12 Best Emergency Water Filtration Systems Reviewed

by Jay | Updated on October 20th, 2023

Human survival instincts assist them in surviving catastrophes, natural disasters, and national disasters. If you build a list, water is one of the top three survival factors.


During disasters like floods and droughts, the water available for drinking, cooking, and bathing become contaminated—impurities such as microorganisms, chemicals, and other contaminants.

Life Straw Universal Filter

Before drinking it, you can purify water from algae-infested pools, paddles, polluted rivers, and other sources.

Clean and safe water is one of the most critical demands in an emergency. It can be used for cleaning, cooking, and other tasks besides hydration.

EDITOR’S CHOICE2ND PICK3RD PICK



LifeStraw Universal FilterLifeStraw PersonalSawyer Mini
Ratings
PurposeBottle adapter kitPersonal straw filterMiniature filtration system
Weight3.5 oz (100g)2 oz (57g)2 oz (57g)
Capacity1000 gallons1000 gallons100,000 gallons
Filter pore size0.2 microns0.2 microns0.1 micron
Attachable to Bottles/HydrationYesNoYes
CHECK PRICECHECK PRICECHECK PRICE

Fortunately, today’s water filters are ideal for keeping on hand in an emergency. They do, however, come in various shapes, sizes, and varieties, as well as a range of pricing. 

Having fundamental human survival skills comes in handy in such situations. Filtration and purification procedures can be used to turn contaminated water into safe drinking water.

Filtration is in charge of removing all solid particles as well as microorganisms from water. Purification takes it further by removing viruses and pollutants from the water.

Best emergency water filters

Here are the best water filters you can buy now in case of an emergency: 

1. LifeStraw Universal Filter Bottle Adapter Kit

Carrying liters of water or drinking straight from a stream when hiking isn’t ideal when walking up big slopes or putting in the kilometers, and neither is drinking straight from a stream when there could be something a little nasty in it. And it’s for this reason that portable water filters come in handy in these instances. 

This filter is as simple as they come. Connect the filter unit to your preferred cap, tighten the cap, and sip water from the silicone nipple. Up to 1,000 liters of water can be cleaned using the stage two filter. Its efficiency in eliminating bacteria, protozoa, and other pollutants from water is assessed at 99%.

2. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

On your next excursion, the LifeStraw Personal Filter can collect water from puddles and other water sources. Sucking force is used to operate this straw filter, and getting water from the ground into your mouth requires effort.

However, for a meager price, it’s straightforward to use. In addition, it’s one of the most lightweight alternatives available. It’s straightforward to pack and use for lightweight travel, weighing only 1.75 ounces and having a compact profile. 

It can filter out particles, germs, and protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium using a hollow fiber filtration cartridge with a 0.2-micron pore size. It does not, however, treat viruses. This functional filtering system works best in clear water and cleans murky water. 

3. Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System

Invest in a low-cost filter system that can clean your water source in various ways. It removes pollutants, protozoa, and bacteria with a 99.99% efficiency and can be used at the water source to remove all impurities.

In addition, the filter is lightweight and portable, and you will enjoy clean drinking water. The filter costs $19 and can purify up to 10,000 gallons of water. 

While some personal filters only allow for one or two uses, the Sawyer MINI water filtration system provides the best overall performance, with four various uses depending on your preferences and situation. 

This on-the-go filtration system has the best overall value of the on-the-go filtration systems. The filter, straw, bag, and syringe are all included in the set. It’s a fantastic price, given its incredible adaptability and performance. 

4. LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

99.99% of bacteria, protozoa like giardia and cryptosporidium, and organic pollutants like pesticides and herbicides are removed by LifeStraw Go’s two-stage, hollow-fiber, 0.2-micron filter membrane with activated carbon. 

The replaceable activated carbon capsule, a little portion inside the top of the filter unit, can treat 100 liters (nearly 26 gallons) of water. The hollow fiber membrane filter can handle 1,000 liters (264 gallons). The filter and carbon capsule may be dismantled without using tools; remove the filter and pop out the carbon capsule.

You can clip the bottle to a pack strap with a mini-carabiner on a nylon strap to avoid losing it in rugged terrain. The BPA-free Tritan plastic bottle is light, with the filter unit carrying most of the weight, and it isn’t easy to break.

5. Katadyn Hiker MicroFilter

Hiking is more enjoyable when you have access to clean water. The filter is one of the most user-friendly on the market. All you have to do is remove the filter, pass water through it, and you’ll have 99% clean water. It’s a beautiful choice because of its simple functioning. 

The Katadyn Hiker provides middle-of-the-road performance at an affordable price. This hand pump filter is designed for folks who value trail dependability. It efficiently protects against microscopic particles, germs, and protozoa while pumping quickly (42 seconds & 52 strokes per liter) in both turbid and clear water.

It easily attaches to a wide-mouth Nalgene bottle or other hydration bladder and filters the contents. While pumping is straightforward, the handle isn’t comfortable, and this filter has a reputation for little, non-critical bits breaking off. Apart from that, it is one of the top pump filter values available and should be examined. 

6. Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle 

This water bottle removes pathogens such as viruses and other pollutants from the water. The filter produces clean water in about 15 seconds. It purifies water to a 99% purity using UV light. This bottle requires no pumping, squeezing, or sucking to obtain pure water.

Grayl’s Ultralight Bottle is a one-of-a-kind purifying technology that removes chemical impurities and water-borne pathogens like viruses from the most unpleasant water sources. The unit’s body is quite sturdy, and water collecting is simple. The actual filtration procedure is the most critical factor.

You must push the water through the filter, much like a french coffee press, which takes considerable work and patience. However, it’s also composed of Polypropylene and appears sturdy. 

7. MSR Trailshot Water Filter

The model is popular among hikers and explorers since it is convenient. In addition, because of its sucking and squeezing capabilities, it’s a suitable model to utilize near a water supply.

It takes 60 seconds to fill the bottle and can filter 2,000 liters of water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals; effective against bacteria (99.99%), protozoa (99.99%), and particles. 

The hollow fiber technique allows water to pass through while trapping dangerous protozoa and bacteria such as giardia and cryptosporidium.

It produced water that was 99% impurity-free. In addition, it’s ultralight (5 ounces) and small (6×2.4 inches) enough to fit in a trail runner’s, hiker’s, or mountain biker’s stash pocket.

8. SteriPen Ultra UV Water Purifier

To cleanse water, this UV light purification system requires a power supply. But, with a simple swirl of the wand, it can immobilize germs, protozoa, and viruses, exactly like magic.

The Ultra SteriPEN is a one-of-a-kind UV-light purifying rechargeable system. These species’ DNA is decimated by the wavelengths radiated, preventing them from reproducing. While clicking a button and waving a wand may appear to be a little like magic, this device has a few flaws.

While we appreciate its smaller weight, slim profile, and quick treatment time, we wouldn’t choose this filter above others only because of the battery’s lack of durability. Nevertheless, this is a fantastic choice for foreign travel or relaxing on the beach at your favorite Mexican resort.

The procedure is simple. Wait 90 seconds for the procedure to complete, then swirl it around. Your water is ready to drink when you see a frowny face; it signifies your battery is dead or something is wrong with your computer.

9. MSR Guardian Water Purifier

The military-grade pump eliminates bacteria, protozoa, and water viruses, resulting in the purest water possible. It’s ideal for trekking and camping. It has a capacity of 10,000 liters of water. In most stores, it costs $349.

MRS Guardian Purifier continues the old practice of hand pumping, weighs a substantial amount, and does the work in a thorough, gratifying, and straightforward manner. This is the most powerful water filter and purifier available.

The MSR Guardian Purifier is a water purifier that pumps 2.5 liters per minute, automatically back flushes, and connects to wide-threaded bottles and bladders. 

10. LifeSaver Bottle 6000

In comparison to other variants, the filter is relatively pricey. It is available for $150. Its high price is due to its remarkable efficiency in purifying water. Bacteria are killed in 99% of cases.

The LIFESAVER 6000UF bottle was designed for usage by global military troops and is now well recognized. The 6000UF bottle has the largest filtration capacity in the bottle family, processing 6,000 liters of pure water and providing the best durability against murky, unclean water.

So if you’re sharing the bottle or need a bottle to filter a large amount of filthy water, the 6000UF bottle is excellent. 

The LIFESAVER bottle is straightforward: fill, pump, and drink. Its technology is the world’s first and only portable water filter to filter out all viruses, bacteria, cysts, and parasites found in water. You can be confident that you will only ever drink safe, clean water if you use this technology. 

11. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

For large groups of campers, the Berkey filter comes in handy. The unclean water is pumped through filters and into a collection container with a gravity spout. It can filter 6,000 liters of water, making it an excellent survival system.

The Travel Berkey is a water filter that serves as a water purifying system. They come in various sizes, but the Travel Berkey is 1.5 gallons, which is plenty for 2-3 people, according to the manufacturer.

There’s a trade-off between convenience and effectiveness regarding water purification, and the Travel Berkey pretty nearly struck the sweet spot for road-trippers on the go. 

12. The Survivor Filter Pro

The filtration system is small and compact, removing 99.99% germs and viruses from water. In addition, it may remove up to 99.5% of heavy metals from water.

It filters enormous amounts of water quickly, making it an excellent choice for large-scale water filtration. In one minute, it creates 17 ounces of pure water. The filters are capable of producing 100,000 liters while maintaining excellent efficiency.

Everything larger than 0.01 microns is removed, including germs and viruses. So even though it has a low price, its filtering capabilities are unrivaled.

This filter’s water flow rate is sufficient for a single person, a couple, or even a small family. This multipurpose tool may be used in various settings, including outdoor use, emergencies, travel, and anywhere else.

Water filters vs. water purifiers

How can you distinguish between a water filter and a water purifier?

While most people confuse water filters and purifiers, they are not the same.

Water filters

Purifiers are less popular than water filters. They purify water by removing contaminants. Copper, lead, nickel, chlorine, and other pollutants found in contaminated water sources are among them. They also eliminate bacteria and protozoa in the water, but to a lesser extent. 

Water purifiers

Purifiers remove all bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and parasite pollutants in water. Water purifiers are challenging to come by, but manufacturers are working on them in tandem with water filters. This ensures that all bacteria and contaminants in the water are eliminated in a single step.

Top things to consider when buying the best emergency water filters

Travelers, hikers, and campers prefer portable water filters. Before you buy one, be sure to look for the following:

  • Weight – A light water filter is easy to transport.
  • Filtration rate – Each filter has a different rate of filtration. For traveling or camping, the best filter is one that produces more clean water faster.
  • Filter capacity – Filter cartridges have a finite lifespan after being used for the first time. Therefore, the best models can be used for a long time and create more gallons of water. 
  • Ease of use – While most small and compact filters are simple; some come with thorough installation and setup instructions. Make sure you get a model that is both comfy and simple to operate. 
  • Cost – Make sure you buy a filter that fits your budget.

Types of emergency water filters

Straw filters/in-line water filter

They’re the most minor and most cheap water filters on the market. They’re made with straws to sip water straight from the source. 

Pros

  • Simple to transport
  • Possess a long life expectancy
  • Affordably priced

Fiber membrane filters

These types, unlike the straw filters, have woven membrane filters. For water to move through the membrane, more pressure must be applied. They can eliminate germs and protozoa from water sources.

Pros

  • Sediments and debris in the water should be removed.
  • By eliminating particulates from the water, it improves the flavor and odor.

Cons

  • Filtration is halted when holes become blocked
  • Chemicals and metal contaminants dissolved in water cannot be removed

Pump filters

Most pump filters are compact and may be carried in a backpack. Ceramic filters, fiber filters, and activated carbon are used in pumps. Water passes through porous filters with 0.5-1 micron pores. 

Pros

  • Asbestos, lead, and other heavy metals can be prevented from entering your water supply.
  • Enhances the flavor and odor of the water
  • Beneficial minerals are not removed from our water
  • Carbon filters are replaced once a year, resulting in low maintenance expenses.

Cons

  • Organic substances flow through ceramic filters and into your water.
  • If the fiber membrane is not replaced on time, it may become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Bottle filters

Fiber filters and carbon-activated filters are used in the majority of bottle filters. They are ideal for travelers and explorers since they can quickly obtain and purify water using their drinking containers. Only pure water will make it to your mouth. 

Pros

  • Arsenic, heavy metals, and other harmful pollutants are reduced in water.
  • The water will retain all of the helpful minerals.
  • Bacteria and protozoa are unable to reach you.

Cons

  • Fluoride and cadmium aren’t eliminated from the water

Gravity filters

Gravity filters are constructed by stacking two containers on top of one another. Water is poured into the top container and passes through filter media before reaching the bottom container to filter. To filter contaminated water, most people use a combination of activated carbon and ceramic filters. 

Pros

  • In water, it kills bacteria, protozoa, and parasites
  • Chemicals like herbicides and insecticides can be removed
  • Chlorine is removed from the water
  • Filters can last up to a year before bedding is replaced

Cons

  • It takes time to put together
  • Some applications necessitate bag filters, which are not readily available.
  • If the second container isn’t clean, the water may become more contaminated.

UV light filters

Hikers and campers will appreciate portable UV filters. Some are powered by batteries, while others contain a solar panel that can be recharged and is handy during filtration.

Pros

  • In water, it’s ideal for killing germs and microorganisms.
  • It’s quite quick
  • Enhances the flavor and odor of water 

Cons

  • Because particles and debris are not removed, it is not appropriate for really unclean water.
  • Chlorine and heavy metal pollutants are not removed.

Conclusion

When life gives you a situation that requires emergency water filtration systems, it’s essential to have one around. The best systems work as a team to keep water safe, clean, and ready to drink. We reviewed ten top emergency water filtration products to find the best one for you.

Jay

Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."