Stay Hydrated! With The Very Best Backpacking Water Filter
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Do you love to backpack, hike and camp?
Do you struggle carrying large amounts of clean drinking water?
Many adults need around 2 liters of water or more a day from drinks, and more when hiking in the heat. That’s a lot of weight to carry!
A filter lets you refill from streams and lakes along your route instead of carrying every liter from the trailhead.
With an abundance of backpacking water filters on the market it can be difficult to narrow it down to the one that suits your needs.
I have done the hard work for you and found the best water filter for backpacking so you will be able to make an informed decision.
After all, water is the elixir of life, so it’s important to know you will be safe and hydrated when you’re out adventuring.
What Makes A Good Backpacking Water Filter?
There are a number of things to consider when looking for the best backpacking water filter, and it can be a little overwhelming. One of the most important factors is that it does its job effectively.
This job is to remove illness-causing protozoa and bacteria so you can drink without the risk of intestinal illness (definitely not ideal when camping or hiking).
Most backpacking water filters remove protozoa and bacteria. According to the CDC's guide to water treatment for hiking and camping, a filter with a pore size of 0.3 micron or smaller removes bacteria and parasites, but not viruses.
Where viruses are a concern, such as water near busy campsites or in many places abroad, disinfect filtered water with chlorine as well.
After that, the next factors to consider are size, weight and treatment time.
If you’re hiking and carrying all your items then size and weight are crucial. Hydrate yourself with the correct amount of water for any journey.
On the other hand, if you’re setting up a campsite for an extended stay, something larger may not cause too many problems.
Finally, treatment time is the amount of time you have to wait before safely drinking your filtered water. Some systems can take up to half an hour to filter out unwanted materials.
Once again, if you have a semi-permanent camp this may be OK, but if you’re on a weekend hike you’ll need something a little more instant.
Overall, you need to understand your own needs before deciding upon the best water filter for your backpacking needs.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is one of the best backpacking water filters.
It’s ideal for just about any outdoor setting, including camping, hiking and international travel.
It’s small and light. Sawyer says its 0.1 micron hollow-fiber filter removes bacteria and protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter can be used over and over again. Sawyer has advertised it as rated for up to 100,000 gallons, though flow slows over time and it needs regular backflushing.
It’s also a great filter to have on hand in the case of an emergency situation.
The kit comes complete with attachments to allow you to drink directly from the included reusable squeeze pouch, standard plastic water bottles and even directly from the water source with the handy straw.
Pros and Cons
A backpacking water filter review would not be complete without an explanation of the positives and negatives.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is small and lightweight so it won’t take up much valuable space in your backpack. The treatment time is quick. You simply use the straw attachment provided and drink away!
This is perfect when you are hiking and don’t have time to stop and wait for your water to be clean and safe. Alternatively, you can fill your own water bottle or hydration pack and drink on the go. The filter system comes with all the attachments you need as well as useful instructions.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is a cost effective way to provide quick, clean drinking water virtually immediately, without adding bulk to your backpack. With regular backflushing, and kept from freezing, it can last for many trips.
On the flip side, it isn’t ideal for use amongst large groups, so if you’re camping with a bunch of friends you would all need your own Sawyer Mini Water Filter.
What’s more, like other portable microfilters, it does not reliably remove viruses such as hepatitis A, norovirus and rotavirus.
The CDC's advice for travelers is to treat microfiltered water with chlorine when viruses are a risk.
Some users may find it difficult to get a flow going through the straw, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.
In Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best backpacking water filter for personal use during your hiking or camping trip, then look no further.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter is an ideal travel size and will help protect you from the bacteria and protozoa found in untreated water.
It’ll help keep you safely hydrated and therefore allow you to have an enjoyable hiking or camping experience.
Less time worrying about ‘bad’ water means more time appreciating the great outdoors!
