Water Filters for Hiking and Camping
When camping and hiking, we tend to err on the side of caution, and do filter a lot of our water. As someone who is prone to stomach upsets, it helps knowing there is one less thing to worry about going wrong. We have tried many, many water filters as they come onto the market, and some have proven to be more popular than others.
There are so many options out there in the marketplace, and you might find yourself wondering which one is right for you and your needs.
The list below is based on what we found - both as car campers AND also hiking campers.
When purchasing filters, we considered these points:
With those points in mind, here are our top water filters for camping and hiking (our personal preferences) when we know there is a water source we can use.
There are so many options out there in the marketplace, and you might find yourself wondering which one is right for you and your needs.
The list below is based on what we found - both as car campers AND also hiking campers.
When purchasing filters, we considered these points:
- Ease of filtering (eg. how do we get the water filtered and how long does it take)
- What we think our main source of water will be? (eg. water out of a tank on the trail? River? Still pond). Some filters seem to cater to different water sources better.
- Travelling with more than one person means you need to work out how you are all going to get enough clean water and how fast you want to achieve getting it. Different filters needed based on the amount of people needing water. A large filter isn't practical/necessary if you are the only one on the trip, so we bring along the right filter for the right situation.
- Where you camp is going to be a factor to consider too! In Australia we are lucky with our water sources, and viruses aren't common, but many places you still need to treat your water before drinking. So we didn't really need to be overly cautious with virus protection in Australia.
- Will there definitely be water on the hike that needs filtering? Sometimes the answer is no - and you just have to carry in your water needs, because you don't want to be relying on finding water on the hike. Homework is needed to find out about what your water options are on the trail, or at your campsite. No point in having a fancy water filter if there is no water to filter.
With those points in mind, here are our top water filters for camping and hiking (our personal preferences) when we know there is a water source we can use.
Platypus Gravity Works Filter System
Photo source: Platypus
This is great for when we need water for more than 1 person so it has been used on our family trips (or couple hike) because it cleans water very fast and when everyone is wanting clean water, they won't have long to wait with this system.
The concept behind it is simple; it is all about gravity doing all the work.
Fill up the dirty water in the labelled clear plastic bag, and hang it higher than the "clean" bag; gravity sends the dirty water through a filter/hose and cleans it, ready to drink! The dirty bag just needs to be higher than the clean bag, and that doesn't mean finding a tree with a handy branch. It might be a rock where the bag is placed, or on a table, or hanging from your shelter.
You need to get your dirty water ideally from say, a tap (frequent at campsites where the water requires treatment before drinking), or a river, dam, lake - because the way you fill the "dirty bag" is better when there is plentiful water. So not small puddles.
When you don't need it, it flattens and rolls up very small making it perfect for anyone who loves to keep their gear light, and compact. Hikers will appreciate this aspect especially.
It comes in 2 sizes - the 2.0L or the 4.0L and the filtering of the water takes only a couple of minutes (actually 1.5L per minute).
(Watch the video below to see how it works - the video is of the 4L bag)
Very easy to use (no squeezing, no pumping) and the filter is easy to clean.
One thing to mention - it does not filter out viruses. Now depending where you are getting the water from, this may not be a consideration, but worth noting if the area you are in, is prone to waterborne viruses.
Our recommendation: Great for camping families or hikers or where there are at least 2 people needing clean water. Simple and efficient, it is highly recommended by us.
The concept behind it is simple; it is all about gravity doing all the work.
Fill up the dirty water in the labelled clear plastic bag, and hang it higher than the "clean" bag; gravity sends the dirty water through a filter/hose and cleans it, ready to drink! The dirty bag just needs to be higher than the clean bag, and that doesn't mean finding a tree with a handy branch. It might be a rock where the bag is placed, or on a table, or hanging from your shelter.
You need to get your dirty water ideally from say, a tap (frequent at campsites where the water requires treatment before drinking), or a river, dam, lake - because the way you fill the "dirty bag" is better when there is plentiful water. So not small puddles.
When you don't need it, it flattens and rolls up very small making it perfect for anyone who loves to keep their gear light, and compact. Hikers will appreciate this aspect especially.
It comes in 2 sizes - the 2.0L or the 4.0L and the filtering of the water takes only a couple of minutes (actually 1.5L per minute).
(Watch the video below to see how it works - the video is of the 4L bag)
Very easy to use (no squeezing, no pumping) and the filter is easy to clean.
One thing to mention - it does not filter out viruses. Now depending where you are getting the water from, this may not be a consideration, but worth noting if the area you are in, is prone to waterborne viruses.
Our recommendation: Great for camping families or hikers or where there are at least 2 people needing clean water. Simple and efficient, it is highly recommended by us.
Grayl Water Bottle
Photo Source: Wild Earth
This water bottle does remove all the nasties that others may not. So if you are planning on travelling anywhere in the world this one does the lot.
It claims to remove: Rotovirus, Norovirus, Hepatitis A, E-Coli, Salmonella, Dysentery, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Amobae, Chlorine, Benzene, Chloroform, Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, sand, silt, sediment.
That is all achieved by filling up the drink bottle with your grotty water from wherever you sourced it, press down (like you would a French Press coffee plunger) and that's it. The water is ready to drink. You will get 150L of water before the cartridge needs replacing.
A bit on the heavy side, so lightweight backpackers might not appreciate the extra grams, but everyone else can enjoy. If you are travelling internationally, this is one water bottle that could definitely be part of your luggage.
Our recommendation: Individual use, and short trips. If you are travelling around the world, and to some countries that have water issues, this would be something to take with you.
See and buy the Grayl Water bottle here
It claims to remove: Rotovirus, Norovirus, Hepatitis A, E-Coli, Salmonella, Dysentery, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Amobae, Chlorine, Benzene, Chloroform, Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, sand, silt, sediment.
That is all achieved by filling up the drink bottle with your grotty water from wherever you sourced it, press down (like you would a French Press coffee plunger) and that's it. The water is ready to drink. You will get 150L of water before the cartridge needs replacing.
A bit on the heavy side, so lightweight backpackers might not appreciate the extra grams, but everyone else can enjoy. If you are travelling internationally, this is one water bottle that could definitely be part of your luggage.
Our recommendation: Individual use, and short trips. If you are travelling around the world, and to some countries that have water issues, this would be something to take with you.
See and buy the Grayl Water bottle here
Sawyer Squeeze (and Mini) Water Filtration
This was a filter that has certainly had a lot of use because of its simplicity and the fact that when not in use it is all rolled up and takes no room in our camping box.
You can see our review here.
From the Sawyer website, it states the following:
Rated to 0.1 micron absolute filtration, it removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, leptospirosis, cholera and E.coli, and removes 99.9999% of all protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium)
You fill up the reuseable pouch with dirty water, and then attach the small filter, and squeeze the water through the filter, and into your bottle or whatever. The pouches come in different sizes, and we found them suited to when there was more than just one camper/hiker. You can choose from 3 different sizes of pouches.
It's pretty indestructible as there are no moving parts, but like the Gravity Filter (see above) it's probably best used where you can get water into easily.
See the video below on use.
Alternative to this product, is the Sawyer Mini.
This little filter can be added to your bottle and you just sip through it, and your water is filtered as it comes with a straw as well. Weighing only 65 grams, it is small and cheap, and does the job. You can still attach this to the pouches. You need to be able to squeeze the bottle you use to get the water through the filter.
You can put it inline in your bladder (which means yes, your bladder will have dirty/contaminated water in it), but your bladder will need modifications for this, and you are now committed to using this modified bladder on your hike.
Our recommendation: Sawyer Squeeze pouch: Suits small groups (say 1-2 people). Not great for larger groups. The Squeeze pouch can be bought here
Sawyer Mini: Individual use, perfect for hiking, it's cost effective and efficient. Buy the Mini here
Sawyer products in more detail here.
You can see our review here.
From the Sawyer website, it states the following:
Rated to 0.1 micron absolute filtration, it removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, leptospirosis, cholera and E.coli, and removes 99.9999% of all protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium)
You fill up the reuseable pouch with dirty water, and then attach the small filter, and squeeze the water through the filter, and into your bottle or whatever. The pouches come in different sizes, and we found them suited to when there was more than just one camper/hiker. You can choose from 3 different sizes of pouches.
It's pretty indestructible as there are no moving parts, but like the Gravity Filter (see above) it's probably best used where you can get water into easily.
See the video below on use.
Alternative to this product, is the Sawyer Mini.
This little filter can be added to your bottle and you just sip through it, and your water is filtered as it comes with a straw as well. Weighing only 65 grams, it is small and cheap, and does the job. You can still attach this to the pouches. You need to be able to squeeze the bottle you use to get the water through the filter.
You can put it inline in your bladder (which means yes, your bladder will have dirty/contaminated water in it), but your bladder will need modifications for this, and you are now committed to using this modified bladder on your hike.
Our recommendation: Sawyer Squeeze pouch: Suits small groups (say 1-2 people). Not great for larger groups. The Squeeze pouch can be bought here
Sawyer Mini: Individual use, perfect for hiking, it's cost effective and efficient. Buy the Mini here
Sawyer products in more detail here.
Katadyn Water Filtration Systems
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This company has made a few systems we like and have used.
1) The BeFree Water Filtration System - 3L and 10L
Now this is even easier than the Gravity Plus filter. You have a 3L pouch and you remove the filter by unscrewing it, fill up the bag, return the filter, and there you have it - purified water. 2L per minute is filtered.
With this ease and speed, its perfect for camping families of say 2-5 people. Like some of the other filters, if you have ample water around the place (ie. not a puddle), filling up is simple, and the filter just needs swishing about in any water you have to clean it.
It will remove most problematic things you find in dirty water but not viruses.
If you need more water than that, there is a Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L - which would definitely suit families/large groups who need water cleaned before drinking/cooking etc. The benefit of using a larger bag means less running back to the tap/river/tank/wherever to refill and perfect for longer stays in one location.
Our Recommendation: Great for when you need to fill up water for more than one person. Very handy to have around the campsite.
2) Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration 600ml
If you don't need such large quantity of water filtered, or just concerned about water quality in general, you can get the 600ml water bottle by Katadyn. It's a flexible water bottle (not sure what the material is that its made of, but it's all soft and malleable. Downside of this is that it doesn't sit upright when half full).
Like the 3L system, you just fill up the water bottle (which can squash right down when not full of water) and when you go to drink, you squeeze the bottle (easy, no muscles needed) and filtered water comes through the nozzle.
Our Recommendation: Individual use - easy to use and lightweight.
Our recommendation: Katadyn produce a range of filters to suit every sort of hiker and camper, and we think the 2 options above are good choices for camping and hiking. As mentioned, the range of products is large, so check out the other options as well if you need more than our 2 options listed.
The Runner Ups
In our quest for clean water when outdoors, there have been some others we tried but haven't stayed with us as we have upgraded to meet our needs.
But just because they weren't long time winners for us, doesn't mean they were useless - they are just not our first choice. You may find these below options suit your needs perfectly.
But just because they weren't long time winners for us, doesn't mean they were useless - they are just not our first choice. You may find these below options suit your needs perfectly.
Katadyn Micropur Forte Water Purifier Tablets
On our list, this is the only chemical option.
These tablets come in a pack of 100, and its 1 tablet per 1 litre of water. You do have to wait for the tablets to take effect, so pre-planning of your water needs is required. The active ingredient in these tablets is Troclosene sodium - which is chlorine and when added to your water the chlorine releases hydrochloric acid which reacts through oxidization and kills the nasties in the water. Once the water is treated there is no need to treat again, as the water remains good for up to 6 months!! (Not that the average camper needs water for 6 months).
Bacteria and viruses - wait 30 minutes. Giardia - wait 2 hours. Suits clear water, not cloudy water and there is no filtering of sediment/silt. You need to do that first and then use the tablets.
The benefits of tablets is that they take up no room in your pack or camping supplies and are handy to have. Downside you do have to wait for the tablets to take effect. Nothing wrong with using them, but just not our preferred option for water filtration.
See and buy the Katadyn Micropur Purifer tablets here
Lifestraw
This is really more of an emergency filter. You put the Lifestraw directly into the water source and suck up the water directly. It seems to suit the person who could get lost and need emergency water from any puddle or creek to sustain them (so if you go off trail a lot, this could be a great option to stick in your pack) but for us, long-term, it just wasn't something we thought about using as a personal water filter. The concept is brilliant, but we prefer to be able to drink from a bottle (either one with a built in filter, or able to hold filtered water). Bending down to suck up water just to quench your thirst (in a non emergency situation) could be a bit tiresome.
Available - most camping stores will sell this.
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An alternative to the Lifestraw has come out, which does seem more practical for everyone looking for a water filter option. This is the Lifestraw Flex 2 - which fits any soft drink bottle or you can use the Lifestraw bottle. We haven't used this version but based on other reviews, probably the Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration 600ml bottle would still be a better option.
SteriPen
We had a Steripen, which is a UV light that you wave around in your bottle of water to sterilise the water - it neutralises the nasty bugs like giardia and cryptosporidium.
A problem with the Steripen was that you could still have sediment in the water, because it doesn't filter that. It also relies on batteries, so you would need to bring spares if you are relying on this to clean your water. So that means something that could go wrong. On the positive side, it is fast and as long as you follow the instructions, you should be OK.
We have since sold our pen just through lack of use.
See and buy the SteriPen here
We had a Steripen, which is a UV light that you wave around in your bottle of water to sterilise the water - it neutralises the nasty bugs like giardia and cryptosporidium.
A problem with the Steripen was that you could still have sediment in the water, because it doesn't filter that. It also relies on batteries, so you would need to bring spares if you are relying on this to clean your water. So that means something that could go wrong. On the positive side, it is fast and as long as you follow the instructions, you should be OK.
We have since sold our pen just through lack of use.
See and buy the SteriPen here
Diercon and Sawyer Water Bottles
We have used these in the past, and they are still with us (read our reviews here) but as time and technology progressed, they have fallen out of favour with us. For weight and simplicity reasons, we have found alternatives better suited. There is nothing wrong with these bottles but we think there are products which do more, and are better for our needs.
We have used these in the past, and they are still with us (read our reviews here) but as time and technology progressed, they have fallen out of favour with us. For weight and simplicity reasons, we have found alternatives better suited. There is nothing wrong with these bottles but we think there are products which do more, and are better for our needs.
Conclusion
We hope that you find this useful when shopping for your water filter needs, whether you are car camping or backpacking. Of course, these are just what worked for us, and there are plenty more water filter options for your needs. Do your homework, know what you do and don't want in a water filter and where you will be exploring.
We don't think there are any right or wrong choices in filtering as it is going to come down to your own personal preferences.
We don't think there are any right or wrong choices in filtering as it is going to come down to your own personal preferences.
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