Written by: Sarah (@adventures.of.blondie)
How To Decide Which Water Filtration System Is Best For You
One of the key pieces of gear you need when heading out backpacking, is some way to filter or purify your water but with so many options, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. As someone who has owned three different water filters as my backpacking journey has evolved, I’ve put a lot of thought into which style works best for me and I’m going to share some pros and cons here, to help you make the right decision for yourself.
Why Do You Need A Water Filter?
The water here in the Canadian Rockies often looks so clear and clean, good enough to drink! However it can be hiding some harmful microorganisms that you can’t see and in many cases can't even taste. Personally I don’t want to run the risk of being sick in the backcountry, so I always use a filter.
Here in Canada we are lucky that a filter is typically enough to get safe drinking water from our sources in the backcountry. If you are travelling outside of Canada you may want to consider an added layer of safety such as a UV Purifier or a purification pump such as the MSR Guardian Purifier Pump.
Water Filter Options
Gravity Filters
A popular option amongst North American backpackers, these are regularly seen hanging from trees in campground eating areas. The concept is simple, fill a ‘dirty’ bag with water from the campground source, hang it high, let gravity pull the water through a filter into a ‘clean’ bag.
If I’m being completely honest, my Platypus Gravity Works 4L is a great option for filtering water and it regularly makes it into my pack, especially if I’m staying at one backcountry campground for a few days. It requires minimal effort after a long day on the trail, just scoop, seal and hang. Then let it do its thing.
For two people, the 4 litre size is great, it provides enough water for your dehydrated meals, a cup of tea or coffee and refilling the Nalgenes after a long day of hiking. I’ve owned this filter system for five years and the bags are still going strong, they are robust and not easy to break, even if you scrape a few rocks in a shallow water source.
I took my Platypus Gravity Works on the West Coast Trail and it was pretty dry in August, we were warned there was no water source at one of the camps, so we filled up earlier on the trail, filtered into the clean bag and then reloaded the dirty bag and carried both to camp. This meant we didn’t need to stress about water until the next day and if you've seen some of the ladders to camp on the West Coast Trail, you know why this would be a key selling point.
There are a few things I don’t love about this filter, one is if the water source is limited, shallow or slow moving, it can be a challenge to fill the dirty bag. The other issues I have is that it is rather bulky compared to some other filters on the market. Lastly, it isn’t the most convenient water filter to use mid hike, it does take a while to filter water, so it is a bit of a stop, hang and wait while out hiking.
For me, the negatives don’t outweigh the positives, especially when I’m backpacking with others, a gravity filter is an incredibly convenient way to get plenty of clean water with minimal effort.
Pros
- Great at basecamp for lots of water
- Easy to use, very little effort required
Cons
- Bulky to pack
- Not great for spots with shallow water sources
Squeeze Filters
Squeeze filters have really grown in popularity over the last few years and for good reason! They use a similar hollow tube filter like the gravity filters but they are much more compact! I own the Katadyn BeFree 1 litre filter and it is a simple process to use. Fill the soft flask with water, screw the filter on the top and squeeze. This system can be used to drink directly from or, I personally use it, to fill up a separate bottle.
One of the biggest selling features of squeeze filters is they are typically small and light, providing a great option for lightweight backpackers. I also love taking my Katadyn BeFree out on day hikes in the summer, so I don’t have to carry as much water.
The other huge benefit of squeeze filters is that they are incredibly easy to use, meaning it is easy to grab water on the trail and either drink immediately or squeeze it into a separate bottle. Having cold creek water on a hot day, with minimal effort is such a great benefit of squeeze filters for me.
One downside of this filter is it can be time consuming to filter lots of water, so when at camp it can take time to get enough clean water for everything you need. Not an issue if the water source is nearby but if it is in a more challenging location, this can prove to be a little tiresome.
The other downside of squeeze filters, that I have found, at least, is they can be a little harder to clean. Although I have found mine to be really reliable and low maintenance, I do have to soak the filter occasionally to get it flowing again.
Pros
- Lightweight and packable
- Perfect for trail water
- Great for solo backpackers
Cons
Not convenient for filtering lots of water
Pumps
I haven't seen as many pumps on the trail in the last few years, however they are typically very reliable with good flow rates to pump lots of water in a short time. That being said, if the bugs are bad and you are standing by the creek, any length of time pumping is probably more than you want to be doing.
They typically work by having a pipe with an intake which goes into the water source and then some form of hand operated pump and then an outflow for the clean water to go into a bottle. They are incredibly reliable and robustly designed, so are perfect for anyone who is hard on their gear.
The first water filter I got was the MSR Trailshot, a minimalistic, lightweight, hand pump. Great for getting water on the trail but once at camp it took a long time to pump any great volume of water. I still have this pump after 10 years and it is still in great condition. However for me, I typically leave it behind in favour of the squeeze filter, which is just a little less time consuming to use.
One of the big downsides of pumps, outside of the MSR Trailshot, is that they are typically bulky and heavy. In a backpacking world which is always looking for lighter options, for many pumps are just too heavy.
Pros
- Incredibly reliable
- Robust design
Cons
- Can be heavy
Time consuming to use if pumping lots of water
What I Pack
If I’m heading out on a solo backpacking mission, I’ll typically pack my Katadyn BeFree, it's light, easy and not bulky. If I’m backpacking with anyone else, I’ll always pack my Platypus Gravityworks and my Katadyn BeFree, the perfect combination of minimal effort at camp and on the trail.
Regardless of what filter I pack, I always want to have some form of backup, so if my filter fails for any reason, I either have another filter or I’ll pack some water treatment tablets. These are a great back up option, which are lightweight, easy to pack and work in a pinch. Just remember to follow the instructions!
