Water Treatment

Recent Water Treatment Product Reviews

Platypus QuickDraw MicroFilter

Without a doubt Platypus has a very clear understanding of what its customers are looking for in a water filter, resulting in the Platypus Quickdraw Microfilter. From my perspective, it is the number one hollow-fiber membrane water filter design available today for solo through hikers or anyone looking to buy their very first water filter. The well designed Quickdraw Microfilter is a hollow-fiber membrane water filter that takes a few evolutionary steps from an integration and maintenance perspective… Full review

SteriPEN Adventurer

Lightweight and easy to use water filtration system. I have had my Adventurer for more than 10 years. It works using a UV light. I was skeptical about this, but my dad used to design sewage treatment plants and said "oh yeah, that will do it." The Steripen itself is very compact—about 2 inches wide and about 8 inches long. I have even stuffed it in a purse when flying across the country. This was a huge benefit over the  Katadyn Hiker pump I had been using previously in both weight (SteriPen… Full review

SteriPEN Ultralight UV Purifier

I bought this product years ago, when it was newly on the market. There are too many "Caution Statements" not fully covered in the instructions. All of this may have been addressed since then... Perhaps not. (From ORIGINAL Instruction Booklet)Notice in the instruction book's photo, there are NO DROPLETS on the glass, above the water line… Because they will NOT be cleaned. Cautions—not fully explained! These are not listed or explained in the instruction booklet! When you dip your Nalgene bottle… Full review

SteriPEN Ultralight UV Purifier

2.6 ounces, no pumping, nothing to clog, 90 seconds treated water I have a Steripen Adventurer that I've used off and on for several years.  It's never given me any trouble, but utilizes CR123 batteries, while my headlamps use AAA. It's pretty light, but not crazy light. The Steripen Ultralight weighs under 3 oz (2.6 oz) and is very compact. It utilizes a rechargeable battery (via a USB Micro). I purchased one a couple of months ago and took it on a short (3 days/2 nights) backpacking trip. It… Full review

Katadyn Mini

This filter is an overpriced dog. As it is small I give it the 2.5 stars, but the 2.5 minus is based on practical use and volume of water per pumping labor time. It is slow and ridiculously slow... Thumb size replacement filter cartridges are expensive!! For the amount of work you have to do I would just filter the water through a coffee filter and drop some tabs in it. I took this on a motorcycle trip in the backcountry cycle trails and used it to fill my drinking system from creeks and lakes to… Full review

MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier

The MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier is an all-in-one water treatment system that is ideal for groups, or people needing potable water in larger volumes. Not only removing bacteria, protozoa, sediment and particulate, MSR’s new flagship purifier also removes the tiniest viruses, while also using activated charcoal to improve flavor and reduce chemicals. The Guardian’s new purge valve quickly and easily cleans the filter to maximize flow rate, removing debris. Mountain Safety Research (MSR) is no… Full review

Grayl Ultralight

The Grayl UL is heavier and more expensive than in-line filters like the Sawyer Mini or Squeeze. But when we consider that it doesn’t require a container and also filters out viruses and chemicals/odors, it shows some advantages. It’s an all-in-one solution, good for outdoor use, but perhaps even more for emergencies: for those qualities I keep one new in my bug-out-bag. I see the Grayl UL as more of an all-in-one solution to water treatment and storage than a simple filtration system. I can… Full review

Grayl GeoPress

For day hikers and overnight adventurers, fill this beauty up with water at the start of your hike and when you find a water source, drink what you have and refill the Grayl. Original reviews talked about how difficult it is to press (filter) the water, think of a french press coffee maker, not hard at all and I am quite small. I love this simple, perfect system This is an easy to use, effective, fast source of filtered water. The capacity of fresh water that is also stored directly in the french-press… Full review

Grayl GeoPress

The easiest and likely fastest filter of its caliber on the market. Takes absolutely disgusting water and turns it into purified clean, tasty water. Wife and I use this on camping trips. So super simple and fast, very tough as far as the hardware pieces go. We like to backcountry hike and camp. The $80-$90 cost for this filter, with regard to the ease and safeness of the water you get, is worth each and every penny.  Full review