How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier
Do you need a water filter or water purifier?
- Filters: Physically remove protozoa (like Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia) and bacteria (such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Shigella)—the main water concerns if you’re traveling in the U.S. and Canada.
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Purifiers: Go further by combating viruses such as hepatitis A, rotavirus and norovirus.
Types of water filters
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Pump: Precise even from shallow water sources, replaceable internal element or cartridge. Can be bulky and a chore to use and clean in the field.
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Gravity: Easy to use, filters large quantities of water, replaceable element. Needs a hang point, slower and harder to fill in shallow water sources.
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Ultraviolet light: Easy, quick and no element to replace. Requires batteries, prefiltering for silty or cloudy water and multiple treatments for large quantities.
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Bottle: Lightweight, quick, replaceable element, less pricey. Water quantity is limited by bottle size.
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Squeeze: Easy, quick, smaller and less pricey, have replaceable elements, sometimes usable as both a gravity and straw-style filter. Water quantity is limited by reservoir size.
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Straw: Easy, quick, lighter and less pricey. Water is only available when you’re at a water source and not all models have replaceable elements.
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Chemicals: Easy, inexpensive, ultralight backup method to purify water. Significant wait time before water is safe to drink and don’t taste great.
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