Are you aware that water purification tablets exist? No matter where you decide to go on a hike, you will need drinking water. Even in the clear water of mountain rivers can contain dangerous organisms and particles that can easily ruin your hike.

Therefore, during your hike, you cannot do without a good way of cleaning water and good water purification tablets, with which you can successfully cope with bacteria and protozoa.

However, one of the methods of water purification is necessary to prevent viral infections. Before the trip, be sure to find out about the quality of water in the area in which you are going to go to prepare in advance.

Based on the quality of filtering, efficiency, and reliability, we have selected the best models of portable filters. Besides, this ranking of the best water filters while hiking includes the most effective water purification tablets that will help prevent viral Infections.

The best Sawyer 3-Way Inline water filter

The portable filter 3-Way Inline from Sawyer, a well-known manufacturer of high-quality water filters, confidently ranks first thanks to its high performance, incredible ease of use, and ability to filter huge amounts of water.

Once the filter is attached to the device, you can immediately start drinking water from the tube. If you follow the rules of operation, the filter provides exceptional protection against bacteria and protozoa - microorganisms are filtered out at the time of the filter.

Along with filters, Sawyer produces purifiers to protect against viruses, which should not be neglected, especially in epidemiologically unfavorable areas. If the water contains many impurities, it is better to filter water through a cloth, a small mesh, or even a coffee filter to prevent filter damage.

Besides, the filter is equipped with a special attachment to the faucet, designed to facilitate the filtration of tap water. The Sawyer 3-Way Inline filter is designed to filter four million liters of water. That is, if you follow the rules of operation and regular cleaning, this filter will serve you for life.

Rating: 5/5.

Katadyn Pocket Water Filter

Katadyn Pocket's portable water filter is at the forefront for its reliability, performance, durability, and versatility. It is very durable and it is unlikely that you will be able to break it.

The ceramic filter is easy to clean. The preliminary filter in the tube helps prevent the filter from clogging up with large particles. The Katadyn Pocket filter warranty is 20 years, which is quite a lot. The only drawback of this filter can be attributed to the weight (600 grams), but the extra weight pays for its performance.

Rating: 4.75 / 5.

Platypus Gravityworks travel filter

Platypus Gravityworks can be an ideal option if you need to filter large amounts of water in a short time while using minimal effort. As the name Gravityworks suggests, filtration is done under the influence of gravity.

The filter comes complete with a capacity of four liters. Both the filter and the filtered water container have loops that make it easy for you to hang them on any item you want.

For filtered water is designed a separate container, which cannot be filled by any other than by passing water through the filter. This filter design protects against accidental filling of both tanks with dirty water and filter contamination.

A quick reverse flushing before using each filter takes a few seconds and helps extend the life of the filter. Just plug in the tanks and in about two and a half minutes you will have four liters of filtered water at your disposal.

Rating: 4.5/5.

Katadyn Micropur water purification pills

These chlorine dioxide tablets won't take up much space in your luggage. The process of water purification is very simple - you only need to throw the tablets in a container of water - one tablet per liter of water. Viruses, bacteria, and protozoa such as lamblia and cryptosporidium are destroyed.

The downside of these tablets is they take too long to treat the water. It takes four hours to fully clean the water but depending on the quality of the original water and the presence of microorganisms, you can shorten the cleaning time a little.

Therefore, the reserves of clean water should be taken care of in advance, for example, before going to bed, so that the next morning you have enough clean water. Each tablet is equipped with a separate easily opening package and has a long shelf life.

The taste of decontaminated water changes slightly, but it is unlikely that you will feel it. Be sure to buy water decontamination tablets, as an emergency measure combined with a water filter, they will be irreplaceable. And even in a normal hike, you should always pay attention to the safety of your drinking water.

Rating: 4.25 / 5.

MSR MiniWorks EX Ceramic water treatment filter

The MSR MiniWorks EX filter is very popular with tourists and there are good reasons. First, they do a great job. The ceramic and carbon elements of the MiniWorks EX filter prevent dangerous bacteria and protozoa from entering the water, as well as eliminate unpleasant odors.

The device is easy to assemble and understand. Filters are easily and quickly cleaned. To maintain a high filtration rate and extended lifespan, clean the filter regularly. The MSR MiniWorks EX Ceramic filter is designed to be used in extreme conditions, making it a versatile element of your travel equipment. It will be suitable for a hike of any degree of difficulty. It weighs 400 grams, which is more than most filters on this list.