Reviews of Camping Water Filters and Purifiers

When You're Deep In the Wilderness, These Camping Water Treatment Products Keep Your Bottle Filled

Camping water filters and purifiers are essential gear, no matter where you're pitching your tent.

There are camping water purifiers for all types of campers. Whether you go super-lightweight, and insist on carrying only what fits on your shoulders, or you're a "kitchen sink" kind of camper, like our family, there's a perfect camping water treatment product to suit you.

Full disclosure: Carolina and I are lousy campers. We just like our home comforts too much to enjoy roughing it. Unfortunately for us, our kids absolutely adore camping, and bug us to get out the tent the moment the snow melts here in Canada.

Trudging down to the standpipe is bad enough for us when we stay at an organized campsite. Sourcing clean drinking water is much more challenging when you're pitching camp in the middle of nowhere.

Fortunately, help is at hand. These great products are the best we've tested. Many of the smaller ones can double as a backpacking water purifier, if you go on day hikes, or just prefer walking holidays to tents.

Reviews of Camping Water Filters

When we reviewed these products, we took into account the two main types of camping family: those who pack next to nothing, and those who pack one of everything, "just in case".

The smaller portable water filters are definitely better choices for you granola, "crunchy" campers. They are all small enough to fit comfortably into a backpack.

MSR HyperFlow Microfilter Camping Water Purifier

Read reviews of the MSR HyperFlow Microfilter at Amazon

The MSR HyperFlow Microfilter is the lightest, smallest, and fastest-pumping filter created by MSR, a hugely admired manufacturer of camping water filters.

Its ergonomic design, easy maintenance, and ability to filter large amounts of water in just minutes brings a whole new experience to your mountaineering, backpacking, and camping adventures.

This tool utilizes the latest Hollow Fiber Technology, which offers an amazingly fast flow rate. It has an impressive 0.2 micron rating filter, which is highly effective in removing protozoa, bacteria, and particulate matter from your water to ensure that what you drink is clean and fresh. The HyperFlow also features a quick-connect water adapter that allows you to filter directly into a variety of water containers or reservoirs.

MSR HyperFlow Microfilter: How It Works

The MSR HyperFlow Microfilter camping water purifier comes with a special pre-filter that helps to catch larger debris. To use, simply remove the filter cover, connect the filter to your MSR hydration container or any wide-mouth bottle, then pump away. It is amazing how quickly this device can filter water. Filling a 1 liter bottle can be done in about 20 seconds, or 20 pump strokes.

Some useful tips:

  • If convenient, look for running water, or the clearest water source where there is a lesser amount of suspended sediment. This can greatly improve the lifespan of your filter.
  • The pump works best if held horizontally. To make pumping easier, take pauses in between pumps, and let the suction fill the entire reservoir of the filter before continuing.
  • Make sure to read the instructions carefully. Test the filter before heading out on a trail, as you should with any vital survival equipment.
  • It can be tough to learn how to use it correctly at first, especially during cleaning. One important thing to note during back flushing is that the filter must be wet. Pump water into it before reversing the valves, otherwise it will lock up.

Click to order the MSR HyperFlow Microfilter camping water purifier from Amazon.com

MSR HyperFlow Microfilter: Pros and Cons

Excellent flow rate: at its optimum performance, the HyperFlow has an extremely high flow rate of over 3 liters per minute

Lightweight and compact: it only weighs 7.4 ounces, making it the lightest among MSR's pump-action camping water filter designs. It is half the weight of most camping water filters, and with its diminutive size, it definitely saves space and weight in your backpack

Tool-free maintenance: the filter can be cleaned repeatedly in the field for flow recovery, without requiring any tool for complete disassembly

Long-Lasting: under optimum conditions, the cartridge life is up to 1,000 liters

Back flushing can be a tedious task: it has to done often, ideally every 6-8 liters, or at least once per day, or the filter will be very hard to pump. Some users even complain that it is quite a complicated procedure to back flush the system

Requires extra care: you must protect the device from freezing, because the filter element is very sensitive to low temperatures. This makes it too fragile for backcountry use in colder weather

The pre-filter is relatively light: it likes to float around on the water surface, so air suck can be a problem, unless you find a perfect-sized rock to weigh it down with

MSR HyperFlow Microfilter: Conclusion

This is such a powerful lightweight camping water filter in a package so small.

The MSR HyperFlow Microfilter is great for anything from trails, hikes, and backpack trips.

However, with any filter system there are always disadvantages. Most importantly, there are instructions that need to be followed to keep it operating as the HyperFlow was designed to work.

Back flushing can be a complex task, but it just takes some getting used to. So unless you are diligent and good at reading and following instructions carefully, this is not the best camping water filter for you.

Click to order the MSR HyperFlow Microfilter camping water purifier from Amazon.com

Coghlan's Water Filter

Read reviews of Coghlan's Water Filter at Amazon

Many water sources have been found to be contaminated with different waterborne protozoa, amoeba and giardia being two of the most common.

Getting infected by these can be avoided by having an effective, small and lightweight camping water filter system like Coghlan's Water Filter.

Aside from being effective against protozoa, using this device will also protect you against other organisms of similar size, such as parasites. It's a great little device to have with you whenever you're uncertain of the reliability of your nearest camping water source.

The unit comes complete with a sealed cartridge filter, pump, discharge tube, adapter tube, and a plastic straw.

Coghlan's Water Filter: How It Works

Coghlan's camping water filter utilizes a positively sealed cartridge. It filters out microbes and particles down to a nominal 2 micron level. It is chemical-free, so the water taste is not affected.

There are no lengthy instructions to read before use. After connecting the supplied parts, immerse the filter into the water source. Pull up the plunger of the pump to draw water into the filter, and push it down to allow water to flow through the tubing and into your water container.

Position the water filter vertically to ensure that the ball check valves operate properly. Coghlan's camping water filter comes with a 6" plastic straw. This can be attached directly to the top of the filter, in place of the connector tube. It gives the user direct access to the water source. Use it as you would any drinking straw.

In some cases, seepage around the plunger may occur. This is a normal occurence, which in no way affects the performance of the water filter. Click to order Coghlan's Water Filter from Amazon.com

Tips to Make Your Coghlan's Water Filter Last Longer

The clearer your water source, the better performance of this filter will be. As much as possible, avoid muddy water, as it will substantially reduce the capacity of the device. If you have no choice about your water source, get a separate container to hold the unfiltered water. Allow the heavy solids to settle for a while, then pump from the top of the container.

Having a coffee filter tied around the tip of the filter also extends the filter life. It can serve as a pre-filter, effective in preventing larger solids from getting into the filter.

Make sure to read the instructions on proper storage, as it will prolong the life of the filter.

Coghlan's Water Filter: Pros and Cons

Low cost: it is much cheaper than other alternatives. Its replacement filters are inexpensive too

Constant flow rate: the simple ball-type pump provides sufficient pressure to maintain the flow. Filtration rate is better than other units due to the large surface area of the filter

Easy maintenance and storage: after use, flush with vinegar or diluted bleach to prevent the build-up of microorganisms in the filter. Using the adapter tube allows you to pump excess water out the filter prior to storage. Allow it to dry for 5-7 days

Poor filtration rating: although it is effective against infectious protozoa, such as giardia and amoeba, it cannot filter bacteria and other contaminants that are very small in size, let alone viruses

Difficult to use solo: it is hard to keep the pump, water bottle, and the end of the output tubing in place while pumping with one hand. Other alternatives, such as the Katadyn Pocket Water Filter, have a bottle adaptor that attaches directly to water bottles, making them much easier to use

Coghlan's Water Filter: Conclusion

The price is excellent (under $25 at the time of our review), making this camping water filter significantly cheaper than high-end alternatives, but it is only effective for removal of protozoa from the drinking water.

High-end alternatives are effective in removing not only protozoa, but bacteria and other harmful contaminants as well.

It is true that this device is less likely to clog than some of its competitors, but this is simply due to the fact that its filter pore size is much larger than expensive filters.

This water filter might be safe to use in a running water supply that has not been contaminated.

However, for standing, stagnant water or another highly questionable water source, this product is not recommended.

Click to order Coghlan's Water Filter from Amazon.com

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