Hiking & Trails
Clean water on tap, anywhere. We tested the filters thru-hikers actually trust on flow rate, reliability, weight, and ease of use.
A water filter is cheap insurance against a trip-ruining stomach bug. The best ones are light, fast, and reliable enough that you stop thinking about them. Here are our tested picks for solo hikers, groups, and ultralight setups.
The thru-hiker standard: light, nearly bombproof, with an effectively unlimited filter life. Screws straight onto a standard Smartwater bottle for grab-and-go drinking.
An incredible flow rate and a sports-bottle top you can drink straight from. Ultralight and collapsible — the easiest filter to use on the move.
One of the lightest, fastest filters going, with a rugged reservoir and a quick backflush to keep flow high. A favorite for minimalists counting every gram.
Fill the bag, hang it, and let gravity filter four liters hands-free. The easiest way to supply a whole group or basecamp with clean water fast.
Fast, lightweight filtration that produced some of the highest-quality water in testing — at a budget-friendly price. Great for solo trips and day hikes.
A filter removes bacteria and protozoa (like giardia and cryptosporidium) — enough for almost all backcountry water in North America. A purifier also kills viruses, which matters mainly for international travel or heavily contaminated sources. For most camping and hiking, a quality filter like the Sawyer Squeeze is all you need.
Solo or fast-and-light? A squeeze or bottle filter (Sawyer, Katadyn, Platypus QuickDraw) is simplest. Filtering for a family or basecamp? A gravity system like the GravityWorks does the work for you.
Hollow-fiber filters (which is most of these) are ruined if the water inside them freezes and cracks the fibers — invisibly. On cold nights, sleep with your filter in your sleeping bag.
Pair clean water with the right hiking boots, a comfortable backpack, and a camp stove for hot meals. New to it all? See our beginner's gear guide.
A filter removes bacteria and protozoa — enough for most North American backcountry water. A purifier also kills viruses, mainly needed for international travel.
Backflush it regularly, pre-filter silty water, and store it clean and dry between trips.
Yes — hollow-fiber filters are ruined if the water inside freezes and cracks the fibers. On cold nights, sleep with the filter in your bag.
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