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10 Best Military Water Filters And Their Reviews For 2022

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Tim Rhodes

Did you find the military water filter you were looking for?

Here is a list that will help you make a better choice.

Well, we can agree on the fact that drinking water is one of the most essential components for daily living all across the globe!

And what with all the pollution levels of the world rising rapidly, the purity of water has become a paramount concern.

And well, if you’re going camping, backpacking or trekking in uncharted territory or terrain that is not well known the availability of pure water can turn into an absolute nightmare.

Enter the unique concept of military-grade water filters that ends your search for portable solutions and solve this conundrum for you in the easiest way possible!

Initially developed for our brethren in the Armed Forces to take with them while on expeditions into the wild, these purifiers are now used extensively by campers, mountaineers, and even people going on safaris into the jungle!

These filters have made drinking potable water a reality by stripping out chemicals, bacteria, and pathogens from the water using various technologies that are elucidated below.

Contents

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Last update on 2023-12-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

10 Best Military Water Filters Reviewed

Well, presenting to you, our top 10 picks in the category of best military-grade water filters that you must check out before heading out on your next outdoor adventure.

1. Katadyn Hiker PRO Replacement Cartridge

Katadyn Hiker PRO Replacement Cartridge

It’s the perfect accessory for all levels of involvement in camping- from the amateur camper/backpacker to the serious mountaineer.

It doesn’t require the constant backflushing that other products in the category require, hence making it low maintenance and handy in challenging conditions.

It possesses a 0.2 microns glass-fiber filter media that is designed for high output with minimal effort.

This military water purification system weighs 11 ounces and is extremely lightweight and portable, making it ideal for a stop at a pond/stream/river or any other water source while trekking/backpacking.

It has a capacity of 200 gallons of purifying and connects directly to your hydration pack with 1/4” drink tubes and water bottles.

This bottle compatibility is what gives it an edge over the others.

Katadyn, a Swiss manufacturer has been in the water purifying and filtration systems business for a long time now, so the product is a reliable and time-tested buy for any camper.

It is extremely durable and can pass the test of hard and rough terrain making it invaluable in all your outdoor trips.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Has a prefilter and deluxe carry bag
  • Size is compact making it ideal for backpackers
  • Activated carbon in the core improves the taste and reduces bacteria and chemicals in drinking water
  • Compatible with hydration bladders

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


2. Katadyn TRK Drip Filter

TRK Drip Ceradyn Gravity Personal or Group Water Filter, Long-Lasting Up to 150,000L, Cleanable 0.2...

Another masterpiece from Katadyn, this portable water purification system has proven to be a handy asset for hunters, relief operations, and military units all around the world.

Specialized to operate in cases of natural disasters or emergencies, it is just as handy in regular trekking groups, camping trips, or cabins.

It requires absolutely no pumping, electricity, or hook up.

It is made for rugged conditions and is engineered for durability.

The cleanable ceramic element can be scrubbed time and time again to provide you and your group safe drinking water for years to come.

The EPA’s standard for removal of Bacteria and Protozoan Cysts is met by this Ceradyn purifier that gives it an edge over the other market players.

It has been proven that it can handle up to 150,000 liters of water in its life-cycle.

That is said to be more than any other products in the market hands down!

The field cleanable 0.2 microns silver-impregnated ceramic filter of the Ceradyn microfilter makes clean water a walk in the park for travelers.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Treats up to 40,000 gallons of water
  • Made for rugged conditions and terrain
  • Tried and tested in real-time military operations
  • Can be cleaned easily on the field too

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


3. Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System

Sawyer Products SP126 MINI Water Filtration System, 2-Pack, Blue

Its keywords, superior filtering, maximum versatility says it all!

Sawyer Products’ repeated individual testing method has produced this handy product that is surely worth a look!

Sawyer’s lightest and most versatile personal water filtration systems, the conveniently compact, high-performance MINI water purification system is perfect for everything from camping with the kids to traveling abroad where tap and bottled water cannot be trusted.

Estimated to purify about 100,000 gallons of water in its lifetime, it is one of the longest-lasting products in the category.

It’s built for longevity.

The ultra-light, easily packable Sawyer mini fits in the palm of your hand and weighs just 2 ounces making it ideal for your backpacking needs.

Attached to included the drinking pouch, standard disposable water bottles, hydration packs, or use the straw to drink directly from your water source.

This unique feature makes it different from the rest of the pack, giving it a major advantage in terms of usability.

It comes with 16-ounce reusable squeeze pouches, two 7-inch drinking straws, and two cleaning plungers that seem extra but prove invaluable when on trips.

It comes in 3 variants of 1 pack, 2 pack, and 3 pack giving it the additional pro of versatility in terms of size, something very few products possess.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Treats up to 100,000 gallons of water (one of the best in class)
  • Has the additional size variants that you can choose from
  • Has the bonus attachment of a bottle and is ultra-lightweight

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


4.

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The SurvivalStraw is a cheaper option that caters to recreational trips and casual camping and not heavy-duty operations unlike the other products in this category.

It can purify up to 530 gallons, but its real advantage lies in its size.

It’s extremely small in size and hence very portable.

It can fit in small purses, bags, and survival backpacks making it very handy if you are the kind of person that wishes to travel light.

It harbors a 4 stage advanced filtration systems that consists of a pre-filter, activated carbon filter, 0.1 microns hollow fiber UF membrane, and high poly iodine resin filter media that assures high-quality pure water from any water source.

The filtration material is made up of filling high poly iodine resin + granular coconut shell activated carbon + carbon fiber + hydrophilic hollow fiber microporous membrane that eliminates sediment, dust, and other particles in the water including bad taste.

Besides its 80-gram weight and portability benefits, it has 5 variants with options for various budgets making it more versatile.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Treats up to 530 gallons of water in its lifetime
  • Has many sizes and budget variants to choose from
  • Extremely compact and light on the wallet


5. Lifestraw Go Water Filter Bottle

LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle with 2-Stage Integrated Filter Straw for Hiking, Backpacking, and...

The Lifestraw Go Water Filter Bottle is by far the most unique product on this list.

This is because it is integrated into the bottle.

This revolutionary concept of adding the bottle along with the military water purification systems make it stand out among even many other superior water purifiers.

The durable, 23-ounce, leak-proof bottle made of BPA-free Tritan features a food-grade silicone mouthpiece so that the customer can drink from the bottle directly without having to filter and transfer repeatedly.

It has a 2-stage activated carbon filter that reduces odor, chlorine, and leaves zero aftertastes.

This eliminates the taste issue, which has been a complaint with many water purifiers.

The fact that it is a bottle makes it excellent in terms of portability, it makes a handy accessory for international travel as well as emergencies.

Apart from the fact that the brand is not a world-renowned player in the water filtration/purification systems market, there isn’t any other con that can be found in the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle.

It is uncomplicated, well put together a product that makes it the case to be the best in class water filter purely due to the convenience factor.

Pros & Benefits:

  • The bottle is integrated into the filter
  • Microscopic pore filtration yields the purest water
  • Extremely compact and makes a good travel accessory
  • Excellent for international travel and backpacking

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


6. Katadyn Vario Water Filter

Katadyn Vario Water Filter, Dual Technology Microfilter for Personal or Small Group Camping,...

Katadyn is the market leader in water filtering and water purification systems so it must come as no surprise that multiple products in this category are offered by Katadyn.

The Vario military water purification system is known for its extra simple handling requirements that demand minimal effort because it uses dual-piston technology.

It incorporates a replaceable carbon core that reduces chemicals, pesticides, and combats the bad taste in water and provides clean water for drinking.

The technology consists of three levels: a high-performance glass fiber, a ceramic pre-filter that can be adjusted to the cloudiness of the water, and active charcoal for eliminating odors.

A member of Katadyn’s Backcountry Series of water filters, the Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter is the first such product that is adjustable for different conditions.

It combines two leading technologies into one high-performance pump, ceramic for longer life and pleated glass fiber for easy operation.

It has a special option mode that no other product in this category has.

It produces up to two quarts per minute in the faster flow mode and one quart per minute in longer life mode.

Hence it can go back and forth between long life and fast flow, thereby giving customers the luxury of choice for portable water, based on the live onsite situation.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Glass fiber filter ensuring purity
  • Long life and faster flow modes and toggle
  • Suitable for all kinds of scenarios – emergency and regular camping
  • Ceramic pre-filter (adjustable to cloudiness)

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


7. MSR Home Water Filtration System

MSR Home Emergency Water Filter

MSR or mountain safety research is one of the brands that have been involved in the crusade against unsafe outdoor equipment for many decades now.

This military water purification system has the credentials to say that it has been used by the US military on more than one occasion (specifically for more than a decade) and that is living proof of its reliability and longevity among other things.

A flow rate of 1.2 liters per minute that translates to about 19 gallons per hour is one of the best in the business, not surprising as it comes from MSR.

Also, the MSR Home Emergency Water Filtration Systems are the perfect emergency water filtration system for anyone building a home disaster preparedness kit.

It measures 7.5×1.5×1.5 Inches and weighs 2.56 ounces, thereby making it an extremely handy travel accessory that also comes with the manufacturer’s 3-year limited warranty.

It utilizes the industry-standard hollow fiber technology and activated carbon, commonly seen in most water filters, and widely accepted as the cutting edge technology infiltration today.

But, here’s what sets it apart, the hermetically sealed packaging protects it during long-term storage so that it’s ready to go when an emergency strikes.

This gives it an edge over the other filters out there.

With the launch of the Home Water Purifier, MSR has lived up to its goal of defying the status quo in equipment design and radically shifting the social mindset with this game-changing water purifier.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Reliability of MSR as a veteran brand in the water purifier industry
  • Fast flow rate and lightweight boosting portability
  • Suitable for emergency scenarios and used by the military for decades

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


8. LifeStraw Family 1.0 Portable Water Filter

LifeStraw Family 1.0 Portable Gravity Powered Water Purifier for Emergency Preparedness and Camping

This is the quintessential example of a no-nonsense portable water purifier that does its given job perfectly without causing any problems.

LifeStraw has come up with yet another superb product in the family range (suitable for camping trips and emergency preparedness among other scenarios).

It is a no-frills approach to water filtering drinking water.

It doesn’t have any unnecessary extras that come with a phenomenal flow rate of about 9-12 liters per hour (one of the best in class).

The award-winning LifeStraw Family water purifier has the additional pro that it’s being used by over 13,200,000 people worldwide.

This is proof of its worth.

It qualifies as having surpassed the EPA Standards for water purification systems.

Its bacteria and protozoa up to a size of 0.02 microns are eliminated by its filter.

It doesn’t use any chemicals like chlorine or iodine making it an eco-friendly accessory.

Add to that the fact that it can serve clean water to a family of four for about 3 years (approximately 4750 gallons).

LifeStraw is known for producing sturdy equipment for travel companion kits and this is one of their best products on the market definitely worth a look.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Brand value of LifeStraw and award-winning product
  • Super-fast flow rate and sturdy build
  • No chemicals used and a long-lasting product
  • Used by millions of people worldwide

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


9. Gravity Well Ultra Water Filter

Gravity Well (Gravity Well Ultra with UVC Sterilizing Lamp)

Well, no list is complete without a dark horse, if you will, a complete outsider that is different from the rest of the pack.

The Gravity Well Ultra, unlike the rest of the products in this list, is not exactly built for portability but deserved to be in here due to its extra storage facility.

As the name suggests, it has a well-like storage compartment with a maximum capacity of 7 gallons.

Now that is impressive.

It uses UV sterilizing technology and hence has a candle inside it that can be recharged using a hand crank, solar, or USB charger.

This is one of the features acting on the downside since recharging is not ideal for a purifier.

But it makes up for it with a 9000 gallons lifespan which is indeed phenomenal.

It also packs an extra feature in that it has a hand pump for a faster flow rate that can be used when the requirement for pure water is urgent.

The bucket provided with the purifier is designed for shipments for the United Nations and can withstand extreme heat, cold and are BPA-free.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Bucket with a 7 gallon capacity for long-lasting
  • Super-fast flow rate and sturdy build
  • UV water purification using candle inbuilt
  • 9,000 gallon worth of filtering lifespan

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


10. Katadyn Base Camp Pro

Katadyn Base Camp Pro Water Filter, 10-Liter, Blue (8019201)

The Base Camp Pro by Katadyn is another purifier that is specially designed for use in areas with extreme terrain and tough outdoor conditions.

It has a 10 liters bag integrated with the filter inside it that is unlike certain devices that separate the two elements.

The 10 liters bag also has a water level indicator/marker on the outside that shows how much water is left for consumption.

This is handy while traveling.

It has a lifespan of up to 1,500 liters of safe drinking water against bacteria, protozoan cysts, and sediments.

A quick-connect adapter attaches directly to most hydration bladders that are useful.

Also, it includes a carrying strap that can be used to hang it in outdoor places increasing its portability factor significantly.

The new 0.2 Ultra Flow filter technology delivers up to 2L/minute output of filtered water which is 2x the speed of other gravity filters.

Weighing just 12.4 oz, this water filter is one you have to check out while heading to a camp/trek/outdoor retreat.

Pros & Benefits:

  • Pouch with a 10 liters capacity for long-lasting
  • Exceptional flow rate
  • Sediment trap for superior water purification

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon


Choosing The Right Water Filter

Well, you may make the point that okay, you’ve given us the top 10, well and good, but now how do we choose which is the right one for us on our next trip?

Here are a few factors to consider while shortlisting which one to go for.

Brand

Choosing a product offered by an established brand is always a bonus.

Katadyn, MSR, and LifeStraw have been in the water filtering business for many decades now and have established a reputation for themselves.

Going for these brands would mean assured quality and accountability.

However, let that not deter you from trying out some of the lesser-known products that are trying to make a name for themselves.

Water Availability

If the availability of water is scarce in the region where you plan to head out/camp, then definitely you must give importance to the storage component of the water filter.

Higher the storage, more water for you!

Water Purification Method

Well, if you’re journeying into a place where the water sources may not be all that clean or hygienic, then the technology used for filtering/purification of water comes into the picture.

You would want to choose the product having the best filter that can destroy microbes of minuscule sizes.

The carbon fiber activated carbon technology along with the filter pore size are some of the parameters that you might want to check up on before going in for the purchase.

Nature of Travel

If you’re going camping or some recreational outdoor activity then the size or weight of the water filter will not be of much concern.

But if you’re a military man or going into extreme terrain (mountaineering or trekking) you will need to lessen your load as much as possible.

It is due to this reason that it will be ideal to choose a water filter that is lightweight and travels handy.

Also, pick a sturdily built product to ensure its longevity and successful use throughout your expedition.

Final Thoughts

We feel there is a very diverse collection of military water filters available in the market today and since it is an upcoming sector, there is heavy competition among the brands.

The 10 best military water filters out there are listed above, some have the edge in portability while others in water purification methods.

But all the products meet the industry standard in water filtering, and choosing between them is purely based on your specific need and where you plan to go.

Also affecting your choice will be the geographic factors, water availability in the region, etc.

that you must remember to consider while picking a water filter.

I believe there are other lesser-known options available but these are the reliable ones and when it comes to pure water, above all else, purity and reliability are of paramount importance!

If you feel we’ve left out any product, please let us know in the comments down below.

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