Best Camping Water Filter in 2023 (Reliable Clean Water)

Platypus GravityWorks 4L

First up on our list of the best camping water filters around is the Platypus GravityWorks 4L.

This device can filter up to 4L of water at a time, making it a great choice if you’re camping with a family or in a large group.

What’s more, this filter works by harnessing the force of gravity to draw dirty water from a bag that you hang from a tree (or another tall object), through the filtration system, and into another bag that you can drink from directly… so you can say goodbye to hand-pumping for hours on end to get your hands on some safe drinking water.

It has a rapid flow rate of 1.75L/min too, so you won’t have to hang around for hours waiting for a drink.

The cartridge that actually filters the water works against particles as small as 0.2 microns, which means it will remove over 99.9% of bacteria and protozoa, although it’s not effective against viruses. Despite being made from plastic, it’s entirely BPA-free, so you don’t have to worry on that front either.

Oh, and can’t get enough of the carbon element that removes the odd tastes you might find when drinking from cheaper models.

It weighs in at 11 oz, which is very light for its capacity, although it might not be ideal for backpacking adventures or those that like ultralight backpacking gear. Plus, it comes in a 2L version too if you like the sound of this filter but wants to shed some weight.

Overall, this is an excellent device to leave around the campsite to make sure you’ll always have a backup supply of water for your friends and family.

LifeStraw Flex Water Filter

Can’t decide if you want a straw-like filter, a gravity filter, or a filter that works with a bottle? Well, with the LifeStraw Flex Water Filter you don’t need to choose!

This incredibly versatile water filter can be used without any add-ons as a simple straw, with a soft bottle (included), with most hydration packs, and even with a 1-gallon gravity bag (also included), making it great for any occasion. What’s more, despite all these uses, the price tag is surprisingly low.

The filter protects you from water-borne bacteria, protozoa, and even microplastics (but not viruses), and it also features a carbon fiber capsule to remove rotten tastes. The filter itself has an incredibly long lifespan and will work its way through 2000L of water without any issues.

You can use it with shallow water sources in straw mode, you can let gravity do the hard work when used with the bag, you can use it solo as a bottle, or you can provide water to your friends when using the almost 4L capacity bag… there really isn’t much that this portable water filter can’t do! And the cherry on the cake? For every item purchased, a child in need is provided with water for a whole school year.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

If you’re camping in the back and beyond, you need to be prepared for anything, including your water filter breaking down. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is an awesome bit of backup gear that could make all the difference to your survival in an emergency.

What’s more, it’s super cheap, incredibly small, and weighs just 2 oz – so there really is no excuse for not popping one of these in your bag before any adventure into the wilderness. Despite its minuscule size, this filter can protect you from 99.9% of bacteria and protozoans, and all the materials are free from BPA.

It’s incredibly easy to use – simply insert one end into a water supply and then use it like a straw. While this means it can be used with both deep and shallow water sources, it does have the drawback of meaning you’ll have to get right down to water level to use it.

Of course, you can’t expect this miniature filter to supply water to a large group, and you wouldn’t want to rely on it for your primary water supply, but it’s an excellent bit of gear to have on your for just in case.

MSR Guardian Pump Filter

If you want to go all out and get a water filter that will cope in almost any situation, then look no further than the military-grade MSR Guardian Pump Filter.

This beast of a filter is effective against not only bacteria and protozoa, but also viruses and sediment, offering ultimate all-round protection from unsafe water. It also features an incredibly rugged design, so you can be sure that it will stand up to the challenges of life in the great outdoors, and it’s also been purposefully built to withstand extreme temperatures.

The limited capacity and pump feature doos mean that this filter is best designed for personal use, and you probably don’t want to use it for your primary water supply (your hands will probably get tired!), but at least the flow rate is awesome (2.5L/min).

Plus, the pump self-cleans with each stroke, ensuring that the flow rate doesn’t drop with extended use. On top of that, the filter will work its way through a whopping 10,000 L of water before it needs replacing.

The main drawback of this filter is the ridiculously high price tag – it certainly won’t be within everyone’s budget. However, if you have the cash to splash and want a heavy-duty filter offering ultimate protection, this is the one for you.

Katadyn Gravity Camp 6L

We’re heading back to the realm of gravity water filters now to bring you the Katadyn Gravity Camp 6L.

The extra-large 6L capacity makes this an excellent choice for camping adventures with larger groups, and we love that there’s even an indicator on the side so you can see how much water is left – so you’ll never get caught out without a drop.

In fact, the capacity is so big, you might even want to use this filter for a super clean shower, in which case you can pick up an adaptor for a cheeky shower conversion (purchased separately).

Plus, because it’s a gravity filter system, you don’t have to do any pumping at all to get your 6L of clean water. Oh, and the flow rate is pretty rapid too (2L/min), so you won’t have to wait too long for a drink.

We do recommend using as sediment-free water as possible with this device, as the filter is prone to clogging with heavily soiled water, which will slow the flow rate. Like many filters, you aren’t protected against viruses, but you are against bacteria and protozoan cysts.

Unlike some other gravity filters, that pass water from one bag to another, this system only includes one bag, so bear in mind that you’ll need another vessel to store your clean water. this does, however, help to keep the weight low for the capacity, which is great if you’re worried about your bags weighing you down.

Overall, if you want a large capacity without the bulk of the effort, then this water filter should be top of your list.

GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier

Introducing one of the more stylish options on our list, the GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier.

This clever camping water purifier works by filtering contaminated water from an outer compartment into the inner section – all you need to do is fill it up, place it on a solid surface, and give it a squeeze! What’s more, the cartridges will protect you against not only bacteria and protozoa but also viruses, winning.

On top of that, the bottle features a carbon system to remove metallic tastes and odd odors from your water – phew. The sleek dimensions make this a great option for times when space in your pack is tight – which includes traveling and hiking as well as camping.

Its small capacity does mean that it’s best-suited for individual small-scale use, and it’s actually quite expensive for its size (plus you have to replace the cartridges every 3 months, adding to the running costs).

However, it offers great protection in a stylish, transportable design, and it’s definitely one of our favorites for personal use. Oh – and 1% of each purchase is donated to charity, so you don’t need to feel quite so guilty about splashing out.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Katadyn Hiker Microfilter

Can’t decide if you want a straw-like filter, a gravity filter, or a filter that works with a bottle? Well, with the LifeStraw Flex Water Filter you don’t need to choose!

This incredibly versatile water filter can be used without any add-ons as a simple straw, with a soft bottle (included), with most hydration packs, and even with a 1-gallon gravity bag (also included), making it great for any occasion. What’s more, despite all these uses, the price tag is surprisingly low.

The filter protects you from water-borne bacteria, protozoa, and even microplastics (but not viruses), and it also features a carbon fiber capsule to remove rotten tastes. The filter itself has an incredibly long lifespan and will work its way through 2000L of water without any issues.

You can use it with shallow water sources in straw mode, you can let gravity do the hard work when used with the bag, you can use it solo as a bottle, or you can provide water to your friends when using the almost 4L capacity bag… there really isn’t much that this water filter can’t do! And the cherry on the cake? For every item purchased, a child in need is provided with water for a whole school year.

CrazyCap 2.0 UV Water Purifier

And last, but by no means least, on our list of the best camping water filters is the CrazyCap 2.0 UV Water Purifier.

This water bottle may look like others that you’ve seen before… but look again. Unlike the other water filters on our list, this one purifies water by harnessing the power of UV light to zap away harmful pathogens – pretty neat huh?

This technology is integrated into the cap itself, so all you need to do is fill up the bottle, pop on the cap, and wait for it to do its thing. Pressing the cap twice initiates a 60-second cleanse while tapping it 5 times initiates a deep 2-minute purification. What’s more, every 4 hours, the bottle automatically activates, keeping your filtered water safe all day long.

The stainless steel construction is entirely BPA-free and can stand up to some serious bumps and scrapes (which is inevitable if you spend a lot of time in the great outdoors) – and in case you don’t believe it, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty too.

What’s more, it’s great for general hiking trips too, as it will keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks, well, hot – perfect for refreshing drinks in summer and soul-nourishing cups of tea in winter.

Obviously, this mechanism has no means to filter out sediment, but it’s effective again bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, which is pretty darn good. The capacity isn’t the largest either, so it can’t be used to supply water to large groups, and it’s slightly heavy for its capacity too.

Overall, however, this camping water purifier is a very cool way to ensure you’re drinking water is safe – oh, and we lost forget, it’s probably the best-looking device we’ve seen too!