Topic: The Best Filtered Water Bottles of 2023 (Read 39 times)
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If you are traveling to a part of the world where norovirus or rotavirus (or hepatitis A, or enterovirus) are known to be an issue, the Grayl GeoPress is the filtered water bottle for you. Not only is it the only filtered water bottle I looked at that was capable of handling viruses, but its counterpart, the UltraPress, also survived my test of the best backpacking water filters. In that test, I ran water filters through increasingly gnarly water conditions to see which were still capable of filtering on the other side. While slow at the end, the Grayl just squeaked by.
Unlike the other filtered water bottles in my test, the Grayl GeoPress does not rely on you to suck the water through the filter to function. There are a few advantages to this. First, it’s a lot less annoying to drink out of than other filtered water bottles. It can also be shared with other family members, including small children, without having to worry about whether or not they can create enough suction to make the filter work.
This filter works more like a french press. You fill the bottom reservoir with water, and then push the filter down on top of it. This works pretty well, but it does require some serious leverage. Typically I put the reservoir on the floor and then use my body weight to push down on top of the filter. That’s fine in my kitchen (and would also be in the backcountry) but it’s possible that you would be less excited to run through this operation if you were in a public setting, like an airport or a restaurant. Keep in mind your planned use before making a final purchase.
While Grayl does not currently have their testing specs listed online for consumers to check, they were able to send me data to verify the results in the above table.
The Sawyer Mini (the filter inside their personal water filtration bottle) has long been a mainstay of backpacking and thru-hiking. It has an excellent reputation for keeping people safe from bacteria and protozoa (although not viruses) and is as effective as anything I looked at in reducing the taste of chlorine in tap water. Of all the filtered water bottles I tested, this one was the closest to drinking out of a regular straw, in terms of its design and its flow rate. It is also the only filter making one specific claim: 100,000 gallons.
I’m going to level with you: I don’t think backpackers are getting 100,000 gallons (370,000 liters) out of the Sawyer filters, or any filter for that matter. There is just too much muck in the water they are working with, too many other factors to account for, including the potential to damage or drop the filter. And while the original Sawyer filter was the only one in my test of the best backpacking water filters to wrap the test with a faster flow rate that it started with, the Sawyer Mini did experience a noticeable slowdown in flow rate, even after backflushing.
But that’s when it’s challenged with some of the grodiest water, full of muck and sediment, that I could find. If you’re filling your bottle out of the tap, it may very well last that long. While no one yet has tested one of Sawyer’s filters out to 370,000 liters, Messiah College did test the Sawyer out to 230,000 liters and found that it was still removing bacteria and protozoa past the requirements set by the EPA. If you drank 4 liters of water a day, it would take you over 150 years to drink that much water, so this seems like as close as you can get to a lifetime guarantee for a water filter.
Of course, this assumes regular care. The Sawyer Personal Water Filtration Bottle co*es with a backflush plunger that you will need to hold onto, and use regularly, in order to preserve the flow.
The LifeStraw Peak Series was assistant editor Ashley Thess’s pick for the best filtered option in her review of the best water bottles. Here’s what she had to say: Lightweight and collapsible, the LifeStraw Peak Series soft bottle is the perfect water bottle for borderline adventures. You know those long runs or hot days where your typical water bottle or bladder might not cut it. Bring this filtered squeeze bottle along just in case you need to replenish at a stream or lake. With this bottle you don’t have to bring a water filter and dirty bag just to refill your supply. There is also no need to contaminate a clean bottle with dirty water; the LifeStraw Peak is perpetually filled with unclean water and filters as you drink.
This wouldn’t be enough for me to filter water on a backpacking trip, but it is perfect for excursions where you’ll frequent watering holes or walk along a river so you can get away with carrying less liquid. The bag is ultra durable and doesn’t collect sand or dirt easily. The drinking nozzle is also protected by an attached dust cap. The attachment loop is helpful to hold the filtering cap on your finger so it doesn’t fall on the ground or in dirty water while filling. To keep the filter flowing properly, LifeStraw includes a syringe so you can backflush the filter to keep it clean.
If your primary reason for wanting a filtered water bottle is to have great tasting water, the Philips Go Zero is a smart choice. Not only does it remove chlorine and particulates from water, ensuring it will taste great, but it’s also insulated, so your cold water will stay cold longer. Just keep in mind that this filter is not the right choice if you are concerned about the safety of your water, as it doesn’t remove bacteria, protozoa, viruses, lead, PFAS, or other dangerous chemicals.
Not only was the Brita Insulated Filtered Water Bottle the least expensive in my test, but it was also the favorite of my four year old. Was it the pink color? Probably, but those aesthetic choices should be top of mind when choosing a filtered water bottle, as the more you like your bottle, the more likely you are to actually drink from it. Unfortunately, it was slightly more difficult to drink out of, a function of the filter co*ponent being closer to the top of the filter than the bottom (the Philips GoZero also shared this unfortunate design), but this was only a nominal consideration. It filtered the chlorine taste out of my water just fine, even if that was the only thing that it managed to do.
As I learned while working on this story, it’s easy to call yourself a filtered water bottle and not filter out all that much. Before making a purchase, consider your reasons for making a purchase. Are you worried about lead? Bacteria? Not everything labeled “filtered water bottle” is capable of removing these impurities. Check the bottle’s certifications and testing before making a final purchase. And if, at the end of the day, all you are really looking for is a filter that can make the water co*ing out of your tap taste a little bit better, that’s fine too—one of the more affordable options on this list will be a better match for what you are looking for.
Many people are looking for a filtered water bottle simply to improve the taste of their existing tap or well water. This is especially co*mon for individuals who are drinking water from a municipal water supply. The EPA puts limits on 90 different contaminants for municipal water supplies, including arsenic and herbicides, However, chlorine is co*monly used to neutralize any lingering bacteria or viruses, which can negatively impact the taste of the drinking water co*ing out of your tap, even though it is safe to drink. The chlorine has already killed biological contaminants so it’s safe to then filter it out for a less distinct flavor.
A water bottle that is overly co*plicated to use will end up in the back of your cabinet in a matter of weeks. Consider your patience for refilling your bottle, changing the filter, and sucking the water through the filter before making a final choice.
Some filtered water bottles filter bacteria, but not all. Check your filtered water bottle’s certification (or refer to our chart, above), before making a final purchase.
Filtered water is not 100 percent free from germs, but it can get extremely close. The table above in this story shows which filtered bottles were capable of meeting EPA and NSF requirements for different contaminants.
The reality is that it depends. Not all filtered water bottles are capable of removing heavy metals, which may be present in some well water. On the other hand, some bottled water has been found to be nothing more than repackaged tap water.
Filtered water bottles typically last about three months before they need to have their filter replaced, but that can vary depending on your own use and the type of filter employed. For instance, the hollow membrane filter that the Sawyer uses can be backflushed, so that it can be used virtually indefinitely.