Water filters and filter bottles are a total game changer these days. There are so many products on the market it can be difficult to know how to choose the best water filter for you.
To be able to fill up from almost any water source and have potable water is convenient and reassuring. Filters eliminate protozoa and parasites like cryptosporidium and giardia and also bacteria, protecting you against E. coli and salmonella. They will also filter out dirt and debris. If you want to get rid of viruses you will need a purifier too – I use chlorine tabs for that.
Filters are made of tiny ceramic strands that capture any nasties that are in the water. As a result, most filters need cleaning or back flushing regularly and many have replaceable filter cartridges.
Things to consider include price, weight, robustness and flow rate. I’ve tried quite a few over the years so to help you choose the best water filter for you, here is a brief review of some of the popular options:
KATADYN BEFREE
This is my overall favourite and the best water filter for me. Why? Well, it is very easy to squeeze and filter water into other bottle. The flow rate is fast, it is easy to drink from, the bag doesn’t leak when being squeezed and it is well priced. I saw this in use on a 3 week trip in Pakistan and I was convinced to buy my own. It’s definitely the most versatile and efficient filter I’ve used.
It can filter up to 1000 litres of water
Pros
Lightweight
Good flow rate
Cons
Good price
Could be easy to puncture
KATADYN MINI
This is my goto filter for more remote treks where I may be filling up from ponds and puddles as well as larger flows of water
I’ve had this filter for a while and field tested it on long backpacking trips in the Pyrenees and the Alps. For filling up from a variety of water sources, including small puddles, this is brilliant.
It can filter up to 7000 litres of water
Pros
It is fairly lightweight
You can fill up from any source, including puddles with the handy nozzle and float
It is durable – I’ve had no parts fail at all
Cons
It is quite slow to pump through a litre of water
It has a higher price tag
LIFESTRAW UNIVERSAL
I had such high hopes for this water filter
I really thought this would be the filter for me. It is lightweight and appears very versatile as it will fit into many popular types of water bottle. I field tested it on a month long trip in Nepal and unfortunately found that the flow rate is incredibly slow, you have to suck very hard to get a decent amount of water through. The filter itself also displaces some of the water from your bottle so it reduces your capacity too and the filter regularly detaches inside your bottle. It will filter 4000 litres
Pros
Good price
Lightweight
Versatile
Cons
Flow rate very slow
Filter can fall off inside the bottle
SAWYER MINI
This has become a very popular water filter and I was curious as to how practical it really is. Unfortunately, it is not for me and I sold mine on very quickly.
I didn’t like this filter at all. I tested it out on a month long trip in Nepal and it took way too long to filter water through into other bottles and it often leaked when in use. For grabbing a slurp of water on a day hike it is great, but for filtering any significant amount of water there are better options out there.
Pros
Lightweight
Not too expensive
Sawyer say the longevity of the filter is a whopping 450,000 litres
Cons
Low flow rate
Leaks
The bags fail easily
I hope this is a useful mini guide. As always, feel free to comment and if you have any questions, don’t be shy to ask. Here is a link to the Katadyn BeFree if you would like to read more about it:
* When I use filters in remote parts of the world I also use purifier tablets too, to eliminate viruses *
