A bicyclist tipping his head back drinking out of a water filter pouch.
A bicyclist tipping his head back drinking out of a water filter pouch.

The best backpacking water filters worth carrying

When traveling through the backcountry, water is life, and knowing where to find water and how to purify or filter water are essential wilderness skills. At 8.34 pounds per gallon, water is also one of the heaviest things to strap on your back, so being able to replenish water along the way lightens your load and extends how far you can travel. In an emergency or survival situation, being able to access safe water could mean the difference between life and death, as humans can go about three weeks without food but only three days without water. Water is life, and you never want to be caught without it.

There are a lot of portable water filters and purifiers on the market, so we reviewed the best backpacking water filters out of all of them to help you make the purchase that’s right for you. Shop smart and stay hydrated — or else.

Continue reading the complete article by Joe Plenzler here.

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Media Mentions from Task & Purpose
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Media Mentions

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Zoe Gates
Editor at Backpacker

Media Mentions

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
Hiker

Media Mentions

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker