Top 10 Survival Water Filters

The first thing you will need in any survival situation is drinkable water.

You can go without food for several days but only hours without water.

Having good clean water will be key to keeping your body running.

Dirty water will make you sick quickly and put you in a very stressful situation.

If your putting together a survival bug out bag or just going out camping in a remote area – you will need a portable water filter to carry with you.

#10 MSR MiniWorks EX Backcountry Water Filter

I have had an original “white” model of this filter for many many years ago. I got this new MiniWorks filter and it works great. I get clean filtered water everytime. I consider the it to be my gold standard for water filters. It works flawlessly and effortlessly. I have had other filters but they are always more difficult to pump.

This one has never let me down. You would also find that the company honors the lifetime warranty without question. Great company. I will go out of my way to find products by Cascade design (they have the MRS brand) now because of their great customer support. I called them and told them the center stem had cracked on my 25 year old model and they had me send in the cracked stem and sent me a new one within a week. Another customer I met in a store here told me the same story about his old filter. He also had the same experience with them honoring their warranty.

Check price at Amazon.com

#9 Survivor Squeeze Filter

The Survivor Filter Squeeze Kit offers a reliable solution for safe drinking water during outdoor adventures or emergencies. With its portable water purifier straw and collapsible water bottle, it ensures you can drink safely from any freshwater source. Designed for camping, the canteen holds 33 ounces of water and can easily clip onto your backpack with the included carabiners.

The lightweight straw, weighing only 3.5 ounces, is reusable and cleanable, with filters that can last up to 264,000 gallons thanks to triple filtration. Tested to stringent standards, this BPA-free filter straw removes 99.999% of tested viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, providing peace of mind in any situation. Plus, with a lifetime happiness guarantee, Survivor Filter ensures customer satisfaction for life, promising to fix, replace, or refund any product without questions asked.

The Survivor Squeeze water filter has colored carabiners are a nice touch to keep dirty water container separate. I thought that the taste was surprisingly good and very similar to tap water at my house. I did not have to lay on the ground to suck up water from a straw like other systems.

Check price at Amazon.com

#8 WATERDROP GRAVITY FILTER

This system allows you to filter 1.5 gallons at a time. 5-Stage Efficient Filtration with adoption of premium-quality coconut shell activated carbon, 0.1 um ultrafiltration membrane and other raw materials, the Water Filter Straw can effectively reduce harmful substances like chlorine, particulates, sediment, stones, sand and dirt.

I was camping at the local river and used it several times. The Waterdrop gravity filter works well and did not clog up. It also removes bad taste and odor in water to ensure the water safety and deliver better drinking experience. This systerm ha a longer lifespan with a recyclable straw. It has an innovative backwash purifier function so that the inside of the straw can be kept clean at all times and it is recyclable, safe and pollution-free. The straw can provide safe drinking water up to 1,400 gallons (5,300 liters), and gives the maximum water flow rate of up to 700 ml/min to provide more relaxed outdoor water drinking experience.

Check price at Amazon.com

#7 GRAYL GEOPRESS

The GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle is a handy tool for outdoor adventures and emergency situations. With its simple “Fill. Press. Drink!” operation, it makes sketchy water safe to drink, perfect for hiking, camping, backpacking, and survival scenarios. This bottle removes all pathogens including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, ensuring clean drinking water wherever you are.

I like that its purification method includes electroadsorption and activated carbon, effectively filtering out particulates, volatile organic compounds, chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals, as well as removing flavors and odors. With a maximum flow rate of 5 liters per minute, it purifies 24 ounces of water effortlessly without the need for setup time, pumps, batteries, or chemicals. Equipped with a replaceable purifier cartridge, it’s ideal for emergency preparation, providing peace of mind in any natural disaster or water emergency.

Check price at Amazon.com

#6 Aquamira Frontier Filter System

I bought the Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter System as a lightweight way to keep safe and not get sick from water-born illnesses (Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis being the two major ones) while abroad.

I still carry water filtration tablets while abroad as a “just in case” item, but let’s face it – that’s a pain to deal with and you need to be planning ahead. Sometimes you just need to drink now.

I really can’t get over how light this thing is. It weighs less than an ounce, and fits easily inside of any pocket you can think of. The collapsible straw is a bonus.

The straw is rated at being able to filter around 20 gallons of water before it’s discarded.

Check price at Amazon.com

#5 Katadyn Vario Filter

I recently went to the Ecuadorian Amazon and spent a week living in the rain forest with indigenous people. I went on long treks and relied on the Katadyn Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter to deliver drinking water from streams I passed on the way. The fact that I never got sick is a testament to the effectiveness of the Vario. It was easy to hook up directly to my CamelBak, so there was no chance of contamination.

Whenever I used it, I had it in the “longer life” setting where you pump a little less water per minute, but it passes through both filters inside. I’ve used several other filters and the speed and ease which I was able to fill up my 100oz Camelbak is far superior to any of them. The pumping motion is easy to use and it pumps a lot more water even on the “Longer life” (slow) setting than other filters. Overall I think it is a fantastic product that I would recommend to anyone traveling to locations where you don’t know if you can trust the water.

Check price at Amazon.com

#4 FS-TFC 4-Stage Pump

This unit has a four stage filtration to 0.01 micron. It also has a filtration rate up to 99.99%. It can be used to filter out fluoride, arsenic, chlorine, lead, Most of heavy metals, taste, chemicals and other harmful substances. It has passed lab testing By SGS International Testing. and material match FDA, WHO Food grade standards.

It has a super fast flow rate of 1,500 ML (50 OZ) per minute which is 2 to 3 times more efficient than the competition. Can be used directly from fresh water source, pumped into empty water bottle, or pumped into any portable hydration pack. Perfect for backpacking gear for outdoor activities, hiking, camping, scouting, backcountry travel and emergency preparedness. This system has a uniquely designed handle and a stainless steel piston rod. This means that you will have less push effort.

This filter comes with a lifetime happiness guarantee with lifetime customer service, no questions asked, and no explanation necessary; you tell us what’s wrong, and we work to fix it, replace it or refund it. I believe that is a major factor to put this filtration system on the top of our list.

Check price at Amazon.com

#3 Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System

The Sawyer MINI water filter earns its place on any survival list because it delivers big performance in the smallest possible package. Weighing only about 2 ounces and built around a true 0.1-micron absolute hollow-fiber membrane, it knocks out 99.99999% of bacteria and 99.9999% of protozoa, giving you real protection on the trail, in a disaster, or during any field evolution.

You can drink straight through it with the included straw, hook it to a plastic bottle, run it on a hydration pack, or use the squeeze pouch — pure versatility for dirtbag backpackers, preppers, and military athletes who travel light. The downside is that it doesn’t remove chemicals, heavy metals, or nasty tastes, and the flow rate can be slower when you’re tired or cold and trying to squeeze water through.

It’s perfect for individuals or small teams who want ultralight, reliable water filtration; but for big groups, high-volume needs, or questionable water sources, you’ll want to pair it with a pump, gravity system, or something that also handles chemical contaminants. Overall, the Sawyer MINI punches above its weight — a no-excuses, no-nonsense tool every SGPT athlete should consider for their go-bag, ruck, or adventure kit.

Check price at Amazon.com

#2 Berkey Sports Bottle

I’ve used this product on several trips to Europe. I’ve been pretty healthy and I thank my Berkey Sports Bottle for that. In the past, I blamed air travel for the “bugs” that got me down while or just after traveling.

Now I’m pretty sure that it is the drinking water. They just do not have the same drinking water as back home. I also use it at work because it’s better than wasting money on plastic bottles and loading the landfill.

This bottle is versatile and the ideal size at 22 oz. The Sport Berkey Water Filter Bottle with replaceable filter is ideal for everyday use at home, school or the office. It’s also great for taking along while biking, working out at the gym, traveling and more.

It uses the same filtration formulation as Black Berkey Elements, which are used in our popular outdoor gravity-fed systems. It has been tested by multiple independent third-party labs for its ability to remove or reduce typical contaminants found in drinking water sources. The filter is good up to 640 refills of municipal water. I would replace the filter sooner if you are drawing water from a local stream or lake. I like that it is made from a non-leaching, LDPE #4 medical grade polymer, which is BPA-free.

Check price at Amazon.com

#1 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

For the weight, I believe there is no better backcountry water treatment available. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter imparts no strange flavors like its chemical brethren, its flow rate is perfectly acceptable for active pursuits, it has no moving parts to break or filters that need replacing every couple of days, and it does all this at a fraction of the cost and weight of other Filter and UV water treatment options.

Besides, what other water treatment system has been tested successfully by people on a daily basis in the most contaminated parts of our planet? I personally carry one of these when I am out in the field for more than a night.

Check price at Amazon.com

When would you need a survival water filter?

You’d need a survival water filter when you’re in situations where clean drinking water is hard to find or might be contaminated. For example, if you’re hiking or camping in the wilderness and need to drink from rivers or lakes, a survival water filter helps remove harmful bacteria and particles, keeping you safe. In emergencies like natural disasters where water supplies can get contaminated or cut off, having a survival water filter ensures you can purify water from various sources for drinking. Even during adventurous travels to remote areas or if you’re stranded without access to clean water, a survival water filter becomes essential for staying hydrated and healthy. It’s a smart tool to have whenever clean drinking water isn’t readily available.

Note: Several of the systems have been tested by SGS International

Question: Where can I learn more about clean water issues. Look here

RELATED ARTICLES:
Top 10 Multi-Tools
Top 10 Survival Hatchets