What Is the Best Water Purification System for Backpacking?

By Robert Palmer

When backpacking, carrying a water purification system is essential to ensure clean, safe drinking water. There are several types of water purification systems available and selecting the best one for your needs can be a daunting task.

The most common type of water purification system for backpacking is the pump-style filter. This type of filter uses a pump mechanism to force water through a filter and into a container.

The filter removes bacteria, protozoa, and other contaminants from the water so that it is safe to drink. This type of filter also has an in-line carbon filter to reduce chlorine and other chemicals from the water. The disadvantage with this type of filter is that it can be cumbersome to carry and take up more space than other types of filters.

Another option for backpacking is chemical-treatment systems such as iodine tablets or chlorine dioxide drops. These treatments are added directly to the water and help disinfect the water by killing bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. While these treatments are effective at purifying water, they do not remove any sediment or particles from the water and may leave an unpleasant taste in the treated water due to their chemical nature.

A third option for backpacking is ultraviolet (UV) light treatment systems. UV light kills bacteria and other microorganisms in the water without adding any chemicals.

UV light also does not affect the taste or smell of the treated water like chemical treatments do. The downside to UV treatment systems is that they require batteries or another power source in order to work effectively.

Conclusion: When it comes to selecting a water purification system for backpacking, there are several options available depending on your needs and preferences. Pump-style filters are good for removing bacteria, protozoa, and other contaminants from your drinking water but can be bulky and take up more space than other types of filters.

Chemical treatments such as iodine tablets or chlorine dioxide drops are effective at disinfecting your drinking water but may leave an unpleasant taste due to their chemical nature while UV treatment systems are effective at killing bacteria without adding any chemicals but require batteries or another power source in order to work effectively. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your individual needs when it comes to weight, convenience, portability, cost, effectiveness, and taste.

What Is the Best Water Purification System for Backpacking?: The best choice for a backpacking water purification system will depend on individual needs when it comes to weight, convenience, portability cost effectiveness and taste; however pump-style filters are good overall option as they remove bacteria protozoa and other contaminants while being relatively lightweight.