Best filtered water bottles for 2020 to remove bacteria, sediment and more
As any enthusiastic person outdoors probably already knows, a good filtered water bottle for clean water is an essential element Adventure gear. Whether you take short hikes for a few hours or travel for days in the hinterland wilderness, you never want to get thirsty and always have access to clean water. You don’t want gallons of purified bottled water, that is an environmental plaguenot to mention heavy and expensive.
While many sources of groundwater and tap water are completely safe, it is never worth drinking water that you are simply not sure about. Even if it looks clean, it can be non-drinkable water contaminated with viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or other microorganisms invisible to the human eye. And despite the Safe Drinking Water Act, tap water can still contain contaminants such as lead, chlorine, arsenic, pesticides, and even particles that result from improper wastewater treatment. Why not turn a water filter bottle?
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I tested six filtered water bottles on a fresh groundwater source in Southern California.
Paige Thies / CNET
Some reasons why you might want to say goodbye to using a plastic water bottle or disposable water bottles and invest in a filtered water bottle to keep you hydrated:
- You are not sure about your tap water
- You are traveling to other states and countries where you do not know anything about water practices
- You go hiking, hiking or experiencing other outdoor adventures
- You prefer bottled water but want to reduce your plastic waste
To that end, I tested six filtered water bottles to find the best filtered water bottle you can trust to provide you with clean, safe water indoors or outdoors.
The waterhole in which I tested the filtered bottles.
Paige Thies / CNET
How I tested these filtered water bottles
To get safe drinking water, two friends and I ventured to a fresh water source in Southern California. We were lucky enough to find a tiny trickle of a waterfall in the Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa Wilderness area in the Santa Monica Mountains that culminated in a series of four tiny pools of water. Of the four waterholes, we decided to test the bottles in the bottle that had the least stagnation (and the least number of insects and tadpoles).
The day before the hike, I cleaned and prepared all of the filtered water bottles according to their instructions. I filled each bottle from the same water hole and tried the water from each bottle on site. I then drank from the bottles one at a time and poured some water at a time to see how clean it looked. I was ready to drink liters of water if necessary and keep drinking until I found the best reusable water bottle.
How I rated these filtered water bottles
When using each reusable water bottle, I considered five important criteria: filtering, materials, taste, ease of use and cleaning. These are all factors to consider when looking for a filtered water bottle. You should buy one that fits the activity for which you want to use it.
For example, if I were looking for a filtered bottle for backpacking, I wouldn’t choose the Brita. I would not invest in the Grayl Geopress if I only needed a bottle of tap water.
Filter: Which filter mechanism was used and how well did the bottle filter out harmful contaminants, bacteria and viruses as well as other inconveniences from the probably not drinkable water? Did the water bottle filters leave particles in the water after filtering? Water “after filtering” means the water that emerges from the drinking tube or the filter straw. Are there replacement filters?
Materials: What is the bottle made of? Stainless steel or plastic? If plastic, is it a BPA free bottle? How long is the bottle?
Taste: It is pretty obvious. What did the water taste like? Were there any residues of mineral odor or chemical taste such as chlorine?
User friendliness: Was the bottle easy to prepare and assemble? Was it easy to get water in the bottle? What was the flow rate?
To clean up: What to do with the bottle after use? How easy is it to clean the bottle and make sure it’s ready for your next adventure?
Grayl
The natural water in which I tested the bottles already looked relatively clean, but when I poured something out of the Geopress water treatment bottle, I was shocked at how crystal clear it looked. Although I think I shouldn’t have been surprised as Grayl’s high performance filter and water treatment system filters out protozoa, chemicals, particles (such as dirt and sand), heavy metals, bacteria and viruses.
The Geopress water purifier is made of BPA-free polypropylene, a durable plastic. The wide base diameter of the water purifier gives it a stable feel and is apparently designed to withstand 10 foot falls on concrete while it is filled with water. Without a doubt, the Geopress is the best filtered water bottle to moisturize you on a backpack trip due to its intense filter mechanism and durability.
This Grayl bottle also offers relatively easy cleaning, an important factor when using natural water. I really liked that the opening of the geopress was big enough to fit ice cubes and my entire hand in, which means that I can actually get to the bottom of the bottle with a sponge. Just make sure you dry the bottle thoroughly before storing it: if you keep the water purifier wet, the inner part and the outer part will suck together and it will be difficult to pull the two parts apart.
Paige Thies / CNET
The filtered water bottle Astrea One filters out an impressive array of heavy metals and chemicals, including lead, benzene, mercury, copper, chlorine and more. The website says you should not use this filter bottle with water that is “microbiologically unsafe or of unknown quality”, but I have used it in natural fresh water and it has been found to be good.
The body of the filtered Astrea One water bottle is made of stainless steel and the lid is made of thick BPA-free plastic. The water bottle filter sits exactly in the bottom of the lid and snaps into place, which makes the bottle feel stable overall.
The water I got from a natural water hole seemed to magically turn into bottled spring water in the Astrea filter bottle. If the Astrea One bottle didn’t have a filter, it would just be a normal wide-mouth stainless steel water bottle, which makes cleaning very easy: the bottle opening is wide enough to fit a standard dishwasher in the lid and the lid has one additional opening where the filter is attached to ensure that you hit all corners and angles.
Astrea offers a subscription service so you never forget to replace your filter. The water bottle filters cost $ 12 per filter and should be replaced every two months if you use your filter water bottle regularly. However, considering that most people drink about 2 liters of water daily, you should have enough gallons before you need a new filter.
Sawyer products
Water that comes out of the filtered Sawyer Select water bottle is sure to be clean drinking water. Sawyer Products offers all types of equipment for clean water, but this bottle uses a double filtration system in particular: the inner “foam adsorption technology” removes heavy metals, chemicals, pesticides and viruses, while the outer micron water filter removes bacteria and protozoa, cysts, dirt and sediment.
The Sawyer Select bottle is made of BPA-free food-grade silicone and the interior is made of foam. The various caps and the external micron water filter are made of BPA-free plastic. The micron water filter itself is a hollow fiber membrane. The bottle is mushy, but still feels relatively robust.
A disadvantage for backpackers, however, is that this bottle never returns to its dry weight on foot. It is impossible to squeeze all the water out of the bottle. Therefore, expect that it will add a little more weight to your backpack after the first use.
This Sawyer bottle requires initial preparation to remove any foam adsorbent material that may have come off during packaging or shipping. Once you have prepared the bottle, the water filtration process requires 10 seconds of pressing the bottle to activate the foam adsorption function. To get all the water out of the bottle, you need to squeeze it seriously – even roll up the bottle from below, much like rolling up a toothpaste tube when it gets low.
Because this filter water bottle has so many parts, cleaning is quite difficult. There’s no way to get your hand or brush into the bottle, and the foam inside worries me that the inside can never get completely clean and dry. However, the website states that the Sawyer Select filter water bottle does not need to be completely dried, as the foam is also said to prevent mold and bacterial growth.
Paige Thies / CNET
Brita is known for its faucet and pitcher filters, but the company also manufactures filtered water bottles from plastic and stainless steel. According to the Brita website, these bottles are not for outdoor use – they are only for tap water like the Astrea bottle – but this bottle has also filtered natural fresh water well. The Brita filter water bottle uses an activated carbon filter that is extremely porous and sucks in contaminants such as chlorine and particles.
The filtered water bottles from Brita are available in plastic and stainless steel. It’s BPA free and relatively sturdy, but I wouldn’t take this bottle on a backpack trip. For day hikes, however, it is sufficient if you first fill it up with tap water (use with natural water at your own risk).
The filtered Brita bottle consists of only three parts: the bottle itself, the hinged lid and the filter, which snaps into place on the underside of the closure. It’s easy to assemble and requires almost no preparation – wash the bottle quickly and let the filter run under hot water before first use. Since the bottle contains minimal parts, it is fairly easy to clean.
Not recommended
Lifestraw
Although the Lifestraw GoLifestraw Go is one of the most popular water filter products on the market, it did not meet my filtering expectations. The two-stage filtration comprises a hollow fiber membrane and a carbon capsule. However, this was the only bottle that produced water with particles after passing through the filter. That doesn’t mean the Lifestraw Go isn’t safe to drink – the particles were probably just sediments – but it did produce a relatively strong mineral taste compared to the other bottles on this list.
The Lifestraw Go is made entirely of BPA-free plastic. Overall, the Lifestraw Go feels pretty sturdy. I prefer the durability of stainless steel, but it is light and comes with a carabiner so it would make a good backpack water bottle.
The Lifestraw Go consists of three simple parts (bottle, cap and filter – four parts if you count the carbon capsule in the filter), and preparation for use is simple: just run clean water over the carbon capsule. Allow the water to rest for a few moments each time you use the bottle to vent the hollow fiber membrane filter.
Paige Thies / CNET
Waterwell claims that its two-stage filter system removes 99.9% of waterborne pathogens, but I wouldn’t be so sure about the taste of the water that comes from this bottle. I didn’t feel or see any particles like the Lifestraw Go, but the taste alone was enough to prevent me from taking this bottle to the hinterland.
The bottle and the cap are made of BPA-free plastic and feel as robust as a plastic bottle should. However, the filter is attached to the straw by a thin rubber tube, which could be the culprit for poor filtering. The water tasted acidic, but I couldn’t really classify the taste – maybe sulfur. Although I didn’t really want it, I took a few more sips (and spat it out) to make sure it really tasted the way I wanted it to.
Despite its poor filter attachment and sour taste, the Waterwell has some good properties. It’s easy to use and has the same setup as most of the other bottles on the list: bottle, cap, filter. The filter is easy to remove and the bottle opening is large enough to use a standard dishwasher.
Originally published last year and updated regularly.
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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.
