5 Best Portable Water Purifiers

Whenever you start planning a camping or fishing trip, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the snacks and drinks. But you also need to make sure that you have a good backup of clean water too. To make this happen, you need to have a portable water purification system. A portable water purifier can be filled from any source of water to make it fit for drinking.

We have specific products listed for you based on whether you travel in groups, or you like to hike solo. You can decide on the right purifier depending on your needs and comfort of use. Water is one necessity that should not be compromised in any situation. You can successfully prevent any water-borne ailments with clean and fresh drinking water. Read on to find out more!

We have structured this article specifically to help you decide which is a suitable filter choice for your outdoor needs. Then, you can go through the buying guide to discover how to pick the perfect option among these best portable water purifiers.

Best Portable Water Purifiers

We have curated a list of best products to give you access to clean drinking water anywhere anytime. Let’s take a look.

LifeStraw Flex Water Filter

The LifeStraw Flex Advanced Water Filter comes with a gravity bag for the purification of water. It has a hollow fiber membrane with a 0.2-micron pore size to remove 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of protozoa, and 99.999% of microplastics. Rest assured about the cleanliness of the water while drinking from the LifeStraw Flex.

Lead is another very harmful metal that can damage both the brain and body. So, to remove lead, the filter has a carbon-fiber capsule. Additionally, it also improves the taste of the water for consumption. While traveling or on a camping trip, you can feel relaxed with pure water and independence on packaged water. The product claims to filter about 500 gallons of water, implying use of a year and a half. You can use the filter with a straw or attach it to a portable water bottle.

Specifications

  • Product Dimensions: 11 x 3 x 5.5 inches
  • Product Weight: 10.6 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
  • Capacity: 1 gallon
  • Method of Filtration: Fiber Membrane, Carbon Filter

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • 0.2-micron pore filter
  • Long-lasting and durable
  • Versatile ways of use
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Feels a little bulky when full
  • Carbon filter has to be replaced in three months
  • Needs secure attachment to be leak-free

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LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles

The LifeStraw Go BPA-free water bottle is a perfect easy-to-carry compact filtering system that isn’t too bulky. It is a reusable bottle that can filter up to 23 ounces of water in one go. You can include it in your camping backpack to handle any water emergencies. The hollow fiber membrane is designed to remove protozoa and bacteria from lake water, streams, and tap water to make sure you have clean and safe drinking water at all times.

The bottle has a two-stage activated carbon filter to purify the water and remove any kind of odor and bad taste from it. You can have peace of mind with microorganism-free and chemical-free water to drink. The bottle is durable and sturdy made of BPA-free Tritan. It also has an outlet that is made of food-grade silicone, which is not harmful to health. You can buy replacement filters to increase the longevity and use of the bottle.

Specifications

  • Product Dimensions: 3.1 x 3.1 x 9.2 inches
  • Product Weight: 7.8 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
  • Capacity: 23 ounces
  • Method of Filtration: Fiber Membrane, Carbon Filter

Pros

  • Compact to carry
  • Non-toxic
  • 26-gallon output
  • Two-stage filter
  • Durable
  • Easy on the wallet

Cons

  • Slower flow rate
  • Less capacity
  • Less seduction in the straw.

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Miniwell Gravity Water Filter

With the Miniwell Gravity Water Filter, you can have access to 2,000 liters of clean water in one go. The low-pressure membrane ensures that the rate of filtration and flow is fast-paced. This way, you don’t need to wait a long time to enjoy clean drinking water. The filter has a 0.1-micron filtration so that even the tiniest of microbes and chemical particulates can be filtered out of the water.

You can fill the reservoir effortlessly with the wide-mouth inlet, which closes with a sidelock design. The filter has threads on both sides so it can be connected inline for uninterrupted clean water. Additionally, you can increase the lifespan by clean water backwash to remove any dirt and grime collected over the cleaning period. The filter can also be connected to a 28mm thread disposable water bottle.

Specifications

  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
  • Capacity: 2 gallons
  • Flow-Rate: 600mL/minute
  • Method of Filtration: 0.1-micron ultrafiltration membrane

Pros

  • Fast flow rate
  • Huge capacity
  • 0.1-micron filtration
  • Medical grade material
  • Low-pressure membranes

Cons

  • Requires periodic backwashing
  • Heavy in full capacity
  • Does not filter salty water

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Survivor Filter

The Survivor Filter Pro is designed to filter about 99.999% of life-threatening protozoa, bacteria, staph, and viruses from water to make it fit for drinking. With this heavy-duty filter, you will have odorless and clean drinking water without any mercury or lead in the composition. It has a triple filtration system with a double hollow membrane instead of just one. There is a carbon filter, too, for the removal of any chemical odor and taste.

You can get hygienic drinking water with an efficient 500mL flow rate from the filter. The material of the filter is very sturdy with Polysulfone medical-grade filter and ABS shell material. It comes with food-grade activated carbon to ensure no use of toxic substances. Also, the material is BPA-free with easy-clean detachable internal filters. You can also use the detachable drinking cup; it comes within the packaging. The versatile Survivor Filter is perfect for a large family or wherever you need a large amount of drinking water.

Specifications

  • Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 2 x 6.5 inches
  • Product Weight: 8.2 ounces
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Capacity: 1 Gallon /min
  • Method of Filtration: 2 Hollow Membrane, 1 Carbon Filter

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Very efficient
  • Superfast
  • Durable
  • BPA-free
  • 0.01-micron filtration
  • Easy to maintain

Cons

  • Need a large storage container
  • Heavy-duty
  • Requires one-time setup

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Joypur Portable Water Purifier 

The Joypur Portable Water Purifier is ideal for people who go on regular hikes and camping. It has a three-level filtration system with a 0.01-micron ultrafiltration membrane and an activated carbon filter. This filter will suffice the pure water needs of a small group of people on the camping trip. You can also use it in your backyard as an outdoor water filter system for the family. It is designed to filter 1400mL of water per minute with an overall 3000 Liters capacity.

The filter will come in handy in emergency situations as well when there is a lack of clean water. You can take it along on a fishing or a camping trip and not worry about the unavailability of clean water. All you need to do is connect it to a water source and store the freshly pumped water. It is quite lightweight and compact enough to carry in your backpack. You can replace the filtering parts when you feel the output has relatively decreased. This way, you can ensure the pump stays workable for a long time.

Specifications

  • Product Dimensions: 3.15 X 1.97 X 6.69 inch
  • Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces
  • Product Weight: 8.9oz
  • Capacity: 1400mL/min
  • Method of Filtration: Hollow Fiber UF Membrane, Carbon

Pros

  • Easy assembly
  • Large output
  • Three-stage purification
  • Lightweight
  • Outdoor use

Cons

  • Manual pumping

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Buying Guide for the Best Portable Water Purifier

Your next outdoor family trip can be made hassle-free and more enjoyable. Now that you have read about your options for the best portable water purifier, you just need to make some considerations before a final decision. These filters are easy to install and carry along, providing more space for other important stuff in your backpack. Here are a few factors to keep in mind for a long term outdoor water purification solution.

Capacity

Each portable water filter comes with varying storage capacity from as low as 30 ounces up to 1 or 2 gallons of water. You need to calculate the amount of clean water you and your family will need in an outdoor location. Additionally, some of the filters need to be attached to a storage unit, depending upon their output rate.

Portable filter bottles do not need any extra storage unit, but they have a low output fitting an individual’s need. If you need water for a group of people, look for a filter that can filter two or more gallons of water in one go. The addition of a large gravity bag will be helpful in the storage of water.

Filtration

Most of the portable filters come with two to three filtration stages to purify water. These filters are capable of filtering particles as small as 0.01 microns. The filtered water should be free from any bacteria, viruses, pathogens, or staph to ensure you have clean water. All of these microorganisms are responsible for various stomach and breathing diseases. So, look for a system that can completely remove them!

The third filtration process is the activated carbon filter that absorbs all the particulate impurities. It will also help in the removal of any odor or metallic taste from the water. It is scientifically proven that chemicals like lead and mercury are harmful to our health. Make sure your portable water purifier can remove such chemical impurities.

Flow Rate

You cannot spend hours and hours being thirsty while waiting for your supply of clean drinking water. Make sure you go for a portable purifier that has a high rate of flow. This will ensure that a large volume of water is filtered in one go. You can take along a portable water bottle or container to store a large amount of water after filtration.

Try to avoid filter bottles that have less suction and a lower flow rate. You can find portable purifiers that can filter up to a gallon of water in just ten minutes. Just find a large enough storage tank to keep the purified water.

Durability

While you are camping outside, you need to make sure the filter that you have brought along is sturdy enough to sustain outdoor use. Additionally, the medical-grade filter parts will ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of water. Look for a filter that has a BPA-free durable inner and outer construction. Along with non-toxic material, make sure the material will last you a long time with the least amount of tear.

You can choose from material like Polysulfone, a fiber membrane filter for inner material. The outer material should be scratch and wear-resistant like ABS shell material, which is as strong as a car bumper or Tritan. The material should not disintegrate in composition after a while and contaminate the water supply. Some carbon filters become powdery after a few months of use. Look for a high-quality carbon filter so that it does not need to be replaced too soon.

Maintenance

Any water filter requires some amount of cleaning and maintenance after purifying a few gallons of water. The filtering units of the purifiers entrap the physical impurities that are present in water. You will need to periodically clean the filter using suction cups or by the method of backwashing with clean water. Look for a filter that has easy maintaining steps.

The carbon filter also needs cleaning and replacement after a stipulated time. Make sure you have at least three to six months of constant use before you need to replace it. The maintenance is also dependent on the composition of water. So, find out about the water that you will be filtering and what kind of physical and chemical impurities it has.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you to prepare better for your next camping trip with friends and family.