Whether you’re spending a few nights in the woods or simply enjoying an afternoon hike, you need to stay hydrated with clean drinking water. Even if you’re camping in some of the most unspoiled places on Earth, there are parasites that can contaminate the water. As you can guess, this would seriously put a damper on your sojourn through the backcountry. It’s crucial to have a treatment system like a high-quality filter, to take parasites from the water so you can safely stay hydrated.
Wondering what water treatment system is best for your needs? Here’s our list of the best water filtering products for avid campers and hikers.
1. Survivor Water Bottle
The AquaSpace® Survivor Water Bottle ranks top on the list due to its ability to remove 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, and cysts from contaminated water. This option also uses a patented AquaSpace® Compound as a chemical reduction, effectively removing lead, chlorine, herbicides, pesticides, VOCS, and other chemicals from the water. It’s ideal to take on short hikes or long camping trips.
The Survivor Water Bottle is ideal for use on municipal or well water systems. If you’re camping or hiking essentials near natural sources of water like streams, rivers, lakes, ponds or springs, this is the bottle for you. With a long-lasting filter and a comfortable flow rate, this bottle makes it easy to stay hydrated on all your outdoor excursions.
2. AquaBuddy™
Another great option from AquaSpace® is the AquaBuddy™. This handy, lightweight bottle delivers consistently crisp, clean, and great-tasting water while you’re hiking or camping. There are three special technologies at work here to ensure you get the cleanest water on-the-go. The filters remove a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds, make water more antioxidant, and even include hydrating magnets to help make the water more bio-available throughout your body.
This is the best option if you’re hiking or camping in an area with access to tap water or water fountains. Just fill the bottle with water and it filters as you sip.
3. Aquatomic® Water Bottle
The Aquatomic® Water Bottle is a durable stainless-steel bottle with an insulated carry bag. The best part about this option is that it keeps your water cool for the entire day. When you’re spending time outside on a hot day, you’ll really appreciate the quality of the insulated carry bag. This model is especially ideal for hiking. It’s a convenient way to carry your home filtered water as you explore nature for a day. And, thanks to the Aquatomic® Hydrating Magnets, you’ll experience a better level of hydration every time you take a sip.
4. Sawyer Squeeze
One of the most popular on-the-go filtration systems is the Sawyer Squeeze. Hikers especially like this product because of its innovative design. Not only is this product lightweight, making it highly portable, it’s also packable—you can easily fit it in a running bag or even a pocket.
While this model comes with filtration bags, they break fairly easily and require frequent replacement. Another drawback to the Sawyer Squeeze is that reduced flow rates sometimes occur—you’ll need to bring the cleaning syringe with you and clean after a few filtrations. Its portability and versatility make this a great model to take on short hikes, but you might want to choose another option for longer excursions.
5. Seychelle Water Filter Bottle
Whether you’re going on a long hike or a weekend camping trip, the Seychelle Water Filter Bottle is great to have on hand. This model features a super-strong filter that can remove bacteria and agricultural run-off. If you’ll be near any streams or lakes, this bottle makes the water safe for drinking. While it’s a lightweight squeeze bottle, it’s not collapsible—it takes up quite a bit of space if you’re planning to put it in a travel pack.
6. Katadyn BeFree
The Katadyn BeFree is a unique option with a collapsible bottle. You can scoop up the water you find, and the suction of your mouth forces the water through the filter to clean it. The filtration is one of the best in terms of functionality, and the design makes the entire thing incredibly lightweight and easy to pack.
The main drawback to this model is the bottle itself—its durability is questionable, and it consistently springs leaks. In spite of this, the filter can be used over and over again on other bottles. It’s a good option if you need a lightweight filtration system that’s easy to pack and use on-the-go.
7. The Outback
The Outback’s collaboration with Nalgene is a sturdy water bottle with a quality filter. It’s able to trap particles and bacteria from both natural or tap water. This is another model that takes up quite a bit of space, and might not be the best option if you’re looking to travel light.
8. LifeStraw Go
If you plan on trekking through the wilderness, whether for one day or several, you need a water treatment system with a filter that removes bacteria, parasites, protozoa and particulates. The LifeStraw Go features a medium-quality filter. It’s great if you’re hiking or camping in an area with natural water sources like lakes or rivers.
Keep in mind, though, that this option doesn’t offer complete protection. While the LifeStraw Go can trap larger microorganisms, it doesn’t perform as well as other models on the market when it comes to other organics and inorganic contaminants.
9. Camelbak Groove
The Camelbak Groove is a handy bottle to take on the go. It softens the water by removing harmless minerals. This filtration system only impacts the taste of the water—it won’t remove any bacteria or microorganisms. They’ll slip through the filter easily, potentially causing you to get sick. If you need a water bottle that can filter water from questionable sources, even crystal-clear lakes, you might want to look for one with a more robust filter. Day hikers, this one’s for you!
Whether you’re on an extended camping trip or you need a water bottle with a filter for travel, you need to stay hydrated. A reliable filtered water bottle is an important piece of equipment that helps you explore nature in the safest and most enjoyable way. Choose your water bottle wisely, and you’ll get maximum enjoyment from your excursions in the great outdoors.
