
Choosing a Portable Water Filter - 5 Best Products from Berkey
By Dan DeBaunShare
Introduction
No matter whether you are at the office, on a road trip, camping the outback, or traveling to some far-flung exotic destination, you need access to safe drinking water. A portable water filter is a great standby for keeping safely rehydrated during those times when you are away from home and have no control over the quality of your drinking water. This article will help you choose the best portable water filtration system for your needs out of 5 portable water filter options in the Berkey range.
Tips for Selecting the Best Portable Water Filter
Why use a portable water filter?
Regardless of whether you are out and about in an urban setting or enjoying unspoiled countryside, having access to good quality water is essential. Treated tap water may still contain harmful heavy metals and chemicals, as well as other contaminants that give water a bad taste or smell, while untreated water may contain contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that can pose a significant heath risk if ingested. Waterborne diseases such as cholera, botulism, dysentery and typhoid can all be avoided by filtering suspect water with a good quality portable water filter. A portable water filtration system will also remove contaminants such as sediment and chlorine, thereby improving the clarity, taste and odor, which will in turn make it much more pleasant and healthy to drink.
As the name implies, portable water filters are typically small water filters that are designed to be compact and lightweight, so that they can easily be transported in a day bag, backpack or the boot of your car, yet still offer a robust and efficient water treatment solution regardless of the water source.
Benefits of using portable water filter
Having a portable water filtration system on hand means you can safely get your drinking water from any water source, including tap water, streams, ponds and dams. This means you can safely and conveniently stay hydrated when participating in activities such as camping, hiking, biking or boating without having to carry a supply of drinking water with you, which is not only heavy to lug around, but also takes up a lot of space. A portable water filtration system will also improve your environmental footprint as you don't have to purchase bottled water in plastic containers that will be discarded once the contents have been consumed. The bottom line is that it is more convenient, will save you money in the long run, and is beneficial for the environment.
How to choose a portable water filter
Portable water filters come is a variety of types and sizes. The best portable water purifier for your needs will ultimately depend on where you will be using it and how many people you need to cater for. If you are just wanting to keep hydrated in the office or while working out at the gym, a small water bottle filter may suffice. However, if you are taking your extended family on a camping trip, a bigger portable water filtration system will be required to ensure an adequate supply of safe drinking water is available for your whole family.
Things to consider before buying a portable water filter
There are a number of factors that need to be considered when buying a portable water filtration system, including:
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Filtration capabilities — a portable water filter needs to be capable of removing a wide range of common drinking water contaminants typically present in tap water and/or freshwater systems. Most importantly, it should be capable of removing bacteria, viruses and other pathogens typically found in drinking water that are responsible for causing waterborne diseases. This is particularly important if you will be using it in remote locations where water is untreated. A portable water filter that is capable of removing harmful contaminants such as lead, pesticides and other chemicals typically found in rivers, will ensure you and your family are protected from these risks when traveling, camping or following outdoor pursuits. If you are simply wanting to filter tap water so that it tastes better, a water bottle filter capable of removing contaminants that make water taste and smell bad will improve the flavor of your water, which will in turn encourage you to drink more water to keep well hydrated. Before making your final purchasing decision, analyze the list of contaminants the portable water filter is capable of removing to ensure it adequately meets your needs.
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Portability — A portable water filter needs to be small and light enough to be portable. Small water filters can conveniently be slipped into a backpack without hogging too much real estate so that you have no space left for other essential gear you may need on your travels. A portable water filter should also be light enough to carry around on your adventures. Size and weight are therefore two very important factors to consider when choosing a portable water filtration system.
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Storage capacity, water output and filtering efficiency — While portability is important, you also need a system that is capable of producing enough clean water to keep you (and your family) hydrated. The size of the system you choose will ultimately depend on the number of people it will be providing clean water for. You ideally need a system that is as compact and light as possible, yet can adequately provide and store enough clean water for the number of people you are catering for at a sufficient rate to quench everyone's thirst without having to wait hours for clean water to percolate through the system.
- Durability — Any filter that is going to be used to provide water while you pursue your wild adventures will need to be fairly robust so as not to crack or break should it get bumped about during transportation or knocked during outdoor activities. You may have to make a compromise between weight and durability, but ensure your chosen water filter is built to last and comes with a warranty against any manufacturing defects.
- Affordability — When it comes down to it, your decision may be swayed by your budget. Look for the option that will best meet your needs, yet is still within your budget, without compromising on quality. Bearing in mind that a cheap poorly constructed water filter may not be the most cost-effective option in the long run.
Best Portable Water Filter from Berkey
Berkey's small water filters are specifically designed with portability in mind. Let's compare the pros and cons of five of their most portable water filteration systems.
Sport Berkey (1 person)
The Sport Berkey is a small, cheap, ultra-light portable water filter with a 22 oz (0.65 L) capacity that can be slipped into a pocket, gym bag, or backpack to provide safe, filtered water while you are on the go.
Pros
- Lightweight - weighs just 5.8 ounces (165 grams)
- Compact - slim design measures just 1.2 x 8.8 inches
- Affordable - costs $40
- Effective at removing pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms
- Removes heavy metals, chlorine, THMs, VOCs, pesticides, radon 222, sediment, tastes and odors
- Made from non-leaching durable BPA-free LDPE plastic
- Can be refilled 160 times when filtering water from any source, and 640 times when filtering municipal or well water.
Cons
- Water is forced through the filter when the bottle is squeezed so requires physical action rather than gravity to do the work.
- Additional treatment with bleach or iodine recommended for the removal of viruses
Go Berkey Kit (1 person)
The Go Berkey Kit is a set of small water filters that are ideal for camping, hiking and exploring the great outdoors. The Go Berkey kit includes a compact stainless steel Berkey system (1 Quart storage capacity) with 1 x Black Berkey purification element plus a Sport Berkey water bottle filter. The kit also comes with a Berkey primer tool and includes a vinyl carry case for added convenience and portability.
Pros
- Combination of gravity fed portable water filter plus sport water filter bottle that can be used anywhere
- Weighs 2.4 pounds
- Removes over 200 harmful contaminants including pathogenic bacteria, protozoa and viruses
- The self-sterilizing Black Berkey purification element can filter 3000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced
- Long filter life makes this system economical over the long-term
- 1 Quart (.95 liter) storage capacity
- Purifies 1 gallon (3.5 liters) of water per hour
- Durable polished steel design
- Includes a Sport Berkey water filter bottle that can be refilled 160 when filtering water from any source, and 640 times when filtering municipal or well water.
- Compact for easy portability - the upper chamber fits into the lower chamber when transporting and has a total height of just 10 inches.
- Best water filter for survival
Cons
- Weighing 2.4 pounds, the stainless steel Go Berkey may be a bit heavy and bulky to carry around in your backpack all day, but it is great for use back at the campsite, and does come with the Sport Berkey for extra versatility.
Travel Berkey (1-3 ppl)
The Travel Berkey is a compact portable water filtration system with a storage capacity of 1.5 gallons (5.7 liters) that caters for up to three people. It's compact design means it won't take up too much space in your luggage or vehicle, leaving room for other essential gear.
Pros
- Compact, yet durable, polished steel design
- Weighs 6 pounds
- The upper chamber nests within the lower chamber for transport and stands only 12" in height
- 5 gallon (5.7 liter) storage capacity provides safe drinking water for 1-3 people
- Purifies 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of water per hour
Cons
- Too bulky to carry around during outdoor activities, but perfect for providing safe drinking water when you return to base-camp.
Berkey Light (2-6 ppl)
The Berkey Light is a lightweight plastic alternative to Berkey's stainless steel offerings, making it a good choice when catering for larger groups.
Pros
- Lightweight BPA-free plastic design
- Weighs 7 pounds
- 75 gallon storage capacity provides safe drinking water for 2-6 people
- Purifies 4 gallons of water per hour with 2 Black Berkey filter elements fitted and 7.5 gallons of water per hour with 4 filter elements fitted.
Cons
- Too bulky to carry around during outdoor activities, but perfect for providing safe drinking water when you return to base-camp.
Larger Berkey Water Filters
Since the Berkey range of water filters all operate on gravity (except for the Sport Berkey where water is forced through the filter when the bottle is squeezed), they are all portable to some degree and can be used anywhere, as they do not require power to operate. The limiting factor for the bigger Berkey systems, however, is their size. But if you have space in your vehicle and have a large group of people to cater for, one of the larger Berkey water filters may be more suitable for your needs.
Pros
- Big Berkey (2-4 people) - 2.25 gallon storage capacity, weighs 7 pounds
- Royal Berkey (2-6 people) - 3.25 gallon storage capacity, weighs 8 pounds
- Imperial Berkey (6-10 people) - 4.5 gallon storage capacity, weighs 10 pounds
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Crown Berkey (8-12+ people) - 6 gallon storage capacity, weighs 12 pounds
Cons
- Bulkier and heavier than the small water filters offered by Berkey, but all good options for providing safe drinking water for larger groups back at base-camp.
Best of the Best
If you are looking for the best portable water purifier to keep you safely hydrated on your outdoor adventures, we recommend the ultra-compact Go Berkey kit. This compact little water filter doesn't take up much space and is light enough to carry around. But don't be fooled by its small size. The Go Berkey packs the same filtering power as the larger Berkey water filters, and is capable of removing more than 200 harmful water contaminants, including pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and cysts, commonly found in freshwater systems all over the world. This extremely versatile portable water filter is not only a great choice for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, but is also the best water filter for survival.
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Dan DeBaun
Dan DeBaun is the owner and operator of Big Berkey Water Filters. Prior to Berkey, Dan was an asset manager for a major telecommunications company. He graduated from Rutgers with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering, followed by an MBA in finance from Rutgers as well. Dan enjoys biohacking, exercising, meditation, beach life, and spending time with family and friends.
~ The Owner of Big Berkey Water Filters