11 Best Portable Water Filters: The Ultimate List
A highly packable and portable water filter is a pivotal survival item EVERY outdoorsman and traveler should own. If you enjoy spending time in the great outdoors or in parts of the world where water quality is questionable, then owning a water filtration system is an absolute must.
Lightweight and packable water filters allow you to carry less packed water while hiking or traveling and of course, provide you with emergency access to clean water. Those who hike even a few miles from the beaten path are wise to own a portable water filter for both convenience and safety. Packing water is heavy, and going without it for any duration is simply not an option.
All of our selected filters have been chosen for their portability, effectiveness, and lifespan, so don’t rule these units out for at-home emergency use!
What Are The Best Portable Water Filters?
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System
- Super lightweight (2 ounces) and fits in the palm of your hand
- Highly affordable
- Inredible lifespan (100,000 gallons of water!)
Sawyer Products One-Gallon Gravity Water Filtration System
- Gravity-based water filtering system
- Includes MINI Water Filter, 1-gallon bladder, cleaning plunger, cleaning coupling, and gravity hose with adapters;
- High-performance 0.1 Micron absolute inline filter fits in the palm of your hand (2 ounces)
Sawyer Products Select Series Water Purifiers
- Only 10 seconds for 20 ounces of filtered-water output
- Incredible lifespan
- Both a filter and a vessel for water
Explore the entire list written by Harry Spampinato in more detail here.
May 4, 2022
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LIFE OUTDOORS
MEDIA MENTIONS
My only complaint is that eventually, backflushing won’t be enough. These can clog up after some time and no amount of back flushing will fix its low flow. I went through 2 on the AT. However, it will attach to Smart Water Bottles and most bladders!
MEDIA MENTIONS
Built for backcountry reliability and portability, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is our pick for the best portable water purifier.
MEDIA MENTIONS
The Sawyer Squeeze was (by far) the most common Pacific Crest Trail water filter this year – for the fifth year in a row. It’s a $39, 3 oz / 85 g hollow fiber filter that rids your drinking water of protozoa and bacteria (and floaties). It can be used with Sawyer bags (included with the filter) or with compatible water bottles (Smartwater is the bottle of choice for many hikers).
