The Best Thirst-Quenching Filtered Water Bottles
When you’re finished with a hot summer run, one of the first things you want to do is take a huge swig of water. Worst case scenario: Your bottle is empty, and the stream alongside the trail is the only source around you. What do you do? If you have a filtered water bottle designed for outdoor use, just dip it in the stream, fill it up, and you’ve got potable water.
Check out quick reviews below of our top five filtered water bottles, or scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of those models plus other high-ranking options.
Even when you’re not running, filtered bottles come in handy. Hate the smell of the water that comes out of the communal fountain at your gym? Love hiking but always worry about running out of drinking water? Concerned about water safety while traveling? A filtered water bottle can grant you access to clean water nearly anywhere, at any time, so you don’t have to worry about bad tastes, odors, and contaminants.
With a reusable filtered bottle, you’re also making a positive environmental impact by avoiding single-use plastic bottles. Plus, filtered water bottles are an excellent alternative to disinfection tablets, which don’t do much to get rid of bad smells or tastes and can take nearly 30 minutes to fully clean your water.
How Do They Work?
Not all filtered water bottles are created equal—some are designed to filter natural bodies of water outside, like the Grayl GeoPress, and others are better for indoor use only, like Brita’s filters. Some bottles use filters that clean the water as you drink it; others filter water as soon as it enters the bottle.
Brita’s bottle filters use an activated carbon block that attracts and traps chemicals using a process known as “adsorption” to reduce the amount of chlorine, particulates, and odor in water. The Grayl Ultralight Purifier, on the other hand, works like a coffee press, with two parts to the bottle: the colored tube that holds water and the “plunger” you push down to filter the water in the colored tube through a process known as reverse osmosis. In both types of filtered bottles, water goes through multiple filter layers before it reaches your mouth.
While most bottles are dishwasher safe, the filters are not. The filter also has to be replaced over time to ensure your water stays safe to drink—typically, a filter’s shelf life ranges from two to six months. Some models have a shelf life that is supposed to last through a set number of gallons or liters before you replace it.
What to Think About Before You Buy
Consider what you’ll use a filtered water bottle for and buy accordingly. If you don’t need intense filtration and just want to make sure your drinking water doesn’t have any odors or weird taste, something simple like the Nava by Kor should suffice.
Function is also important. Does a bottle with a flip-up straw better suit your needs, or do you prefer a twist lid or nozzle? If you need something sturdy that provides easy drinking access during gym sessions, or while you’re running errands in the car, Brita’s Hard Sided filtered bottle is a good go-to. The Hard Sided bottle fits in most car cup holders and features an inexpensive filter that lasts about two months before needing to be replaced.
On of our testers is a huge fan of running with a water bottle and especially fond of collapsible ones, like Katadyn’s BeFree, because they help prevent sloshing. Likewise, Pat Heine, our resident ultrarunner and video producer, cites the BeFree as one of his favorites because “the bottles shrink down as you drink them, so once you empty the bottle, it’s almost weightless and you can easily stash it. I own two of those to take on big days out. If I need to refill, the built-in filters help give me peace of mind.”
Whether you plan on running Barkley, Badwater, or just some errands around town, figuring out what bottle best works for you will help you stay hydrated and on the go.
How We Selected
Every product here has been thoroughly evaluated and vetted by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers, and use our own experience chugging from these bottles to determine the best options. Most models have been tested by our staff, and those that haven’t have been carefully chosen based on their value, convenience, and ability to keep our water safe, clean-tasting, and chemical-free. Here are the best picks for clean drinking.
Best for Travel
Grayl Ultralight Purifier
Top-rated expert and consumer favorite for an easy-to-use, effective filtered water bottle
Capacity: 16 oz. | Dry Weight: 10.9 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 3 months
Grayl’s Ultralight bottle is a solid option for potable water no matter where you are. Whether you’re using it while backwoods hiking, camping, or globetrotting, the Ultralight filters 99.99% of bacteria and viruses like hepatitis A, cholera, salmonella, giardia, and rotavirus. It also removes silt, sediment, and chemicals (think chlorine, arsenic, and lead), so you’re left with crisp and refreshing drinking water. Travelers have raved about the functionality of the Ultralight online, with multiple users citing how effective it was at cleaning tap water during their adventures abroad. But it’s also handy for domestic running adventures due to how compact and easy-to-use it is. The bottle makes 16oz (500ml) of clean water in 15 seconds—from the trailside stream or the tap.
Best Budget
Brita Hard Sided
An awesome budget-friendly choice.
Capacity: 26 oz. | Dry Weight: 8.8 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 2 months
Here’s what we love about this BPA-free Hard Sided bottle, from the household-name filtered pitcher brand: It’s inexpensive, easy to wash, easy to carry (thanks to a helpful carry loop), and its filter replacements last for a full 40 gallons of water. We found it to be a great choice for hitting the gym, going for a run or a ride, or running errands, thanks to its convenient flip-up straw and 26-ounce size that fits in a standard cup holder. The downside of this bottle is that it’s not the best choice for visiting places where water is unsafe for drinking because it doesn’t filter out pathogens. Instead, the Hard Sided filter helps reduce the taste and scent of chlorine, plus other contaminants commonly present in tap water.
Best Lightweight
LifeStraw
A wearable water filter that gives back with every LifeStraw purchased
Weight: 2 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~1,000 gallons of water
The LifeStraw is highly rated by consumers and experts alike based on its lightweight portability and powerful .2 micron filter, which can filter out microplastics, bacteria, and parasites (such as salmonella, cholera, E. coli, and protozoa, including giardia and cryptosporidium). Just note that while LifeStraw does a stellar job at removing bacteria and parasites, it does not get rid of viruses. You can drink directly from a water source with the LifeStraw, or use it to fill up a bottle. Testers have found it to be reliable and intuitive to use, though it does take some suction power to start and keep the water flow going. Trail runners in particular have raved about how easy it is to carry and use on the go.
Best Overall
Katadyn BeFree
A virtually nonexistent bottle when empty
Capacity: 1 liter | Dry Weight: 2 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~1,000 liters
Katadyn’s collapsible bottle is the best option when you want to run with as few items as possible. Since it can become (almost) entirely flat, you can tuck it in your waistband or bra strap and go. The 1-liter container is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), is 100% BPA and PVC-free, and features a flow rate of approximately 2 liters/minute for uninterrupted, quick drinking. The BeFree is made to be easy to carry and features a cap to keep the mouthpiece clean. A 0.1 micron filter in the BeFree removes 99.99% of protozoa and bacteria. BeFree is also easy to clean—all you have to do is rinse it out. No backwashing is required.
Best for Trail Running
Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System
An absolute game changer when it comes to hydration on the run
Weight (straw): 2 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~100,000 gallons
OK, OK technically this isn’t a bottle. But, with a hookup for bladder systems and bottles, Sawyer’s Mini Filtration system is the best option for simultaneous hands-free running and hydrating, as well as protecting you against 99.99% of protozoa, bacteria, and cryptosporidium (salmonella, E.coli, and giardia, to name a few). Besides the filtration straw, the Mini Water Filtration System comes with a 16 oz. pouch, drinking straw, and a cleaning plunger. It’s one of the lightest filters you can buy—and best of all, it’s completely budget-friendly.
More High-Ranking Options to Consider
Kor Nava
Another great budget option featuring eco-friendly components.
Capacity: 22 oz. | Dry Weight: 12 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 3 months
KOR’s Nava bottle features a carbon-activated filter made entirely out of coconut shell, so filter replacements are sustainable. It’s NSF/ANSI 42 tested, meaning that it’s NSF-certified to filter out chlorine, taste, odor, and particulates. That essentially means the Nava is great for filtering potable tap water but not intended for removing microbes like giardia from less potable sources overseas. The whole bottle was ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in your hand. Just drink from the built-in straw or twist off the wide-mouth lid to clean or add ice—the top is sealed with silicone, so you don’t have to worry about leakage.
Seychelle Flip Top Radiological
A bottle with serious filtration power.
Capacity: 28 oz. | Dry Weight: 7.3 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 100 gallons
Seychelle’s Flip Top filtration bottle has some serious filtering power—we’re talking about creating drinking water that’s 99.99% contaminant free through the power of Ionic Adsorption Micro Filtration. The Radiological removes odor and bad taste from water, plus chemicals, dissolved solids (i.e. metals like lead and mercury), and 99.99% of radiological contaminants (hence its name), such as plutonium and uranium. The bottle is made of BPA-free plastic and features a wrist strap for hands-free mobility. Testers have loved how the bottle allows them to drink water directly from faucets and streams overseas—making it ideal for trail running, hiking, and all kinds of adventures.
Grayl Geopress
A sturdy bottle that’s effective in seconds
Capacity: 24 oz. | Dry Weight: 15.9 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 65 gallons
If you’re looking for something a little bigger and heavier duty than Grayl’s Ultralight, the brand’s Geopress is a filtration powerhouse, removing protozoa, bacteria, and viruses from 24 ounces of water in just eight seconds. It meets all standards for filtering waterborne pathogens, including rotavirus, hepatitis A, norovirus, giardiasis, cryptosporidium, E. coli, cholera, salmonella, and dysentery—so you can drink from outdoor sources or international taps without fretting. The bottle is conveniently sized and intuitive to use—you just fill and filter the container much like a French press, then drink from the fast-flow spout. Each filter lasts for 65 gallons; you’ll know it’s time to replace when the usual press time triples to 25 seconds.
Brita Stainless Steel
Clean-tasting, ice-cold water on the go
Capacity: 20 oz. | Dry Weight: 15.84 oz. | Filter Replacement: ~Every 40 gallons
If you’ve never experienced the magic of an insulated bottle keeping your water freezer-cold on a 105-degree hike, you’re missing out on one of the greatest joys a human can experience. Brita’s double-insulated stainless steel bottle not only keeps ice cubes afloat for 24 hours, but it also filters your water as you drink. Like most Brita bottles, it won’t clear out pathogens so it’s not safe to use with outdoor water, but it will remove contaminants commonly present in tap water, including chlorine taste and odor. It’s cup-holder-friendly and convenient to use, with a carry handle, leak-proof lid, and a pop-up straw. It even comes with a replaceable filter you can change out after 40 gallons.
You Might Also Like
