Best Ultralight Water Filters For Backpacking 2025

Squeeze Based Ultralight Water Filters & The Vessels To Pair Them With
After thoroughly analyzing the marketplace and testing most possible combinations, we can officially say that these are the best squeeze based ultralight water filters for backpacking. This guide takes into account not just the filter units, but which vessel to pair each with, what they’re best at, and where in your pack to store them.

Hop onto the PCT this summer and you’ll see that virtually every thru-hiker is using an ultralight squeeze filter. That’s because they’re the fastest, simplest, and most reliable system for both soloists and groups (so long as everyone has their own). As such, we have excluded all of the outdated or nonsensical options, including pumps, straws, UV pens, and gravity-based system. Chemical treatments work great, but aren’t featured here because this guide is specific to ultralight water filters.

Continue reading to learn more about the best ultralight water filters for backpacking, written by Jaeger Shaw.

IMESASISHWA MWISHO

May 27, 2025

Imeandikwa na

Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer, a brand known for its reliable, no-frills outdoor products, offers a 20% picaridin spray that provides up to 12 hours of protection from mosquitoes and ticks, and up to 8 hours against biting flies and gnats, making it a smart pick for camping, travel or everyday use.

Dan DiClerico and Timothy Dahl
Writers

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Our new friend, Oats, at Sawyer gave our Sawyer filters a bath and also gave us a whole new bottle of permethrin for free!

Lauren “Mothra” Mullen
Hiker, Writer

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

We carry a Sawyer Snake Bite kit with us whever we go because it works for bug bites on the beach too.

Mvuvi wa Forrest
Mwandishi wa Kuchangia