Water Treatment

Recent Water Treatment Product Reviews

LifeSaver Bottle

It does filter water, but the whole design is poorly thought out and low functioning. It is the least practical item of travel gear I own. The design is so unbelievably poor I’m amazed they got it through R&D. It leaks constantly, it’s bulky and heavy, the strap isn’t even designed to make it easy to carry, the whole thing is so poorly thought out it beggars belief. Does the filter work? Yes, it filters out bacteria and viruses. I used it for 10 days on Jordan tap water and had no issues… Full review

Aquamira WaterBasics RED Line Filter Bottle

The Aquamira Red Line filter blocks 99% of bacteria and microbes, plus 99% of viruses. Handy for dipping in the stream on the trail and drinking immediately Aquamira Red Filter Bight that Valve!* Well—the bite valve came off the filter and I had to futz with it to put it back on the filter. May be a hazard of bite valves in general. Was told about Aquamira filter systems by a veteran mountaineer friend. He found it the most efficient way of staying supplied with water in the backcountry. Last… Full review

Katadyn BeFree 0.6L

Works well when it works, but seems to be unreliable. My filter malfunctioned after just 10 days of use in the field, even though I followed the instructions in the manual. I purchased a BeFree filter in March 2018 and used it for a total of 10 days on hiking and kayaking trips here in Australia before the pandemic started. It worked well in that time with a good rate of flow and I liked how simple and compact it was, enabling me to easily filter water even when inside my tent. Two weeks ago, on… Full review

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti

Avoid this company The first SteriPen I got, I never got to use.  I tried it at home a couple of times for a couple minutes. Packed it away for 6 months. Pulled it out when I need to actually use it and it never turned on. Charged it, etc... it just stopped working. I think this company is no longer around because when I looked, I couldn't find any contact information. If it is, they rose from the grave. Stay away. Great idea, but a product you can in no way count on. Full review

SteriPEN Adventurer Opti

It works really well. Trusted my health with it on third world travel. I traveled all over India from Sri Lanka in the south to the Himalayas in the north with a 32oz Nalgene bottle and my SteriPen Adventurer Opti. Trusted this product fully with sterilizing my water. If I hadn't used the pen, I would have been sick as a dog like some of my traveling companions who risked it all and didn't heed my warning. Just swish it around in the water for a minute or two while the UV light kills proto and giardia. Full review

Platypus GravityWorks Push-Pull Cap Adapter

MEC description: "This adapter allows Platypus GravityWorks systems to filter and backflush directly with most hydration systems and Platypus bottles that have a push-pull cap." I recommend this piece of equipment for adding functionality to a gravity water filter system. Platypus GravityWorks In-Line Adapter I have the Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Filter System and this adapter fits perfectly on Platypus push-pull caps which can be purchased separately or come with some Platypus bottles. I just take… Full review

Grayl GeoPress

The GeoPress is fast and clean, never leaks, and does a better job of providing super clear water than my Lifestraw did. You do have to use a fair amount of pressure to push it down, but the excellent results are worth it. Oh, and it is also easier to clean with a quick rinse. Use this just like a water bottle—plunge and you are good to go. I have filtered lots of river and pond water with excellent results. No muss, no fuss.   If you are just filtering municipal water, get a cheaper, lighter… Full review

Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter System

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