The Best Way To Filter Water For Backpacking and Camping

In this how to video, I discuss 4 common methods of filtering and treating water for backpacking and camping. Water filters come in many different styles and designs, but at the end of the day, the filter needs to give you reliable, clean drinking water. These 4 methods are reliable and proven ways to filter, treat and purify water in the backcountry to make it safe to drink and avoid getting sick.
Gear From This Video ⬇️:
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter: geni.us/SqueezeFilter
- Sawyer Micro Water Filter: geni.us/Sawyer-Micro
- Katadyn BeFee Water Filter: geni.us/Katadyn-BeFree-Filter
- Platypus Quickdraw Water Filter: geni.us/Quickdraw-Filter
- Grayl Ultrapress Water Purifier: geni.us/Grayl-Ultrapress
- Lifesaver Wayfarer Water Purifier: geni.us/Lifesaver-Wayfarer
- Aquamira Drops Treatment: geni.us/Aquamira-Drops
- MSR Miniworks Pump Filter: geni.us/MSR-Miniworks
- Aquatabs Treatment: geni.us/Aquatabs-Treatment
How to filter water for backpacking and camping, how to use a water filter in the backcountry, best way to filter water, best backpacking water filter, best water filter 2024, best water filter, how to purify water for backpacking, water filters 2024, Sawyer water filter, hollow fiber water filter, every way to filter water for backpacking, how do I filter water when hiking, how to filter water for hiking, how to filter water for camping
🌲JOIN ME ON PATREON: / backcountryexposure
(Come join me for more content, livestreams, and to support the channel.) 🌲
˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜
ZOLEO Satellite Communication: geni.us/ZOLEO-Satellite
** Get FREE Activation with code BACKCOUNTRYEXPOSURE **
🔥SHOP MY FAVORITE GEAR🔥
BACKPACKS:
- Outdoor Vitals CS40 Backpack: geni.us/CS40-Backpack
- REI FLASH 55: geni.us/REI-Flash55
- Decathlon MT900: geni.us/Decathlon-MT900
TENTS:
- Tarptent Dipole 1 DW: geni.us/Dipole-1-DW
- Nemo Dragonfly 2P: geni.us/Nemo-Dragonfly
- Hill Zero Matis: geni.us/HillZero-Matis-Tent
- Paria Outdoor Products Zion Tent: geni.us/Paria-Zion-Tent
SLEEPING BAGS:
- Zenbivy Light Bed: geni.us/Light-Bed-Zenbivy
- UGQ Outdoor Bandit Quilt: geni.us/UGQ-Bandit-TopQuilt
- WM UltraLite Sleeping Bag: geni.us/WM-UltraLite
- MH Bishop Pass Sleeping Bag: geni.us/MH-BishopPass
- Sea To Summit Ascent Down: geni.us/S2S-Ascent-Down
SLEEPING PADS:
- Zenbivy Ultralight Pad: geni.us/Zenbivy-UL-SleepPad
- Nemo Tensor All Season: geni.us/Tensor-All-Season-REI
- Big Agnes Zoom UL Pad: geni.us/Zoom-UL
COOKING GEAR:
- Fire Maple Petrel G3 Pot: geni.us/FM-PetrelPot-Amazon
- Toaks 750ml Pot: geni.us/Toaks-750
- Toaks Long Handle Spoon: geni.us/Toaks-Spoon
- Soto Amicus Stove: geni.us/Amicus-Stove
OUTERWEAR/LAYERS:
- Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie: geni.us/Altitude-Sun-Hoodie
- Outdoor Vitals Vario jacket: geni.us/Vario-Jacket
- Outdoor Vitals Tushar Rain Jacket: geni.us/Tushar-Rain-Jacket
- Timpanogos Hiking Co. Apparel: geni.us/Timpanogos-Hiking-Co
FOOD:
- Pinnacle Foods Freeze Dried Meals: geni.us/Pinnacle-Foods
- Peak Refuel Meals: geni.us/Peak-Refuel
MISC:
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter: geni.us/Sawyer-SqueezeFilter
- CNOC Vecto Water Bag: geni.us/CNOC-Vecto
- Govee Thermometer: geni.us/Govee-Thermometer
MY CAMERA EQUIPMENT I USE 📸:
- Sony A7C: geni.us/Sony-A7C-Camera
- Sony 20-70mm F4 Lens: geni.us/Sony-20-70mm
- DJI Wireless Mic: geni.us/DJI-MIC
- Carbon Fiber Tripod: geni.us/AokaCarbonTripod
- Rode VideoMicro: geni.us/RODE-VideoMicro-II
- GoPro Hero: geni.us/GoPro-Hero
SHOP THESE GREAT OUTDOOR RETAILERS:
- REI: geni.us/REI-Co-op
- UGQ Outdoor: geni.us/UGQ-Outdoor
- Pinnacle Foods Freeze Dried Meals: geni.us/Pinnacle-Foods
- Peak Refuel Meals: geni.us/Peak-Refuel
- Backcountry: geni.us/BACKCOUNTRY
- Garage Grown Gear: geni.us/Garage-Grown-Gear
- Amazon: geni.us/Amazon-BCE
🔥🔥 Check out my website for more reviews and written content! 🔥🔥
www.backcountryexposure.com
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE & HOW I GET GEAR SHARED ON THIS CHANNEL
Many of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links. As an Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases within the cookie window. By shopping using the above links, you are supporting the work I put into creating content on this channel. This has no additional cost to you.
Gear shared on this channel may be purchased with my own money, provided by the brand for testing for free, or part of a sponsored brand deal. My honest thoughts and opinions always drive my approach to reviews on products. Thank you for supporting my channel and content.
#backpacking #camping #outdoors #backpackinggear #campinggear #hiking

[@gregmortonoutdoors]

The water is actually pasteurized before a boil. The rolling boil was recommended as a standard because you could visibly tell the pasteurization temperature was surpassed without using a thermometer. Gear Skeptic has a great three part series on purifying/filtering.

[@wolfeadventures]

8:00 actually to kill cryptosporidium cysts it takes 4 hours. This is very important.

[@stevewright2241]

NOLS grad. I did the Alaska mountaineering course. Lived on a glacier for a month. You don’t have to get your water to a boil to kill everything. I believe the temperature is 180 and above. So in the field, how you tell if it’s hot enough you look for those bubbles that start to form on the bottom of the pot right before it starts to boil (fish eyes). This will help save on fuel and time. A topic on water you didn’t talk much about is fertilizer and pesticide runoff from farms. Everyone East of the Rockies should be concerned about where that water passes through and how much exposure to farm land it has.

[@wyattroncin941]

I believe it's actually only ~165 F and left to cool. commonly available water pasteurization indicators are set for that temperature. or you can use the boil 3 add 1 method, relying on the heat of 3 cups of boiling water to pasteurize an additonal 4th.

[@jpoconnor5744]

Pasteurization starts at 150F with a sliding time scale based on temperature. Higher temperatures dramatically reduce the exposure time required. A Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) is a quick, inexpensive way to measure, thus ensuring safety while minimizing fuel use. Without the WAPI, the visual method you mention is a great technique.

[@GratefulTrekker]

I have a few different options myself and back when I used to use a pump I would rubber band a coffee filter over the intake filter to help keep the intake filter cleaner

[@stipevideo]

I’ve always used Aquamira and love it. Easy to use, effective and tastes fine. I’ve never had any stomach issues with it. Definitely my go-to option.

[@dev77712]

Great Video Dev, thanks!

[@jukkavv]

Grayl and LarQ love those ❤

[@ervinslens]

Lovely work man, helpful and enjoyable presentation! 👏

[@breiffnihogan4136]

Hi. Many thanks for really informative video. Quite correct and clearly presented. I want to be super safe with collecting wild water. I first check a good 100 metres upstream to check for any dead things by the water. If clear then I collect with lifestraw filter flexi bag, then boil for two mins, let cool a bit, then put into nalgene for hot water bottle at night and ultimately for drinking the next day. Many thanks for video, it is very sound and instructional. 😊😊

[@Rob_outdoorz]

Great video man. CDC recommends 3 minutes rolling boil to make sure safe to use for consumption

[@UnlikelyHiker]

Great video Devin. The different techniques are clearly explained. Where I live there is water everywhere. Sadly twice I’ve encountered people who didn’t have a filter and they were severely dehydrated to the point they were stumbling and confused. I’ve tried to communicate to people it’s better to drink untreated water assuming 13:16 you are headed out to your car rather than become the next main character in the NYS ranger reports… But with the availability of water treatment options, there’s no reason not to have something with you…

[@rodoutdoors]

Nice explanation. I recently picked up tiny 5ml dropper bottles and now using Aquamira as a backup. I might use it to save time when treating larger amounts of water at stops. I also picked up a hose washer from Home Depot to replace the Sawyer Squeeze o-ring. It has a metal mesh screen to prevent larger sediment from getting through.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Awesome, that’s a good idea. Sawyer has at least been including an extra gasket in the white cap.

[@rodoutdoors]

@@BackcountryExposure I usually stash an extra gasket and water bottle cap in my ditty bag. I always come close to losing them. When using a coupler for a gravity hang with the Cnoc Vecto, the gasket can fall out pretty easy. I tend to break flip top caps often too. The hose washers from Home Depot came in a 2-pack so now I stash that instead. 👍

[@azclaimjumper]

Sawyer Squeeze is my choice for water filters when hiking or out in the boonies thanks to their .1 micron filter tubes. I'll NEVER buy or use the BeFree that is so popular because of the initial higher/faster filter flow rate because of their .2 micron filter tubes & cheaper price. I also have the Grayl as my choice of water purifiers. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

[@jeket5007]

My wife and I both have a Grayl so if 1 fails the other is still available. It is a very fast way to purify water that has been much better than the old styles we used in the past. Its a little heavy but worth it in the speed we have water, and we don't worry about contamination much since it is so simple to use.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Love it!

[@michaelorr9059]

Our group gathers the water in Nalgenes as the dirty water bottles & use Steripens to kill everything. It takes about 1 minute per Nalgene. If one Steripen fails, someone else typically has a Steripen as well. We also keep a BeFree or Sawyer and tablets as back ups with our stoves being the last resort.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Right on!

[@tomwheeler9244]

I've had a grayl for yrs..I use a Milbank bag to pre-filter the water..it will make the grayl or any filter last MUCH longer and doesn't weigh hardly anything..highly recommended

[@BackcountryExposure]

Nice!

[@azclaimjumper]

@@BackcountryExposure I've never heard of the Millbank bag until reading your comment. The video I watched was Dave Canterbury talking about it & demonstrating how to use it. I consider Dave a reliable resource. Comments like yours is THE reason I read 'em with the same attention as watching the video. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

[@markpeterson3400]

Have you used a Survivor brand filter? They say they remove bacteria, viruses, metals & chemicals from the water. They have a squeeze type that fits on to a smart bottle, and a pump style. I've seen them on Amazon, I've seen a couple reviews. I haven't heard too much about them.

[@SuperdutyExplorer]

Winter only newbie backpacker checking in 😂 so far I've only melted snow or boiled water on my trips! Well other than when I did 2 nights in the badlands, I carried all my water from start... 10L on that trip!! 🎉

[@pyronymph-868]

I couldn't comment, only reply to the ONLY comment on this video for some reason. I have used a Lifestraw Go bottle, a decades-old Pur pump ceramic and iodine resin filter. Recently purchased a Sawyer squeeze and am eager to use it because of the good they do worldwide. Internationally people have been using their same filter for a decade!! Sawyer keeps track of waterborne disease instance where their filters are deployed and even with a decade of (proper) use their filters are still effective. Even so, I keep AquaTabs on hand for emergency use.

[@SuperdutyExplorer]

@pyronymph-868 I bought the life straw but never opened... also have to sawyer but haven't actually used it yet... didn't want to deal with keeping it not frozen!

[@BackcountryExposure]

For the winter, melting/boiling snow does make more sense than managing a filter in freezing temperatures.

[@Jcs1aughter]

The very last method should be something aquamira not boiling. Fuel+10 to 20 minutes to boil and cool vs. A multiple step process that still takes upwards of 30 minutes + possible gut issues. Boiling is a guarantee and is more efficient than adding a chemical and waiting.

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

It didn't occur to me that the Grayl system was a purifier. I bought one years ago when they first came out, but never used it since it was too bulky and very heavy. Think I will only use it when traveling abroad with a rolling suitcase.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Yeah it’s a purifier. I think it has its place, especially international travel. I think it can function well as a replacement for a bottle too.

[@azclaimjumper]

The Grayl water purifier is a MUST have when traveling, especially if traveling to Mexico.

[@53nd4k]

I was waiting for you to detail the technique for dealing with caps and threads, but you didn't. As a leader in scouts, I was taught how to ensure treatment drops/tablets should be used in that regard and it made eminent sense... After filling the bottle/reservoir/bag with raw water and then putting in your treatment drops/tablets, screw the cap on tight and ensure the water is fully mixed (you did indeed do this). Clearly if tablets are used, it is important to ensure they are fully dissolved and fully mixed. Then, before setting the containers aside for the necessary treatment time, unscrew the cap partially so that water can escape (but the cap still stays on). Turn the container upside down and let water trickle out a handful of seconds. Then close the cap while it is still upside down. This traps sanitizing water in/around the threads of both the container and the cap. Anything harmful in that area will succumb to the treatment given the proper wait time. Also, this might not be wholly necessary, but most chemical treatment options degrade slightly when exposed to sunlight. So if you have clear or translucent water bottles, it is best to store them inside your pack. I admit that I don't always do this. But if at camp or resting on trail right after getting water, I will make an effort to at least keep them out of direct sun.

[@BackcountryExposure]

Thanks for pointing out that detail and process. I do mention to ensure you clean them. But I’ll agree I “failed” to go into that detail. Thank you!

[@azclaimjumper]

Comments like yours is THE reason I read 'em with the same attention as watching the video. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

[@kensmith7567]

Any suggestions for dealing with the slider on the CNOC? I have tried waxing the slider without much success. It seems so tight that I am afraid I will damage the bag (or myself). Thanks for a good overview.

[@backpackingcapebreton]

Mine is snug sometimes but I’ve never had an issue with it actually sticking and not moving. That’s a tough one because you don’t want to lubricate that area as your water goes in at the top. Wouldn’t want oil or something going through the filter.

[@BackcountryExposure]

I’d say just give it a good cleaning and make sure any gunk in the slider is out. It can also get sticky if you aren’t folding the top over the right direction. I’ve been using the Vecto for 5+ years and haven’t found that to be a problem.

[@sk-wx1cf]

Make sure you are folding it in the right direction. the proper direction is labeled on the folding part. i didn't initially realize this and had problems with it being really hard to slide.

[@azclaimjumper]

@@backpackingcapebreton I have & use the CNOC Vecto 2L bags & never had any problems with the Slider.

[@garagebrewer]

8:34 It can cause some "not happiness" with your bowel movements = NO for me. I don't know about anybody else?! 😂

[@mrneal8966]

Water, water everywhere, yet not a drop to drink! So, I live near the Ocean and near the Mountain to Sea Trail. Are there any options for filtering the salt out of saltwater?

[@BackcountryExposure]

I don’t know of any way to remove salt from water that isn’t an industrial process of desalination.

[@mrneal8966]

@@BackcountryExposure I know boaters have water makers that use reverse osmosis but not sure that’s a backpacking option! I guess I’m stuck with carrying lots of water.

[@kaspersergej]

Boiling 😮 But is not a very fun solution.

[@mrneal8966]

@@kaspersergej Yea, seems that way would take considerable fuel and not get enough water to make it worthwhile. Strange how the MTS trail goes right along the ocean, but I guess you’d have to rely on hotel or general store water.

[@shawnr6117]

You have to evaporate it, either by boiling and recondensing it, or use some sort of solar contraption . I don't know of any other way suitable for backpacking.

[@frstesiste7670]

GearSkeptic had a video about how long you have to (or don't have to) boil the water. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHqwlqRmmJylgK8

[@davidcooper8390]

This video isn't realistic.....you kept getting water from the stream and never got your clothes or shoes wet. How does the water drops compare to the tablets for your backup system?

[@BackcountryExposure]

Ha ha ha! I’ll just sit in the water next time. They are similar, but Aquatabs for example from my understanding aren’t chlorine dioxide.

[@jonsanford2515]

Drops and tablets both work the same way using different chemicals to treat. Most people prefer the taste of water treated with drops to the tablets. The drops are the same chemical used to treat city tap water. You have to store the drops in an opaque bottle, because they degrade quickly if exposed to sunlight, so they can be a bit more fussy. Some of the tablets contain iodine. It doesn’t tase very good unless you add a second tablet to neutralize the taste. and some people are allergic to iodine. The drops have a shorter shelf life than the tablets. If it’s an emergency backup, the tablets might make more sense if you aren’t allergic to iodine.

[@sk-wx1cf]

Just a comment on wording. You stated about the filters: "These can't freeze." They absolutely can freeze and when they do, it ruptures the fibers and ruins their ability to filter. It would have been more clear to say that they need to be protected from freezing or not allowed to freeze. You covered this later, making it more clear, but the initial statement "these can't freeze" was very misleading.

[@christimartin8512]

I took that statement to mean, it can’t be allowed to freeze, but then, I read the instructions included with my filter, so I suppose I had some context.

[@christimartin8512]

Anyone afraid of drinking water treated with a little chlorine dioxide should now that is how the majority of cities treat their public water supply. The reason it can have some issues with your gut, after prolonged use, is that it can, with enough exposure, kill the good bacteria in your gut, that breaks down your food. The solution for that is to consume probiotics, like yogurt or probiotic capsules.

[@backpackingcapebreton]

Thanks for mentioning you should boil and purify snow when winter camping and not just to the point of it melting. I never hear this advice and it’s very important. As you say, snow can be just as dirty as flowing water. I picked out a visible living worm/maggot thing out of my melted snow water this winter. 🤢

[@BackcountryExposure]

Appreciate you noticing that detail. 👍🏻