August 27, 2024
Heather Mimikos
When preparing for your next outdoor adventure, there is so much to keep track of: your hiking shoes, what layers you’re going to wear, your map and compass. You might think that you’re set on water with your favorite trusty water bottle, but then you find out it is almost unanimously recommended to bring a water filter on your hike. Even the CDC has absolute emergency filtration and treatment options for hikes. But unless you want to carry around an electric heating coil when backpacking, some kind of water filter is needed.
This might seem simple enough, but trying to figure out the best water filter for your backpacking adventure becomes a lot harder than you first expected. There are thousands of options: small ones, large backpacks, even water bottles with filters—how do you know what’s best for your adventure?
Consider this your comprehensive guide to backpacking water filters. Below are five water filters, all different types, with real tips on what makes them the best for your different adventures.
1. The simplest option for family adventures
For those gorgeous mountain hikes with family along rivers or to lakes, the Puribag is a helpful and compact option. This 2.5 gallon bag can be folded and carried easily in a backpack when not in use, but can supply water for you and your fellow adventurers easily. This filter is also efficient, treating water in only 30 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about long pauses in your trip.
Plus, even if you’re new to water filter backpacking, the Puribag is incredibly easy to use, with instructions on the bag for off-the-grid hikes. By just hanging and filling up the bag, emptying the purifying packet, and mixing it in, you can have clean water anywhere you go. You also don’t have to worry about recontaminating your clean water because the device gets rid of the contaminants itself. If you are looking for a reliable filter for your family backpacking trips that is lightweight but high volume, the Puribag is a great option for you.
2. The most compact option for camping and longer trips
The ROAMFilter Mini 2 is a portable, easy-to-use option for longer trips that allows you to filter water at the source. This filter is designed to last, filtering up to 500,000 liters in its lifetime, so you don’t have to stress about clean water on your camping or long backpacking trips. Instead of lugging around four to six large jugs of clean water, the ROAMfilter is only 7 lbs and can provide clean water for 10 people in one hour. With a simple hose, the filter can take directly from a lake or river and provide purified drinking water easily.
This type of water filter for longer backpacking trips and camping trips is more efficient than smaller filters because water is not limited to a bag or a backpack. The ROAMfilter is a great, durable option for your longer adventures.
3. The unique dual option for backpackers
The Vivoblu Freedom Bundle is a unique option similar to the Puribag, but where the filter inside the backpack can be removed and used separately. The Core Family Filter, which is the filter inside, is connected to a tube (either through the backpack or on its own) that can be used as a straw to drink the filtered water. This allows for a multi-use filtration system that can be adapted for longer trips by using the backpack, or shorter trips with just the filter.
This is also one of the fastest filters on the list, allowing you to drink filtered water through the straw instantly. The backpack, like the Puribag, holds 10 L of water and is useful on longer family trips. No matter if you use the backpack or the filter alone, the Freedom Bundle is incredibly simple to use and protected on several levels with resistant outer casing. This bundle is a great choice for consistent adventurers who love a variety of hikes and camping trips.
4. The best emergency filter option
The Delta Emergency Water Filter is a perfect option to keep on-hand in your hiking backpack and even in your home. This small filter weighs less than 4 oz and can be easily folded up and kept in a pocket of your backpack at all times. This portable water filter is great for backpackers who are new to filters or might forget a filter at home—place it in your adventure backpack and you’ll never be without a filter. It’s especially good for this purpose because it doesn’t expire, so you can use it whenever you need in any emergency.
By just placing this filter on an empty bottle and pouring the contaminated water through, you will be able to instantly drink clean water. The Delta Emergency Water Filter is perfect for adventurers looking for a safe filter that will always have their back.
5. The seasoned adventurer’s water bottle
The Z-Source Water Bottle is a water bottle with a built-in microfiber filter, so you can find water to drink on the go! This water bottle is perfect for those who love the outdoors, know they’ll be out a lot, and want an easy-to-use filtration option. Unlike other filters on this list, the Z-Source combines the filter and the bottle, so all you have to do is fill it up with any water source and instantly have clean, safe drinking water. This 32-oz water bottle filtration system is great to take on all of your hikes.
Because the bottle has a built-in filter, it’s made durable with stainless steel and double walls to make sure it will withstand all your adventuring. The filter inside also works for years after first purchase. Plus, you get to choose from five solid colors and two outdoorsy patterns! The Z-Source Water Bottle is a great option for people who hike often and want to combine their water bottle and filter.
With this helpful list of the best water filters for your different backpacking adventures, hopefully you are able to find the right filter for you! Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer wanting to combine filter and water bottle, or looking for a simple filter for hikes with your family, having a water filter is so important, and now you know the filter ins and outs! If you liked these filters and are looking for other types of water filters, more like this can be found through Business Connect. Purchasing these and many more filters is a great way to ensure that you’re always drinking safe water!
