International Header

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

We tested backpacking water filters and treatment systems to find the best option for your adventures.

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

Last updated:
March 3, 2025
|  5 min read

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

YouTube video highlight

We tested backpacking water filters and treatment systems to find the best option for your adventures.

Read more about the project

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

No items found.

The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

The Best Backpacking Water Treatment
Our filtration gurus have bought and tested 23 of the best water filters and treatment systems designed for backpacking. We brought these filters along on various adventures, from climbing trips in Peru to running expeditions across the USA to fastpacking adventures in Iceland. We evaluated portability and ease of maintenance in the field while also investigating critical aspects such as what each model removes from the water and how long it takes to process one potable liter of water.

For a party of one, the Sawyer Squeeze is a perfect companion. This fast and light filtration system produces some of the highest quality water in our testing. However, if you're out with a group of friends, you're going to need something with a little more volume. In this case, the Platypus GravityWorks is a great option with a 4-liter capacity and a relatively fast filter rate.

Continue reading to learn more about the best backpacking water filters, written by Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny.

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

The Best Backpacking Water Treatment
Our filtration gurus have bought and tested 23 of the best water filters and treatment systems designed for backpacking. We brought these filters along on various adventures, from climbing trips in Peru to running expeditions across the USA to fastpacking adventures in Iceland. We evaluated portability and ease of maintenance in the field while also investigating critical aspects such as what each model removes from the water and how long it takes to process one potable liter of water.

For a party of one, the Sawyer Squeeze is a perfect companion. This fast and light filtration system produces some of the highest quality water in our testing. However, if you're out with a group of friends, you're going to need something with a little more volume. In this case, the Platypus GravityWorks is a great option with a 4-liter capacity and a relatively fast filter rate.

Continue reading to learn more about the best backpacking water filters, written by Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Contributing Writers
Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny
After finishing up her B.Sc and B.Ed in 2009, Amber moved to the U.S.A from Canada.
Media Mentions

Gear Lab: The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025

The Best Backpacking Water Treatment
Our filtration gurus have bought and tested 23 of the best water filters and treatment systems designed for backpacking. We brought these filters along on various adventures, from climbing trips in Peru to running expeditions across the USA to fastpacking adventures in Iceland. We evaluated portability and ease of maintenance in the field while also investigating critical aspects such as what each model removes from the water and how long it takes to process one potable liter of water.

For a party of one, the Sawyer Squeeze is a perfect companion. This fast and light filtration system produces some of the highest quality water in our testing. However, if you're out with a group of friends, you're going to need something with a little more volume. In this case, the Platypus GravityWorks is a great option with a 4-liter capacity and a relatively fast filter rate.

Continue reading to learn more about the best backpacking water filters, written by Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Contributing Writers
Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny
After finishing up her B.Sc and B.Ed in 2009, Amber moved to the U.S.A from Canada.
Media Mentions
browse all articles
Here at Sawyer
January 8, 2026
6 Min
KBTX: College Station Virtual Golf facility Combines Indoor Entertainment With International Charity Work
Read More

Media Mentions

This EPA-approved picaridin formula is safe and effective, and it comes in a bottle that’s better than that of competitors at spraying evenly and accurately.

Wirecutter Staff
Staff Writers

Media Mentions

The Sawyer stayed with me the entire way and I didn’t have to replace it.

Ranger
Hiker

Media Mentions

This attachment also allows you to back flush your filter.

Purple Rain Adventure Skirts
Website
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory