Best water purifier for camping

Last updated on April 14th, 2023 at 05:10 pm

We reviewed the best water purifier for camping because we know staying hydrated in the backcountry isn’t easy. Merely drinking from streams and lakes won’t guarantee you’ll be safe from harmful protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. To keep your water clean and purified, there are a variety of water filtration and purification systems designed for camping that can help protect against these risks.

Our Top 3 Picks

• Best overall – Survivor Filter PRO – Get Best Price
• Best for groups – Platypus GravityWorks – Get Best Price
• Best for Hiking – Sawyer SP129 Squeeze – Get Best Price

Our top picks for 2023 offer a great selection of bottle filters, chemical drops, pumps, and large-quantity gravity filters that work well for backpacking and day hiking, trail running, and travel. For more detailed information on the different types of filters out there, look at our comprehensive backpacking water filter comparison table and buying advice below the picks.

Survivor Filter PRO

Get twice the filter in one package with the Survivor Filter PRO! Comes with an extra set of replacement filters, a backwashing syringe, two carrying cases, extra tubing, and a microfiber cloth.

It’s independently tested to have the best filtration level on the market. It’s been tested at multiple US labs. It removes 99.999% protozoa (Cryptosporidium, Giardia and parasites) as well as 99.999% of viruses (Phi X-174), staph and bacteria — plus it eliminates 99.5% of mercury and 93% of lead from the water.

You’ll get triple filtration down to 0.01 microns for viruses, bacteria, parasites, heavy metal reduction, taste, and chemical removal thanks to dual hollow-fiber membrane ultrafilters and carbon filtration, which is 20x more efficient than competitors’ 0.2 micron offerings!

And with a super fast flow rate of 500 mL (17 oz) per minute, you can use it directly from freshwater sources or even attach it to your favorite hydration pack for on-the-go use! Plus, we stand by our product with a Lifetime Happiness Guarantee. We’re based in North America, and every customer is a lifetime customer for us, so if there’s anything wrong, just let us know and we’ll take care of you, no questions asked!

Platypus GravityWorks

Are you looking for a high-capacity, gravity-fed water filter system? Look no further! This hollow-fiber water filter system is ideal for group and family camping, outdoor adventures, and emergency preparedness.

It meets all EPA/NSF guidelines for the removal of 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, salmonella and cholera. Plus, there’s no pumping required fill the reservoir easily and hang it from a tree to deliver six liters of filtered water for cooking and washing in under 4 minutes!

This kit comes with a 6-liter dirty water reservoir, 6-liter clean water reservoir, a hollow-fiber microfilter, hoses, a shutoff clamp, and storage sack. Plus, the cartridge filters are replaceable – they can last up to 1,500 gallons each – plus you’ll get a flow rate of 1.75 liters/minute with this 11.5 ounce kit that’s made right here in the USA!

Sawyer SP129 Squeeze

The Portable Water Filter from Sawyer is the perfect companion for your next outdoor adventure or emergency preparedness!

At just 2 ounces, this lightweight filter fits in the palm of your hand and removes dangerous bacteria and protozoa, cysts, sediment, and 100% of microplastics. And you can trust it to perform each 0.1 micron absolute inline filter is tested three times to performance standards before it leaves the factory! Plus, with a built-in flip-top spray cap and an included collapsible drinking pouch (plus two reusable 32 oz. pouches), you can quickly get clean water straight into your mouth or bottle wherever you go!

You can even fit it into any standard water bottle with 28 mm threads with Sawyer’s Inline Hydration Pack Adapters. That’s why the Portable Water Filter from Sawyer is perfect for travel, outdoor adventures, or emergency preparedness.