Water Treatment
Need help getting started? Read our four-part guide to backcountry water treatment:
Part 1: Proper Hydration
Part 2: Keeping Your Water Supply Safe
Part 3: What’s in Backcountry Water?
Part 4: Methods for Making Water Safe
Category
PurifiersPump and Gravity Filters
Bottle and Inline Filters
Chemical Treatments
Filter Accessories
Brand
PlatypusMSR
Katadyn
Sawyer
LifeStraw
Geigerrig
First Need
CamelBak
Polar Equipment
Drink Safe Systems
Price
less than $25$25 - $49.99
$50 - $99.99
$100 - $199.99
$200 - $299.99
$300 - $399.99
$400 - $499.99
$500 and above
Recent Water Treatment Product Reviews
Sawyer MINI
The go-to for almost any backpacking trip or emergency preparedness. Easy to use, inexpensive, and easy to find stores that sell these. We always bring our on overnight trips, but it's light weight enough to bring on day trips for emergencies. I have recommended this to a few friends already. We used for a multi-day trip with four people, but I would recommend the regular sized sawyer if you have more people or faster water flow. Full review
Bota of Boulder Outback Water Filtration System
The water bottle itself works pretty well, but throw in a good filter, and you have yourself a great, lightweight water bottle/filter for use in the backcountry. I purchased one of these bottles back in the late 1990s. I don't remember for sure if it was the Bota brand, or not, but I do know that it is the same drop in cartridge filter and has worked wonderfully. I've used it on multiple backpacking trips with friends over the years. A couple of my friends were so impressed by it, that they… Full review
Katadyn Hiker
On our second filter replacement, but this Katadyn (PUR) Hiker pump is still going strong after more than 20 years and dozens of trips. This filter just works! No fuss, it just keeps ticking. After dozens of multi-day backpacking trips in the mountains of central Idaho, it finally started to slow down a bit to the point that the input hose would crimp at the point of entry into the filter body. So, we replaced the filter and lubed the seals and plunger, and it felt like new and just kept on… Full review
MSR MiniWorks EX
Disappointingly slow, even after cleaning the filter. Okay for a soloist, but definitely too slow to be used by groups greater than 2 people. It is easy to clean, and the water comes out clear and without bad tastes. I researched water filters for quite a while, and must have just over-thought it all, and ended up overall pretty disappointed with the MSR MiniWorks EX. I really liked the idea of a ceramic filter that was easy to clean and wouldn't need to be replaced for a long time. So, ultimately… Full review
Platypus GravityWorks Filter System 4L
Super easy to set up, use, and take down. Set it and forget it. Packs really light! Only problem my team had was keeping the closure cap with the system. This filtration system was very effective in filtering water for six people for a three-day overnight camping trip up to Lake Lovely Water. It took approximately 45 minutes to get 3 litres of filtered water to each member for their hydration packs (18 litres total) and it was easy and fast and we were able to ready our packs while we filtered. Full review
Sawyer MINI
This is the perfect size for my get home bag. It's versatile in that it can be used with pouches or screws on to most any bottle. 100,000 gallon life makes it useful for long term water purification. Priced right! This is the perfect size for my get home bag. It's versatile in that it can be used with pouches or screws on to most any bottle. 100,000 gallon life makes it useful for long term water purification. Priced right! Full review
Sawyer MINI
Great for ultralight. I go on bicycle, climbing, diving, and mountaineering excursions frequently. I’m an ultralight nut and I won’t use anything other than a Sawyer for my water purification needs. Full review
Geigerrig In-Line Virus Filter
Best I’ve found. I have both types of filters from Aquamira. The first filters up to 50gla. It’s designed for all microbes in North America. The other I use abroad on missions trips. When used with the Geigerrig hydration system you plug inline and pump the bladder and it pressurizes the bladder. This way you never have to draw the water thru the hose. I've drank water from some of the dirtiest water through these filters and have yet to get sick. Check out their full line of filtration… Full review
Sawyer Select S1
The Sawyer Select series is a new line of purifiers/filters that offers a variety of contaminant removal, depending on one’s needs. All three models remove chemicals to .5 ppb (parts per billion), and pesticides to .01 ppb. The Sawyer Micro Squeeze filter can be used without the purifier to a .1 Micron level. Sawyer’s new Select Series is a kit that will provide potable water from virtually any freshwater source. Although this kit can be easily used in backcountry setting, it is primarily designed… Full review
Top-Rated Water Treatment
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