The 5 Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2025
The Best Backpacking Water Treatment
Our filtration gurus have bought and tested 23 of the best water filters and treatment systems designed for backpacking. We brought these filters along on various adventures, from climbing trips in Peru to running expeditions across the USA to fastpacking adventures in Iceland. We evaluated portability and ease of maintenance in the field while also investigating critical aspects such as what each model removes from the water and how long it takes to process one potable liter of water.
For a party of one, the Sawyer Squeeze is a perfect companion. This fast and light filtration system produces some of the highest quality water in our testing. However, if you're out with a group of friends, you're going to need something with a little more volume. In this case, the Platypus GravityWorks is a great option with a 4-liter capacity and a relatively fast filter rate.
March 5, 2025
Amber King, Jessica Haist, and Trish Matheny
Amber King
Review Editor
After finishing up her B.Sc and B.Ed in 2009, Amber moved to the U.S.A from Canada. Drawn in by dreams of climbing perfect cracks and exploring new areas, she found herself in a few new places like Utah, Washington, and Arizona. When getting to the San Juans of Southwest Colorado - she found home. Along her journey she discovered trail running as a new found love. Completing her first half-marathon, full-marathon, and ultra-marathon within one year, she continues her education in becoming an endurance athlete. When taking a rest day, she can be found playing with her pack raft or split boarding in the backcountry. When she is working , you can find her tinkering with experiments as a high school science teacher.
Jessica Haist
Review Editor
Jessica is a recovered fashion major and urbanite who now spends all of her time living, working and playing in the mountains. Jessica originally hails from Toronto, Canada and now calls Mammoth Lakes California home. She is an avid skier, rock climber, backpacker, gardener and mountain biker. She has lived and worked all over North America pursuing her outdoor passions and work as an outdoor educator and guide. Jessica has recently completed her Masters Degree in Adventure Education from Prescott College in Arizona.
Trish Matheny
Review Editor
In 2009, Trish Matheny left her home state of Oklahoma to follow her heart to the Rocky Mountains and never looked back. Overwhelmed by her passion for adventure and exploration, she began traversing the mountain ranges surrounding her new home, Teton Valley, Idaho on her splitboard and learned the importance of dialing in your gear, especially when you carry it all on your back. Everything got turned upside down when she discovered rock climbing in 2016, and now she spends her time chasing warm weather and dry rock near Bishop, California. When she’s not out climbing, she enjoys trail running, yoga, and cooking with friends.
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