After Years of Camping, I Finally Found the Perfect Filtered Water Bottle

My Top Pick

Lifestraw Stainless Steel Water Filter Bottle

$60 at Amazon View on Lifestraw.com

This bottle features a 2-stage filtration system with an activated carbon filter that is NSF 42 certified to reduce aesthetic impurities such as chlorine, odor, and organic chemicals, along with a membrane microfilter that’s NSF P231 certified to remove bacteria and parasites.

It comes in several different stylish colors and sizes, and features a double-wall vacuum insulation to keep water cold for hours. I love that the mouth is wide enough to easily add ice cubes and the covered mouthpiece is comfortable to drink from. It’s also one of the only dishwasher-safe models I tested, though Lifestraw does recommend washing by hand as often as possible to prolong the quality. 

Truly the only qualm I could find was the drinkability. It was a bit more difficult to get the water out, only because the 2-stage filter system processes the water slower. The upside to this is that it simply filters more than other standard filtered water bottles. Overall, it’s a great choice for typical tap water at home, but it also protects against 99.9% of bacteria, 99.9% of parasites, 99.9% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness while traveling or in the outdoors. 

By purchasing Lifestraw products, you’re also helping to provide safe drinking water to children in need. In 2023 alone, the company supplied a year’s worth of fresh drinking water to over 1.9 million kids in places like Gaza, Ukraine, and South Sudan.

The Details: Stainless steel; 24 ounces; 1.13 pounds; 11 x 3.3 inches; membrane microfilter ($25) lasts up to 1,000 gallons; activated carbon filter ($10) lasts up to 26 gallons; NSF 42 & P231

Best for Everyday

Brita Stainless Steel Water Filter Bottle

$32 $26 at Amazon $32 at Target View on Brita.com

The Brita is the water bottle you reach for if you’re looking to improve the taste of the tap water in your home or office without purchasing single-use water bottles or a bulky filtering dispenser. I was able to sip on this throughout the day from my desk and noticed a vast improvement in flavor. 

This was also the only filtered water bottle I tested that was comfortable to use while exercising. There's an easy flow valve, a slender shape that makes it easy to hold in one hand, and a spill-proof locking lid that pops open with the touch of a button.

The design is certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) to filter out Class VI particulates—coarse sediments in water that are between 50 and 80 micrometers in size. These particulates can include dirt, rust, sand, copper, mercury, and zinc, which can cause water to smell and taste bad or appear cloudy. It's also NSF/ANSI Standard 42 certified for chlorine, taste, and odor. The filter will last for 40 gallons or about two months with regular use. 

The Details: Stainless steel; 20 ounces; 0.89 pounds; 10.83 x 3.23 inches; activated carbon filter ($15 for 3) lasts up to 40 gallons; WQA certified for chlorine and Class VI particulates, NSF/ANSI 42

Best Budget

Brita Premium 26oz Filtering Water Bottle

View on Amazon $23 $17 at Target $23 at Walmart

If you want a lightweight option (or don’t want to splurge on the stainless steel model), consider the plastic Brita Premium. It has the same locking mechanism on the lid and is just as easy to drink from as the stainless steel, but it won’t keep your water cold since it isn’t insulated. Although it’s on the thinner side, the plastic body is safe to put in the dishwasher—a definite plus. 

The plastic Brita bottle has the same NSF/ANSI 42 and WQA-certified filter that works on chlorine and coarse sediments, so it’s ideal for tap water. It also holds 6 ounces more than the stainless steel model. A set of three replacement filters will only set you back $12, which is a pretty great deal considering that each one replaces 300 single-use plastic water bottles and lasts up to two months even when used every day. 

The Details: Plastic; 26 ounces; 0.48 pounds; 10.55 x 4.06 inches; activated carbon filter ($15 for 3) lasts up to 40 gallons; WQA certified for chlorine and Class VI particulates, NSF/ANSI 42

Best Splurge

GRAYL Geopress Water Purifier

$111 at Amazon $100 at Backcountry.com $100 at REI

The Grayl GeoPress has an outer vessel that’s designed to easily scoop up water from a creek or stream and an inner compartment that filters the water as you press down, which takes anywhere from 8 to 10 seconds. One filter cartridge is good for 65 gallons or about 350 uses. Something else that sets this bottle apart from the rest is the one way valve that allows you to use the filter with electrolyte and sport drink mixes. I also love that the design allows you to pour the filtered water, rather than requiring you to suck it out through a straw.

When I say that I was stunned at the efficiency of this filtered water bottle, I’m not kidding. I was so impressed that I literally repeated the process several times using the sketchiest water I could find, and it always came out completely clear. With that being said, the process did take a bit more effort than others.

It removes global waterborne pathogens but also filters particulates and microplastics, and absorbs chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, flavors, and odors. The design is NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 certified for pathogen and chemical removal and meets the United States EPA Standard and Protocol for microbiological water purifiers.

The Details: Plastic and silicone; 24 ounces; 0.99 pounds; 10.4 x 3.4 inches; purifier cartridge ($30) lasts 65 gallons or 350 uses; NSF/ANSI 42 and 53

Best Small

Philips 18.6 Oz Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

$27 $23 at Amazon

If you’re someone who doesn’t drink a lot of water or doesn’t want to bother with a large water bottle, this Phillips model is worth a look. The filter itself is quite small and the straw was the least bulky out of all the bottles I tested, both of which help keep this model lightweight and low maintenance. 

Unfortunately, the filter is not third-party tested, but I still found tap water to come out tasting great. It’s made using activated carbon (similar to the Brita model), so it won’t filter out anything more than odor and taste impurities by reducing chlorine. The mouthpiece is soft and easy to drink from, and it hardly requires any effort to sip through the filter. There’s also a silicone loop for carrying and a sturdy lid that opens with the push of a button.

For everyday use, the size may be a bit too small—I had to go back into the kitchen for several refills throughout the day. However, this would be perfect for taking along on a walk or short hike to keep a small amount of water nice and cold without lugging around a heavy bottle. 

The Details: 18/8 stainless steel; 18.6 ounces; 3 x 2.5 x 9.7 inches; 1.16 pounds; activated carbon filter ($15 for 3) lasts up to 40 gallons or 2 months 

Best Filtering Lid

Epic Water Filters Water Bottle Filter System

$59 at Amazon

Ok, this technically isn’t a filtered water bottle, but I still love the concept. If you already have a favorite insulated water bottle (think Hydro Flask, Yeti, Nalgene), this will fit on top of any 2.19-inch wide mouth opening so you don’t have to buy an entirely new bottle. The kit comes with two different lids: an Easy Flip Sports Lid and a Locking Dust Cover Lid with push-button operation.

Both lids fit beautifully on my Nalgene, and I appreciate that the brand offers an alternative to buying unnecessary components. The dual-layer filter design has an external Nano Fiber layer and an internal Carbon Fiber block that targets both tap and outdoor water. It filters over 200 contaminants and comes highly certified, including NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401, P231, and P473.

I love that the filters are designed with replaceable cartridges, so you don’t have to buy any extra plastic. As an added bonus, Epic Water also has a recycling program that accepts used filters in exchange for free ones. The brand has also partnered with Nalgene to offer their filtering lids with special edition bottles.

The Details: Plastic; 1.5 x 2.5 inches; 0.34 pounds; CoreXchange filter ($38 for pack of 2) lasts up to 75 gallons; NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, P231, and P473