Best filtered water bottles for 2022 to remove bacteria, sediment, and more

Don't let bacteria get the best of you. Find out which filtered water bottles are best for outdoors and tap water.

It doesn't matter whether you're heading out for a day hike, or spending a few weeks in the backcountry, there are few things more critical than making sure you'll have access to clean drinking water. Boiling water can help make it potable, but requires quite a bit of equipment, and it's not exactly practical to lug around large quantities of clean water with you on the trail. That's what a filtered water bottle is a must-have for hikers and campers of all experience levels. In fact, it could be the most crucial piece of adventuring equipment in you backpack.

While many sources of groundwater and tap water are perfectly safe, it's never worth the risk to drink from an unfamiliar water source. Even if a water source looks clean, it could be nonpotable contaminated water with viruses, harmful bacteria, protozoa or other microorganisms invisible to the human eye. If you've ever been sick from drinking water, you know that waterborne bacteria are no joke. And despite the Safe Drinking Water Act, tap water can still contain contaminants such as lead, chlorine, arsenic, pesticides and even particles from malfunctioning wastewater treatment. Why not give a filtered water bottle a spin instead?

Some reasons you may want to say goodbye to using a plastic water bottle or disposable water bottles and invest in a filtered water bottle to keep you hydrated:

• You're unsure about your tap water
• You travel to other states and countries where you don't know about water practices and it might contain harmful contaminants
• You go hiking, backpacking or on other outdoor adventures
• You prefer bottled water but want to reduce your plastic waste

To that end, I tested six filtered water bottles to find the best filtered water bottle you can trust to provide you with clean, safe water, indoors or out. Read the results here.