Read our reviews of the best bottles with water filters for trekking and camping to have the best travel water filter bottle.
If you are looking for a good travel water filter bottle to go to the mountains, camping, or traveling, you have come to the right place. Finding drinking water is not always easy depending on the country or the type of activity we do. During many mountain routes, I have found streams with relatively clean water.
However, how can you know that water is totally safe? Sometimes, there may be animal droppings or even dead animals in the streams, and we do not even know it. Personally, I prefer to play it safe and take some extra precautions. If you plan to go trekking or camping, I recommend filtering or purifying the water, even when it seems safe.
If you travel backpacking, you can not trust the running water in many countries. It is possible to get parasites, giardia, bacteria, and other organisms when drinking tap water. In addition, dirty water can contain heavy metals, excess minerals, and chemicals that it is best to avoid.
There are many options available: filtered portable water bottles, UV purifiers, special filters, water purification tablets, etc. Some models are bulkier, more compact, more expensive, more versatile, more secure, etc.
Do not worry, you do not have to spend hours comparing models. In this article, I will explain the main differences between water treatments and you will be able to find the best travel water filter bottle and purifiers.
The best portable water filters and purifiers
Portable water purification systems are ideal for the city, camping, trekking, and almost any other adventure of hiking, exploration, or sports where water is not trustworthy. Let’s see the best travel water filter bottle available today.
From the large number of travel water filter bottle in the current market, we have chosen the best ones, based on their uniqueness, consumer popularity, and robustness.
Lifesaver Bottle Filters
Lifesaver is a high-quality bottle for those looking for the best performance. You can filter up to 4,000 liters before needing a filter change. That’s a lot of water! It is more than five years if you drink two liters of water per day. It uses a special technology that filters out bacteria, parasites, protozoa, and viruses from questionable water sources.
This travel water filter bottle is one of the most effective filters on the list and, therefore, somewhat expensive. The Lifesaver could be the best option for hikers who are out for days or weeks.
You have to pump the water through the filter, purifying 750 milliliters of water under pressure in less than a minute. You can drink directly from the bottle or pour it into separate bottles. It is also ideal for groups of hikers because it filters the water fairly quickly, obtaining filtered water for everyone in just a few minutes.
If you travel to a place with water of dubious origin, you can count on Lifesaver!
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GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle
The Grayl Ultralight is fantastic because it eliminates 99.999% of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, not breaking the bank. It also filters various chemicals such as chlorine and benzene and heavy metals such as lead and arsenic. The manufacturer says that you can get drinking water from virtually any source of fresh water in the world. In addition, it is very easy to use.
You do not need to pump water through the filter or use batteries or UV systems. Just fill the bottle and press. That is all. If you compare it with the Lifestraw, you do not need to vacuum; It is a bottle of clean water to use to your liking. A great advantage is if you need fresh water to wash your face or brush your teeth.
Eliminates the bad taste and smell. It has the best value for money for those who need to purify water from suspicious sources. The Lifesaver has a somewhat better performance but it is also bulkier and much more expensive. Without a doubt, one of the best-filtered water bottles for hiking.
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LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
The Personal Lifestraw is a drinking water filter for use on hiking or on trips where the water is not in good condition. It is ideal for hiking, hiking, travel, and emergency preparedness. The design of tube-style filters allows up to 1,000 liters of contaminated water to be converted into drinking water filtered from protozoa and bacteria. In addition, this drinking water filter carries advanced hollow fiber technology, a filtration method that does not require chemical products.
The use is very simple. Just place one end of the tube in the unfiltered water (a bottle of water, river, or even a puddle) and vacuum clean water through the top of the tube. One pass, right?
We have used it on long trips where we could not carry much water or in countries where the water had no guarantee, as in Africa.
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SteriPEN Portable Handheld UV Water Purifier
The Steripen UV is another great option if you are looking for a UV purification system. It works similarly, killing 99.99% of the DNA in bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. In this case, it does not come with a bottle. It is a device that you put in your bottle to purify it.
It has the same drawback: you should be careful with batteries. The main advantage of Steripen UV is that you can use it in any container with water.
I do not like to carry a lot of electronic equipment when I go to the mountains. However, it has a compact size and is easy to use.
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MoKo Portable Water Filter
This water filter, unlike the previous one, which is personal, is designed to be used for a whole excursion or camping.
The characteristics are similar (99.99% cleaning of bacteria and protozoa) with the same triple active carbon filter and membranes, but instead of filtering through the suction, it has incorporated a manual pump, which will collect the water from the source of untreated water, and filter it to the container or bottle that we want.
With a weight of 225 grams, it is ideal to filter the water of a whole excursion. Once 3000 liters have been filtered, you have to change the internal filter.
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Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System
The Sawyer filter is ultralight, compact, and versatile. The filter itself does not take up much space in your backpack and you can use it with one of your water bottles or with your hydration bag.
It comes with a straw, in case you want to drink directly from the water source. Eliminates 99.9999% of all bacteria and protozoa. Although it does not eliminate viruses, it is a very popular filter used by many hikers all over the world. It will work perfectly whenever you drink from clean streams.
The filter should be changed after 100,000 gallons. Includes a reusable bag, a straw, and a cleaning plunger. It is one of the best options for the minimalist hiker.
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LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles
The Lifestraw is one of the most popular bottles among hikers and backpackers. Why? Because it eliminates 99.9999% of bacteria transmitted by water. It has an excellent price and will last you a long time because you can purify up to 1,000 liters of water before you have to replace the filter. It is not the cheapest on the list, but it has a very reasonable price. Good value for money.
It uses an advanced system of fiber membranes to eliminate pathogens. There are two stages. The first stage eliminates microorganisms and chemicals and the second stage reduces chlorine and bad taste.
If you want to travel lighter or you do not have much space in your backpack, you can leave the bottle in the hostel and carry only the straw. That way, you can drink directly from a stream using the straw.
It’s lightweight, fast, and easy to use, and you can get spare filters separately. It is one of the best options for nature lovers and travelers.
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MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter Water Filter
The MSR Miniworks Ex is popular with hikers because it provides safe water in a very short time. It eliminates bacteria and protozoa and works very well filtering the water from the streams.
It does not eliminate viruses, which can be a decisive factor depending on where you go. Anyway, it is difficult to find viruses in most streams in Europe.
This model is designed to pump one liter of water per minute and store it in a bottle or hydration bag. MSR has many hydration bags available. I think it is a good option for camping and group walks. However, it is slower than other filtration methods.
Discover more and the price here
Before purchasing a travel water filter bottle
Materials
There are many materials in the market. Many people opt for stainless steel bottles because they preserve a neutral taste. If you prefer a synthetic bottle, which tends to be lighter and cheaper, you should choose a BPA-free material. BPA means bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical that is used in many plastic products.
Types of water bottles for trekking
Carbon filters
The carbon filter is simple and effective. These are the most common filters in commercial filtered water bottles. They work well because they have a large area of activated carbon that filters the water, eliminating chemicals and contaminants.
The amount of accumulated waste depends on the fineness of the filter. At a certain moment, after much use, these filters accumulate a large amount of waste and may lose their effectiveness. Therefore, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and replace them periodically.
They are very effective in eliminating chemical products such as copper, cadmium, nickel, selenium, etc., as well as bacteria, giardia, and other dangerous microorganisms. By removing many chemicals, they generally alter the taste of the water and improve it. Keep in mind that they cannot filter certain viruses when they are very small.
UV Ultraviolet Filters
These filters are not so common among backpackers and are generally more expensive. Ultraviolet filters use UV rays to penetrate microorganisms and destroy them by attacking their genetic core. They do not remove chemical compounds from water, but they are more effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and other undesirable pathogens. They do not alter the taste of water.
Chemicals
You can purify your water using chemical products. The biggest advantage is that you do not need any filter, just a bottle of water. The most common chemicals are drops and pills, and they are usually cheap. There are two disadvantages: you can flavor the water and, more importantly, you are adding chemicals to the water instead of removing them. No problem if you use them from time to time, but I do not recommend this option if you need purified water quite often.
What do you filter?
Our goal when using a purification system is to eliminate the maximum amount of contaminants and pathogens. The main groups are:
Chemicals
It is common to find a lot of chemicals in the water. Some of them, like certain minerals, are good at an adequate percentage. Others can be very harmful to our health. Sometimes we find high concentrations of fluoride, copper, salts of arsenic, radium, aluminum, mercury, cadmium, barium, and others. If you are not sure about the quality of the water, use a filter.
Bacteria, Giardia and Parasites
It is possible to find bacteria and other microorganisms in the water, especially if you drink from a river or lake. Not all bacteria are harmful and our bodies can tolerate many of them. However, there are some dangerous pathogens such as Legionella, enterococci, amoebas, giardia, Shigella, etc., which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, dysentery, and other diseases.
When traveling, you should also be very careful with what you eat, since many of these pathogens can also be found in food.
Virus
Many viruses are found in water, being much smaller than bacteria. That is why they are difficult to avoid depending on the purification method we are using. UV filters get the best results when it comes to killing viruses.
Why should change the filter?
Carbon filters trap water contaminants and become saturated after a while. The filter surface is filled and no more impurities can be absorbed. You must change the filter before reaching that point.
The frequency of filter change
The recommended frequency of filter change may vary depending on the size and type of filter used. To ensure that the filter continues to reduce contaminants and pathogens, replace it by the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Batteries
If you decide to buy a bottle with a UV filter, bring a set of spare batteries, especially if you are going on a field trip. It would not be good to run out of batteries in the middle of a trek and not be able to purify the water.
Water source
You have to consider the water source before choosing the filter. If you drink tap water and use a filter, most of the time you will get drinking water. On the other hand, if you drink water from a stream or river, it will depend on the quality of the water and the type of filter you are using. The basic models are mainly designed to purify tap water. If you think you’re going to drink water from an unsafe source, you’re going to need something more professional. That’s why some models on the list can cost up to $ 150. Because they use the most advanced systems to ensure that you are filtering all pathogens.
Think about the places you are going to visit and the possible sources of water in those places. You will not find the same water quality in Spain as in Ethiopia. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that your filtered water bottle can purify water from “questionable” sources.
If you are an adventure traveler, I recommend that you spend a little more and buy a bottle with a high-quality water filter.
Advantages of water filter bottles
Save money
Some can be quite expensive, but in the end, it will work out because you can reuse them many times. If you are in a tourist destination, paying 2 or 3 euros each time you want a bottle of water, you will end up spending a lot more.
Stay healthy
By using a filtered bottle, you can get safe water everywhere and avoid getting sick. That is the goal, right? Also, you will always have water at hand. This is very important when you go hiking due to the water that the body is losing. You should drink regularly to prevent dehydration.
If you are backpacking, you can also sweat a lot depending on the destination. Traveling in tropical countries or the Middle East with a backpack can be quite difficult. Drink lots of water and stay healthy!
Avoid altitude sickness
When you walk through high areas, your body must become progressively acclimatized. There are some steps you should take to avoid altitude sickness, and drinking lots of water is one of them. By using a filtered water bottle, you can get water easily and hydrate your body.
Be ecological
We must have a responsible and respectful attitude toward Mother Earth. There are some things we cannot change, but let’s focus on those that we can. When you buy a normal bottle of water, you are helping to produce more and more plastic that, unfortunately, often ends up in streets, rivers, and oceans. You can help protect our planet by reusing the same bottle.
Disadvantages of filtered water bottles
Space
These bottles are going to occupy a space in your backpack. For the minimalist backpacker, there are some alternatives, such as filters (without a bottle) and chemical purifiers.
What are the best bottles with water filters?
As you can see, there are many models and systems to obtain purified water. If you still have doubts, let me give you some suggestions. For those looking for something affordable and suitable for backpackers in general and trekking, I would choose the Lifestraw bottle. If you need a more effective filter for questionable sources, I would choose the Grayl Ultralight because it eliminates all pathogens and is much cheaper than Lifesaver.
For hikers who want to go light, the Sawyer filter could be the best option. It is effective, cheap, and ultralight.