International Header

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems.

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Last updated:
February 19, 2025
|  5 min read

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

YouTube video highlight

Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems.

Read more about the project

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

No items found.

The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems. It’s a question that many hikers struggle with every year (unless you don’t believe in treating because your thru-hiking power level is over 9,000) – how to turn delicious pathogen-filled water sources into delicious won’t-get-you-sick water sources on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Although many PCT thru-hikers say things like “I only filter my water in the desert” or “I don’t filter above 10,000 ft (3,048 m)” or “People don’t get sick from not filtering, they get sick from not washing their hands” this does not mean you should give up treating your water (but you should definitely be washing your hands). Do you know how often I treat my water? Always. Do you know how many times I’ve been sick because of contaminated water? Zero. I’m not saying I had to filter my water all those times, but it’s like my parents always told me: better safe than sorry (or “get off the damn internet, I need to use the phone!” Remember those days? No? You’re lucky).

Continue reading to learn more, written by Mac.

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems. It’s a question that many hikers struggle with every year (unless you don’t believe in treating because your thru-hiking power level is over 9,000) – how to turn delicious pathogen-filled water sources into delicious won’t-get-you-sick water sources on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Although many PCT thru-hikers say things like “I only filter my water in the desert” or “I don’t filter above 10,000 ft (3,048 m)” or “People don’t get sick from not filtering, they get sick from not washing their hands” this does not mean you should give up treating your water (but you should definitely be washing your hands). Do you know how often I treat my water? Always. Do you know how many times I’ve been sick because of contaminated water? Zero. I’m not saying I had to filter my water all those times, but it’s like my parents always told me: better safe than sorry (or “get off the damn internet, I need to use the phone!” Remember those days? No? You’re lucky).

Continue reading to learn more, written by Mac.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Contributing Writer
Mac
Tyler 'Mac' Fox, the voice behind Halfway Anywhere, is a multifaceted adventurer, thru-hiker, bikepacker, ultrarunner, and van dweller, after a pivotal experience thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013.
Reviews

Halfway Anywhere: The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

The Best Pacific Crest Trail Water Filters

Using the data from the Pacific Crest Trail survey, I’ve come up with a list of the best PCT water filters and treatment systems. It’s a question that many hikers struggle with every year (unless you don’t believe in treating because your thru-hiking power level is over 9,000) – how to turn delicious pathogen-filled water sources into delicious won’t-get-you-sick water sources on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Although many PCT thru-hikers say things like “I only filter my water in the desert” or “I don’t filter above 10,000 ft (3,048 m)” or “People don’t get sick from not filtering, they get sick from not washing their hands” this does not mean you should give up treating your water (but you should definitely be washing your hands). Do you know how often I treat my water? Always. Do you know how many times I’ve been sick because of contaminated water? Zero. I’m not saying I had to filter my water all those times, but it’s like my parents always told me: better safe than sorry (or “get off the damn internet, I need to use the phone!” Remember those days? No? You’re lucky).

Continue reading to learn more, written by Mac.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Contributing Writer
Mac
Tyler 'Mac' Fox, the voice behind Halfway Anywhere, is a multifaceted adventurer, thru-hiker, bikepacker, ultrarunner, and van dweller, after a pivotal experience thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013.
Reviews
browse all articles
Here at Sawyer
November 18, 2025
6 Min
Backpacker: The 11 Best Gifts for Hikers of 2025
Read More

Media Mentions

The Sawyer Squeeze just screws on the top of the Smartwater bottle, allowing me to fill it with untreated water and simply squeeze filtered water into my mouth.

Hiking Guy
Media Mentions from Hiking Guy

Media Mentions

Insect repellents come in lotions, sprays, wipes, balms and even patches, but there are three primary anti-bug ingredients that can safely be used on children: DEET, picaridin and essential oils.

Baby List
Media Mentions from Baby List

Media Mentions

Finding the best bug spray and mosquito repellents on the market isn't just in your family's best interest—it's practically a can't-do-without necessity.

Anna Mahan
Associate Commerce Editor
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory