Our top picks for 2021 below include everything from ultralight bottle filters and chemical drops to pumps and large-quantity gravity filters.

To protect against protozoa, bacteria, and even viruses, there is a wide range of water filtration and purification systems built specifically for backpacking (many options on this list are great for day hiking, trail running, and travel too). Under normal conditions, this is not needed, but when the water is murky it helps increase the time in-between filter cleanings.Everyone exploring the backcountry needs water, but staying hydrated is not as simple as drinking straight from streams and lakes. In extremely silty conditions I add the MSR SweetWater Siltstooper to the intake hose. Just do your research on the area you are going and plan according. Not many portable filters are able to filter out viruses. This filter doesn't filter out viruses, so if you are in an area were virus are an issue you will need to add some chemical treatment afterwards. It is made out of plastic, but not flimsy, however if the handle breaks, the entire filter is out of commission. The downside is that the hand does appear to be a weak point in the construction and design. It is lightweight enough to be used in backpacking, but it is also durable for a large group to use on a week-long (if not longer) wilderness trip. The benefit of using the Nalgene bottles is that it screws onto the filter and keeps it from spilling water out of the bottle (even in a canoe rocking back and forth in the water). It is easy to use and pump and a 1 liter Nalgene can be easily filled up in just a few minutes. On long trips, we have gotten into the habit of cleaning the filter everyday to keep the water flowing easy. The filter will clog up within a day if heavily used, but this feature allows us to service it right then and there and move on. The big plus is that it is field cleanable, which is important when using this with a crew of 5 or 6 people. The MSR water filter is one of our most used gear pieces on a variety of trips from a weekend backpacking trip to an extended canoe trip in the middle of Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park. The articles contain ad links that we may receive compensation for. They may have provided us a discount on purchasing the items, but have not directly compensated us. *The companies whose products we review have not paid us to provide the feedback.

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