Your idea of camping may be a solo backpacking trip for several days, trekking many miles into the wilderness. It could also be a group of friends gathered around the fire pit in a designated campground. Either way, clean, healthy drinking water is a necessity. Even the most inviting mountain lake or stream could be hiding parasites, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and just plain old dirt, mud, silt and sand. If humans or animals can reach an area, the water there may be contaminated. The right water purifier or filter can make it safe to drink quickly. Boiling the water for one to three minutes will deactivate any parasites, bacteria or viruses but requires time and fuel and doesn’t remove chemicals or natural debris. This article examines the 10 best water purifiers for camping in 2018.
Product FAQs
1. What Is the Difference Between a Water purifier and a Water Filter?
2. What Is the Best Water Source To Use?
3. Why Buy a New Water Purifier for Camping?
4. Where Can You Buy One?
5. How Much Does It Cost?
How the Camping Water Purifiers Were Reviewed
We based our reviews on water purifier features, capacity, type of contaminants removed, weight/bulk and customer testimonials. A 1 to 5-star rating based on these factors is included in each review.
Overall Price Range
All the purifiers reviewed are priced from $12.30 to $959, with most under $100.00. The $959 unit is expensive because it is a military-grade desalinator designed to turn saltwater into drinkable water. The remaining units work with freshwater only.
Top 10 Best Camping Water Purifiers
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This military-grade self-cleaning pump purifies and filters in the same unit. It produces 2.5 liters/minute and the replaceable cartridge should last for more than 10,000 liters. It’s lightweight and can handle six-foot falls and freezing temperatures.
Warranty
It has a three-year limited warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This bottle has 15-nanometer pores in its filter, small enough to capture any virus that tries to creep through (all viruses are 25 nanometers or larger). You get purification and filtration in the same unit, cleaning the contents of the 750ml bottle in under a minute. The replaceable filter treats up to 4,000 liters of water.
Warranty
This unit has a two-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
The versatile Aquamira Frontier Max has fittings and components that allow it to easily connect to a hydration reservoir or water bottle valves. It can also be used like a straw or configured into a gravity filter. Its replaceable filter cleans up to 120 gallons.
Warranty
It has a one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This bottle combines a filter and a purifier with a French press-style pump. It uses electroadhesion and ion exchange to break down viruses as well as the other organisms normally captured by filters.
Warranty
It comes with a 10-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
The SteriPEN Ultra uses ultraviolet light to purify a container of water. Batteries are required but can be charged with a solar charger, USB or wall power. The unit is very lightweight.
Warranty
It comes with a three-year limited warranty.
Pros
Cons
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This device also uses ultraviolet light to purify water. It comes with two CR123 batteries which should power 100 treatments. This unit weighs even less than the SteriPEN Ultra.
Warranty
Like the SteriPEN Ultra, it comes with a three-year limited warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This chlorine dioxide-based chemical water treatment is a great option for backpackers that need an extremely lightweight solution. Two 1-ounce bottles purify up to 30 gallons of water, killing waterborne bacteria and viruses. They work faster and treat more water than other products in pill form.
Warranty
No warranty is offered, but it has a four-year shelf life.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This product is a single-tablet solution for treating water with chlorine dioxide to remove waterborne viruses and bacteria. It takes less space than the Aquamira bottles but treats far less water with a single tablet.
Warranty
No warranty is offered, but it has a three-year shelf life.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This product is a chemical-based purifier but uses salt water and an electric charge to remove contaminants instead of chlorine dioxide or iodine. It can be charged via USB or a solar panel.
Warranty
It comes with a one-year limited warranty.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
This is a military-approved compact, lightweight and hand-operated desalinator for turning saltwater into drinkable water. Designed for marine use, it’s critical if you run out of safe drinking water while camping near the ocean. It uses reverse osmosis to remove viruses, bacteria and other contaminants while transforming seawater into safe drinking water.
Warranty
It comes with a one-year warranty.
Pros
Cons
Product | Image | Details | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MSR Guardian Purifier Pump |  | Method: Medical-grade fibers Capacity: 2.5 liters/minute through pump Time required: One minute for 2.5 liters Weight: 17 ounces | ||
Lifesaver Systems 4000 Ultra Filtration Water Bottle |  | Method: 15nm filter pores Capacity: 750ml Time required: Under one minute Weight: 22 ounces | ||
Aquamira Frontier Max |  | Method: Very small filter pores Capacity: 500ml/minute through unit Time required: One minute for 500ml Weight: 5.9 ounces | ||
Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle |  | Method: Electroadhesion and ion exchange Capacity: 16 ounces Time required: 15 seconds for 16 ounces Weight: 10.9 ounces | ||
SteriPEN Ultra USB Rechargeable UV Personal Water Purifier |  | Method: Ultraviolet light Capacity: Depends on container Time required: 60 seconds for 1 liter Weight: 9.6 ounces | ||
SteriPEN Adventurer Opti |  | Method: Ultraviolet light Capacity: Depends on container Time required: 60 seconds for 1 liter Weight: 3.8 ounces | ||
Aquamira Water Treatment Drops |  | Method: Chemical (chlorine dioxide) Capacity: Treats up to 30 gallons Time required: 35-50 minutes Weight: Two 1-ounce bottles | ||
Katadyn Micropur MP1 Tablets |  | Method: Chemical (chlorine dioxide) Capacity: Treats 1 liter per tablet Time required: 30 minutes for 1 liter Weight: 0.9 ounces | ||
Potable Aqua Pure Electrolytic |  | Method: Chemical (salt water + electric charge) Capacity: Up to 20 liters at a time Time required: Up to four hours Weight: 3.8 ounces | ||
Katadyn Survivor 06 Desalinator |  | Method: Reverse osmosis Capacity: 890ml/hour through unit Time required: Less than two minutes/ounce Weight: 2.5 pounds |
Recommendation
Which type of camping water purifier is best for you really depends on your personal preference for the type of purification (filters, chemical or ultraviolet), whether you want to pre-filter the water before it’s treated, how much water you need and how soon you need it. If you are dealing with saltwater instead of freshwater, you must use a specific type of device to remove the salt. All the filters and purifiers reviewed offer safe drinking water when you need it most.
