First Look: A Trekking Pole that Doubles as a Water Filter
Is the PürTrek pole-filter mashup a brilliant idea or a Frankensteinian mess?
Finding clean water in the backcountry can be a challenge, and chancing getting sick from potentially contaminated streams and lakes is never worth the risk. Find the best water purification system for your next backcountry trip with expert advice from Backpacker’s gear experts.
Is the PürTrek pole-filter mashup a brilliant idea or a Frankensteinian mess?
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This tried-and-true filter is guaranteed to last.
Finally: A filter good enough to make you stop dreading water duty.
The best purifier of 2021.
The best filter for car camping of 2021.
Set it and forget it with this gravity-powered water purifier.
On short trips or epic expeditions, clean water is a must. Here's how to pick the right filter or purifier for you.
Ultralight, ultrafast, and ultraeffective—the best new water treatment devices do the job better than ever.
Nothing ruins a trip quicker than giardia. Stay healthy with these versatile filters.
A heavy-duty insulated bottle, a versatile filter, and more round out our picks for the best backpacking hydration gear of the year.
On-the-go filtration
No Fuss Filter
Purest water
Purify water fast.
Mini filter
The beauty of gravity filters is that, well, gravity does all the work. We’ve tried them all, and this one is the best.
Go ultralight while staying healthy with the MSR Aquatabs.
Spread the joy of clean water with this group-friendly filtration system from Platypus.
Get clean water fast with this easy-to-use SteriPen Ultra.
A fast, integrated, and rechargeable water purifier.
Get prepped with this core gear.
Light, compact, and easy to use, the Freedom treats water in seconds with just a push of a button.
A duffel, shirt, and water purification system that make the life of an adventure traveler that much safer and easier.
Learn several techniques to purify water in the backcountry.
An iodine treatment that doesn't taste like iodine.
This ultralight water purifier is fast, easy, and leaves zero aftertaste.
Stay hydrated–and healthy–with a filter or purifier that's right for you.
This year's Editors' Choice testing trip took place in Utah's Capitol Reef National Park -- a perfect testing ground for our favorite gear of the year.
Extra gear reviews from our January 2011 Reader Test Team reports.
A 32-ounce dip-and-sip filter that lets you refill in about 10 seconds.
Strain and filter your water with this SteriPen product.
Filter water for a group with this big bladder.
Get clean drinking water in mere seconds with this ultralight, ultra-quick filter.
Remove most micro-nasties, draw water from barely-there puddles, and quench thirst fast with the versatile pump filter.
From sleeping pads to trekking poles, we'll have you good to go in no time.
4 backcountry brew gadgets even the snobbiest baristas will love.
Liven up your purified water.
It's simple: Unless you like getting sick, treat all of your water. Follow these 10 essentials to find and maintain the right filter.
Use ziplock baggies with your water purifiers for extra safety.
What to do if your filter head does not have an adapter for your water bottle.
How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.
See if your stove or water filter is safe to repair.
Tips to keep water filters filtering.