6 Best Water Filter For Backpacking & Camping

Best Backpacking Water Filters Review

1. Sawyer Squeeze – Best Backpacking Water Filter
2. Lifestraw Personal – Best Budget Backpacking Water Filter
3. Katadyn Vario – Best Camping Water Filter
4. Platypus GravityWorks – Best Gravity Fed Camping Water Filter​
5. MSR Guardian – Travel Backpacking Filter​
6. GRAYL Ultralight – Best Backpacking Water Bottle

Sawyer Squeeze – Best Backpacking Water Filter

Features:

The Sawyer Squeeze filter is one of the easy to use pump filters as it is compact and lightweight. It weighs only about 3 ounces, is the size of the palm of your hand, and can be used as a water bottle from which you can drink directly.

This hollow fiber filter has the highest filtration on the market which is 99.9% that effectively removes bacteria such as Salmonella, Cholera, Leptospirosis, and E.coli, and protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It uses a 0.1 absolute micron hollow fiber membrane inline water filter. It will also effectively remove 100% microplastics from the water being treated.

Although the Sawyer squeeze water filter has a good flow rate, altitude also affects the flow rates of water purifier pump filters, causing purified water to come out as merely drops. The flow rates are also affected when the filter hasn’t been cleaned. The SP131 can be maintained by using the syringe filter cleaner, which is used to backflush the filter to promote a high-flow rate as well as prevent clogging. 

The SP131 filter units are only independently tested, but they also have been individually tested three times to performance standards by Sawyer itself. 

Pros

1. Easy to unattach from the inline filter for cleaning and back flushing
2. Easy to unattach for use as a squeeze filter, with very little squeezing involved
3. Has a compact design and is very easy to use (no need to pump water)

Cons

1. The pouches are not extremely durable and need to be carefully handled
2. Some customers complain that the pouches burst up near the neck

Lifestraw Personal – Best Budget Backpacking Water Filter

Features:

This is an ultralight water filter that is also a very convenient budget water filter that only weighs 1.62 ounces yet features a high flow rate. It filters up to 4,000 liters of water or 1,000 gallons for an individual for more than five years. It also reduces turbidity down to 0.2 microns. 

The LifeStraw Personal uses a microfiltration membrane that removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria protozoa such as Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholera, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella, Salmonella, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Entamoeba histolytica. The filtration even includes the smallest microplastics.

The only drawback of using this water filter is that once it reaches its capacity, it will no longer be able to draw water like earlier, and hence will no longer act as your ready-to-use water bottle.

Pros

1. One of the most durable backpacking squeeze filters, that is ultralight, easy to clean and store
2. Contains no added chemicals for it is a BPA-free pump filter
3. No shelf life so you don’t have to worry about it sitting unused

Cons

1. Although it includes a user manual, some customers still complain that it is slightly difficult to use
2. Not capable of filtering below 0.2 microns

Katadyn Vario – Best Camping Water Filter

Features:

Katadyn Vario Microfilter is part of the backcountry series filter line for reduction of bacteria such as Klebsiella terrigenous, and protozoan cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. 

This is a hiking and camping water filter that filters up to 500 gallons of contaminated and dirty water until after six months of use, after which it typically becomes ineffective. But a great addition to this package is the inclusion of a replaceable Katadyn carbon core and cleanable ceramic filter disc that keep water tasting fresh, reducing chemicals, odors, and toxins throughout the life of the cartridge. 

The Katadyn Vario features dual piston technology that provides maximum output with minimum effort. This is especially great when the filter is being used for large quantities of water for a group. To further accommodate to larger groups, the adapter base of the filter is designed to attach directly to a water bottle, as well as an output hose to simply fill another container.

Pros

1. Can cater to a group instead of an individual (up to 4 people)
2. Has a replaceable carbon core and a cleanable ceramic filter disc
3. Functional for long backpacking trips

Cons

1. This design is not very durable and users complain that it leaks catastrophically
2. Heavier than most backpacking water filters and purifiers available

Platypus GravityWorks – Best Gravity Fed Camping Water Filter​

Features:

Platypus GravityWorks is a filter that meets all EPA and NSF guidelines and hence removes 99.99% of all bacteria and protozoa; including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, Salmonella, and Cholera. It offers a great 4.0 capacity system for filtering and dispensing water for groups.

The Hollow Fiber Technology that this filter is designed with is important to mention because it uses hundreds of hollow fibers bundled into a single filter. Water then flows through the walls of this singular filter, leaving all and any impurities behind. The filter will become ineffective after cleaning about 1,500 gallons of water until the cartridge is replaced.

This system includes two 4-liter reservoirs, 1 for unfiltered water, and 1 for clean water. These reservoirs have hang loops attached to them for easy in-camp use and require no pumping water during their use, unlike most straw filters.

Although it weighs a little more than conventional and impacts backpacking water purifiers, the 11 ounces are not something that you need to worry about carrying.

Pros

1. Microfilter can easily be cleaned by regular backflushing  
2. The filter works quite fast with no pumping required
3. Works for a group of people (up to 4 people)

Cons

1. Expensive as compared to most conventional backpacking water filters/water purifiers 
2. Users complain that the plastic bags are not durable

MSR Guardian – Travel Backpacking Filter​

Features:

One of the key features of MSR Guardian is that this patent-pending system cleans itself automatically with each stroke. This means that there is no need to ever backflush or filter-scrub it for maintenance purposes, unlike most filters.

Another great feature is that, unlike most traditional squeeze style filters/camping pump filters, this one removes sediments, bacteria and viruses from the murkiest puddles of water. This is what makes this hollow fiber filter versatile and useful in developing countries too, where the threat of viruses lurks in water sources. 

This hand pump-styled filter meets NSF protocol P248 and can withstand heavy use, freezing, rough handling, and harsh environments. Moreover, it can fit over almost all wide-mouth bottles, adding to its compatibility.

It cleans itself as you pump water through it, making maintenance redundant and allowing you to use all your time and energy to enjoy the outdoors.

Pros

1. The only filter-purifier combo available on the market
2. Effective against viruses, in addition to other contaminants in the silty water
3. It has a long filter life with zero maintenance (it has a self-cleaning mechanism)

Cons

1. Not at all budget friendly; one of the most expensive backpacking water filters and purifiers
2. One of the heaviest hollow fiber filters for backpacking trips

GRAYL Ultralight – Best Backpacking Water Bottle

Features:

The GRAYL Ultralight is an award-winning, one-press purification and filtration which is also one of our best water purifiers to recommend. This compact water purifier has a patented Filtration Media – three filtration technologies in one for added protection during filtering water.

The patented filtration media helps remove pathogens and 99.9999% of viruses such as Hepatitis A, SARS, Rotavirus, and 99.9999% of disease-causing bacteria protozoa such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Giardia. A great thing about this filtration system is that it leaves zero after taste, eliminates bad odors, all while improving clarity and flavor of your drinking water.

The lifespan of the Water Purifier Cartridge varies with the quality of the water source. High levels of silt or sediment will shorten the lifespan of the cartridge. But you can expect the GRAYL Ultralight to last about a year of use. 

This means that for a year, you can simply drink straight from this bottle.

Pros

1. Activated natural carbon filter that helps attracts and trap metals and chemicals
2. An integrated anti-microbial agent suppresses the growth of mould, mildew, and bacteria
3. Durable and long-lasting pump filter

Cons

1. Quite a lot of pumping is required to get the water filtered, causing the straw filter to slow down in its process
2. Can freeze due to the harsh weather conditions

For a wilderness enthusiast, nothing can be more worrying than being out in the wild without being appropriately hydrated. With the backpacking filtration gears listed here, you are sure to find your shield against common pathogens and contaminants found in natural water sources.

Here is some more information for beginners in the backpacking arena.

Wrap Up

Choosing the right water filter for backpacking and camping can make a significant difference in ensuring you have access to safe, clean water on your outdoor adventures. The filters highlighted in this article are selected for their effective filtration, lightweight design, and user-friendly operation.

Opt for the best option to stay hydrated and enjoy peace of mind while exploring the great outdoors.