Best Portable Water Filter Bottles

Portable water filters might sound like an oxymoron to some people. That’s quite normal too. I mean, when most people think of water filters, they think about that huge-enough equipment in the kitchen or attached to the plumbing system, right? Well, they say modern problems require modern solutions. And in this case, portable water filters are the solution. These filtration systems solve one of the major challenges you face while going out or traveling: pure drinking water.

Now, if you are thinking about packaged drinking water, there are two problems. One, they are expensive like hell. Two, you cannot always trust the brands, especially in developing countries. A portable water filter solves both these issues. Using one of the best portable water filters, you can have pure drinking water no matter where you go. Refill some water from the nearest possible source and you are good to go. But there is no single perfect portable water filter.

Portable Water Filter Bottle Products

Table of Contents

Choosing the Best Portable Water Filter

Portable is a broad term when it comes to water filters. That is, there are different sub-categories even when you narrow things down to water purifiers that can be moved. For instance, there are water filter bottles as well as water filter straws. Then, there are fully-fledged filter systems that you can use while you are on an excursion or something. You will also find products that are specifically made for hikers and campers. Guess what? You can find all these types of water filters in our coverage.

#1 LifeStraw Go Portable Water Filter Bottle — Best Portable Water Filter Bottle

Next in the list is also a product from LifeStraw, but this one is more organized when it comes to design and usability. As the name says, you are looking at a portable water bottle that comes with an effective filter in the core. The system is powered by 2-stage filtration that gets rid of contaminants, providing you purified water no matter where you are.

The design and aesthetic appeal aside, the LifeStraw Go Portable Water Filter Bottle is quite impressive when it comes to removing potential threats. The filter is built using Hollow Fiber Membrane and Activated Carbon Capsule. While the former removes bacteria, parasites and microplastics, the latter is capable of removing chlorine, organic chemicals and even pesticides. Altogether, the filter system does an amazing job.

The intensive filtering techniques don’t compromise the lifetime of the filter either. A single filter is capable of providing you safe water for a few years, since it can filter up to 1000 Gallons of water. It also needs to be noted that the pore size is 0.2 microns and nothing dangerous escapes that. Once you run out of the filters, though, replacing them is quite easy as well.

The best part about the LifeStraw Go Portable Water Filter Bottle is its user-friendliness. We already told you that the bottle is easy to carry and it’s even easier to drink out of it. You just have to remove the filter and pour impure water into the bottle. Now, you can place the filter inside and start drinking. Of course, you will have to apply some pressure to get the water out.

Many reviews mention that it is difficult to drink from the straw, but we think that’s a baseless argument. It is illogical to expect a portable water filter to be as easy as an electronic water filter. Besides that, the portable water filter bottle is just amazing.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#2 LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter — Best Durable Portable Water Filter

You can say we have saved the best for the last, because LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter is definitely a superb choice for most people. For a slightly higher price, you are looking at a package that comes with high build quality and filtration tech. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to whether you are ready to invest something more.

Thanks to the filter of 0.2 micron pore size and the components used for making it, the single filter is good at removing 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites. In addition to this, there is an activated carbon fiber filter that takes care of chlorine, organic chemicals etc., while notably improving the overall taste.

Once again, the filter is pretty effective in terms of longevity. A single filter is supposed to filter up to 1000 liters of water. We understand that the number is lower than what we have seen in the previously covered products, but this is quite reasonable. We should not forget that steel-made filters last for a long period of time without wear and tear.

Just like other products in the category, the LifeStraw Steel Personal Water Filter also poses the problem of a tough drinking process. It’s not really convenient that you have to dip the bottom part into the water source. Unless you have a bottle with a wider mouth, doing so can be a difficult task. But, when you are in wildlife, you would rather appreciate the quality of the outlet water, we believe.

Talking of problems, there aren’t many. Obviously, people are not really impressed with the drinking method they are supposed to follow. But, at the same time, we don’t think it’s an expensive piece, especially after considering the level of filtration it provides.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#3 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter — Best Portable Water Filter for Hiking/Camping

So, our first pick was recommended for international travel among other things. This one from LifeStraw is, however, made for survivalists, hikers and campers. Compared to the previous one, the design of the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is not particularly convenient. Nevertheless, for those who are ready to take some risks for pure water, this won’t be a concern.

The easy-to-carry accessory is capable of removing most of the contaminants from source water. 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites can be removed by this system without any hassle. It should be noted that the filter has a pore size of just 0.2 microns. This will be effective in getting rid of a variety of microplastics from the contaminated water.

The single filter used in the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is pretty powerful, for that matter. It comes with amazing durability and claims to filter up to 1000 gallons of water. So, even if you are someone who spends a lot of time wandering in the wildlife, this portable water filter would be your best shot at getting purified water. However, you should be careful about how you use the product.

Because it’s meant for adventure enthusiasts, the straw isn’t that user-friendly. To make it work, you would have to open both ends and suck water using the top part. The pressure you apply would be used to filter the water is pretty huge and we won’t recommend the action to everyone. It would have been nice if we did receive an additional pouch for storing and pushing out water.

Talking of problems, there aren’t many. The major issue is that you cannot use the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter without having an external water bottle. Despite what is shown in the promotional images, it is very difficult to use the device as a straw from a water source.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#4 Survivor Filter PRO — Best Portable Water Filter for Bulky Needs

Compared to other potable water filters we have listed, Survivor Filter PRO is quite different. We are looking at a package that is designed to help you go through emergency situations and long-term camping or hiking sessions. Instead of going for an aesthetically-appealing design or compact arrangement, this one prioritizes the utility aspect of getting enough pure water.

The best part of the Survivor Filter PRO is that it does not compromise filtering tech. The filter is expected to remove bacteria, protozoa, pesticides and even heavy metals from natural sources of water. This does not come as a surprise when we consider the pore size of 0.1 micron. The filter also does the job of improving the taste of the water.

Now, coming to the filtering capacity, the Survivor Filter PRO does not disappoint. It is claimed that a single filter can purify up to 100,000 liters of water. Of course, we are talking about natural sources of water such as ponds and lakes. If you deal with more contaminated water, the life-span may get reduced in the long run. But, the three levels of filtration are just amazing on any day.

Because it’s more or less a professional water filter, the design is also impressive. Instead of sucking water out or squeezing, there is a pumping mechanism that the Survivor Filter PRO has used. To make this work, you have to insert the inlet tube into the water source and the outlet tube into the container. Now, pumping using the provided liver would do the filtration work and you will have pure water in the container.

Campers and hikers, who are the targeted customers, are quite happy with what this portable filtration pack has to offer. While it’s true that the package is bulky, it also provides benefits such as filtering an amazing amount of water.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#5 Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System — Portable Water Filter for Travelers

Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System is probably one of the most popular portable water filters out there. The product is made for hikers, campers and even those who go for boating. A combination of high-end water filtration tech and ergonomic design, we think this water filter is a better companion when you’re traveling internationally.

The water filter claims to remove 99.99% of bacteria and protozoa from the natural/industrial water sources. Instead of trusting bottled water, you can use the system to save yourself from threats like E. coli, salmonella and cholera. The filter comes with a pore size of 0.1 micron and this means no type of contaminant would skip the watch of the system.

Another impressive part about the Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System is the filter itself. A single filter is designed to purify up to 100,000 gallons of water. This means you don’t have to worry about replacing the filter, even if you are using the product on a regular basis. Even then, Sawyer Products provides a classy customer service.

Using this portable water filter is easy, thanks to the complementary water pouch. This 16oz pouch can easily be connected to the filter and used. When compared to sucking water out of another container, it would be easier for you to press the pouch. Just so you know, you can even connect the filter system to your faucet and spout to get clean water.

One problem reported with the Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System is potential leakage. If you’re not careful while using, you may end up having some leaks in a few months or so. So, durability is one area where the manufacturers can make things better.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#6 Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter — Best Squeeze-to-filter Water Filter

When you are going on a long trip, you will have to gather pure water for purposes like cooking as well. In those instances, a straw is not the perfect way to get water. Instead, you need something like a squeezing system. Now, this product from Sawyer Products meets the description very well, and the filter comes with an affordable price tag as well.

Truth be told, there isn’t anything life-changing about the filtration system. The filtering method is the same as the filters we have seen in other Sawyer Products picks. That is, the filter can remove 99.99% of bacteria as well as protozoa. The two-time filtration makes sure that no potential agent enters your body even when you are in the most vulnerable environment.

The best term we can use to describe the Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter is all in one. The package is coming with every accessory that you need for filtering water. For instance, you get adaptors for faucets as well as buckets. Both of these are useful when you want to get water from these sources. Last but not least, a single filter can deal with 100,000 liters of water.

We should also mention that not all parts of the package are suitable for international travel. You may have to put some aside in some instances. But, then again, the package is multipurpose, and hikers and campers would love it on any day. When it comes to travel, you can simply leave other accessories and take just the filter component. And you can use this by connecting to a simple bottle.

Many people complain that the Sawyer Products Squeeze Water Filter package is quite messy and that a lot of components may go missing. For a potential hiker/camper/adventurist, however, this is a necessity since they cannot risk drinking impure water.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

#7 WakiWaki Portable Straw Filter — Best Affordable Portable Water Filter

There are chances that you are looking for a really inexpensive portable water filter. In that case, you should consider what WakiWaki Portable Straw Filter has to offer. This is perhaps the most compact package in the list, but it manages to provide peace of mind during international travel or a camping trip. You may see some compromises, but they are quite reasonable if you ask me.

First things first, the filter is using a two-level filtration system. Together, the filters can remove problems like dust, microplastics, sediments, chlorine, strange odor and some other harmful material. The filters also do a great job in improving the taste of the water. For a water filter that costs just a fraction of others in the list, the performance is impressive enough.

The filter is pretty long-lasting as well. The company claims that a single WakiWaki Portable Straw Filter will be enough to filter up to 1500 liters of water. By this standard, we are looking at least two years of pure water for drinking. It’s also amazing that you are getting a 0.1 micron pore-size filter for such an inexpensive price tag.

The drinking design of the WakiWaki Portable Straw Filter is not that impressive. It’s just like the first pick in the list. You will have to insert the bottom part into the water source and drink water out of the top part. It can be a tough task unless you have another container for storing the impure water. But we loved how well-built the whole packaging is.

There aren’t many problems with the WakiWaki Portable Straw Filter according to most of the reviews. That having said, some people say that the device should be a little bigger. But we should consider that the filter is made for portable usage.

Purchase This Water Filter on Amazon

Buying Guide: How to Buy A Portable Water Filter

Now that you have seen some of the popular portable water filters out there, we will discuss how you can pick the best one for your needs. Here are a few factors that you should pay attention to while making a pick from the abovementioned list of products.

Size: Even within the broad category of portable water filters, you can find products that belong to a variety of sizes and dimensions. It’s important that you choose something that you can easily carry around without actually compromising the necessary level of filtration. In most cases, however, if you are looking for a tight level of filtration and a convenient way of drinking water, the whole package may become bulkier in general.

Capacity: Capacity refers to the amount of water a single filter can purify in the course of time. This basically indicates how often you would like to replace the filters. Not that the filter replacement is a tough job, but it may not be great when you are camping or hiking. If you notice above, however, most of the filters come with a capacity of higher than 1000 liters, which is just amazing.

Filtration Tech: First things first, a portable water filter is not going to compete with the best fluoride water filter or a UV filter. That having said, you can choose between filters that are capable of removing potential contaminants like chlorine, chloramine, pesticides, bacteria like E coli etc. You should note that devices with multi-level filters are always better than others.

Design: The design of a portable water filter can impact you in two ways. First, it decides the drinking process that you have to follow. Second, it impacts how the product looks. The first one matters if you want a more convenient way to filter and drink water. On the other hand, you should pay attention to the second factor if you are more concerned about the outlook.

So, make sure that you consider all these factors instead of prioritizing how much money you have to spend on the product. It’s actually better if you do things the other way. That is, always try to understand what you need from the water purification system and then pick from the potential options.

Types of Portable Water Filters

The common types of portable water filters are as follows:

• Sip to Filter: In this category, you will have to insert the bottom part of the system into a water source and sip from the top part. Now, using the pressure you use while sipping, the water would be filtered and you will get pure water in no time.

• Squeeze to Filter: As you can guess from the name, you will have to squeeze the bottle or the filter to do the filtering process. Now, this is way more effective than the options we have found in products such as water filter pitchers. But, quite effective and time-saving.
• Pump to Filter: This is an advanced mode of filtration system in that it makes use of a pump. In this case, you insert both the inlet and outlet tubes to the corresponding containers and pump the device. Due to the force, water will be filtered and forwarded to the destination container.

In addition to these, you can find other types of products based on how the water filter looks and the type of filter being used. However, you should be paying attention to how the device works and filters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we have answered some of the questions you may have.