Every seasoned traveller should have good gear they can rely on. On our journeys we can often end up in places where there’s no clean drinking water for miles, and nobody wants to lug around packs of mineral water. A filter bottle for travellers is unquestionably part of that kit, because no adventurer would get far without enough fluids. You’ll find out more about this bottle in the lines below.
A filter bottle is a special water container that uses built-in technology to clean the water of all contaminants and make it safe to drink. On top of that it’s a great way to save the planet and your wallet.
What a filter bottle is good for
Water is the foundation. But if you travel further than the local lake, you’ll find that “drinking water” isn’t a given. In Asia, South America and even in some European campsites you’ll often find that what comes out of the tap is more lottery than water. A filter bottle will get you out of that mess.
✅ Protects you from bacteria and parasites
✅ Saves money (you don’t pay for bottled water)
✅ You know you can always drink
I personally used a filter bottle for the first time on the Camino. Water from a mountain stream – cold, clear, but who knows what sheep is drinking upstream of you.
How to choose a filter bottle for travellers
Choosing a suitable filter bottle isn’t rocket science. When choosing, above all be clear about what you need the bottle for – whether you’re taking it on an ordinary family holiday or a demanding outdoor expedition. So focus on the weight, shape and capacity of the bottle. Additional requirements might be how soft or rigid the bottle is or its colour.
You’ll certainly be interested in the price too. But we can tell you that even very good filter bottles can be had at a reasonable price. You’ll find great filter bottles in the popular Decathlon store, for instance. There you can get a soft Lifestraw filter bottle for travellers at an attractive 1,299 CZK.
Our recommendation, though, is Sawyer filter bottles. Their big advantage is their low weight and small packed size, so they take up almost no room in your luggage. Along with extensive accessories – a filter, a syringe for cleaning it and a straw – you can also choose a camo or black version.
Accessories
Buying the filter bottle isn’t the end of it, though. As with pretty much everything, there’s a wide range of accessories available.
The basic accessory, without which a filter bottle won’t work, is the filter itself, which needs replacing regularly. The replacement interval always depends on how you use the bottle and how hard the water is. Reckon on about a month, though. There are various types of filter:
| Mechanical (membrane) | Bacteria, parasites | Doesn’t remove chemicals, suitable for the outdoors |
| Carbon filter | Taste, smell, small impurities | Great for cities and hotels |
| UV filter | Viruses and bacteria | Needs power – a battery or solar charging |
Rinse the filter, don’t let it dry out with dirt in it and flush it with clean water now and then. It can then easily last two years.
Filters alone don’t entirely guarantee the water’s safety and cleanliness, though. So throw some disinfection tablets into your basket too – using active chlorine and silver ions they rid the water of bacteria, viruses and smells.
Last but not least, think about protecting the filter bottle, especially if you like wandering inhospitable places where your things can come to harm. For that, get a protective case that will shield your bottle from knocks, damage and scratches. You can buy all the accessories at our favourite 4camping.cz
An alternative – a pocket microfilter
An alternative to a filter bottle is an almost pocket-sized microfilter, which we use on walks in the mountains. Especially to save weight and space in the pack. Two years ago we got the Trailshot microfilter.
The microfilter surprisingly contains a main filter (the red part in the handle) and a smaller prefilter that goes into the stream, the sink or a puddle (that’s a joke :D). It may seem incredible, but yes – the water is then drinkable and relatively tasty. I’d say better than out of some mains supply back home in České Budějovice.
Tips and tricks for getting the most out of a filter bottle for travellers
- Never let the filter freeze – it’ll be ruined
- After every use, let it dry out open
- Don’t use the filter on sea water – it doesn’t work! Tested for you
- Clip the bottle to your pack with a carabiner → filter as you go
- Change the carbon filter every 3–6 months
