Finding the best backpacking water purifier is an important yet confusing, experience. A few too many protozoan cysts in your water on a backpacking trip and you’ll be doubled over in your tent wishing for home.
But do you need to filter or purify that water to make it safe to drink? Should you get something that removes viruses or protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium? Or both? Does a UV purifier do what you need? How can you tell?
That’s where we come in. There are many gear decisions to make. One of our goals here at The Adventure Junkies is to simplify shopping for outdoor gear. In this article, we’ll cover things to keep in mind when choosing backpacking water purifiers. We’ll also show you how to find one that works best for you and keeps your water clean and you feeling great on your trip.
Ultimate Guide To Find The Best Backpacking Water Purifier
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8 Things To Consider To Find The Best Backpacking Water Purifier
1. Pre-Filter or Not?
If the water has a lot of particulates like silt or leaves in it then you’ll need a filter or pre-filter. Some purifiers are also filters. Some purifiers require 2 steps, pre-filter the silt, sand and leaves, then purify.
2. Giardia, Cryptosporidium & Virus Removal
Protozoa and bacteria are common in the backcountry around North America. They cause issues like Beaver Fever that’ll have you running to the bathroom constantly. You’ll want to eliminate viruses when traveling abroad. Most filters don’t cover viruses. Some chemicals don’t kill all the protozoa. UV (ultraviolet light bulb) purifiers do both.
3. Battery Replacement
It can be hard to tell when it’s time for new replacement filter cartridges or batteries. Some filters and UV filters show you clearly when it’s time to replace them. Half way through a backcountry trip is not a good place to find out your purifier isn’t working anymore.
4. Rechargeable or Replaceable Battery?
The UV filters require batteries or recharging a battery pack. This can be tough to do in the backcountry. A spare set of batteries or a way to recharge is always a good idea.
5. Container
Some purifiers come attached to a particular bottle like the Grayl Ultralight or CamelBak All Clear. On the other hand, a SteriPEN Classic or MSR Guardian can use any container.
6. Chemicals
The lightest options for purification are chemicals, either drops or tablets. Some people don’t like the flavors they give the water or the idea of ingesting chemicals too often. Other options like UV purifiers are a bit heavier and still purify your water.
7. Backups
Will you have a backup water treatment for your trip? Some people just chance it or boil all the water if their purifier fails. While the chemicals might not be your first choice, they can be a small and lightweight backup.
8. Saltwater
None of these filters are able to filter salty or brackish water. So you’ll need to find a salt-free water source to start with.
Photo by Grayl, used through Amazon
BACKPACKING WATER PURIFIER GEAR REVIEWS
Top 10 Best Backpacking Water Purifiers Of The Year
MSR GUARDIAN
BEST FOR: Hikers who don’t want to wait for chemicals or are in extreme conditions
TYPE: Pump filter/purifier
WEIGHT: 25 oz
SPEED: 2.5 liters per minute
LIFESPAN: 10,000 liters per replaceable cartridge
PROS: Fast, durable, 10,000 liter cartridge, no waiting for chemicals, self-cleaning as you pump
CONS: Heavy, expensive, have to pump
CAMELBAK ALL CLEAR WATER PURIFIER BOTTLE
BEST FOR: Hikers wanting a purifier and bottle in one
TYPE: UV bottle
WEIGHT: 10.6 oz
SPEED: 1 liter per minute
LIFESPAN: 80 cycles per charge, 10,000 cycles per battery
PROS: USB rechargeable, easy to use, effective against protozoa, bacteria and viruses
CONS: Doesn’t pre-filter silt, requires charging
MSR AQUATABS
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: A lightweight option for viruses
TYPE: Tablets
WEIGHT: 0.32 oz
SPEED: 30 minutes to treat
LIFESPAN: 2 liters per tablet, 30 tablets in pack
PROS: Lightweight, inexpensive, easy to use, long expiration date
CONS: Not effective against Cryptosporidium, adds some taste
GRAYL ULTRALIGHT PURIFIER BOTTLE
BEST FOR: Filtering and purifying everything in one bottle
TYPE: Filter/purifier bottle
WEIGHT: 10.9 oz
SPEED: 2 liters/minute
LIFESPAN: 150 liters per cartridge
PROS: Filter and purifier in one, removes some heavy metals and chemicals, lightweight for filter/purifier
CONS: Don’t know when to change cartridge, water source needs to be deep enough for bottle, only holds ½ liter
AQUAMIRA WATER TREATMENT DROPS
BEST FOR: A lightweight option to treat all protozoa and viruses or backup treatment
TYPE: Chlorine Dioxide drops
WEIGHT: 3.2 oz
SPEED: 20-35 minutes depending on turbidity
LIFESPAN: 1 package treats 113 liters
PROS: Lightweight, inexpensive, reliable, effective against Cryptosporidium, adjustable amount for your container
CONS: Slow, can make bad water taste better, doesn’t filter silt, need to mix chemicals and wait
MSR SWEETWATER WATER PURIFIER
BEST FOR: Good value for silty water
TYPE: Pump filter + chemical solution
WEIGHT: 16 oz
SPEED: 1 liter/minute + 5 minutes for virus solution
LIFESPAN: 750 liters per filter cartridge, virus solution bottle treats 300 liters
PROS: Can just carry filter, handle is easy to pump, good price for pump, easy to tell when to replace cartridge
CONS: Have to filter then add solution, heavier than tablets, handle feels delicate
LIFESTRAW FAMILY 1.0 WATER PURIFIER
Check out the latest price on:
Amazon
BEST FOR: Setting up base camp
TYPE: Gravity filter/purifier
WEIGHT: 24 oz
SPEED: 0.15 – 0.2 liters/minute
LIFESPAN: 18,000 liters
PROS: No chemicals, long lifespan, easy to use, good for groups
CONS: Slow, heavy
KATADYN MICROPUR TABLETS
BEST FOR: Lightweight option effective against Cryptosporidium, backup treatment
TYPE: Chlorine Dioxide tablets
WEIGHT: 0.9 oz
SPEED: 15 – 30 minutes/liter
LIFESPAN: 1 liter per tablet, packs of 20 or 30
PROS: Lightweight, individually wrapped, only 15 minutes if not waiting for Cryptosporidium
CONS: Slow for Cryptosporidium, slight taste, doesn’t filter silt
POTABLE AQUA IODINE TABLETS
BEST FOR: Lightweight option just for Giardia and viruses
TYPE: Iodine Tablets
WEIGHT: 2.27 oz
SPEED: 30 minutes/liter
LIFESPAN: 2 tablets per liter, 50 tablets per bottle
PROS: Small, light, inexpensive
CONS: Doesn’t treat Cryptosporidium, can’t use for extended periods of time, chemical taste
STERIPEN CLASSIC 3 WATER PURIFIER WITH PREFILTER
BEST FOR: Places with clear water, traveling
TYPE: UV stick
WEIGHT: 4.8 oz
SPEED: 1.5 minutes/liter
LIFESPAN: Up to 150 liters on 4 AA batteries, 8000 uses per bulb
PROS: Faster than chemicals, lighter than pumps, used with any kind of bottle
CONS: Pre-filter is separate, uses batteries, have to be careful with the glass bulb, doesn’t work well with turbid water
Now We’d Love To Hear From You! What Have You Used For Water Treatment? Which Do You Think Is The Best Backpacking Water Purifier?
Disclosure: The Adventure Junkies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost for you. We also use other programs like REI, LeisurePro and others to keep our site independent. You can read more about how do we review here.
The post Effective Water Treatment – Top 10 Best Backpacking Water Purifiers appeared first on The Adventure Junkies.
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