+
–
Table of Contents
1. Katadyn Pocket Water Filter – Editor’s Pick
I’d consider Katadyn the gold standard of water purification, not just because of their general price points, but because of their quality. They even sell a desalination system.
This particular system that I’m linking to is a ‘pocket’ version. It’s a pump system like the Survivor Filter above. With this system you’d pump the water into another container. It filters down to 0.2 microns and has a filter life of about 13,000 gallons. It can filter up to 1 quart a minute! Pretty impressive numbers there.
Katadyn is one of my all-time favorite brands and would recommend them to anyone. This particular one is super compact but they have a lot of other quality systems.
Pros/Basically perfect and easy to use
Cons/Not cheap by any means
Bottom Line/This is the one filter to have if you need the best of the best
2. Survivor Filter Pro – Budget Pick
I’ve been using this filter for a while and I’ve always felt confident using it. It purifies down to 0.2 microns. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and has a quick flow rate. I’m able to fill up that clear cup in record time.
This is a great system to filter a lot of water into a large container like a water bladder, gravity system or just a regular bottle. Since I routinely go out with my family and dogs, a water purification system like this one makes sense.
It’s been independently Tested in the USA to show 99.999 percent filtration removal of tested Virus, bacteria, parasites and reduces heavy metals, unpleasant tastes and odors. It has a 17 ounce per minute rate of flow, so it fills containers quickly.
Pros/Great filter and fast flow rate
Cons/Adds more to your gear you need to pack in
Bottom Line/Great for camping or adventuring with bigger groups
3. Renovo Water MUV Survivalist – Most Innovative
Renovo is pretty innovative in its design. This is a modular system in which you can have various different types of filters all at once, or just one or two filters. They can be interchanged, which is pretty dang neat.
It can remove chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, eColi, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, cysts, viruses, and more. Removes 99.999% of bacteria, 99.99% of viruses, and chemicals, heavy metals, and diesel fuel. Yes, you read that last one correctly. Diesel fuel. Ever thought about wanting to remove fuel from your water? In urban areas, you may want to.
In addition, their hollow fiber module filters down to 0.1 microns. They also have a water bottle system that I’ve used many times and love it. My kids found it easy to drink from the bottle, as well, which was important to me.
Pros/Slick and easy to use, filter out fuel from your water, too
Cons/Smaller size
Bottom Line/An amazing, modular water filter that would be great for urban survival, as well as serious adventures
4. GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle
This is a water bottle filter. Pour the water into the bottle then press down and it filters through, then you drink it from the water bottle. All in a nice pretty package. I love it because there aren’t a whole lot of parts, it’s like a standard water bottle.
It removes viruses (e.g. rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis A), bacteria (e.g. E. Coli, salmonella, dysentery), and protozoa (e.g. giardia, cryptosporidium, amoebae). It also filters and cleans particulates (e.g. sediment, silt, microplastics), many chemicals (e.g. chlorine, benzene, chloroform), and heavy metals (e.g. lead, arsenic, chromium) as well as improves taste, smell, and clarity.
I absolutely love this filter, except for two things –
- It only holds 24oz – I’d be filling it constantly!
- Filter has a short life of only filtering 65 gallons – I can go through 65 gallons in a weekend of camping between me, my husband, two kids and two dogs.
However, I still like this method for some quick water purification along a hike or for home purposes. I have several water bottle filters and especially like having them around for the kids because I can simply hand them the water bottle and they don’t have to do anything special, they can drink from the bottle right away.
Pros/Easy and convenient to use and great filter
Cons/Small bottle and short filter life
Bottom Line/A great bottle for one person to use on an average adventure
5. APEC Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System – Home System Pick
Your home needs this. Every home needs this.
I’m mentioning this system because I believe every home should have a reverse osmosis system. You can’t take it with you while you hike, but it’s great for the home. This reverse osmosis system will essentially strip the water of everything, even nutrients. While stripping it of the bad stuff is great, it will also strip it of the good stuff. Kind of like distillation.
In saying that, you can always add nutrients back into your own body or back into the water through various powders, vitamins, etc. But this is a great system to have in your home to ensure your water is safe to drink no matter what.
Pros/75 gallon system with multiple filters for water purity
Cons/Not mobile and expensive, filters out a lot of vitamins, too
Bottom Line/Every home needs safe drinking water – Period
What’s so important about clean water?
Instead of guessing if water is good to drink, the best thing we can do for ourselves is to filter water to the highest purity that we can.
In the ol’ days, the best method was to filter and boil. That is still a classic and always will be. But even boiling won’t get rid of everything. It kills many common pathogens and while some pathogens may survive, many of them aren’t harmful, though some still can be. This isn’t to say that boiling is unsafe, it’s great if it’s all you’ve got and will most likely make a good majority of water perfectly suitable to consume.
Filter out the big stuff first with some type of cotton, like a bandana, then heat the water to a boil. When the water reaches a rolling boil, let it sit for one minute. Elevations above 6500 feet should leave it boiling for three minutes.
Before filtering any water, look at the actual source of the water. Is it a stream from the top of a top? Are there any mines nearby or other chemical plants or agriculture? Having an idea of the source of water will offer a better idea as to what you could possibly be trying to filter out.
I’m quite passionate about water purification. If The Oregon Trail has taught us anything it’s that nobody wants to die of dysentery. Especially when there are so many ways to prevent it.
Advice about buying a filter
When you’re done using a water filter (outside of the reverse osmosis system) and plan to store it away, make sure to disassemble it the best that you can and let it sit out and completely dry. This is especially important for the filter, make sure it’s completely dry before putting away, if it’s not, it could mold and no amount of cleaning will fix it.
Pay close attention to the water filter that you rely on to cleanse the potentially harmful things out of your water. The type of water filter you use could very well make the difference between life and death.
Do extensive research, think about your surroundings and water sources, as well as your household needs, if that is the route you’re going in.
How effective is a water purification system?
Most any decent water purification system will filter out 99.99% of the bad stuff you don’t want to drink. And of the remaining .001% that could possibly remain, there’s nothing there to really concern yourself with. So yes, they’re very effective.
How long should a water purification system last?
Each brand and type of filter is different in respects to how long it will last. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for filter replacement and plan accordingly.
About the Author
We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products. We earn commissions from purchases you make using the retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how this works.