The Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2023

This water filter system is the gold standard for many thru-hikers and backpackers across the globe. The Sawyer Squeeze ($39) filters down to 0.1 microns, making it effective against bacteria and protozoa (thus, slightly more effective and safer than other filters).

It has a great flow rate and comes with a kit to attach to a hydration bladder as well. Thanks to the combination of price and weight, it earns the distinction as the best backpacking water filter.

The Sawyer Squeeze has over 1,000 five-star ratings. Top feedback from customers includes the ultralight trail weight, the ease of use (specifically the reusable roll-up squeeze pouch), and the durability over time.

Many customers love that there are no annoying tubes — you just screw the filter onto the squeeze bag or a bottle (Smartwater bottles work best), and drink. For overall ease of use and durability, this filter has earned its place at the top of the list.

The LifeStraw Personal ($20) is one of the most consistently high-rated water filters of all time. The simple straw-style filter uses a hollow-fiber membrane that filters out bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics down to 0.2 microns (the standard for water filters). It’s also the lightest on the market at 2 ounces and costs only $20.

That said, it’s only good for drinking water directly from the source and doesn’t work for filtering larger quantities into bottles, so it definitely has its limitations. For long-distance backpacking, you’ll probably need a secondary water filtration method. But it’s a great budget pick and solid option for emergency kits, backpacking, hiking, bugout bags, or international travel.

The LifeStraw works great, whether you’re going on a day hike or a month-long backcountry excursion. Our reviewers especially liked how easy it is to pack and carry, and we appreciate the clear taste on output.

For the ultra-minimalist, or the backpacker who wants an easy-to-use option they can pull straight from an outer pocket of their pack, the LifeStraw Personal is a must-have.

To justify taking anything on an extended thru-hike it needs to be dependable, lightweight, and durable enough to last for months of torture. Today, you usually see one of two popular filters being used by long-distance hikers going the length of trails like the PCT and AT: the Sawyer Squeeze or the Katadyn BeFree ($45).

One of the authors of this guide has taken the BeFree on three different thru-hikes across America, and has nothing but praise for this tiny ultralight wonder. At 2.3 ounces it barely registers in your pack, has a lifespan of 1,000 L, and a flow rate of 2 liters per minute, bumping it just ahead of the Squeeze and many others in the flow department.

Its 0.1-micron microfilter allows you to confidently gulp down any water you encounter on a long trail (though the murky cow troughs in New Mexico on the CDT did have our tester filtering twice), and the high flow rate means you’re not wasting a bunch of energy just to get a sip in. The wide mouth of the flexible flask allows it to fill up in just a couple of scoops, and you can clean the filter by simply swishing water around in the flask.

It’s not flawless, though. First, it isn’t as versatile as the Squeeze in that it won’t fit over standard water bottle mouths (this isn’t an issue if you plan to just use the included flask). Second, it tends to clog a little faster in filthy water than other filters, including the Squeeze.

Those gripes aside, this is still the top pick for hundreds of long-distance hikers, and for good reason. If you’re looking for an ultralight filter with a solid flow rate for long adventures, don’t pass the BeFree 0.6L by.

If you really don’t want to sacrifice weight for a filter, chemical treatment is a great option. Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets ($16) have been a top choice over the years, thanks to their purifying powers and easy-to-use instructions.

Some claim there is a slight aftertaste, although we like these much better than other chemical treatments. Also, many users agree that learning the wait times is important. The tablets destroy viruses and bacteria in 15 minutes, but it takes 4 hours to kill the pesky cryptosporidium parasite.

For backpacking trips, you can use tablets in the evening to ensure that you have clean water for the next day. These are also great options for trips where you’re operating out of a backcountry base camp for side excursions. Most filters have the potential to fail, so having a few of these tablets stashed away for emergencies is smart.

Gravity filters use the force of gravity to pull water through the filter. For that reason, they’re extremely user-friendly. Just fill it with dirty water, hang it, and come back in a few minutes to find filtered water waiting in another container.

They work great for larger groups or when you want to filter a lot of water all at once. They’re also quite light, given their speed and ease of use.

At just 6.8 ounces, the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter ($75) is the lightest gravity filter on this list. The Katadyn BeFree filters 3 liters at a time and comes with a quick-connect output hose to easily fill multiple bottles, pots, or bladders.

It also doesn’t require common filter maintenance like backflushing. Similar to the Sawyer Squeeze, the flow rate is great, and because the bag rolls down, it’s fairly packable.

It came in behind the Sawyer Squeeze overall, largely because it’s more expensive. For those who don’t mind spending a little more or are traveling as a bigger group in the backcountry, this is definitely one of the best backpacking water filters available. It’s proven itself over many backpacking and hunting trips in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.

The Katadyn BeFree system can filter smaller particles down to 0.1 microns. The majority of reviewers love that it’s both easy to use and clean.

For more info, check out our full review of the Katadyn BeFree Gravity Filter.

The GRAYL GEOPRESS ($100) uses electroabsorption and activated carbon to purify water. Simply fill, press down, and drink. It is that fast. (And yes, the convenience, fast filter time, and quality of this filter make it worth the $100.)

This is truly the best if you’re drinking from really sketchy, off-grid water sources or want a filter for backpacking that isn’t a bladder and hose system. The GRAYL protects against heavy metals, chemicals, and viruses in addition to common protozoa and bacteria.

We’ve tested this filter abroad and love it for international travel. It’s ideal for when you may want to filter all tap water before drinking, and it works wonderfully as a constant companion to keep you hydrated on the go.

We’ve also used it backpacking and thru-hiking on the Appalachian Trail. For one or two people, this bottle is an awesome purification method.

We love its really fast flow rate of 5 L per minute (under 30 seconds to get clean water). The top complaint is its size (though it’s not any bulkier than a Nalgene). Also, the replacement cartridges are expensive and need to be replaced every 250 L.

This is your best bet for a budget filter bottle. The LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle ($40) uses the same type of hollow-fiber filter as the original LifeStraw but seamlessly incorporates it into a BPA-free plastic bottle.

The 22-ounce bottle filters down to 0.2 microns and is a good alternative option to the straw if you won’t be near water sources as frequently.

Similar to the original LifeStraw, we love that this bottle is easy to use. It’s even easier than just the straw, as the bottle provides a way to carry and store water when you aren’t near a source. We also love the price point.

The kit includes an attached carabiner, which comes in handy for storage on the outside of a small travel pack.

The CrazyCap bottle ($99-119) uses UVC light to filter water and even took home an Innovation Award at the 2020 Outdoor Retailer trade show. Initial reviewers like the bottle’s design and the great-tasting water on output.

The 17-ounce purifier bottle is well-suited for those who travel often and want clean water but don’t want to pack filters or treatment tablets in their luggage. We also love that, unlike plastic, this stainless steel bottle is insulated and keeps water colder for longer.

The UVC light not only protects against viruses and bacteria but also sterilizes the bottle (referred to as self-cleaning) and can be used to sterilize other surfaces. Its rechargeable nature is awesome.

During testing (we used it once each day), we found the cap to last over a week — making it 8 days until it needed a recharge.

If you’re looking for an option that doesn’t involve filters or maintenance (aside from charging), this bottle is a nice choice.

While RapidPure is a newer brand, this bottle made our list due to its construction and convenience. The RapidPure Purifier+ Bottle ($54) is a purifier, meaning it protects against viruses, protozoa, and bacteria, making it suitable for traveling virtually anywhere.

It uses replaceable cartridges with both activated carbon and electroabsorption technology to filter out particles 100 times smaller than the standard 0.2 microns.

This bottle protects against everything, has a great flow rate, and we love how easy it is to use. But the extra $17 for each replacement cartridge makes it a pricier choice. And we found the plastic cap and shape — especially the base — a bit bulky.

A newer filter system on the market is the small and packable Platypus QuickDraw ($50). We tested it for several months last year (and plan to use it a lot more this year) and love its low weight, packable size, and good filter rate.

The QuickDraw’s hollow fiber filter component and 1 liter plastic reservoir come in at just 3.3 ounces. The dual-thread design is awesome and allows you to screw the filter onto both the reservoir or a threaded plastic bottle (like a Smart bottle).

We found it super easy to use and backflush, and we experienced a good flow rate. The filter is good for 1,000 liters before it needs a replacement.

Factoring in the size, weight, and price, this filter nearly made it higher on the list. But the Sawyer Squeeze filters down to 0.1 microns — slightly better than the QuickDraw’s 0.2 microns — for a few bucks less. Overall, the Quickdraw is still one of the best backpacking water filters you can buy.

To learn more, check out our in-depth review here.

The Katadyn Hiker ($80) has been one of our long-time favorites for its great price and performance in the long run. Several users found it can last for 2 to 6 years before having to replace the filter.

The Katadyn Hiker filters down to 0.2 microns for bacteria, protozoa, microplastics, and chemicals.

Hundreds of users have commented on how well this filter works and how long it lasts. We’ve also found it to work great in subpar conditions (think freezing temps and murky water).

A few reviewers did note, however, that the bulkiness is a downside, and some prefer the quality of the newer model, the Katadyn Hiker Pro ($90). Regardless of which model you choose, the Hiker filter performs great, and the price is right.

We put the new LifeStraw Peak Series — a personal straw filter, squeeze filter, and gravity filter — to the test this spring. The Peak Series Personal Straw Filter ($25) and Squeeze Filter ($44) turned out to work great for filtering water at various sources in the backcountry.

The personal Peak Series filter worked extremely well and had a good flow rate. After 20+ years of LifeStraw being on market, it was nice to finally see a big upgrade in materials and design.

The new design is comfortable, easy to use, durable, and easy to clean and backflush. If you’ve used a LifeStraw filter before and are maybe looking to replace it, we definitely recommend the Peak Series version.

The LifeStraw Squeeze Filter also performed well in testing, though not as much as others on our list. It’s modular, so while it has the filter incorporated inside the squeeze pouch, you can also move it to the outside (and swap out the cap) if filling bottles or not drinking directly from the filter. Both are a great price.

This gravity water filter ($135) has won a spot on our list for the second year in a row. Why? The Platypus is good for when you need water for more than just drinking (straw filters are great, but not for filtering several liters of water at a time).

The Platypus GravityWorks system is easy to use and makes filtering significant amounts of water at base camp a cinch. It’s also a great filter choice for car camping along rivers or lakes.

Although this gravity filter is a different style, we found the disconnecting shutoff valves and flow system easy to learn — and reliable as well.

The system also can clog, so this filter requires pretty good cleaning and maintenance.

With an easy-to-fill 10 liter reservoir and a 1 liter per 2 minutes flow rate (which MSR claims is 2.5 times faster than the competition), the new Guardian Gravity Purifier ($300) takes technology designed for the military and brings it to groups of backcountry explorers.

The purifier meets NSF P248 testing standards, removing bacteria, protozoa, pathogens, and viruses through the 0.02-micron hollow fiber media. With an activated carbon component, it also pulls out chemicals, tastes, and odors.

MSR’s setup is simple, even if you do need ample space to get the dirty reservoir at least 6 feet above the clean water receptacle (fairly common for gravity water filters). The speedy flow rate is ideal, and the bottle adapter fits a range of sizes to allow the filling of separate water bottles or a larger container with the entire 10 liters.

This new purifier is up there as one of the best backpacking water filters for larger groups. With no backflushing required and a mesh carrying case, teardown is quick and easy.

If you’re going where there are no trees for hanging, this could be tricky. Also, at over a pound, it really only works for larger groups where you can split up the load.

Read our full review of the MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier.

MSR makes a few pump filters, but this one is our favorite. The MSR MiniWorks EX ($110) protects against bacteria, protozoa, heavy chemicals, and particulates. One of our favorite features of this filter is the fact that it’s compatible with both dromedary bags and Nalgene bottles, so you can easily attach and pump into your drinking vessel.

The filter is ceramic, meaning you clean it over time instead of replacing it (although you may need to replace the tubing). Some users also noted an issue with pressure building up in the filter chamber, causing the flow rate to slow. If you don’t mind pumping, this is still a good filter option.

The MSR MiniWorks is the heaviest filter out of the ones we considered, though, and you’ll have to clean it often.

This gravity filter won a spot on this list for its price and lighter weight — just 6.9 ounces. The LifeStraw Flex Gravity ($55) filters down to 0.2 microns and protects against bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics (not viruses).

It’s also versatile. You can use it as a personal straw, as a gravity filter for groups, or screw it into a standard plastic bottle or bladder. It’s great for solo or group multisport adventures.

The flow rate is slower than advertised, and some users had issues with the seal on the bag. And while the hollow-fiber part of this filter is good for up to 2,000 L, the carbon filter portion only lasts 100 L (so you’ll need to buy replacements).

The Guardian ($390) filters out nearly everything (including viruses), has an excellent flow rate, and even self-backflushes during use. For most people and places, however, it’s downright overkill.

If you’re setting up for a serious adventure that requires filtering a lot of very sketchy water, you may want to consider forking over the cash.

The Guardian can filter a hefty 2.3L per minute and physically removes viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and particulates, including hepatitis A, E. coli, giardia, cryptosporidium, and more. Just be ready to lug a large item that weighs in at over a pound.

The MSR Guardian is probably one of the best backpacking water filters on the market. So why didn’t it top the list? Well, in two words, price and weight. It costs a pretty penny at $390 and weighs considerably more than other filters.

Check out our full review of the MSR Guardian.

UV filters are popular for a lot of reasons. They don’t require pumping or filtering, and the wait time to kill bacteria and viruses is fairly short (between 60 and 90 seconds).

The SteriPEN ($105) made this list for its low trail weight, ease of use, and long lifetime. (The SteriPEN lasts for up to 8,000 treatments.) It’s also very small and packable, which makes it great for quick outings where you don’t want to carry extra water.

The downside is this pen is expensive and runs on batteries, which you’ll need to remember to pack for the trail.

Check out our full review of the SteriPEN Adventurer.