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Some types of soft hardwoods may ask you to drink straight from the stream, but this is a good way to swallow disease-causing parasites or bacteria. whether you campingAnd rowing, or backpacks For days without a potable water source, spending time treating your H20 with a water purifier will ensure you stay hydrated and healthy.
Boiling water is the simplest way to make it safe to drink, but it can waste a lot of time and fuel. Alternative methods include filtration, which removes bacteria and protozoa as well as any dirt or sediment, and purification, which does all of the above and also kills viruses. UV lights do all of that, too, but require a battery or solar charging. Finally, chemical treatments like iodine tablets are very compact, but they can sometimes leave a funky aftertaste.
To help you choose from all the different options, we’ve rounded up some of the best devices for every method of cleaning drinking water. Grab one of these to grab a drink when you’re miles from a tap.
The best water purifiers
Grill Geopress
photo courtesy1. Water purifiers: Grayl Geopress
Geopress deserves to be at the top of this list simply because it is so satisfying to use. There is nothing else like it on the market. Simply dip the outer container into a lake or stream, place the small capsule inside and squeeze the lid. In about 15 seconds, you’ll have 24 ounces of clean, drinkable water.
Geopress removes global waterborne pathogens, pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics, and improves the taste, aroma and clarity of water. Although it weighs 15.9 ounces, our testers were happy to get a 30-mile ride recently at the Four Pass Loop in Colorado. One note: After about 350 presses, Grayl recommends replacing a file purifier cartridge ($30).
[$90; grayl.com]
Catadine Micropure Purifying Tablets
photo courtesy2. Chemical processing: Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets
Some travelers in remote countries bring these tablets as a backup because they are practically weightless and have a long shelf life, but it is perfectly fine to use them as a first line of defense. One tablet will clean one liter of water, so you won’t have to do any complicated calculations on the road. However, it does take a while to work: 15 minutes to dissolve and destroy most viruses and bacteria, 30 minutes for Giardia, and four hours for Cryptosporidium – which most other water-based disinfectants don’t clean. Users say the tablets only create a mild chemical taste, but that unlike scrubbers or filters, they won’t remove silt, odors, or unpleasant flavours.
[$14; rei.com]
Crazy Cap 2
photo courtesy3. UV light: CrazyCap2
With CrazyCap2, you’ll never have to worry about water quality again, whether you’re traveling through a foreign country or just refilling your bottle at the gym. This fairly standard looking water bottle cap is super high tech. It has a UV light source (the same technology used to disinfect hospital rooms and clean water in water treatment plants) that activates every four hours to kill 99.9996 percent of microbes and pathogens in the insulated container (it will keep your drink hot or cold for hours, too). This means your drink will be germ-free and smelly water bottles build up over time. Your purchase also includes a charger and lifetime warranty.
[$70–$84; waatr.com]
LiveStrate
photo courtesy4. Water filter: LifeStraw
If you want to drink directly from a water source, this is the tool for you. This stylish tube is the size of a small summer sausage and has the capacity to filter up to 1,000 gallons of water – enough water for one person for five years. It does not remove viruses or reduce chemicals or lead contamination, but it does filter out bacteria, parasites, plastic particles, dirt and silt. It weighs less than two ounces and comes with a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck for running, paddlers, hiking, biking, and more. Additionally, LifeStraw is a certified B Corporation, and your money helps support the brand’s humanitarian projects.
[$20; lifestraw.com]
Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter System
photo courtesy5. Water filter: QuickDraw platypus microfilter system
QuickDraw’s Fiber Filter Cartridge features 0.2-micron hollow fibers that filter bacteria and protozoa, and delivers a flow rate of up to three liters per minute. It’s an ideal system for backpacking: Combined with the included one-liter tank, the QuickDraw weighs just 3.3 ounces and takes up less space than a roll-up T-shirt. You can drink directly from the filter or use it to refill your water bottles; The filter is compatible with other Platty bottles and even some plastic threaded bottles as well.
[$40; platy.com]
LifeSaver Jerrycan
photo courtesy6. Water purifiers: LifeSaver Jerrycan
If you are camping by car, this jumbo water purifier will make keeping clean water on hand much easier. With a built-in filter and purification pump, the canister can quickly produce 4.9 gallons of safe drinking water. It removes protozoa, bacteria and viruses, and the activated carbon tablet helps mitigate any unpleasant taste or smell. You can pump out 5,280 gallons before replacing the filter, and its thick, BPA-free plastic construction can withstand the inevitable bumps and scrapes of life on the pavement.
[$290; rei.com]
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