Best Portable Water Filters: Decontaminate Your Drinking Water

Water is necessary when camping or hiking, but you usually can’t carry a lot of it at one time. That is why you need a portable water filter. This device purifies natural water, eliminating all pathogens and particles and rendering it safe for consumption. In this guide, we picked the best portable water filters on the market.

Summary List

• Best Overall: Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter System
• Best Value: Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System
• Honorable Mention: LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter

Best Portable Water Filters: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall

Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter System

Check Latest Price

Best Value

Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System

Check Latest Price

Honorable Mention

LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter

Check Latest Price

Types of Portable Water Filters

Bottle Filters

These filters have one big advantage. When you don’t want to filter your drinking water, you can remove the filter cartridge and use the bottle as a normal water bottle. But only do this when you are sure the water source is safe and healthy. Bottle filters usually have fibre filters or solid block activated carbon filters that clean and purify the water. 

Fiber bottle filters have straws that filter out the contaminants and ensure that only clean water reaches the mouthpiece. Activated carbon filters contain activated carbon which has been treated and compressed. It efficiently traps bacteria and parasites in water and absorbs more chemicals.

Straw Filters

These are currently the lightest portable water filters and resemble overly large straws. They also work like straws. To use a straw water filter, simply put its back end in the water source and suck water through the straw. However, the straw in this portable filter does not work like a regular straw. You have to suck using powerful force in order for the straw to work. 

The filtration process is simple and straightforward. Portable straw filters contain cartridges made of hollow fiber membrane. The fibers are tightly woven together and the water passes through a lot of layers before reaching the straw you suck. As the water passes through the fibers, viruses, bacteria, and parasites are removed.

Pump Filters

While these portable water filters are not small, they are small enough to fit in a backpack. To get clean water using the filter, you have to connect a lead line to the source of the water and another line to a water recipient. A small hand pump is used to draw the water. Pump filters rely on different types of filters: fibre filters, ceramic filters, and activated carbon filters. Ceramic filters perform mechanical filtration and are also porous. Their tiny holes block all the contaminants and can also block asbestos. 

However, ceramic filters do not prevent organic compounds from contaminating the water. This is why they are mostly used together with activated carbon filters. Carbon filters have extremely tiny pores between their carbon atoms which trap all contaminants in water. Fiber filters mechanically stop the contaminants from getting in your drinking water. 

Key Features

Filter Capacity

Every filter cartridge usually has a set lifespan. Some cartridges last a few days while others can be used for several weeks or even months. The best portable water filters have long-lasting filter cartridges. Some water filters have cartridges that can clean 264 gallons of water before requiring replacement, while others have cartridges that can purify up to 100,000 gallons of dirty impure water. Some manufacturers give the estimated filter capacity for their cartridges, so be sure to look at that feature. 

Filtration Speed

A portable water filter removes the impurities in water at a certain rate. Some water filters produce five ounces of clean water every minute, while others produce as much as 30 ounces of water in the same amount of time. Be sure to get a unit that can filter water quickly, especially if you’re planning to go camping or traveling with your family or a group of friends. 

Weight

The main point of buying a portable water filter is so that you can carry it around when you travel. Before settling on a particular model, carefully consider its weight. While most portable water filters are compact, their weight varies. The weight depends on the filtering technology used, the construction materials, and the design. 

Other Considerations

• Ease of Use. While almost all portable water filters are compact, not all are convenient and easy to use. Some units come with clear instructions which you have to carry everywhere to ensure you set up your filter properly. They can have a negative effect on your outdoor experience. However, some water filters are very easy to use. All you need to do is suck the water and drink it.
• Convenience. When you’re choosing a water filter, it’s important to know the circumstances in which it will be used. If you need a filter that removes bacteria, a standard water filter like a straw filter or a gravity filter is ideal. If you’re traveling internationally, you need a water filter that is powerful enough to block viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

Portable Water Filter Pricing

• $10-$50: These water filters mostly have 2-stage and 3-stage water filtration systems. They remove many contaminants, including chlorine, iodine, sediment, and waterborne contaminants. However, the lower-priced models don’t eliminate heavy metals in water.

FAQs

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.