It can feel like a herculean task when faced with the variety of travel water purifiers on the market to identify which is best for you and the type of international travel that you do. What’s more, your water purifier can be used on every trip you take in the future, making them an environmentally- and budget-conscious piece of travel equipment. What is the difference between water purifiers and water filters?

However, in my experience, if there’s no kettle where you’re staying (something very common in South America), then it can take a long time to boil a few liters of water. Everywhere I roam in this world, I witness the plastic problem first hand. I mean, it’s not a secret at this point right? The culture of plastic pollution is literally killing our planet.

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Multi-functional SimpleVent® Drink Cap. Twist the cap 1/2 turn to vent air during filtration and purification process; protects spout from cross-contamination. Certainly, there is no shortage of water bottle filter combination systems out there. But in my experience, if you want the best-of-the-best, go with the new 24 0z. Grayl GEOPRESS. For true hydration freedom whilst travelling or hiking, no water bottle will do more to protect your body and keep you hydrated no matter what crazy corner of the world you find yourself in.

On my last trip to Pakistan, I was able to easily filter water from my hotel sink in Lahore before I also sipped on filtered and icy cold glacier water from the Himalayas and Karakoram. That beats the hell out of tap water any day. The Grayl Geopress water purifier really is a game changer! The Water-to-Go water filter is one of the most affordable options. Which is the best travel water filter for international travel? This brings me to my next point… The Grayl GEOPRESS Water Bottle is Fighting the Evil Plastic Monster You also need to do this in advance (this method doesn’t allow you to purify while you’re out and about), while the pan you boil water in can leave an unpleasant metallic taste in your water. SummaryOn the place she had an incident where the bottle leaked, leaving her seat wet for the entirety of her flight, which isn’t exactly ideal. Summary Obviously, for travellers and certain hikers, the GEOPRESS is an unstoppable tool of the trade, and too good to beat. That said, the GEOPRESS isn’t for everyone, or should I say every activity. As a former Appalachian thru-hiker who spent my nights dreaming of how to cut down on weight, the GEOPRESS is likely to be too heavy and bulky to be considered in an ultralight thru-hiking kit. On balance, neither my dad or my brother have faced similar issues when using the Sawyer Mini and it has rapidly become my dad’s water purification system of choice. A lot of people ask which is better, the Grayl or the Lifestraw Go, but it’s not even a fair contest as they’re aimed at different things (read my Grayl Geopress review below to learn more).

It’s a lot more expensive than the Sawyer Mini (coming in at a similar price to the Steripen and Grayl) but looks like it could be an excellent alternative. Filters particulates (sediment, microplastics). Ultra-powdered activated carbon adsorbs many chemicals (including PFAS & VOCs), pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, flavors and odors.

ONE PRESS® GLOBAL PURIFICATION

Like the Steripen Adventurer, you can filter water in advance as you squeeze dirty water from the provided container through the filter and into your own bottle. A Grayl water bottle is armed with a filter, so you don’t need to buy a water bottle and then a filter system. You dig?

The Steripen Opti comes with a case to protect the delicate UV light. UV water purifiers: Steripen Adventurer What’s more, it can filter water containing particulates, so can be used in practically any context and still guarantee safe drinking water in a matter of minutes. This makes it an ideal option as a water filter for traveling abroad. Iodine purification tablets and drops don’t purify water from cryptosporidium oocysts and they can also leave the water with an unpleasant taste, although this can be circumnavigated with the help of additional tablets that neutralize the flavor. Summary This is because it removes practically everything from the water, including chemicals, hard metals, and microplastics and it even works with water containing particulates – something that the Steripen Adventurer isn’t capable of doing.

Hell, even most of the hostels I’ve stayed in have tap water that needs a water purifier to even think about drinking! Boiling water is a last-resort option for acquiring safe drinking water and one that, while functional, can take time and result in metallic-flavored water. One of the major improvements Grayl made with the design of the new GEOPRESS was making it bigger. The capacity went from 16 oz. with the Gryal Ultralight Purifier bottle to 24 oz. with the Grayl Geopress. This change catapulted the bottle from being a cool concept to a practical hydration vessel good enough for both thirsty hikers and sweaty travellers waiting in Indian train stations. This is something that the manufacturers highlight as being an issue (and subsequently, you should be more careful) but was a real deal-breaker for me and the main reason that I opted instead for the Steripen Adventurer.