Who makes the best portable water purifiers?

Who makes the best portable water purifier?

There’s no single 'best' portable water purifier brand—what’s best depends on where you’re going, how clean the water is, how many people you need to serve, how much weight/volume you want to carry, and whether you need virus protection etc. But we can walk you through some of the top brands and devices and what they do well (and less well).

What to Prioritize Depending on Your Travel

To choose the best water filter or water purifier for you, decide on:

Which contaminants you need to guard against

If only bacteria & parasites (protozoa) are likely problems: many water filters will work. NOTE: Water FILTERS do not remove viruses
If viruses are possible (e.g. remote water sources, developing regions), then you need either small-pore ultrafiltration water purifier, chemical/UV/ozone purification, or a device rated for virus removal.

Weight/Bulk

For hiking, walking or climbing, you want something light (straws or small filter/purifier bottles).
For group travel, base camps, vanlife, overlanding, motorhomes and caravans, something larger (Jerrycan or Cube) will provide enough water for drinking, food prep and washing without too many trips to the water source.
If you’re setting up a camp but hiking to get there, a collapsible gravity bag connected to a portable filter is good compromise between weight and the amount of water available ‘on tap’.

Power or Extras

UV purifiers need batteries or chargers (both of which add weight)
Pump filters or gravity feed systems may be more work but are more reliable in certain settings.

Filter lifespan & maintenance

How much water can you purify before you need to replace the filter or the cartridge? How often will you need to replace parts/filters? Are spare parts easy to get?

Cost vs Performance

A cheap purifier that fails or is insufficient protection isn’t worth it. But extremely expensive gear may be overkill if water is relatively safe or easily boiled.

A group of campers cooking by a lake with a LifeSaver Jerrycan

Top Brands & What They’re Good At

Here are the brands that come up repeatedly in reviews. We’ve also included what people praise and what are common complaints.

Brand	What makes them strong	Common drawbacks / what to watch out for
LifeStraw (Vestergaard)	Very lightweight, simple design; good for individual use; excellent filtering for bacteria, protozoa; wide reach, independently tested	Many models don’t protect against viruses; no carbon - some users say taste is “flat”; flow rate can be slow; straw format means you need to lie down to drink water or carry another container. Also maintenance (backflushing) can matter. Replacement cartridges not an option so not very sustainable.
Sawyer	Very well-respected for durability, high flow rate (with certain setups), ability to backflush; flexible: you can use straw, squeeze system, or gravity setups.	Slightly bulkier or more complex than just a straw; more parts to carry; more initial cost in some models. Also if water is very turbid (cloudy), they clog.
LifeSaver	Excellent reputation; credited with the invention of ultrafiltration portable purification; range of products to suit any situation; built to last with wide range of spares and replacements to keep you moving. Long-lasting replaceable filters; virus protection and carbon filters as standard, independently tested. Made in Britain.	One of the more expensive options (although cost per litre of purified water is very low).
Katadyn	Good reputation, especially for pump filters and bottles with good filters; decent flow; robust build.	Pumps require manual effort; parts can be more expensive; heavier or bulkier than simple straw filters.
GRAYL	Very image conscious; offers bottles that purify as well as filter; some models claim virus protection; more “all-in-one” designs so easier/cleaner to use.	Cost is higher; filters or cartridges have limited lifetime; pushing water through in some of the systems can require effort or time; more moving parts = more risk of failure.
MSR	Known for rugged, high-performance gear; good for harsh/backcountry environments.	Price is higher; weight tends to be more; may be overkill if clean water sources are frequent.

Summary

As always, the key to getting the right filter or purifier for YOU, is to do your research.

Understand the risks associated with the water in the area you are visiting;
Check the published test results and testing methods, and ask questions if they aren't clear
And, when in doubt, it's better to be safe than sorry. Get the best you can afford

If you'd like more help choosing the right filter or purifier for your next trip please get in touch.

Sources

https://outdoorsmagic.com/article/best-backpacking-water-filters
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-backpacking-water-filter
https://www.livefortheoutdoors.com/hiking/accessories/water-filter-purifier-hiking/
https://gearjunkie.com/motors/overland-water-storage
https://www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/gear-guides/best-backpacking-water-filters/
https://snarkynomad.com/the-one-problem-no-lifestraw-review-ever-mentions/

by Kerry Sommers