International Header

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

Last updated:
September 16, 2021
|  5 min read

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

YouTube video highlight

How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip

Read more about the project

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

Thumbnail Slider Image
Aucun élément n'a été trouvé.

How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip

Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward, so you're probably going to need a water filter? But which one? We break it down.

By Connor HultNot every body of water will make you sick, but no matter how pristine a natural water source may appear, microscopic threats to your body - including, viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and other nasties like Cryptosporidium cysts - may very well be lingering. Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward.

I used to have the “looks clean, looks good to drink mentality” because odds are e.coli and giardia, among other things, won’t set in on your trip, but the time following when you have returned. I justified taking these risks because being sick at home did not sound too bad to my naivety, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that I regret having had this mentality. Now my water filter is as essential as my sleeping bag or headlamp. There is an entire world out there for choosing a water filtration system, while universal and multi-use options exist, certain locations across the globe call for a unique style of water filter or purifier. The bottom line is it’s important to know where you’re going, and what is right for you.

Water Filters vs. Purifiers: How They Work

Physical water filters utilize a cartridge with microscopic pores that catch any dirt or debris present in the water as it moves from the container past the cartridge. These water filters can vary in styles, but will mostly stay around 0.1 microns for pore size. Because dirty water is being pushed through these filters, gunk will clog them and they will need to be regularly cleaned and eventually replaced. 0.1 microns is a solid standard when choosing a filter that will be rid of most water contamination.

A purifier will rely on either chemicals (commonly iodine) or ultraviolet light to kill any contaminants in the water. The main advantage of water purification is that it will kill viruses, which are generally too small to be caught by the cartridge of a general water filter. Don’t fret - viruses are not typically found in North America, but be sure to check in before you go!

Finish reading how to choose the right water filter here.

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip

Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward, so you're probably going to need a water filter? But which one? We break it down.

By Connor HultNot every body of water will make you sick, but no matter how pristine a natural water source may appear, microscopic threats to your body - including, viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and other nasties like Cryptosporidium cysts - may very well be lingering. Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward.

I used to have the “looks clean, looks good to drink mentality” because odds are e.coli and giardia, among other things, won’t set in on your trip, but the time following when you have returned. I justified taking these risks because being sick at home did not sound too bad to my naivety, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that I regret having had this mentality. Now my water filter is as essential as my sleeping bag or headlamp. There is an entire world out there for choosing a water filtration system, while universal and multi-use options exist, certain locations across the globe call for a unique style of water filter or purifier. The bottom line is it’s important to know where you’re going, and what is right for you.

Water Filters vs. Purifiers: How They Work

Physical water filters utilize a cartridge with microscopic pores that catch any dirt or debris present in the water as it moves from the container past the cartridge. These water filters can vary in styles, but will mostly stay around 0.1 microns for pore size. Because dirty water is being pushed through these filters, gunk will clog them and they will need to be regularly cleaned and eventually replaced. 0.1 microns is a solid standard when choosing a filter that will be rid of most water contamination.

A purifier will rely on either chemicals (commonly iodine) or ultraviolet light to kill any contaminants in the water. The main advantage of water purification is that it will kill viruses, which are generally too small to be caught by the cartridge of a general water filter. Don’t fret - viruses are not typically found in North America, but be sure to check in before you go!

Finish reading how to choose the right water filter here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Mentions dans les médias de Curated
Curated
Curated provides free expert advice to help you shop gear online.
Mentions dans les médias

Curated : Comment choisir le bon filtre à eau pour votre voyage en sac à dos

How to Choose the Right Water Filter for Your Backpacking Trip

Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward, so you're probably going to need a water filter? But which one? We break it down.

By Connor HultNot every body of water will make you sick, but no matter how pristine a natural water source may appear, microscopic threats to your body - including, viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and other nasties like Cryptosporidium cysts - may very well be lingering. Water-borne illnesses are a sure way to ruin your backpacking trip or the weeks afterward.

I used to have the “looks clean, looks good to drink mentality” because odds are e.coli and giardia, among other things, won’t set in on your trip, but the time following when you have returned. I justified taking these risks because being sick at home did not sound too bad to my naivety, but I can tell you from first-hand experience that I regret having had this mentality. Now my water filter is as essential as my sleeping bag or headlamp. There is an entire world out there for choosing a water filtration system, while universal and multi-use options exist, certain locations across the globe call for a unique style of water filter or purifier. The bottom line is it’s important to know where you’re going, and what is right for you.

Water Filters vs. Purifiers: How They Work

Physical water filters utilize a cartridge with microscopic pores that catch any dirt or debris present in the water as it moves from the container past the cartridge. These water filters can vary in styles, but will mostly stay around 0.1 microns for pore size. Because dirty water is being pushed through these filters, gunk will clog them and they will need to be regularly cleaned and eventually replaced. 0.1 microns is a solid standard when choosing a filter that will be rid of most water contamination.

A purifier will rely on either chemicals (commonly iodine) or ultraviolet light to kill any contaminants in the water. The main advantage of water purification is that it will kill viruses, which are generally too small to be caught by the cartridge of a general water filter. Don’t fret - viruses are not typically found in North America, but be sure to check in before you go!

Finish reading how to choose the right water filter here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Mentions dans les médias de Curated
Curated
Curated provides free expert advice to help you shop gear online.
Mentions dans les médias
browse all articles
Ici, à Sawyer
January 22, 2026
6 Min
Backpacker: The Complete Peakbagging Packing List
Read More

Mentions dans les médias

Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L is responsible for all water filtration while packs are off, and the large reservoir enables cameling up.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Mentions dans les médias

The Sawyer Mini is the cheapest and one of the most lightweight water purifiers on this list.

Steph Dyson
Freelance Travel Writer

Mentions dans les médias

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter – Ultralight, lifetime-warranty filter that removes bacteria and parasites.

Himiway Bike
Site web
<<  Previous Post
No previous post!
Check out our Directory
Next Post  >>
No next post!
Check out our Directory