Top 5 Best Camping Water Filters

If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors, you know that having clean water is very important, so you need to have the best camping water filter. Nothing is worse than getting sick from unsafe water and being miles away from home or becoming dehydrated due to not having enough water. As we continue to go out and explore the beautiful world around us, we run the risk of contaminating more water sources. So, it is important to have a reliable water-treatment filter with you to ensure that the water you are drinking is safe. Keep reading for camping water filter reviews and ratings below.

The 5 Top Camping Water Filters

When looking for a camping water filter, there are several things to consider. You want to make sure you have something portable and easy to pack. It also needs to be easy to use and effective. Nothing is worse than buying something you don’t end up using because it doesn’t work or it’s to difficult to mess around with. Keep reading for our reviews of the top five best camping water filters and tips for how to pick out your next filter.

* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.

Msr Miniworks Ex Camping Water Filter

Providing reliable water filtration, the MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter Water Filter is perfect for emergencies, survival situations, global travel, outdoor adventures, hiking, and camping. With the replaceable ceramic element, the MSR MiniWorks removes bacteria like salmonella and E. coli while its carbon core gets rid of unpleasant odors and taste that can be caused by pesticides, chlorine, and iodine. The innovative AirSpring Accumulator allows the microfilter to pump one liter of water every minute, which is a flow rate that the MiniWorks can easily maintain the field.

The replaceable filter is capable of filtering up to 2,000 liters of water. The MiniWorks is compatible with a range of water bottles like Camelback and Nalgene, and water can easily pump right into the drinking vessel. Weighing only one pound, this compact and lightweight pump measures 7.5 x 2.75 inches and comes with a storage bag. It also includes a manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty.

Katadyn Camping Emergency Water Filter

Perfect for personal use or a small camping group, the Katadyn Camping Emergency Water Filter provides long-lasting and continuous use. A great choice for emergency preparedness or backpacking, this water filter features high-quality construction with a silver-impregnated ceramic element that removes protozoa and bacteria using a micro-filtration method. It has a cartridge capacity up to one quart per minute, and it can filter up to 13,000 gallons depending on the quality of the water.

This is a pocket water filter used by the military, international travelers, and those that love the outdoors. It features a round pump handle that makes pumping easy, and it comes with an outlet hose that attaches to the water containers with a clip. With the ability to filter all microorganisms that are larger than 0.2 microns, you are ensured clear and drinkable water with the Katadyn.

Sawyer Products PointOne Squeeze Water Filter System

Perfect for international travel or emergencies, the Sawyer Products PointOne Squeeze Water Filter System makes sure you have access to clean water no matter where you are. With a 0.1-micron absolute filtration rating, this filter system can remove 99.99999% of all bacteria including E.coli, cholera, and salmonella. It can also rid your water of 99.9999% of all protozoa like cryptosporidium and giardia.

This is a lightweight filter system that is easy to carry and includes a removable push and pull cap. With Squeeze Water Filter System, you can drink water straight from the pouch, plus it can attach to any standard threaded water bottles. It also rolls up tightly making packing it easy, and it can be reused hundreds of times.

Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter

The compact and lightweight design of the Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter is perfect for emergencies, camping, or even personal use. The 11-ounce Micro Filter is a durable product to have when you aren’t around reliable water sources. The Hiker Pro lets you get on your way with clear and cleaning drinking water. Easy to clean in the field, the protector screen on the filter helps to make the cartridge last longer while the glass-fiber filter has a design to make a high output of clean water easy.

Connecting right to a water bottle, the transparent design of the Hiker Pro lets you watch the filtration as it works. Providing protect against protozoa and bacteria, the pleated glass-fiber filter media works on anything larger than 0.2-microns.

The Hiker Pro used activated carbon in the filter’s core to improve taste and reduce the number of chemicals you find in your drinking water. The easy-to-use engineered design of the Hiker Pro makes this a great option for beginners as well as experts.

LifeStraw Flex Advanced Water Filter with Gravity Bag

Featuring a gravity bag, the LifeStraw Flex Advanced Water Filter will remove chemicals, bacteria, parasites, and lead from your drinking water. Using a powerful 2-stage water filter, the LifeStraw Flex Advanced will work in any environment and can filter out anything over 0.2-microns. The carbon fiber capsule helps to improve the taste of water while reducing pesticides, herbicides, chlorine, and heavy metals.

You can use the LifeStraw Flex Advanced in four ways including as a personal straw, like a plastic water bottle, as a one-gallon gravity bag as with gravity water filters, or attach it to a hydration pack. Exceeding both MSF and EPA standards to create safe drinking water, the LifeStraw Flex Advanced uses a hollow fiber membrane that is good for filtering 2, 000 liters of water while the replaceable carbon filter will last through 100 liters of water. The LifeStraw also makes a community impact—each LifeStraw product purchased will give one school child free and safe drinking water for one year.

Important Camping Water Filter Features to Consider

There are a lot of different features you need to consider when choosing a camping water filter. However, in our opinion, the most important are portability, filtration speed, effectiveness, and ease of use. Here is some more information about each of these aspects.

Portability

Portability is key when choosing a camping water filter. It should be easy to carry with you anywhere—not too big and not too heavy. This is especially important when you are carrying it in your backpack. You also want to be careful to not place too much weight on the water filter, so it doesn’t get damaged in your bag. Keep in mind that even small water filters can be heavy, so make sure you double-check the weight of the product before you buy it. 

If you are going a long distance on your hike, then make sure to buy a small filtration system. There are plenty of water filters that will fit right into your pocket and still give you gallons of clean water just like a standard-sized water filter. Only buy the larger filters when you have enough space to pack it or you are driving yourself to your campsite. 

Filtration Speed

When you are out camping, you don’t want to have to hang around a long time while your water filters. Depending on the water filter, some can filter a large amount of water within a few minutes. These are perfect when you need water quickly, or you are with a large group. 

Make sure to choose a water filter that can provide the amount of clean water you need in a specific amount of time. If you are in the wilderness, a filter with a high filtration speed will get you back on the trail fast. Otherwise, if you are staying in one place and you don’t need the water filtered quickly, you can consider other brands that take longer. 

Effectiveness

The best camping water filter you choose must be effective. Otherwise, what is the point of filtering the water? Depending on the manufacturer, there may be different methods of filtration that is used to make the water safe and clean to drink. Make sure to check out how large the micron size is that the filtration system can filter out. 

The smaller the micron level of the water filtration system the better and safer the water will be to drink. Ranging between 0.1 to 0.2, these filters will be more effective at removing viruses and microorganisms. It is really important to pay attention to a filter’s micron rating, which tells you the size of the openings on a filter. The smaller the micron rating, the better the filter is at removing bacteria. So, it is important to check a micron before you drink from deep wells, springs, and rivers. 

Ease of Use

As with any product, the easier it is to use, the more likely it is you will use it. If it is too complex, especially if you are out camping, you aren’t going to get the clean water that you need. Choose a water filtration system that works well with your outdoor adventures, particularly something that does not have a lot of parts that need to be assembled. Look for simple construction to make sure it is easy to use when you need it the most.

The Benefits of Using Water Filters

Wherever you go, you always want to make sure you have clean water. Using the best camping water filter you can find is a quick and easy solution whether you are out camping or you are in another country. They are pretty straightforward and easy to use as well as effective at filtering out parasites and bacteria.

The benefits of using the best camping water filter include a small enough size that it can be carried easily anywhere. And, they are effective enough to clean any water source that you encounter. They can also remove the taste and odor from your drinking water as well as chlorine from hard water.

The best camping water filters are good to have in a survival kit or emergency aid kit. They are also pretty cost-effective and don’t require a lot of money to maintain them. When you have a camping water filter, you can use it to cook your food, fill your camping kettles, replenish your camping water bottles, make your morning coffee, and so on. 

Precautions When Using a Water Filter

There are several precautions to keep in mind when choosing the best camping water filter, whether you’re using a traditional water filter, a water filter pitcher, a water filter straw, or a water filter bottle. You will not filter out all contaminants and germs from your water, because a water filter does not purify water in the same way as a camping water purifier like a UV water purifier or water purification tablets—for best results, the two devices should be used in tandem. However, as the water filtration process happens, there will be tiny particles that can still pass through the membranes and get into your water. It is also imperative to care for the equipment by keeping it clean, otherwise, you will not be getting water as clean as you think you are.

After the water softening process is finished, you must dispose of the cartridges. Each of these cartridges are holding harmful toxins that they just removed from the water you cleaned. You will need to throw them out and not use them again since they will end up polluting the any future water you will try to filter.

Conclusion

The winner of the best camping water filter roundup is the MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter Water Filter. Perfect for personal use or a small camping group, the MiniWorks is a great choice for emergency preparedness or backpacking. It has a cartridge capacity up to one liter per minute, and it can filter up to 2,000 liters before the filter needs to be replaced. Hands down, the MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter Water Filter is the best camping water filter for your money.

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