A portable water purifying system will give you all the benefits of bottled water without the ongoing expense and potential plastic waste. You can use it to clean up your drinking water when you’re hanging out at home or take it with you when you go out to stay safely hydrated during hikes. These water filtering devices are also great to include in an emergency-preparedness kit—they could be a lifesaver if you ever find yourself in a situation where you don’t have access to clean water.
The reusable and detachable straw connects to a membrane filter that traps bacteria, protozoan parasites and chemicals to make water from lakes, streams and household taps safe to drink. It works in two phases: The replaceable filter has the capacity to clean a little over 1,000 gallons of water before you have to buy a new one. A replaceable carbon capsule also reduces chlorine in up to 26 gallons of water for better taste.
Palm-Sized
This one is for outdoorsy types and frequent travelers who want to remove harmful bacteria, protozoan parasites and microplastics from tap water and freshwater sources before drinking up. Just fill the included 16-ounce pouch with water, attach it to the filter and drink directly from the pouch. You also can squeeze filtered water from the pouch into a bottle, or you can skip the pouch and screw the filter onto a standard disposable bottle. The replaceable filter is meant to clean up to a whopping 100,000 gallons of water.
Super Lightweight
Can’t be bothered with lugging around a water bottle? This slender filter, which is able to remove bacteria, protozoan parasites and microplastics from up to 1,000 gallons of H20, is designed for drinking directly from the water source. Just dip it in and sip. It doesn’t remove salt from seawater, so it’s best for drinking from freshwater sources.
