you get clean and toxin-free water on your trip. Its activated carbon filter filters even the tiniest particles and removes foul smells and tastes from water.

The Grayl Geopress is also highly portable, simple to use, and capable of purifying 24 ounces of contaminated water in just 8 seconds. This filter can clean 5 liters of water in just 1 minute, which is fantastic for individuals who need to filter large quantities of water while camping or provide clean drinking water to friends.

Nobody likes to drink silty and smelly water. Buy a filter with a good filter capacity like this Grayl’s water filter as it has a filter capacity of 65 gallons which is excellent for a travel-size water filter. After filling up the bottle, you have to press it down for 8 seconds, and boom, clean, purified drinking water at your service. It is BPA-free.

Pros

• The filter capacity is 65 gallons.
• It can filter 5 liters in just a minute.
• It is BPA-free.
• It can kill all water-borne pathogens.

Cons

• It is small in size so not suitable for a big group.
• Filter life is short.

Our Verdict

This Grayl Geopress is the best cost-effective water filter from this guide. It is better than the previous model. It is compact, durable, and easy to use. It can purify your water up to 99.99% and free it from water-borne pathogens. It can filter 5 l/m and has a filer capacity of 65 gallons which is very rare for a water filter of this price. It must be your go-to filter for your next trip.

Platypus Gravityworks Water Filter System

We were blown away when we used the Platypus GravityWorks last year on our trip. While this high-volume filter is excellent, it’s unnecessary for solo use and better suited to teams of 2 or even more. We prefer the 4L version for smaller groups, while Platypus also has a 6L version for bigger groups.

The Platypus GravityWorks is a compact device that weighs only 11.57 ounces (328 grams) and filters water swiftly, up to 1.75 liters per minute, based on the sediment present. Gravity starts the work once the dirty bag is put just above the new bag; no hard pump is necessary.

The system is adaptable enough that the cleaned bag could be used as a hydration tank in a backpack or tied to a tree for camping. It’s also small, taking up roughly the same amount of space when wrapped up as a 1L bottle.

The filter can be changed (after 1,500 liters of use). The hollow fiber technique, in particular, screens out any particle larger than 0.2 microns, removing 99.99% bacteria and 99.9% protozoa. On our last trip, we had to filter some very sedimented water with the GravityWorks, and it’s always done a great job.

Pros

• It filters particles up to 0.2 microns.
• It removes 99.99% of pathogens from water.
• It can filter 1.75 liters every minute.
• The filter capacity is 1500 liters.
• It is BPA-free.
• It can remove odor and foul taste.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• The filter may clog.
• It doesn’t filter viruses and heavy metals.

Our Verdict

The Platypus GravityWorks is one of the best filters in this guide. Due to its high performance and Durability, we highly recommend it. We’ve also personally tested it. It does as it says. If you have this filter on your trip, we vouch that you won’t ever have to worry about having clean water throughout your journey. You have our word. We recommend this.

HydroBlu Versa Flow Water Filter System

Anyone who likes to travel always prefers a handy and lightweight filter to filter water efficiently. HyrdoBlu filter has the power to make the water clean and purified. This mini filter can filter streams and tap water efficiently.

A remarkable feature that sets it apart from others is that both sides of the filter are connected, making it simple to attach it to beverage bottles or reservoirs with the same thread size. The 0.1-micron hollow fiber membrane eliminates bacteria and other pathogens up to 99.999%.

HyrdoBlu has a filter life of 100,00 gallons which is way too long for anyone. It will last years. You can go camping for a long time without even buying filters as this one is enough for you. This is a high-performance and budget-friendly filter.

Pros

• It is cost-effective.
• It is compact and durable.
• 1-micron fiber filter removes bacteria and other pathogens.
• It can filter 100,000 gallons.

Cons

• It might leak.

Our Verdict

We highly recommend the HydroBlu filter because it is budget-friendly, compact, and durable. When you look at it, you’ll have doubts if it’ll last this long or if it can purify water or not. You’re not alone; we were doubtful, too, so we tested it, and we were amazed by the results. You’ll be, too, buying this filter.

Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter

 

Specifications

• Brand: Katadyn
• Weight: 0.14 Pounds
• Capacity: 10 Liters
• Flow Rate: 2 Liters/Min

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The Katadyn BeFree is one of the lightest water filters we tested. It is suitable for single-person use as it is compact. It’s so tiny it can even fit in your fanny pack. This portable filter weighs 2 14 ounces (64 grams) and gives on-the-go water. Remove the tank bag from the filter cover, fill the tank with water, reattach the filter top, and press on.

Its hollow fiber filtration system can eliminate Bacteria and protozoa; however, it does not filter viruses. The filter on its own is pretty long, with a capacity of 1,000 liters. Katadyn offers 0.6L, 1L, and 2L options. It passes EPA Standards. It is BPA-free.

It has a fast flow rate; it can filter 2 liters per minute. It is highly affordable and perfect for your next trip. It might seem like it might break or collapse as it is made from a very soft material we’ve our doubts too, but when we tested it, we’re amazed as all our doubts were in vain.

Pros

• It is small and compact.
• It can purify water efficiently.
• It is BPA-free.
• It has a fast flow rate.
• It is cheap.
• Extended filter capacity, i.e., 1000L.

Cons

• Its filter is only compatible with other Katadyn products.
• It is not good with high sediment water.

Our Verdict

We 100% recommend you to buy Katadyn Free as it is best for solo use and highly affordable. It is compact and can easily fit anywhere. It works better in cold weather than many other expensive filters. It can purify your drinking water instantly as its flow rate is fast. You must buy it if you’re looking for an affordable water filter that gets the job done.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

The Lifestraw water filter is an excellent choice for travelers who want to travel light and carry only the essentials — it is, without a doubt, the most compact water filter available. This straw water filter is so compact that you can wear it around your neck (with the supplied replaceable chain) or store it in your backpack even without realizing it’s there.

It’s worth mentioning that the Lifestraw water filter doesn’t come with a way to store filtered water, so this is best for individuals who are traveling for a short time or think there’ll be plenty of sources of water along the road.

For those of you considering longer backpacking journeys, we suggest investing in a water filter with the capacity to store purified water so you don’t find yourself in a scenario where you need water but can’t find one. If this is the case, consider purchasing something else.

It can easily filter 4000 liters, which is more than enough for years. It is B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified. It can filter 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, silts, and cloudiness.

Pros

• It is lightweight.
• It can purify water.
• It has a filter capacity of 4000 liters.

Cons

• It is not suitable for long trips.
• It doesn’t remove the virus.
• It has limited storage capacity.

Our Verdict

We recommend this Lifestraw water filter. It is an excellent choice for people traveling alone or on short trips. It is environmental and budget-friendly. But if you plan on going on a long journey, you might have to reconsider your choice.

MSR Guardian Purifier

MSR Guardian is a heavy water filtration system. It is not an affordable option, but it is an excellent filter. It has a fast flow rate. Initially, it was designed for military use so that you can assume its quality. It can remove the tiniest silt and water-borne pathogens so you don’t get sick.

It can quickly filter up to 10000 liters of water without any hassle. Another fantastic feature that sets it apart from competitors is that it self-cleans itself, so you don’t have to. It doesn’t need any backflushing or filter scrubbing.

It can filter 2.5 liters of water per minute. It doesn’t matter what the quality of water is. It’ll take the same amount of time to filter the dirty, murky water. All you need is this MSR Guardian filter, and you can go anywhere without thinking twice, even about the quality of water. It is so much better than other MSR products.

Pros

• It is durable.
• Long filter life.
• It self-cleans itself.
• The water flow rate is fast.

Cons

• It is pricey.
• It is heavy.
• It is not easy to carry.

Our Verdict

The MSR Guardian is the best heavy-duty water filter. It can purify even the silty, muddy water full of pathogens in a blink of an eye. We highly recommend this product. However, it is pricey but worth the money. You’ll not regret buying it.

CrazyCap 2.0 UV Water Purifier

It’s worth noting that most handheld water filters don’t eliminate viruses. This is pretty important when traveling outside of the US to regions with poor water resources. According to the World Health Organization, roughly a quarter of the world’s population drinks feces-contaminated water. Viruses can ruin a holiday.

The best part is that a technical answer is present in the form of UV light. The WAATR CrazyCap disinfects water from the tap in a minute and water from streams and other wild resources in 2 and a half minutes, thanks to an LED UV laser emitter embedded inside the canteen’s cap. It also self-cleans by turning on for 20 seconds every 4 hours to clear the bottle of mold, germs, viruses, and other contaminants.

It’s vital to remember that this product doesn’t filter water, so make sure you fill it up with clear water of dirt and other impurities. It has a USB-compatible charger; the UV-emitting cap needs to charge for four hours or less. A full charge will last a week.

Pros

• It can remove the virus.
• It is BPA-free.
• It can keep water cold for a day and beverages hot for 12 hours.
• It is compact and portable.
• It is easy to use.

Cons

• It needs an electric supply for recharge.
• It is expensive.
• It doesn’t filter dirt and heavy impurities.

Our Verdict

We 10/10 recommend CrazyCap 2.0. It can remove a virus which is a notable feature that very few water filters on the market have. The only drawback is that it cannot purify your water of silts and other impurities. Other than this, it is a fine product.

MSR AutoFlow XL Gravity Filter 10 LTR

The MSR Autoflow XL is a big-group hiking water filter suited for basecamps and large groups. Its vast capacity holds up to 10 liters of water, and its versatile design fits a variety of storage tanks. Our favorite for group use is that it takes no installation and can filter huge amounts of water while being left unattended. You can use it as a handwashing stand or even a shower during the summertime.

While we like this system, it has the slowest flow rate of any gravity filter we’ve tried. Backflushes are required regularly, mainly when dealing with filthy water. Strong hooks to hold it from can limit your location selection if you’re using all of its capacity.

It has two-stage filtration systems. It has advanced hollow-fiber technology to remove 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and sediments. It filters 1.75 liters/min.

Pros

• It can remove viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.
• Installation is easy.
• It has a large storage capacity.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• The flow rate is a bit slow.
• It needs maintenance.

Our Verdict

We think this MSR Autoflow XL is the best water filter for camping and big groups in this guide. It can filter water at a fast rate. It can hold up to 10 liters, making it a perfect water bank for big groups. Its hollow fiber technology removes viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. We recommend this product.

Lifesaver Liberty Portable Water Purifier

If you’re going to a place where water quality is an issue, the Lifesaver Liberty is a good option. It beats so many portable filters in the industry, such as the Katadyn and Lifestraw ones we’ve examined thus far. The Liberty can remove 99.99 percent of viruses, germs, and cysts from any type of water.

Just detach the top, put it into the supply, close it, and push the upper lever a few seconds to activate it. Then, to drink, you simply turn a small valve, and the water pours out, no suction required.

There’s also a 5-foot hose included. This may be inserted into a source to siphon and filters the required water, allowing you to filter large amounts of water at once. When trekking or touring in a group, this is a plus point. It can clean 440 gallons of water before changing the filter.

It is BPA-free. It has an average flow rate, i.e., 1.2 liters per minute. It meets NSF/ANSI P231 standards. It is a budget-friendly and compact filter. We’ve tried it, and we think it is a good water filter for the value of the money.

Pros

• It can kill 99.99 harmful pathogens.
• It has good capacity.
• It is easy to use.
• It can filter 440 gallons.
• It is BPA-free.

Cons

• The flow rate is slow.

Our Verdict

We recommend Lifesaver Liberty Water Purifier as it can efficiently purify a large amount of water quickly. It is a good investment. We’ve tried it ourselves and found it quite exceptional. We think it is even so much better than Katadyn and Lifestraw filter.

Buying Guide

We think the buying guide is the most critical section in this guide as it educates the readers on what they should consider when purchasing a specific product. It helps them decide what to buy.

Flow Rate

Flow rate is a very important factor to consider while buying a water filter. You don’t want to wait for long while your filter purifies the water. People usually want rapid and fast clean water. If the flow rate is slow and you’re an impatient person, buy a filter that can quickly filter water, or you’ll get up grumpy on your trip. We don’t want that.

So you must consider a water filter with fast flow rates. The flow rate should be fast, especially when you’re traveling with a group. You don’t want to wait in a long queue for your turn. It is tolerable if you’re traveling alone.

Weight

Nobody wants to carry a heavy-weight water filter, especially when you’re traveling solo or with a small group. We suggest you buy a lightweight water filter as it is compact, can be cleaned easily, and doesn’t need much upkeep. But if you go for a heavy-duty water filter, that is most suited for a large group. Buy a filter that needs less maintenance or cleaning.

Filter Life

Usually, the filter life is around 250L to 4000L before you need to change the cartridge. The filtration method determines how long the filters will last before you need to replace them. You’ll have to change the whole system in some water filters instead of the cartridge.

Different filtration methods like UV light, activated carbon filter, hollow membrane, micron fiber, and several others have different filter life. UV method lasts a very long time, but you’ll need an electric supply to charge it.

Price

If you’re doubtful whether the filter you’re thinking about buying is worth the money or not/ then we suggest that you make a list of your top 2-3 choices and compare the pros and cons and decide.

But if you think that a certain product is expensive, so it’ll perform well, that’s not the case; even some cost-effective water filters work better than them. You must decide wisely instead of running after the price tag.

Performance

Buy a water filter that can remove sediments, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa and can filter minute particles. Not all filters can remove viruses: for removing viruses, you must buy a water purifier, as all purifiers can eliminate viruses along with other pathogens.

Easy To Use & Install

The water filter you choose must be easy to use and install. You don’t want to end up buying something that you don’t know how to operate or, worse, install. It might ruin your trip if you’re more focused on installing it than enjoying your trip. Choose a water filter that has an easy mechanism and doesn’t need tools for installation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the major difference between filters and purifiers?

The filter will remove bacteria, sediments, microplastics, debris, and several other pathogens from the water. It can remove almost all contaminants other than viruses.

While purifiers, along with bacteria, debris, sediments, and harmful pathogens, can also remove viruses from water. Go for a water filter that will also purify your water. You don’t want to get sick in the wild.

What is the simplest way to purify water while camping?

We think the most crucial thing is to find a clean water source first. Avoid filling water from standing ponds or regions where there may be debris or waste. You’ll also need a secure location to refill, pump, or put your gravity filter.

If the water is below a specific temperature, some filtering technologies, such as chemical filtration and pills, will require you to wait longer to verify that it is clean.

What Is the Average Lifespan of a Backpacking Water Filter?

The longevity of a filter is mostly determined by its type. Most hollow fiber or activated charcoal cartridges will need to be changed after a few 100 uses or a particular amount of liters filtered.

Some filters, like the LifeStraw, can survive for years, but once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan, you’ll need to replace them. Many filters and purifiers only require replacement batteries or recharging.

Can you filter the virus?

Yes, we can filter viruses as well by using a good water purifier. You must check the specification properly to see if it also filters viruses along with other harmful pathogens and sediments.

Final words