MUST READ • 12 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2022
Well, it’s no secret that water is essential for life, a point which is often strongly emphasized at one point or another in a traveler’s career! You don’t have to be in the desert to be at a loss for how to get good drinking water-you might be camped out by an entire lake, but worried about how clean or safe the water is for drinking.
Whether you’re just going on long weekend hikes or multi-month international trips, a portable water filter falls on the list of essential items for many travelers.
As we all know, the planet has a plastic problem. A BIG plastic problem. Portable water filters and purifiers help backpackers eliminate the need to purchase single use plastic bottles day after day. Plus, who goes hiking with an unopened bottle of Evian anyway?
These days I never travel without my water purifier bottle; it is an invaluable tool of the backpacking trade – because we all need to drink and we don’t want to pollute the earth or ourselves in the process.
We’ve tested all of the top backpacking water filters on the market right now. Read on to learn which water filters made the cut and which ones you should 100% steer clear of.
Quick Answer: Best Backpacking Water Filters
Grayl Geopress Water Purifier Bottle – Overall Best Backpacking Water Filter
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter – Best Lightweight Backpacking Water Filter
Grayl Geopress Water Purifier Bottle – Best Water Filter Bottle for International Travel
Epic Water Filters Epic Nalgene OG – Best Budget Backpacking Water Filter
Sawyer Mini Water Filter – Best Water Filter for Thru-Hikers
Grayl Ultralight Compact Purifier Bottle – Best Lightweight Water Filter Bottle for Backpacking
Katadyn BeFree Collapsible Water Filter Bottle – Best Water Filter for Trail Runners
Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System Kit – Best Backpacking Water Filter for Base Camp (Couples)
Katadyn Base Camp Pro 10L Water Filter – Best Backpacking Water Filter for Base Camp (Big Groups)
We’ve tested all of the top backpacking water filters on the market right now. Read on to learn which water filters made the cut and which ones you should 100% steer clear of here.
December 3, 2023
The Broke Backpacker
Ditch your desk and travel the world FOREVER.
Growth begins at the edges of your comfort: this is the mantra that has defined my journey as a budget backpacker.
More than a decade ago, I first hit the road. I was shy, I was anxious, and, most of all, I was BROKE. I had a few hundred dollars stuffed in my sock, a battered tent, an aging gas stove, and my thumb. That was it.
Actually, that wasn't it - I had one more thing. I had my ingenuity. The mind is the most powerful tool a person has at their disposal; with it, they can go ANYWHERE. And travel refines that tool.
My adventures as a budget traveller took me far; I quickly learnt that it was indeed possible to travel the world for less than $10 a day. Soon, I fell in love with offbeat travel, travelling to the "No Go Zones" of our beautiful planet. And, in time, I turned to raw and challenging adventure travel, carving trails by foot and by my trusty two-wheeled steed.
At all turns, I was taken out of my comfort zone. And at all turns, I was growing. That is what I want for YOU.
Here, you will learn HOW to become a broke backpacker. You will read our catalogue of free and epic content, you will learn the art of budget backpacking, and you will be inspired to have the same journey I did.
Except it won't be the same. It will be YOUR journey - 100% through and through. Start writing your story today, and never stop writing it. It's a wild, weird, and oh so wonderful world, amigos, and you don't need a thing to see it.
...Except your mind. And a dash of courage.
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Media Mentions
Personally, I use Sawyer’s Fabric Treatment–available in pump or spray–for my hunting and hiking clothes.
Media Mentions
Casserly’s favorite water treatment is a squeeze filter like the SAWYER SQUEEZE filtration system ($29, sawyer.com), which screws onto the included flasks or a plastic water bottle. Squeeze filters are ideal for individual use. They’re light and inexpensive, and you can drink the water immediately through the filter.
Media Mentions
While young babies should be protected with clothing and netting (not chemicals), older babies and children should use a suitable repellent to help avoid bites, discomfort, and insect-borne illnesses.
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