There is only a certain amount of water you can bring to a campsite. Water can be extremely heady but instead of carrying it all the way to your site, getting the best camp water filter will make your life a lot easier. It will remove anything harmful from the water and leave you with a fresh-tasting drink.
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| Product | Details | Price | |
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Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter High-Capacity Water Filter System |
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Life Defender Elite Pump Filter |
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Katadyn Vario Water Filter |
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GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ Filter] Bottle |
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LifeStraw Mission Water Purification System |
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Check out our Top...
| Product |
|---|
Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter High-Capacity Water Filter System
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Life Defender Elite Pump Filter
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Katadyn Vario Water Filter
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GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ Filter] Bottle
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LifeStraw Mission Water Purification System
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Here we have looked at three distinctively different filters in terms of gravity-fed, pump filters and press filters. The result is always going to be the same in terms of fresh, clean water but it’s how you get there which will determine the best type for you.
Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter High-Capacity Water Filter System
If you’re going to be camping in a large group then having a gravity assisted bag is going to be a great idea. The reason is that it is able to hold a large amount of water, meaning that people won’t have to bring their own filtered water bottles.
With this product from Platypus, that extra capacity comes in the form of a 4-liter reservoir of fresh water. You place your unfiltered water into the bag and then it will filter down into the other bag to give you fresh, clean water.
You are able to continually top up the unfiltered bag in order to have a constant supply of clean water coming through. It’s even going to be able to remove pretty much all bacteria.
One problem that can happen is that air can get into the system which can disrupt the flow. This is only a minor problem but it can be an annoyance if you have left the filter for a while thinking that everything was running smoothly.
The two bags come with convenient straps for hanging the bags. All you need to do is find a nearby tree and you are going to be set-up in no time at all. The filtration system is able to work in 2.5 minutes, giving you quick access to fresh water.
The gravity gives you the benefit of not having to expend any energy pumping to get your water. A storage sack is also included so that once you have to move from your camp, you are going to be able to easily compress it down and pack it away.
- Doesn’t require pumping
- Storage sack included
- Easy to set-up
- Air can get in the line
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Life Defender Elite Pump Filter
While the previous filter worked by gravity, this is in more of the traditional way of thinking with a pump to give you the fresh water you need.
Most filters work up to a 3-stage filtration system but this Life Defender model works with a 4-stage filtration system. That not only ensures that you have clean water but also water that is going to taste nice too.
The reason for that appealing taste is not just that there are no harmful things in the water. It’s also because the filter doesn’t use any chemicals to clean the water and also because it’s able to get rid of any materials which give the water a hard taste.
The large pump is able to work quickly and give you a very high flow rate of water. This will allow everyone in your group to fill up on fresh water in no-time. You can also share the pumping duties to distribute the burden.
Some great safety features are included with this filter as you get a safety bracelet as well as an emergency blanket. They will help to give you a little extra protection while you are out there camping in the great outdoors.
The compact size means that it is very easy to transport and is only going to take up a minimal amount of room in your bag. Despite that compact size, the filter is going to be able to get through 3,000 liters of water to ensure you get plenty of use out of it.
- Improves taste
- No chemicals used
- Compact size
- Easy to use
- Requires more effort
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Katadyn Vario Water Filter
Katadyn has been able to make a unique solution where you are able to place the hose directly in the water, attach your pump to the bottle and then pump it directly in from there. It allows you to instantly get the clean water that you’re looking for.
It’s very easy to use with dual pumping modes and once it goes past the activated carbon, you’re going to be left with a lot of clean water. The flow rate is very fast which will leave you with a full bottle in no time and able to get on with the rest of your day.
Cleaning can end up being a major issue when it comes to filters but this product has for that covered. A cleaning pad is included with the filter to ensure that you stay healthy. A bag is also included to give you an easy and convenient storage option.
For a small filter, it has an impressive capacity of 500 gallons and therefore you’re going to be able to get a lot of use out of it. That small size makes it very easy to carry as you’re going to be able to easily place it in your backpack to get on with your adventure.
One issue is that it can be hard to clear the water out of the filter which can be a little annoying. That is only a minor issue and the pros of this filter more than makeup for it. It’s the perfect product for those looking for a filter which is portable and easy to use.
- High-quality filter
- Pocket-sized
- 500-gallon capacity
- Great tasting water
- Filter holds water
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GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ Filter] Bottle
While a lot of filters use a pump to be able to filter the water and some rely on gravity, this filter is very different. You simply fill up the container with unfiltered water and then press the filter through the container, using your force to clear out the pollutants.
Due to this method, you are able to get drinking water fairly instantly. The effort needed isn’t exhausting and will be able to be done repeatedly.
A lot of similar looking products will contain a UV light to kill bacteria but that requires batteries. This is a completely manual solution and therefore you are going to be able to take it anywhere an still be able to have the water that you need.
An impressive aspect of this filter is that it’s not going to leave any aftertaste. It will remove all harmful elements and minerals from the water. It will also any foul odor which can often come with unfiltered water.
All this comes in a stylish design which has the shape of many regular water bottles. It makes it very easy to store and will, therefore, fit in the mesh pockets of most backpacks. That small size does have its downsides as it does rank low when it comes to capacity.
If you’re on a long hiking or camping trip then you might want more water than constantly having to find the nearest stream. You’ll know if this filter is right for you as in the right scenarios it is a fantastic little device which is going to work very well.
- Easy to use
- Stylish design
- Highly effective
- Great tasting water
- Low capacity for groups
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LifeStraw Mission Water Purification System
This filter works via gravity and will be able to give you instant access to fresh water, making it very convenient for everyone to use.
There are two size options that you have available. You can either get it in a 5-liter bag or you can get a much bigger 12-liter bag. Depending on the needs that you have, it enables you to have a lot of water and a lot of time between having to refill it.
To go with that high capacity, the filter is also going to be highly effective and kill all the harmful viruses that you might otherwise come into contact with. It leaves the water with a good taste without any of the nastiness that comes with unfiltered water.
Despite the large size that it has, it is able to roll up and be compacted down to a very convenient size. If you are going to be moving from one campsite to another then this makes it very easy to use and you’ll have it set back up in no time at all.
The carrying strap that it has makes it very portable if you want to travel short distances, the strap also makes it very easy to hang up. Any sturdy tree branch is going to be fine.
One feature that would be useful is to have a reservoir as there is nowhere for the filtered water to accumulate, which can slow down the process. Apart from that, this is an excellent filter for large groups.
- Great for large groups
- Compacts down
- Easy to maintain
- Easy to use
- No reservoir
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Buyers Guide
Water quality
When you’re talking about water quality, there are two aspects that you need to consider. Firstly, you want to make sure that the water is going to be safe to drink. Secondly, you also want it to now have a poor taste either.
All the filters that we have looked at here give you clean water. No filter would be able to promise absolute 100% filtration but you want to look for filters that remove ‘99.9999%’, or similar, of bacteria or viruses and all the filters here have that protection.
If a filter is able to get rid that level of contaminants then it’s likely going to be able to get rid of minerals which can make water taste hard. Other filters use chemicals in order to clean their water which can leave an aftertaste but none of the filters that we have looked at her add chemicals.
Durability
It would be incredibly frustrating if you headed out to a camp only to find that your water filter was broken. Durability is vital, especially if you are using a pump which is going to require extra force in order to be able to activate it.
The filter casing needs to be made from high-quality plastic with overall high build quality. Getting a cheaper filter would not only leave you with poor quality water but you also run the risk of being left with a filter that is broken and useless.
Treatment time
How quick you want your water is going to depend entirely on your own circumstances. If you are hiking and stopping by a stream then you will want your water instantly in order to be able to keep going on your journey.
If you are in a more stationary camp then you’re not going to be as bothered about time as you’ll simply want access to water when you are thirsty. While all of these filters are going to be able to give you water fairly quickly, there are a few differences.
In general, any filter which works by gravity is going to be slower and any other method. If you want instantly filtered water then you should be looking for a filter which works via a pump or also a press filter which will work more quickly.
Weight & portability
As with treatment time, weight and portability are going to come down to personal preference. If you’re at a more permanent campsite then you will be happy to take out a gravity-based system, hook it up and then let it do its job.
If you’re on the go then there’s a good chance that a water filter which would be able to fit in your backpack’s bottle holder will be the way that you want to go. That being said, even the gravity and pump filters here are able to compact down to a small size.
Due to their need for a mechanical set-up, pump filters are going to be the bulkiest but can still be quite small. Gravity activated filters will be able to squash down into a small area but then you have to make sure they are completely dry to avoid any water leakage.
Ease of setup
These companies know how important ease of set-up is to these products and therefore all of these models that we have featured have a great level of usability. Press filters are the easiest to use as there is no set-up involved.
Pump filters require minimal set-up and are usually just the case of pointing the hose in the right direction. Gravity filters are the hardest to set-up but even then, it only takes a few minutes as you just need to hang it up in the nearest location.
Ease of filtration
If you want the minimal amount of effort possible then getting a gravity filter will be ideal. The force of nature will be able to do all of the effort for you and you’ll just be left with a tap which will feed you that fresh water.
Pump filters are going to be the most difficult filters when it comes to effort. As we mentioned in a review, you’ll be able to get all the water that you need before your hand gets tired and therefore even this method is fairly easy. Press filters also require effort but, again, it isn’t enough to leave you out of breath.
Extra Features
As well as the filters that we have seen here, you want to make sure that you have everything else that you need in order to make your filter work. This includes any noses and attachments that they have to make the process an easy one.
One important extra feature with gravity bags is that you have some form of case to go with them. This will not only prevent water from leaking out but it will also keep it clean. Press filters don’t need any extra features which makes them the easiest to use.
Final thoughts
Here we have looked at three distinctively different filters in terms of gravity-fed, pump filters and press filters. The result is always going to be the same in terms of fresh, clean water but it’s how you get there which will determine the best type for you.
You need to look at your situation and work out which is the ideal solution for you. Will you be in a large group? Are you constantly on the go? These are the type of questions you should be asking yourself before you pick the best camp water filter for you.
All of the filters that we have looked at here have an immense amount of quality and are highly-rated by us, and everyone who has used them for an extended period of time. All that’s left to do is pick the best one for you and head out on your next adventure.
