The 11 best outdoor water filters 2024 for clean drinking water while camping

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👉 The key facts from this guide

Of course, you know the most important rule in the wilderness: You can only survive for a maximum of 3 days without water.

After just one day without water, you will feel significantly worse, and you will already start to feel the effects of dehydration.

Therefore, you will agree that finding water in the wilderness should be your top priority.

Today I want to show you my best and most affordable water filters.

And to go along with it, you will receive a buying guide for water filters.

Why use a water filter?

You found a source? Perfect, because from a source, you can usually drink the water without any worries. That is truly wonderful fresh, cool water.

But sources are not available everywhere. The next possibility is that you find a stream or a lake. However, there is a danger with these bodies of water: They could contain harmful bacteria.

Actually, it could be more dangerous for you to drink the water from non-fresh sources than to drink nothing whatsoever.

What can you do?

For this case, I strongly recommend carrying a water filter with you.

There is also the possibility of building a water filter yourself. I have described how to do this here in detail.

Reading tip: Read here for other ways to obtain water.

What are water filters for camping and outdoor?

Water filters for outdoor use are portable devices that allow you to obtain clean water (drinking water) from rivers, lakes, or other natural water sources.

Here is the translation:

Harmful particles and contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, pesticides, and suspended matter are filtered out to make the water drinkable.

How do outdoor water filters work?

There are various methods in which outdoor water filters can work.

• Mechanical filters create a pressure differential to push contaminated water through a porous membrane, thereby screening out germs and other microorganisms.
• Chemical filters, on the other hand, use chemicals such as chlorine or activated carbon to disinfect the water.
• UV light water filters kill bacteria and viruses in the water through irradiation.

What contaminants can water filters remove?

Water filters for outdoor use can remove various contaminants from the water, such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, heavy metals, pesticides, suspended particles, and other pollutants

You must be aware of the type and number of contaminants to be removed before purchasing a water filter.

What methods of water treatment are there?

If you don't have a water filter, there are other methods to purify the water.

One option is boiling, where the water is brought to a rolling boil for at least 3 minutes to kill germs and bacteria.

Activated carbon filters can also help remove impurities from the water. Another option is to use chemicals such as chlorine or iodine to disinfect the water.

Which is the best water filter? - My Outdoor Water Filter Test 2023

There are many brands and models of water filters for outdoor use on the market.

Some of the best ones are the Katadyn Befree water filter, the Grayl GeoPress water filter, and the Sawyer Mini water filter. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to choose the water filter that is best suited to your needs.

To give you an overview of which water filters are fantastic and what options are available, I have compiled a list for you featuring the eleven best and affordable water filters currently available.

Here is my list, and we will go into the filters in more detail:

1. LifeStraw - your personal water filter
2. LifeStraw Go - the matching water bottle
3. Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System
4. Versa Flow Water Filter
5. GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Filter Bottle
6. Survivor Water Filter
7. Katadyn BeFree Tactical 1.0 Water Filter
8. Katadyn Hiker Microfilter
9. MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter
10. Katadyn Pocket Water Filter
11. MSR Guardian Purifier

Let's take a closer look at the water filters now.

Buying Guide for Outdoor Water Filters - What should I consider when buying a water filter?

1. What types of water filters are available for outdoor use?

There are different types of water filters for outdoor use, including mechanical, chemical, and UV light water filters (such as the SteriPen Adventurer). Each type has its advantages and disadvantages to provide you with clean drinking water.

What filtering capabilities do outdoor water filters have?

Water filters for outdoor use can have different filtering capabilities and work in different ways. Some can filter out bacteria and protozoa from the water, while others are also specialized in filtering viruses. Therefore, before purchasing a water filter, you should inform yourself about its filtering capabilities.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical filters?

Mechanical water filters work quickly and without the use of chemicals, but may not be as effective at removing viruses. Additionally, you will need to clean the filter regularly to maintain its effectiveness.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of chemical filters?

Chemical filters are lightweight and easy to use, but they require a longer waiting time until the purified water is safe to drink. They can also leave a chemical taste in the water.

2. Effort and User-Friendliness

A pump water filter takes some time to set up, and you have to pump relatively hard to use the filter. While with a gravity water filter, you connect the hoses and simply hang it on a branch or large rock. Within a few minutes, you have filtered water due to the laws of gravity.

3. Speed

If you run out of water, water purification can sometimes take longer than you might think.

Especially if you have decided to boil water, you need to unpack your Hobo cooker, boil the water in the kettle, and then wait for the water to cool down.

But on the other hand, the Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier only takes 90 seconds to kill 99.9% of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in one liter of water.

Impatient hikers often opt for a squeeze filter, such as the Platypus Quickdraw Water Filter because it filters a small amount of water quickly, or they use a straw-style filter.

Patients campers who need large quantities and have time opt for a gravity filter (Find my top list here).

4. Capacity

The amount of water that can be filtered at the same time varies from one liter per minute, as with the MSR MiniWorks EX microfilter, to up to three liters per minute, as with the Platypus QuickDraw microfilter system.

Think about how much drinking water you need. Should it be the whole hiking group or just yourself?

5. Maintenance

For quick and easy maintenance, it is advisable to use a filter with a replaceable cartridge. However, this also creates waste eventually.

Looking for a less wasteful option? The Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier features a built-in rechargeable battery that is charged via a USB cable.

Or the MiniWorks EX Microfilter can be cleaned repeatedly without tools to fully restore the filter.

Gravity filters are also a great low-maintenance option, as they require backwashing after a certain amount of filtered water (depending on the model).

6. Lifespan

The lifespan of outdoor water filters typically ranges from about 1,000 to 8,000 uses.

When searching for a water filter, of course, the higher the number of applications, the better.

The LifeStraw water filter filters up to 3785 liters of water, which is approximately 5000 uses if your water bottle holds 750 ml, while the lifespan of the Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier is 8,000 uses.

Extremely durable is the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter, which filters up to 50,000 liters of water - so it can be used 50,000 times if your water bottle holds one liter.

Considering the water filter costs per lifespan, filtered water could be an important factor if you are looking for the most affordable option.

7. Weight and Bulky

When hiking or backpacking, the rule is: the lighter, the better, which is why the LifeStraw water filter is ideal, as it weighs only 57 g, or the Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier, which weighs only 76.5 grams.

The MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter and the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter are bulky to carry due to all the different pump parts, their size, or their weight.

But if you go camping in the car, the additional weight might be worth it, considering that these filters filter a larger amount of water at once.

How do the different methods of water treatment work?

There are various methods to treat water if you don't have a water filter. One option is boiling, where the water is brought to a rolling boil for about 3 minutes to kill germs and bacteria.

Water filters with activated carbon work by adsorbing (attaching the atoms or molecules of liquids or gases to a solid surface) impurities. UV light water filters kill bacteria and viruses in water through irradiation.

How does boiling water work?

The boiling of water is one of the most effective methods, as it can largely kill pathogens in the form of fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

The water must boil vigorously for about 3 minutes to ensure that all harmful microorganisms have been eliminated.

How do activated carbon water filters work?

Water filters with activated carbon work by adsorbing impurities and pollutants from the water. The activated carbon acts like a sponge, absorbing and retaining the impurities while allowing the clean water to flow out.

Adsorption is the accumulation or concentration of a substance on the surface and not within a solid (or liquid) mass.

How do UV light water filters work?

UV light water filters work by irradiating the water with UV light to kill bacteria and viruses.

UV radiation damages the DNA of microorganisms and prevents them from reproducing and causing an infection.

Why does the MSR Guardian Purifier, according to the manufacturer, remove viruses as the only water filter?

This is a very exciting question and I wanted to get to the bottom of it.

After all, MSR advertises that they are the only manufacturer to also remove viruses with their Guardian Purifier! But how is that supposed to work?

I unfortunately haven't found a single definitive statement about it, except that the Guardian Purifier denies viruses with a size of 0.02 micrometers or larger access to the water bottle.

That means, with this fact, the MST Guardian Purifier is in no way better than the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter - because this one also has pores that are 0.02 micrometers in size.

Only Katadyn seems very cautious with this statement because it naturally also poses a legal risk.

MSR writes here:

"While conventional hollow fibers used in many microfilters today don’t remove viruses (their pore sizes are not small enough to block them), the Guardian’s hollow fibers reliably block viruses, and do so even in very challenging water conditions such as highly turbid or silty water, where other treatment options become less reliable."

And MSR continues to write on the same website:

"Adapted from kidney dialysis technology, it took MSR’s scientists more than two years, working with a U.S. medical-grade facility, to design fibers capable of consistently removing viruses, while still offering a fast flow rate, in a compact, pump design."

And here MSR writes:

"A backpacking purifier that uses hollow fiber technology should feature a pore size of 0.02 to remove viruses as well. (Notice the zero after the decimal point.) These are the industry standards."

Means: "A backpack water filter that uses hollow fiber technology should have a pore size of 0.02 to remove viruses as well. (Note the zero after the decimal point.) These are industry standards.".

Then I looked up the NSF standard P248 and on the website https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/ I couldn't find any entry from MSR for "Certified Drinking Water Treatment Units, Water Filters". It appears that the testing procedure was conducted in-house by MSR and there is no certificate or similar from the NSF association.

Conclusion? There is no specific statement about a special filter system that removes viruses. So, there is no special technology. MSR does not say more about it.

It is therefore important to note that the statement that the MSR Guardian Purifier filters out viruses should be taken with caution.

Although the filter has a membrane with a pore size of 0.02 microns, not all viruses can be filtered out because some are smaller.

However, many viruses have the property of attaching themselves to larger particles, which can then be blocked along with the viruses.

However, it is recommended to use cleansing tablets in highly vulnerable areas such as Southeast Asia.

In general, I consider the filtering performance of the Guardian Purifier to be completely sufficient, especially in Europe. However, you should keep in mind that water near human settlements has a very high potential for danger and should always be avoided if possible.

Tips and recommended procedures for water treatment for drinking water

Not everything can be achieved by your water filter, so you must take the time to figure out how to get the most out of your water filter. After all, it's also about your health.

Avoiding some crucial mistakes and taking some precautions will make any filtering method more effective.

I would like to give you the following tips:

• Separate the containers for clean and dirty water and label them clearly.
• Look for clean water, as sediments can affect the effectiveness of treatment. If only cloudy sources are available, use a pre-filter or let the sediments settle out of the collected water first.
• Pay close attention to the instructions, as each product contains detailed steps to prevent cross-contamination (introduction of untreated water into your treated water).
• Keep your hands clean by packing and using hand sanitizer frequently.
• Keep camping, toilet, and dishwashing areas at least 50 to 60 meters away from any water source.
• Frost conditions require special attention: Melting snow is the best choice.
• Store filters that can freeze and crack overnight in your sleeping bag.
• Boil the water to kill any viruses.

Conclusion: Water filters for outdoor use are essential and also ideal for crisis preparedness

Water filters are essential for staying in nature. It's a good idea to invest in them, especially if you do a lot of hiking and camping or go Bushcrafting for several days.

In addition, water filters can be used just as effectively for crisis prevention.

If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, a water filter is essential and should be on every emergency list. They can be expensive, but they last long and help protect you and your family.