First Look: A Trekking Pole that Doubles as a Water Filter
Is the PürTrek pole-filter mashup a brilliant idea or a Frankensteinian mess?
Water Purifiers
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.
The Best Water Filters of 2023
We dunked 19 filters across the country, from silty streams in California’s Agua Caliente Creek to clear lakes in Washington’s Olympic Mountains, to find the year’s best.
Latest in Water Purifiers
Outside Gear Spotlight: GRAYL Geopress Water Purifier
Check out BACKPACKER Editors and Contributors's author page.
Deal of the Week: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
This tried-and-true filter is guaranteed to last.
What We’re Testing Now: One of The Best Water Filters We’ve Ever Used
Finally: A filter good enough to make you stop dreading water duty.
CrazyCap
The best purifier of 2021.
Sawyer Tap Filter
The best filter for car camping of 2021.
Editors’ Choice 2021: MSR Guardian Gravity Purifier
Set it and forget it with this gravity-powered water purifier.
The 6 Best Water Filters for Every Type of Adventure
On short trips or epic expeditions, clean water is a must. Here's how to pick the right filter or purifier for you.
The 8 Best Water Filters for Backpackers
Ultralight, ultrafast, and ultraeffective—the best new water treatment devices do the job better than ever.
The Best Backpacking Water Filters
Nothing ruins a trip quicker than giardia. Stay healthy with these versatile filters.
The 5 Best Hydration Systems of 2018
A heavy-duty insulated bottle, a versatile filter, and more round out our picks for the best backpacking hydration gear of the year.
MSR TrailShot
On-the-go filtration
Editors' Choice Award 2017: Katadyn BeFree
No Fuss Filter
Grayl Ultralight
Purest water
SteriPEN Ultra
Purify water fast.
Katadyn BeFree
Mini filter
MSR AutoFlow
The beauty of gravity filters is that, well, gravity does all the work. We’ve tried them all, and this one is the best.
Gear Review: MSR Aquatabs Water Treatment
Go ultralight while staying healthy with the MSR Aquatabs.
Gear Review: Platypus GravityWorks 4.0L Water Treatment
Spread the joy of clean water with this group-friendly filtration system from Platypus.
Gear Review: SteriPen Ultra Water Treatment
Get clean water fast with this easy-to-use SteriPen Ultra.
Holiday Gift Guide 2012: CamelBak All Clear UV Water Purification System
A fast, integrated, and rechargeable water purifier.
Gear Guide 2012: The Ten Essentials
Get prepped with this core gear.
Gear Guide 2012: SteriPen Freedom Water Treatment
Light, compact, and easy to use, the Freedom treats water in seconds with just a push of a button.
Gear Guide 2012: Adventure Travel Gear
A duffel, shirt, and water purification system that make the life of an adventure traveler that much safer and easier.
Summer Trail Smarts: Purify Water
Learn several techniques to purify water in the backcountry.
Gear Review: Polar Pure Water Disinfectant
An iodine treatment that doesn't taste like iodine.
Editors' Choice 2011: SteriPEN Adventurer Opti
This ultralight water purifier is fast, easy, and leaves zero aftertaste.
8 Ways to Treat Water
Stay hydrated–and healthy–with a filter or purifier that's right for you.
Editors' Choice 2011: Video Gear Reviews
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.
Reader Rated
Extra gear reviews from our January 2011 Reader Test Team reports.
Gear Review: Sawyer 4 Way Water Filter
A 32-ounce dip-and-sip filter that lets you refill in about 10 seconds.
Gear Review: SteriPen FitsAll Filter
Strain and filter your water with this SteriPen product.
Gear Review: Katadyn Base Camp Gravity Filter
Filter water for a group with this big bladder.
Editors' Choice 2008: MSR HyperFlow Water Filter
Get clean drinking water in mere seconds with this ultralight, ultra-quick filter.
Gear School: Water Filters
Remove most micro-nasties, draw water from barely-there puddles, and quench thirst fast with the versatile pump filter.
Gear School 2009: Essentials
From sleeping pads to trekking poles, we'll have you good to go in no time.
Camp Coffee Gear: Make the Perfect Cup
4 backcountry brew gadgets even the snobbiest baristas will love.
That Zesty Taste
Liven up your purified water.
Buying A Better Filter
It's simple: Unless you like getting sick, treat all of your water. Follow these 10 essentials to find and maintain the right filter.
Zipped-Tight Water Safety
Use ziplock baggies with your water purifiers for extra safety.
Fitting Filter Head Adapters
What to do if your filter head does not have an adapter for your water bottle.
H2O-No: Water Bottle Tips
How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.
Gear Rx: Stoves And Water Filters
See if your stove or water filter is safe to repair.
Water Filter Maintenance
Tips to keep water filters filtering.