5 Best Portable Filtered Water Bottles For Safe Drinking

Access to clean, safe drinking water is essential for good health whether we’re at home or on the go. The best way to ensure that you’ll have safe drinking water to stay hydrated when you’re out and about is by taking along a water bottle with a filter. In today’s post, we’re looking at the best portable filtered water bottles to keep us hydrated anytime we leave home.

Portable filtered water bottles provide a convenient and eco-friendly way to ensure access to clean water wherever you are. So, we’ve researched to help you choose the best water bottle with filter for travel.

What Is a Portable Filtered Water Bottle and How Does It Work?

A portable filtered water bottle is designed to provide on-the-go access to purified drinking water that’s free from harmful contaminants, regardless of the water source.

Whether you’re hiking, biking, kayaking, shopping, or just out for a Sunday drive, the best filtered water bottle for travel is one that assures you that no matter the water source, (a gas station, campground, creek, lake, random sink, etc.), the water is potable, safe, and clean.

A portable filtered water bottle includes some sort of built-in filtration system designed to remove contaminants and impurities. Inside the bottle, there’s a filtration device such as a membrane microfilter, an activated carbon filter, or a UV light filtration device. Whatever the method, it’s designed to reliably remove harmful impurities from the water before you drink it.

Not all filtered water bottles are the same, which is why it’s important to research any type you’re considering. The last thing you want is a bottle that doesn’t filter out all of the most harmful contaminants, giving you a false sense of security.

Typically, the way a portable filtered water bottle works is that the filtration device sits inside the bottle’s cap or straw so that the water in the bottle can be purified prior to drinking.

As you sip water through the bottle’s straw or drink through the spout (depending on the design of the bottle), the filtration system traps contaminants. The exact impurities removed depends on the type of filter used in the bottle, but often include bacteria, viruses, sediment, chlorine, and heavy metals. Even bad taste or odor can be eliminated when a good filtration system is used.

The goal of a good portable filtered water bottle is that only safe, purified water makes its way to your mouth.

What Are the Benefits of a Water Bottle With a Filter?

The most obvious advantage of portable filtered water bottles is that they provide safe, clean drinking water. Additional benefits include convenience, cost savings, and reducing single-use plastic water bottles, which are both expensive and bad for the environment.

Water bottles with a good, reliable filtration system can safely purify water from a wide variety of sources including taps, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. Initially designed for hikers and other outdoorsy people, portable filtered water bottles have become popular with anyone who travels away from their home water source.

What to Look for In a Personal Filtered Water Bottle

When looking for a high-quality portable filtered water bottle, there are a few important features you’ll want to look for to make sure it delivers safe, clean water and meets your needs.

Type of Filtration

Consider the type of filtration used and whether you prefer one type over another. High-quality filtered water bottles typically use activated carbon, a membrane microfilter, or UV (ultraviolet light).

Each has its own pros and cons. One may purify water but not filter it. Another may require changing the filter more often. Some people don’t like straw filters because there’s more sipping effort required than they’d like.

Filtration Capacity

Speaking of replacing filters, you’ll want to check the filtration capacity of any bottle you’re considering so you’ll know how much water you can expect it to purify before the filter needs to be replaced.

Ease and Cost of Filter Replacement

You’ll want a bottle with a filter that’s easy to replace without special tools or effort. You’ll also want to consider the cost of replacement filters. It’s also best to choose a bottle that uses readily available filters so they’re easy to obtain when you need them.

Filter Flow Rate

Some bottles have a slower flow rate due to the type of filtration process used. As mentioned, although many people love bottles that use a straw filtration system, some don’t like them because the flow rate is slower, and effort is required to sip through the straw. Consider the flow rate (if available) if that’s important to you.

Contaminant Removal

This is one of the most important features you’ll want to focus on, especially if you’re likely to need extreme filtration and decontamination due to the water sources you may draw from when you travel.

When shopping for a filtered water bottle, be sure to note the contaminants the filter is designed to remove. Some filters are better at removing certain types of impurities. Consider the way you travel and what your water sources and water quality are likely to be, and choose a bottle that addresses your specific needs and concerns such as bacteria, chlorine, giardia, heavy metals, or sediment.

Bottle Material

Be sure to note what materials water purifier bottles are made from. Look for BPA-free plastic or other safe materials such as stainless steel, glass, or Tritan plastic. If you want your bottle to be dishwasher-safe, look for that as well.

Capacity and Size

Portable filtered water bottles come in a variety of capacities, typically from 12 oz to 32 oz or even more. If you’ll be carrying the bottle, keep in mind what type of pocket or holder you want it to fit into, how much it’ll weigh when full, and how much water you need to have with you at any given time.

Leak-Proof Design

Check the bottle’s cap design and user reviews to ensure that the one you choose uses a leak-proof design that works well to prevent spills.

Price

When gear shopping, budget is often a factor. Keep in mind that some higher-priced bottles may come with additional filters or may use filters that are less expensive to replace. And of course, you simply get what you pay for sometimes.

What Are the Best Portable Filtered Water Bottles (2023)?

Based on the factors we’ve mentioned above, the following are several of the most popular filtered water bottles.

LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

This water filter bottle from LifeStraw is BPA-free and features a built-in filter that’s effective at removing bacteria, protozoa, and other harmful contaminants, providing you with safe drinking water on the go.

The membrane micro filter can purify up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 liters) of water, and the activated carbon filter filters up to 26 gallons (100 L) when used and maintained properly.

This is a popular choice for both domestic and overseas travelers who rely on the LifeStraw brand.

GRAYL UltraPress Filter & Purifier

The GRAYL UltraPress is sold as a versatile on-the-go water filtration and purification system that’s effective no matter where in the world you travel. The UltraPress purifies 16.9 oz (500ml) of water in as little as 10 seconds.

It’s billed as being ideal for global travel and outdoor adventures because it removes all pathogens including 99.9% of viruses (e.g. rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis A), 99.9999% of bacteria (e.g. E. Coli, salmonella, dysentery), and 99.9% of protozoan cysts (e.g. giardia, cryptosporidium, amoebae).

It also filters particulates such as sediment and microplastics and adsorbs VOCs (volatile organic compounds, PFAS, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, flavors, and odors.

The GRAYL filtration and purification systems receive high marks from reviewers. You simply fill the bottle from any water source, set it on a surface, press, and drink safe, clean water.

UltraPress replacement cartridges are available, too.

GRAYL also offers the GeoPress which is a larger version with larger filters. But that does make it larger and heavier to carry. Some reviewers consider it too bulky, though it’s still a favorite among travelers for its excellent filtration and quality.

It has a 24-oz capacity and a 3.4-inch width and weighs 15.9 oz without water.

GeoPress replacement filter purifier cartridges are available here.

Katadyn BeFree

Made of synthetic material, the Katadyn BeFree Water Filter Bottle has a 1.0L “hydrapak” soft flask that packs down compactly to fit in tight spaces such as jacket pockets, purses, backpacks, etc.

A 0.1-micron hollow fiber filter effectively removes bacteria, protozoa, and other contaminants from water sources. The bottle has a wide mouth for quick and easy filling, and one cartridge filters up to 260 gallons (1,000 liters) of water.

Replacement cartridges are available, too:

Brita Insulated Filtering Water Bottle

Known for its household water filters, Brita’s Insulated Filtering Water Bottle uses a filter similar to a household Brita pitcher. It reduces chlorine taste and odor, as well as other contaminants.

Made of BPA-free plastic, this 36oz model is Brita’s largest water bottle, though it does fit in most car cup holders. It has a built-in carrying loop, easy open lid, and is top-rack dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

The filter itself is the straw you sip water through. This isn’t the type of filtration and purification needed for drinking water from streams or other extreme sources, but it filters tap water well. That may sound unnecessary to some people, but RVers know how much unknown water sources can vary.

The Brita bottle filter should be replaced after about 40 gallons of water.

Brita also offers a stainless steel version of their insulated filtered water bottle:

Survivor Filter Squeeze Kit with Collapsible Canteens

Survivor Filter Collapsible Canteens feature a BPA-free filter straw that says it removes 99.999% of viruses, staph, bacteria, and protozoa and reduces heavy metals according to NSF/ANSI standards.

The Survivor straw has a high flow rate and uses filters that can be cleaned and used again, lasting up to 264,000 gallons (100,000 liters) of triple filtration. The water purification straw can be used at any fresh water source, with any 28mm threaded bottle or water bladder.

This kit comes with two collapsible canteens, each of which holds 33oz (1L) of water. Carabiners are included to clip the canteens onto your belt or backpack.

Depending on how and where you travel, these provide assorted levels of filtration that allow you to confidently drink from various water sources. Whether you’re hiking, traveling in remote areas, or simply want portable filtered water from any tap, be sure to stay hydrated!

If you want to ditch the cost, hassle, and waste of bottled water onboard your RV, do what we did… install a UV water purification system:

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