With the best camping water filters, you can make sure you always have a supply of that most critical resource, clean drinking water. You can only carry a limited amount of water when camping or hiking so when spending an extended period outdoors, a method for treating your water is crucial. Even though water from a stream or river might look clean it can carry bacteria, protozoa and viruses that will make you sick and ruin your trip.
There are a huge range of ways you can make water safe to drink, from chemical tablets to UV light-based purifiers to portable filters. They are not just useful on a camping trip but should also be part of emergency preparation kits as clean water is essential to survival. Also, when traveling abroad, if you can't be sure of the safety of the water supply, a good filter or purifier will give you peace of mind and help avoid stomach upsets. All these filters will make your water safer to drink but our overall recommendation is for the Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System. It’s an incredibly useful, reliable filter that’s so light you will barely know you’re carrying it at all.
Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System
Versatile and lightweight personal filter
This water filter’s minimal weight and high-performance make it a convenient, compact solution for clean water when camping, hiking or traveling abroad.
Pros:
- Incredibly lightweight and compact
- Versatile and effective
- Comes with a squeeze pouch
Cons:
- Squeeze bag can wear out over time
This personal filtration system has long been a favorite with backpackers who love the fact it’s ultralight, fits into the palm of your hand and yet is able to filter clean water from lakes, rivers and even faucets in hotel rooms or holiday lets abroad.
You simply fill the 16-ounce squeeze pouch with water, screw on the filter and drink or squeeze into a water bottle. You can also attach the filter to hydration packs and a drinking straw is included to enable you to drink straight from the source. The reusable 0.1-micron filter takes out microplastics, harmful bacteria and protozoa leaving you with clean drinking water anywhere you go.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
Clean water straight from the source
Filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water by sucking it through this straw. It removes bacteria and protozoa with its 0.3-micron membrane, no chemicals or batteries required.
Pros:
- Very portable
- Filters as you drink
- No expiration date
Cons:
- Can be hard to suck through
- Difficult to reach water
The LifeStraw is a personal water filter in a form of a 2 ounce, 9-inch long straw that can be put directly into pools, streams, lakes and other water sources you find in the wilderness. Its microfiltration membrane traps the bacteria, parasites and microplastics found in dirty water so only clean water passes through.
It will filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water and make it clean and safe to drink. The LifeStraw has no expiry date and can be stored indefinitely even after use so can be tucked into your pack or disaster kit and be ready to use in an emergency.
Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter
Tried and tested transparent filter
This durable backpacking filter requires pumping to pull water from inaccessible sources and clean it of bacteria and protozoa. You can watch it work through the transparent body.
Pros:
- Durable and dependable
- Pre-filter attached
- Carbon filter improves taste
Cons:
- Heavier than some models
- Have to pump repeatedly
This Swiss-made filter has been a dependable system for backpackers for many years and works well. The easy pump-action draws water from any source you can reach while the 0.2-micron filter removes bacteria and protozoa like giardia & cryptosporidium. You can see the water getting cleaned through the transparent microfilter. A pre-filter helps to extend the life of the Katadyn Hiker Pro. It’s cleanable in the field and the activated carbon at the core of the filter cartridge improves the taste of your water and reduces chemicals.
The filter connects directly to hydration packs with 1/4” drink tubes and water bottles and it comes in a deluxe carry bag. Easy to use and dependable, this trusted filter is a good option for beginners and experts alike.
Platypus GravityWorks High-Capacity Water Filter System
High capacity filter that lets gravity do the work
This filter system delivers up to 4 liters of clean water with no pumping required making it ideal for larger groups of campers to get drinking, cooking and washing water.
Pros:
- Great for groups
- Filters large quantities
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Heavy for backpacking
- More expensive
The Platypus GravityWorks is a high capacity, gravity-fed water filter system that’s ideal for family camping and emergency disaster kits. You hang it from a tree and fill the ‘dirty’ reservoir with contaminated water and it will filter four liters in 2.5 minutes into the ‘clean’ reservoir, having removed 99.9% of bacteria and protozoa.
The filter comes with the two four-liter reservoirs (a two-liter version is also available), a hollow-fiber microfilter, hoses, shutoff clamp and storage sack. The replaceable cartridge will filter up to 1,500 gallons which should last you for countless camping trips.
SteriPen Adventurer Opti UV Personal Water Purifier
Fastest and easiest water purifier
This personal purifier uses UV light to kill bacteria and viruses in your water bottle. It’s simple and effective, treating a liter of water in 90 seconds.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- The fastest purifier
- Safe, effective and doesn’t alter taste
Cons:
- Needs batteries
- Dirty water needs pre-filtering
The SteriPen couldn’t be easier to use. You simply activate the pen-like UV lamp and put it in your 1-liter wide-necked water bottle and stir it around for 90 seconds until it turns green, indicating that 99.9 percent of harmful micro-organisms will have been destroyed. Designed to be used on-the-go, the compact unit’s UV light will be good for up to 8,000 liters and you won’t notice any change in the taste of treated water.
Using UV won’t clean murky water like a filter so you need to prefilter if it’s not clear. This SteriPen runs on two CR123 batteries which should last for around 50 liters of safe water. It comes in a neoprene case and the water sensing LED lamp doubles up as a flashlight.
Bottom line
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Safe, clean water is essential for any camping trip or hiking expedition. So packing a way of filtering or purifying the water will help keep you and your family well. Don't forget this also applies if it's for a holiday abroad where you can't trust the water supply.
All these water filters will treat your drinking water and make it safer. Your choice of product will at least partly depend on how much water you want to treat for the size of your group. Our recommendation though is for the Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System. It’s a great price for a versatile filter that is both easy to use and light to carry yet will do something as important as making your drinking water safe. The way you can use it with squeeze pouches, the included straw, a water bottle or set up a gravity filter system makes it the obvious choice for most people.
