The 5 Best Ultralight Water Filters (2023 reviews)

The sawyer products ultralight water filter's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This water filter is excellent for backpacking and hiking. Whether hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, or traveling abroad, the sawyer squeeze water filtration system will ensure you have access to clean water in the backcountry or anywhere in the world. It comes with a couple of 32 oz water bags, a syringe for backwash cleaning, a mesh bag, and tubing and attachments for gravity filtering. It removes all visible particles and makes the water taste good.

It is small and light weight enough for backpacking and the different attachments are a nice plus depending on how you plan to use it. It is great for travel, you can hook it up to a hose bib and flow a lot of water. These filters must be kept from freezing because ice crystals growing within the fibers can compromise it. This is a must have for water purfication system and is so easy to use, also easy to travel with.

Why We Like This:

Super convenient at a campsite or on a canoe
Perfect for the minimalist or ultra-light hiker or just everyday backpacking
Convenient and easy to use verses other water filters
Easy to fill the squeeze bags from a water source

Best For hiker: MSR Ultralight Water Filter

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The msr ultralight water filter's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter is wonderful for backpackers, hikers, campers, and the like who need clean, drinkable water in the field. It removes bacteria, protozoa, organic compounds, and particulate, delivering clean, taste and odor. It easily pumps one quart in less than two minutes and attaches to standard screw cap' plastic hiking bottles. It takes less than 5 minutes to fill a liter nalgene bottle.

The ceramic filter is the best feature because it can be cleaned and the worst because it is fragile. It's super easy to use, compact, easy enough to clean, and light enough that you can take it even in a day pack for day hikes or canoe trips. This filter is great for travel as well as outdoorsy stuff. The piece that screws onto the bottom and keeps the clean threads from being contaminated is awesome.

Why We Like This:

Works great., filter is easy to clean in the woods
Works great and will make a lot of fresh water in a hurry
Tough, simple design and about 16 oz in weight

Best For Hydration Pack: Katadyn Ultralight Water Filter

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There are much better choices to filter water for daily drinking and cooking use. The Vario eliminates harmful bacteria, protozoa, cysts, algae, spores, sediments and has an activated carbon filter which reduces chemicals and improves water taste. The fiber microfilter removes waterborne bacteria. It can pump water out of a pond near home and have great tasting drinking water until services are restored. It is a great filter to have on hiking trips or for home emergency needs.

The Filters last longer and works better on the slow setting. The Prefilter mesh (intake) is good, but still allows a lot of stuff through which limits the life of the ceramic filter. It's easy to use, light, compact, and sturdy. It is a good addition to a bug out bag or disaster kit for your home.

Why We Like This:

Easy to break down, clean, and use
Light weight, effective for a long time and the filters easy to replace
Good brand reputation

Best For group Or solo trip: Platypus Ultralight Water Filter

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The platypus ultralight water filter's high-end materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The gravityworks filter is designed for backcountry backpacking use and can remove particles down to a size of 0.2 microns, which will filter out bacteria and protozoa. It will literally work with water you wouldn't want to step in. The longer tube also assists with the natural siphon effect and the flow is faster than if you use a shorter tube.

The Ultralight and compact system weighs as little as 6.6 oz (187 g) and stows smaller than most one liter bottles. The flow will only work whilst the pressure is higher going in. It takes multiple attempts to get the zip lock to secure. The filter is very convenient to set up and fill/use. The nice thing about this system is you can fill your water bottle(s) at the stream, then fill the sack to carry hang in camp.

Why We Like This:

Super easy to backflush, instantly restores flow rate
A good, lightweight, fast gravity filter
Light, fast, good for two people

Best For international Travel: Ministraw Ultralight Water Filter

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The Ministraw Filterstraw can provide safe drinking water up to 100, 000 gallons. It includes a ministraw mini filter, reusable squeeze pouch, 6-inch extendable tube, and syringe. It is clean and has no peculiar smell, suitable for outdoor living drinking water.

It comes with an edible-grade straw, it can directly absorb outdoor water sources such as natural mountain springs, streams, and rivers. The Ministraw allows you to be able to backflush the filter, clearing out all of the particulate and increasing the lifespan of the filter. It is great for filtering water on the go. This means no additional filters, cartridges, pumps, iodine drops, or batteries to ever buy again.

Why We Like This:

High performing 0.1 micron fibre membrane, petite and lightweight as 1.83 ounces
Ministraw light-weight water filter for camping, backpacking, running, travel, and emergency preparedness
Equipped with a lightweight and easy-to-carry water bag for easy access to water outdoors
Match with water bags or bottles for the ultimate drinking experience