7 Water Filters for Your Next Bikepacking Adventure
These filters will keep you safe and hydrated on the trails
When you’re out bikepacking or camping by the trails, access to clean drinking water is vital for staying healthy. Even when water looks clean, it can be rife with bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses that may cause sickness or even death.
That’s where this tech comes to the rescue. Here are seven lightweight and portable gadgets to keep you healthy and well hydrated:
Vestergaard LifeStraw Water Filter
Originally designed as an inexpensive and dependable way to provide clean drinking water for developing countries, the LifeStraw filters out 99.9 percent of all bacteria and protozoa found in lakes, streams, or rivers. As its name implies, the device operates much like a straw, allowing users to safely drink directly from any source of water available. Because it is effective, inexpensive (just $20), weighs just two ounces, and can filter up to 1,000 liters before needing to be replaced, it’s very popular with backpackers and other travelers.
Since it was first introduced a few years back, the LifeStraw filtering system has made its way into several additional products. For instance, the LifeStraw Steel is a bit heavier (4.4 ounces) and more expensive, but its metal shell helps the straw endure extreme locations. The LifeStraw Go is a similar option.
Vestergaard LifeStraw Water Filter, $20.00, Amazon
GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle
The product of a successful Kickstarter campaign, the GRAYL Ultralight purifying bottle is quite easy to use. Simply open the lid and fill it from a river, lake, or sink. Then place the included filtering tube at the top of the bottle and press it down into the water. As it descends, the water is forced through a carbon-based filter and comes out the other side completely safe and clean.
The whole process takes about 15 seconds, which makes it one of the fastest filtering methods out there. Since it weighs only 11 ounces and costs $60, it’s a lifesaver for bikepackers and adventurers alike.
RELATED: 5 Great Water Bottles to Keep Your Drinks From Freezing on Super-Cold Rides
GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle, $58.00, Amazon
SteriPEN Ultra UV Water Purifier
Rather than using filters, the SteriPEN Ultra relies on ultraviolet light to kill the dangerous elements lurking in our water. UV light renders 99.99 percent of those elements completely harmless, making this an efficient way to create clean drinking water on the go.
Fill a bottle with water, turn on the SteriPEN, place it into the liquid, and begin stirring. A built-in display tells you when to stop, but it usually takes about 90 seconds to treat 32 ounces of water. Weighing only five ounces, the SteriPEN Ultra won't add much bulk to your bag, but that comes at a price—almost $90 (though SteriPEN offers cheaper options). Also, depending on how long you're traveling, this germ-killing pen might need a recharge.
SteriPEN Ultra UV Water Purifier, $87.00, Amazon
Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter
Capable of treating up to one liter of water per minute while weighing just 10 ounces, the Katadyn Hiker Pro offers excellent performance-to-weight ratio for those who like to travel light. Its filtering system removes microorganisms, chemicals, and bacteria, and it even filters out the stuff that causes bad taste. Small enough for a solo traveler while remaining efficient enough to support three people per day on an extended trip, the Hiker Pro offers one-step filtering, allowing you to fill up your Nalgene bottles and hydration bladders directly from the source without fear. For $85, this filter delivers a lot for the price.
RELATED: 7 Tips for Cleaning Your Cycling Water Bottles
Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter, $85.00, Amazon
MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump
The MSR Guardian is, without a doubt, the best option for traveling to remote places. Sure, it weighs more than a pound and is bigger than any of the other purification systems on this list, but it’s also incredibly fast and effective. The Guardian can filter 2.5 liters of water per minute, physically removing viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and particulates. On top of that, the device can treat up to 10,000 liters of water over its lifespan, which is the equivalent of nearly three liters per day, every day, for 10 years.
Built to withstand extreme environments and survive plenty of abuse in the field, the Guardian is super pricey at a whopping $350. But if you need a lot of clean drinking water while in the backcountry, nothing else compares.
MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump, $350.00, Amazon
Sawyer One-Gallon Gravity Filtration System
Hang the bag and let gravity do all the work. This lightweight filter comes with a dual-threaded MINI water filter and a one-gallon reservoir. The 0.1 micron filter is made to remove 99.99999 percent of all bacteria and 99.9999 percent of all protozoa.
Sawyer One-Gallon Gravity Filtration System, $29.00, Amazon
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