10 Best Backpacking Water Filtrations
for October 2023

The Survivor Filter Pro Water Purification System is compact, lightweight, and easy to use. The hand pump is convenient, but hard to operate with one hand, and it's somewhat awkward to pump water directly into the attached cup, which distorts the shape of the water. The Survivor Filter Pro's flow rate is faster than our previous pick, but still slower than most pitcher filters. The Survivor Filter Pro removes 99.999% of tested virus, bacteria, and parasites, and removes 99.99% of heavy metals, unpleasant tastes, and odors. However, the filter does not remove chloramines, which are common in public tap water. The Survivor Filter Pro also removes fluoride, but will leave a slight aftertaste, so we recommend removing the filter before drinking. The filter's flow rate is fast enough for drinking directly from the water source, and it's easy to use. The Survivor Filter Pro Water Purification System is a good choice for hikers, campers, and emergency kits, but it's less suitable for backpacking or long hikes.

The LoGest Water Survival Filter Straw Kit is small enough to fit into your backpack or purse, and it's super easy to set up. Just fill the filter with water and let it run for a few minutes, then plunge it into a container or drink directly from the straw. It removes 99.9% of bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, as well as chlorine and foul tastes and odors. This water filter survival is also meant for long-term use, so you won't have to change the filter as often. The straw is flexible, so it's comfortable to drink from, and its 600-liter capacity means it's great for camping and hiking. The straw is sturdy enough to serve as a spoon, and it's designed to fold up small enough to fit in your backpack. The package comes with two straws, so you can easily share one with someone else. The LoGest Water Filter Straw Kit is an affordable and easy to use emergency water filter system.

The NatureNova emergency water filter straw is a lightweight, compact, and affordable alternative to bulky portable water filters that require electricity or batteries. At 4.5 ounces, it's about half the weight of our top pick, and at 5.5 inches, it's only slightly shorter than that pick. The straw is lightweight and compact, making it easy to tote around. The straw has 4 filtration stages, 2 hollow fiber membranes, and 2 activated carbon screens. The filtration process takes 5 to 10 minutes, and the filter lasts 150 gallons. The filtering system is good enough to clean up water from a backcountry stream, but we wouldn't rely on it in an emergency. The filter has 0.01 microns of filtration, so it's best for clean water from rivers, lakes, and ponds. The filter does a better job with turbid water than it does with clean water, removing 99.999999% of suspended matter, but filtering out microscopic organisms and viruses is beyond its capabilities. The watermaker is not sterilizable, so it's best not to drink the water after it has gone through the filter. The filter is reusable, but you may struggle to clean it thoroughly, and it's recommended you replace filters after 150 gallons.

The Easiestsuck water filter straw is our best pick for the serious outdoorsperson who wants to purify his/her own water in the field. The smaller size of the filter pore makes this water filtration system more efficient, and it maintains the optimal flow rate (550 ml/min). The threaded bottom design is particularly convenient, and the filter straw can be used to fill a bottle with dirty water and then install the filter straw for drinking. It filters out bacteria, viruses, parasites, rust, dirt, silt, and chlorine, so the water you drink is safe and clean. The filter straw has a 1.4 inch diameter, so you can fill a 16 ounce bottle with dirty water, and the filter straw can filter 550 ml or 16 ounces of water. This water filter straw also has a built-in LED flashlight and light, which is useful when hiking or camping at night. Overall, it is an excellent water filter straw with reasonable price and good performance.

The Survivor Filter Pro X, from Survivor Products, is the first portable electric water filter we tested. And it's the best-performing one. Its performance, which is 100 percent better (as measured by its ability to remove bacteria and protozoa) than any other electric filter we tested, makes it the best overall water filter we tested. Its portability is also impressive. The battery lasts 5 hours, and the adapter plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car. The filter itself fits easily into a 1-liter Nalgene bottle. The filter is reusable, but it's expensive, and it uses a lot of electricity, so it's best suited for emergencies. The filter may not be suitable for everyday drinking water, but in an emergency, or if you're going on an extended outdoor adventure, it's a good bet.

The Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter is our favorite lightweight water filter, and it's our pick for backpacking and camping. The filter is compact and lightweight, and it weighs just 11 ounces. The Katadyn Hiker Pro is easy to clean: just remove the filter protector and field clean the carbon filter. The filter also has a size indicator, so you can see when it's time to change your filter. The flow rate is 1.5 liters per minute, which is fast enough for most hikers and campers, and the filter is capable of handling 1.5 liters of water per minute. The Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter is also effective against bacteria and protozoan cysts, and it outperforms the Lifestraw, which we tested. The Hiker Pro filter is also compatible with hydration bladders, and it's one of the few filters that's approved by UL (Underwriters Laboratories).

The LoGest is a high-quality portable water purifier that performs well, and it incorporates a number of key features that make it worth our recommendation. The pump filter has a 4-stage filtration system that removes 99% of harmful substances, including bacteria, parasites, protozoa, heavy metals, and more, and the filters are designed to prevent recontamination. LoGest is also one of the smallest portable water purifiers we tested, at 6.5" x 3" x 1.2", and it includes 2 collapsible water bottles, so you can easily carry the water with you. The pump filter has a durable, leak-proof construction, and it's easy to operate. The filter cartridges are easy to change, and the pump filter has a 30-day guarantee, so you can buy with confidence. The only drawback to LoGest is that its collapsible water bottles aren't insulated, so you'll need to drink the water quickly or store it in the refrigerator.

The GravityWorks 2.0 Liter Complete Water Filter Kit from Platypus is the most versatile and adaptable filter for camping, backpacking, trekking, and survival. It hangs from a tree, attaches to a hydration bladder or water bottle, and is compatible with accessories that include a water bottle adapter, bottle push/pull cap adapter, hollow-fiber filter, and universal bottle adapter. The filter's flow rate is 1.5 liters per minute, and it can produce up to 1,500 gallons of clean water before needing replacement. The filter's cartridges are replaceable, and they come in two sizes (0.2 and 0.5 microns), so you can filter water for 1-4 people. The kit also comes with a 2-liter dirty water reservoir, 2-liter Platy bottle, and hoses. The GravityWorks 2.0 Liter Complete Water Filter Kit is durable, well-made, and functions well. The filter's flow rate is fast enough to pump from a lake or stream, and the filter and reservoir are waterproof. The filter's replacement cartridge filters are made of 100 percent polypropylene, which is durable and easy to clean. The kit has a durable storage bag, and it's made in the USA.

The Purewell water filter pump is one of our top picks for both outdoor emergency and survival kits. It's fast, compact, and versatile, and it's easy to use, which makes this filter pump a good choice for anyone from campers to hikers to survivalists. The Purewell pump has 4 stages, including a 0.01 micron filter, which removes impurities, including bacteria, viruses, and other parasites. The filter pump also has a shut-off valve, which makes it easy to use, and it can filter up to 793 gallons (3,000 liters) of contaminated water before needing to replace the filter. The Purewell is durable, and the filter pump is light, making it easy to bring with you on outdoor excursions. The Purewell filter pump is also less expensive than most portable outdoor water filters, which makes it a great choice for anyone looking to stock up on survival gear.

The LifeStraw Go water filter is of similar size and design to the original LifeStraw, but the Go version has a hollow, cylindrical shape and is much lighter. It's shorter than the original, and narrower, too, making it easier to carry, though some backpackers may prefer the wider version. The Go version also has a 2-stage filtration process, with a removable filter straw and an internal membrane filter. The filter straw has 2 layers, with the top layer made of hollow fiber. The hollow fiber layer filters out larger particles, and the inner layer filters out smaller particles. The filter straw can be removed and rinsed, which removes any residue from the filter, and the internal membrane filter should be replaced every 1,000 liters or after 3 months of heavy use. The filter straw is simple enough for kids to use, and it's designed so users can drink directly from the filter. The filter straw is also easier to clean than filters in other systems. The LifeStraw Go is more compact and lightweight than the original LifeStraw, and its 2-stage filtration system is easier to clean and maintain. The LifeStraw Go filters out larger particles and inner layer filters out smaller particles. The filter straw also makes it easier to drink directly from the filter, and it's easy to clean.