May lays on backpack while drinking from Sawyer mini filter
May lays on backpack while drinking from Sawyer mini filter

Best Backpacking Water Filters 2021

When you’re out hiking, clean water is important. In the wilderness, there’s plenty of water to be found, but it’s not necessarily clean. There are so many different bacteria, parasites and viruses that live in rivers, streams, and puddles, that you can’t just fill a water bottle with it straight away.

That’s why you need one of the best water filters for backpacking. I’ve done all the research and narrowed down to the Best Ultralight Water Filters for Backpacking in 2021.

Best Lightweight Water Filters For Backpacking

Here are the Best Water Filters for Backpacking in 2021.

  • LifeStraw Personal
  • Sawyer MINI
  • GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier
  • Katadyn Vario
  • Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent
  • Katadyn BeFree 0.6L
  • EHS Water Filter
  • Waterdrop Gravity
  • SimPure Water Filter Straw

You can read detailed reviews on the best backpacking water filters, written by Brad McCartney here

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Media Mentions from Bike Hike Safari
Bike Hike Safari

Hi there, I’m Brad McCartney from Australia. I set up BikeHikeSafari to document my life as an Adventure Cyclist, Hiker, Photographer and Nature Lover. Somehow it turned into so much more than that and is now a resource for all thing Hiking, Backpacking, Thru Hiking, Bikepacking and Bicycle Touring. With a combination of hiking gear reviews, gear lists, info on hiking trails and bicycle touring destination guides.

I started this website by accident after suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I quit my career as a Police Officer and followed my dream to cycle and hike the most amazing places on the planet and was looking for some way to document my journey.

Media Mentions

It all starts with Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L, the best and most reliable filter-bladder combo and the core of my backpacking water storage and filtration system.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Media Mentions

Our top water filter for thru hiking, the Sawyer Squeeze, is 15% off.

Naomi Hudetz
Chief Operating Officer & Online Editor

Media Mentions

People with alpha-gal syndrome show allergic symptoms such as rash, nausea and vomiting after eating such meat.

Stephanie Soucheray
Reporter