The Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2024

Little else ruins a good backpacking trip like a midnight run for the bushes. We’ve been there, and we’re not keen on going back, which is why our experts have scoured the scene and found the best backpacking water filters out there. We’ve spoken to thru-hikers, hunters, and mountaineers, and we’ve logged a not small number of miles ourselves, filtering our water along the way.

Our team collectively tested a plethora of diverse filters for the creation of this guide, from the classic Sawyer Squeeze to the budget-conscious LifeStraw Personal. We’ve been squeezing water through countless tubes and dropping tablets in Nalgenes each season to bring you the streamlined selection of 15 filters you see today.

From stagnant green pools in the African savanna to bubbling alpine brooks in the Cascade Mountains, we’ve filtered water of all consistency and color in the wild and bring only the best filters on our excursions.

Rest assured, we would trust every model in this guide to keep us safe and hydrated in the backcountry. If you’re a gram-worried thru-hiker looking to weigh scales, check out our Comparison Chart. If filtering your water is new to you, our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide should shed some good light on all considerations. And for a better understanding of how far a buck goes in this realm, our Price & Value section has the down low.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Backpacking Water Filters guide on September 4, 2024, to add a new Price & Value section — an index of the different price ranges of filters available today — as well as bulking out our testing regimen.

The Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2024

• Best Overall Backpacking Water Filter: Sawyer Squeeze
• Best Budget Backpacking Water Filter: LifeStraw Personal
• Best Backpacking Water Filter for Thru-Hiking: Katadyn BeFree 0.6L
• Best Water-Purifying Tablets: Katadyn Micropur
• Best Gravity Backpacking Water Filter/Best for Groups: Katadyn BeFree Gravity 3L
• Best Backpacking Water Filter Pump: MSR MiniWorks EX
• Best Backpacking Water Filter Bottle: Grayl GeoPress Bottle

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Backpacking Water Filters Comparison Chart

Water Filter	Price	Weight	Filter Type	Filter Life	Flow Rate
Sawyer Squeeze	$39	2.5 oz.	Bottle/inline filter	Lifetime warranty	1.7 L/min
LifeStraw Personal	$20	1.6 oz.	Straw filter	4,000 L	N/A
Katadyn BeFree 0.6L	$45	2.3 oz.	Bottle filter	1,000 L	2 L/min
Katadyn Micropur	$16	0.9 oz.	Chemical purifier	1 L per tab	1 L/30 min
Katadyn BeFree Gravity 3L	$75	6.8 oz.	Gravity filter	1,000 L	2 L/min
MSR MiniWorks EX Water Filter	$120	1 lb.	Pump filter	2,000 L	1 L/min
Grayl GeoPress Bottle	$100	15.9 oz.	Bottle filter/purifier	65 gallons	5 L/min
LifeStraw Go Series Bottle	$45	9 oz.	Bottle/straw filter	4,000 L	N/A
MSR Guardian	$390	1 lb., 1.3 oz.	Pump filter/purifier	10,000 L	2.5 L/min
Platypus QuickDraw	$50	3.3 oz.	Bottle/inline filter	1,000 L	3 L/min
Katadyn Hiker Microfilter	$90	11 oz.	Pump filter	750 L	1 L/min
LifeStraw Straw Filter & Squeeze Filter	$25 & $44	Straw: 2.3 oz.; Squeeze Filter: 3.2 oz	Straw: straw; Squeeze Filter: bottle/gravity filter	Straw: 4,000 L; Squeeze Filter: 2,000 L	Straw: N/A; Squeeze Filter: 3 L/min
Platypus GravityWorks 4L	$135	11.5 oz.	Gravity filter	1,5000 L	1.75 L/min
MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier	$300	1 lb., 3 oz.	Gravity filter	3,000+ L	1 L/2 min
SteriPEN Adventurer	$120	3.6 oz.	UV purifier	8,000 L	1 L/90 sec

How We Tested the Best Backpacking Water Filters

The GearJunkie team is made up of adventurers from a plethora of different outdoor sports and activities, but each of their hobbies requires a central discipline: proper water filtration in the backcountry. It’s key to survival, and if done poorly, can quickly put you in a dangerous situation.

For this guide, we carefully scrutinized the most reliable, functional water filters that outdoor enthusiasts from all ends of the spectrum depend on in the wild. We brought each of these filters on adventures and made sure that we would feel comfortable with all of them as our primary means of accruing filtered water in the field.

Field Testing

Our water filter field testing begins the second we jump out of our rigs and onto the trail, heading straight for the first water source. We often test filters side-by-side to gauge filter rates, ease of use, and frequency of needed cleaning. We make sure to test both clear as well as more suspect sources, as well as use these filters solo and in large groups to best identify user needs.

To date, we’ve sent filters out on entire thru-hikes of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. These feats of endurance are true tests of a filter’s mettle, and we’ve seen a not-small number of them bite the dust and hit the hiker box. While some filter lifespans are exceedingly long, we’ve certainly hit the ceiling on a few.

Bench Testing

Outside of the field, we also put these filters through a more standardized set of tests in order to get some hard numbers on performance. Most filters these days work spectacularly, so in many cases, our decision to recommend one over another comes down to a few more pumps of a filter.

Independently verifying weights and packed sizes is a quick and easy way to ensure we don’t upset the weight weenies on staff, and we weigh systems all together to ensure we’ve got the full picture. Flow rates, too, are a simple test to compare side-by-side with manufacturer claims, and are important to independently verify outside of the field.

Finally, as a true test of grit, we whip up a rather dingy soup from our compost bin as a final test for these filters. It’s a tough test meant to bring these systems near to clogging, but it separates the just-OK filters from the winners. It also sets us up perfectly to execute our cleaning tests, where we sample the ease of restoring a filter to close-to-new functionality.

Why You Should Trust Us

Managing editor Mary Murphy curated our initial selection of 14 filters back in May 2020. A prolific backpacker, Mary knows the value of a reliable filter for constant, dependable hydration in the backcountry. Tester Chris Carter took over this guide in August 2022 and has been digging through his gear closet and scouring the internet ever since to bring you the most current, deserving selection possible.

Chris has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of long trails (the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail) and continues to pursue long-distance hiking around the world. Significant time backpacking and hitchhiking around East Africa forced him to purify water of the grimiest sorts and made him religiously fastidious in his hydration practices. He’s suffered from his fair share of water-born pathogens and will only rely on the best of the best to filter his fluids on any adventure.

GearJunkie’s Camp, Hike, and Backpack Editor, Will Brendza, also contributed to this guide. Will has been professionally testing and reviewing outdoor gear for over 15 years and spends an inordinate amount of time out on the trail. He’s constantly testing and reviewing the latest and greatest outdoor products, including water filters and purifiers, to find the best gear to make his outdoor adventures more enjoyable.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Water Filter

Filters vs. Purifiers

Water filters and water purifiers work in similar ways, but it’s helpful to know the difference when choosing. Filters protect against protozoa or parasites (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) as well as bacteria (like E. coli or salmonella), microplastics, dirt, and debris. Bacteria is the main concern when you’re drinking out of unsafe water sources in the backcountry or remote areas. Popular filters include the Sawyer Squeeze and the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter.

Purifiers go an extra step by protecting against and filtering out viruses. This is more of a concern when you’re traveling internationally or to rural places where clean water may not be accessible. Products like the MSR Guardian and Grayl GeoPress Bottle will purify your water while also filtering out larger debris, while purifiers like the SteriPEN Adventurer use UV light to purify water, but won’t clear the water of visible dirt and sediment. You can run the water through a bandana or t-shirt first before using these types of purifiers to clean out the biggest particles.

For truly heinous dirty/stagnant water, it can be wise to use a number of different methods to make certain you don’t get sick. Some will filter their water with something like the Platypus QuickDraw, and then boil it, add a purification tablet like Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets, or add a couple of drops of bleach to ensure everything is killed. This can be time-consuming and make the water taste interesting, but it’s far better than catching a trip-ending sickness in the wilderness.

Types of Water Filters

There are a variety of different types of backpacking water filters, and we cover a broad range of them in this guide. Each one has its place in the backcountry, and which type you choose will depend on how clear the water will be on your adventure, how lightweight you are trying to go, and if you are traveling internationally.

Gravity and Inline Filters

These filters use gravity to pull water from a dirty bag, through a filter, and into a clean bag or directly into your mouth. These are often the easiest filters to use as you simply hook it up to a tree branch or tent and wait. These are usually heavier and take some time to set up, so aren’t the best options for fast and light missions. They tend to work best for large groups or to keep around a base camp.

Gravity filters allow you to keep a large amount of water handy, but they can be difficult to fill up in shallow water sources, so keep that in mind when choosing a campsite. We found the Katadyn BeFree Gravity filter to be one of the best options for large group trips.

Inline filters are often used in gravity systems, but they can also be paired with a hydration pouch or water bottle for quick use. Filters such as the ubiquitous Sawyer Squeeze or the Platypus QuickDraw can be used in this way. These generally rely on the user sucking the water from a pouch or water bottle, through the filter, directly into their mouth. With the correct adapters, several models of inline filters can be used with a hydration pack you may already be carrying, offering easy filtration without adding much weight.

Straw Filters

While we don’t recommend them as your primary method of water filtration in the wild, straw filters are undeniably one of the easiest ways of procuring fresh water fast. Our favorite budget filter, the LifeStraw Personal, fits this bill. These are great for trail running, mountain biking, or as a backup to your primary filter. These filters allow you to get down and dirty by a stream or lake and drink directly from the source by sipping the water through the filter like a straw.

The main downside to straw filters is that they don’t offer any way to carry filtered water with you, unless you can fit the straw into a water bottle of dirty water you are carrying with you, which can be really annoying. It can also get frustrating having to practically lie down on muddy or rocky banks to get a drink any time you get thirsty. These filters suffice for day hikes, but you’ll probably want something different for any extended backpacking trip.

Pump Filters

Pump filters, such as the MSR MiniWorks EX, work great for pulling water out of shallow pools or creeks and can be a solid choice for small backpacking groups. They tend to run on the heavy side, take a little more effort to use, and can be quite complicated to clean. For these reasons, you don’t see as many pump filters in the backcountry as you used to, but they do still have their place.

In some cases, as with the MSR Guardian, pump filters do a better job at purifying truly nasty water, by removing viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, such as E. coli, giardia, and cryptosporidium. Something to consider a little more seriously while adventuring internationally.

Water Filter Bottles

Water filter bottles are handy to have for traveling, road-tripping, or light hiking, but are often on the heavy side for dedicated lightweight backpacking trips. Some of these bottles, like the LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle, filter water with a simple hollow-fiber straw that extends from the nozzle into the water, while others use fancier technology to deliver a pure, fresh swig.

The Grayl GeoPress uses electroabsorption and activated carbon to purify water by simply pressing it firmly on the ground. This isn’t your average Nalgene! Check out our in-depth review of the GeoPress if you want to nerd out a little more.

Chemical/UV Purifiers

Finally, purifying your water chemically or with UV light is another simple way to target viruses that may be present in a water source, as opposed to just bacteria and protozoa. Chemical purifiers use iodine or chlorine dioxide to deal with contaminated water, while UV purifiers employ ultraviolet rays. Some backpackers will also use bleach to treat their water (two drops per liter, then wait 30 minutes). This is a super simple solution but does leave your water tasting, well, somewhat like a pool.

We like Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets for chemical treatment, as they tend to leave a more subtle aftertaste compared to other brands. The SteriPEN Adventurer has been our go-to UV filter for its long lifespan and light weight.

This is a great way to purify your water more effectively, but since these don’t have filters with them, it’s important to use them with clear water that doesn’t have a lot of debris in it. Chemical or UV purifiers are lightweight and simple, but should probably not be used as your primary method of filtration on a backpacking trip. It’s hard to get filtered water fast — they can leave an unsavory aftertaste and sometimes rely on batteries and electronics (in the case of UV purifiers). Since they are so light, however, it’s always a good idea to have them as a backup.

Filter Time & Flow Rate

Our picks for best water filters vary widely in terms of how quickly they can filter water, ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes to 4 hours (chemical treatments). Types of filters and methods of purifying will play a part, as will flow rate.

Flow rate is a unit that measures how quickly a certain amount of water can be filtered. Flow rates for gravity, pump, or squeeze filters listed here vary anywhere from 1L to 3L per minute. If you are encountering a slow flow rate with your filter, it may require priming or backflushing.

Similar to needing to prime a stove, some water filters require priming before initial use. Check the instructions (it varies by filter) on how to do this. Backflushing is a process where you need to clean water out of the filter system after use. This mainly applies to filters with pumps, tubes, or tubing, and it ensures that the inside of the filter stays dry and clean.

Another consideration here is location: if you are going to be traveling through a desert landscape, there may be few to no trees (a necessity to hang some gravity filters properly). For that type of setting, a different style of filter would be best.

And if you are going to be traveling with a companion or group, the personal LifeStraw filter obviously won’t be the best option (although we love it as a backup!).

Packed Size

This is an important point for ultralight setups and lightweight backpackers. You’ll want to choose a filter that works best for you and how much water you’ll need, but one that can also fit in your pack.

Filters like the Sawyer Squeeze and Katadyn BeFree are popular because the actual filter unit is so small, and the weight is close to nothing. The Sawyer Squeeze weighs just a couple of ounces, while the Katadyn weighs 6.8 ounces (but remember, it can filter up to 3 L of water at a time).

Filter systems that have water reservoirs and tubing also roll and pack down fairly small. Our personal preference on group trips is a gravity filter system, whereas on solo trips — though they weigh slightly more — our preference is a water bottle filter/purifier, given that we always carry a 1L bottle anyway.

Durability & Longevity

The lifespan of a filter greatly depends on its filter method (cartridge, hollow membrane, chemical, or UV light). Backpacking water filters can last anywhere from 250 to 4,000 L. Cleaning your filter regularly using the methods that the manufacturer recommends will also help prolong the life of your filter.

Filters that use a cartridge tend to last anywhere from 200 to 500 L before you need to replace the cartridge. On the other hand, with other filters that last longer, you may need to replace the entire unit at the end of its life. The LifeStraw is an example of this; it can filter around 4,000 L, and then it will stop working and need to be replaced.

For UV methods like the SteriPEN, it’ll last forever as long as you charge or continue to replace the batteries (barring any damage, of course).

Price & Value

There’s a bit of a spread when it comes to backcountry water filters, and without a little context, you might be led to believe that more money = more filtration. Instead, consider that there are a number of factors that go into just how much filter you might want to spring for: group size, water quality, and storage needs are just a few.

Budget

If you’re solo more often than not and find that day hikes are more your speed, it can be easy to jump into a budget filter that’s quick to deploy and drink straight from the source. Know that these types of ‘straw’ filters won’t give you any storage capacity for the long haul, but for out-and-back endeavors where water is plentiful, they can do the trick.

The LifeStraw Personal ($20) is an excellent example of this, and our fly fisherfolk on staff have come to lean on this filter as a go-to for quick and easy drinking while on the river. Chemical treatments such as Katadyn Micropur ($16) can be cheaper still, but we’d caution that this type of filtration is better suited to some specific use types — such as rivers with high glacial silt content.

Mid-Tier

Bumping up a bit in price nets you a great deal more in the world of backpacking filters. Even shelling out $40 to $100 can get you a hollow fiber filter that will last for 1,000+ liters and move enough water to make personal trips to refill quick and easy. These filters often offer additional water bladders to filter from and backflushing syringes or hosing to connect to hydration systems.

The Sawyer Squeeze ($39) continues to dominate our recommendations a number of years down the line here, and it’s easy to see why: a decent flow rate, long lifespan, and suite of accessories make this one of the most well-rounded options out today. The Platypus QuickDraw ($50) is right behind it, and even offers up some additional use options and a quicker flow rate. This price range is also where you can get into some different styles, such as a gravity filter like the Katadyn BeFree Gravity 3L ($75) or Grayl GeoPress ($100) bottle filter.

Premium

Going with a premium filter option means that you’ve either got a lot of people to get water to, or are headed somewhere where the water is consistently challenging to filter. Anything north of $100 is likely to either be a pump filter or a complicated gravity system, and will use additional filter elements such as activated charcoal to strip out odors and heavy metals — improving taste.

The MSR Guardian ($390) is the mack daddy of pump filters, and, honestly, it’s a bit overkill for most of North America. That’s why we suggest the MSR MiniWorks EX ($120) as a better option for most folks. The MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier ($300) is similarly overbuilt compared to the pump version and builds on a charcoal filter and 10(!) liter capacity to get an entire platoon watered.

Frequently Asked Questions