Water treatment in the backcountry reminds me of backpacking and hiking footwear just a bit – if you’re not thinking of it when you’re out on the trail, you know you got it right. On the flipside, a water filter or purifier that clogs halfway through a trip will have you baby-sitting a device possibly for hours the rest of the way; a situation to certainly be avoided. In this article we will take a quick look at the best water treatment options currently available.

Note that there are many ways to go about treating your water in the backcountry, however for the purposes of this article we’ll stick with mechanical treatment. Boiling and chemical treatment can also be used but is not as common (except for melting snow in winter), and my take is that these methods, other than on winter trips, are best utilized either as a backup or for niche ultralight type scenarios. Caveats stated, on to the article.

Best Backpacking & Hiking Water Filters

For those that are packing fast and light style and don’t have much time in camp or time for breaks on the trail, and need to only process water for themselves, Katadyn offers their BeFree 1.0 liter system ($45, less than 3 ounces) that offers hollow fiber filtration in a very lightweight, fill-and-drink-as-you-go type of approach and a 1000L rated capacity.

This would be a suggested option due to its manufacturer-approved integrity test – which I feel is mandatory on any water filter (it just happens in the backcountry – was that small drop too much...did it freeze?). This same BeFree filtration design has also been utilized in their BeFree 3L gravity system ($80, 7 ounces) and the larger capacity BeFree 6L gravity system ($120, 9 ounces).

For more traditional backpacking with time in camp and perhaps a lunch break appreciated, pump or gravity filters come into play including the latter 2 BeFree options above. For my backpacking, I particularly like the Platypus GravityWorks system ($135, 12 ounces) – you can read our GravityWorks review here. This system may be a little cumbersome with all the hoses but offers reliability, plus the ability to hang the dirty water bag and let gravity do the work. I use the 4L system, but for groups a 6L GravityWorks system is available.

Platypus also offers their QuickDraw 2L water filtration system ($80, 6 ounces) that is backflushable and integrity-testable. This is a unique setup that you can use multiple ways – connected to plastic bottles, to the included reservoir, etc. – depending on what works best for you.

Pump filters like this Hiker Pro have been a go-to for decades and are the classic choice.

Traditionally however pump filters have been the backpacker’s choice, and these filters are still relevant today. However, there are the same hoses as a gravity system to deal with and moving parts are introduced along with some associated weight. Cleaning becomes complicated, maintenance is often increased, and there is more to break. If you like to keep it old school here the Katadyn Hiker Pro ($100, 11 ounces) and the MSR MiniWorks EX ($130, 15 ounces) should be considered. However, unfortunately with no integrity test you’ll have to be especially careful in regards to freezing and drops etc.

If an inline (with your hydration reservoir) water filter is something you’d like to explore, the MSR Thru-link Water Filter ($55, 3 ounces) is great on price and weight, although you’ll need to do just a little work to integrate into your own setup. However, quick-connects are provided that makes this easier. This filter filters to .2 microns and features activated carbon to improve water taste and quality along with a manufacturer-approved integrity test.

Gravity, inline, squeeze-type, or pump….see or our full Backpacking & Hiking Water Treatment Guide for pros and cons and more. Hollow-fiber water filters have come to dominate the backpacking and hiking market and for good reason – they typically offer reliable performance, can typically be backflushed / cleaned, and are very light. For more on how to maintain these filters see our hollow fiber water filter maintenance guide.

Summary: Best Backpacking & Hiking Water Filters

Katadyn BeFree 1.0 liter
Katadyn BeFree 3L gravity system
Katadyn BeFree 6L gravity system
Platypus GravityWorks 4L
Platypus GravityWorks 6L
Platypus QuickDraw 2L
MSR Thru-link

Best Hiking & Backpacking Water Purifiers

While you can add in certain methods to your water processing process with a water filter such as an inline carbon element and / or UV treatment, there are times when a water purifier may be a better choice depending on your backpacking destination and your own comfort level.

To further treat water, UV devices and / or carbon filters can be added into your water treatment routine if needed.

I’ve used several purifiers in the past that utilize electro-adsorption technology and while these products hands down produced some of the best tasting water I can imagine, the cartridges quickly clog. If backpacking, you’ll be buying plenty of cartridges and long trips are tough. Even day hiking and processing typical backcountry water can be difficult. While these types of purifiers may be suitable for travel-type purposes or one-off hiking trips, for more frequent use, they are difficult to use when larger volumes of water need to be processed.

Electro-adsorption purifiers have produced the best tasting and cleanest treated water I've ever experienced in the backcountry. They've also been the fastest to clog.

For backcountry water purification, and when the best resulting water is desired in an all-in-one type product and something like viruses may be a concern, the MSR Guardian water purifier ($400, 17 ounces) is a go-to choice. You will pay a weight penalty here, as well as a price premium for that matter, but the Guardian is a unique water treatment device – first of all it is a purifier, not a filter – and secondly it can withstand freezing temperatures and drops from up to 6’, both of which are quite unique. Additionally, it has a self-cleaning design and can output up to 2.5L a minute. There is no carbon in this purifier.

That said, if you prefer the more laid-back, gravity-style approach, MSR now also offers a Guardian Gravity water purifier ($310, 18 ounces). While sharing the name of the Guardian pump system, this cartridge is a bit different – it’s not rated for freezing or drops, but MSR does detail an integrity test you can perform on it if you’re not sure. It also differs in that a carbon stage is included to further polish your water. Output will also be slower and in the .5L / minute range, so make sure you have a little time…but if you’re like me, kicking your feet up while gravity does the work is not a bad way to go about it.

Summary: Best Hiking and Backpacking Water Purifiers

MSR Guardian Pump Water Purifier
MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier

Conclusion

Every destination is different in regards to water quality, and this is one of the first things to do when it comes to planning for an upcoming trip. If your destinations are all higher mountain destinations and you are picky about where you get your water, it’s possible that one product can cover all your water treatment needs.

That said, if your adventures take you from the desert to the mountains and everything in between, it’s likely you’ll either collect another product or two over the years and / or add-in methods to further process the water you’ll drink. In the end, there are a lot of tools in the toolbox and when it comes to your backcountry drinking water, it’s best to use the right tool for the job at hand.

For more background on water treatment methods, what we need to treat for, and water treatment strategy, see our Backpacking and Hiking Water Treatment Guide. You can also find a list of available water filters and purifiers here at REI Co-op.