Miniwell’s Best Portable Water Filter for Camping and Survival

A portable water filter provides safe, pure, and healthy drinking water on the go. These tiny gadgets contain a built-in filtering system that removes impurities like silt, debris, and germs (including protozoa and virus) from water.

They are quite useful for traveling, camping, backpacking or survival scenarios when clean water isn’t readily accessible. They do transform contaminated water into safe drinking water in only a few steps.

Miniwell’s portable water filters are easy to carry, simple to use, and most importantly, trustworthy. These are physical filters, meaning that they don’t contain chemicals and are capable of removing dangerous contaminants from water, or simply making water taste better. They are very handy and allow for water-filtering options on the go.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Portable Water Filter from Miniwell

Miniwell offers a number of portable water filters that can be used in a variety of situations, as detailed in the following guide. With one of these gadgets, you can always have safe and quality water.

Which water filters remove the most contaminants?

When buying for a portable water filter, one of the first things to consider is the intended purpose, specifically the contaminants that need to be removed.

There is no such thing as a water filter that removes all contaminants. Different filtration products are more effective at removing different substances. Because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s best to select a product that removes the pathogens that each user wishes to eliminate.

Filtration of dirt and bacteria is arguably the most important consideration when backpacking, hiking or camping. When traveling abroad, especially in countries with low standards of water quality, focusing on viruses and bacteria is probably more vital.

Do water filters kill bacteria?

Physical water filters are devices that strain out bacteria; they don’t kill them, but they do remove them from the water source to make it safe to drink. To properly kill bacteria, consider utilizing a UV light water filter.

On the other hand, UV sterilizers have the disadvantage of not being able to filter sediments and particles (a separate pre-filter may be necessary) and that they do need occasional charging. Since they use UV light, they need a power source (disposable batteries).

Why don’t some portable water filters filter out viruses?

In general, most water filters do not filter out viruses. Viruses are too small for many water filters to trap, but a portable water purifier will. However, some very fine water filters can remove these microscopic pathogens. It’s advisable to double-check the product’s specifications.

Other considerations to keep in mind when choosing a portable water filter

The Type

Portable water filters are available in a variety of types and forms, each of which is best suited to a certain situation.

Portable Water Filter Straws

Stick one end into the water source and take a sip, just like you would with a standard straw. Dangerous contaminants such as dirt, germs, and protozoa are eliminated from the water as it goes through the filters in the straw, leaving the water pure and safe.

Straw water filters are highly portable, easy to use and effective.

Filtered Water Bottles

Filtered water bottles allow you to transport and filter water at the same time. A straw filter is usually included in these bottles to purify the water as you drink it.

Hikers, trekkers, and campers, as well as those who travel in general, will benefit from water bottles with built-in filters. They are not only practical and convenient to carry around, but they also assist to safeguard the environment by reducing plastic waste.

Pump-action Portable Water Filters

Pump-action filters can be used to supply clean water to larger groups of people, families etc. That makes them ideal for camping and survival situations, not excluding, of course, the use of these devices by hikers and backpackers as well.

These filters have a long tube that inserts into the water source. The mechanical action of the pump forces the water through the filters, removing impurities. The purified water flows out through another tube, so it can be collected for drinking or storing.

Pump filters require manual pumping, which may be less convenient than using a filtered straw or bottle.

Gravity Water Filters

Gravity filters are typically larger and more difficult to transport than filter straws and filtered bottles, but they have a higher capacity.

They often come with 2 containers included. You fill one container with dirty water and let gravity move the water through the filter into a second container that collects the clean, safe to drink water.

The Size

Regardless of the filter type, portable water filters are designed to be as compact and lightweight as possible.

The size and weight of a portable water filter affects its portability, and the ideal water filter size depends on its intended use.

A water filter straw or even a pump-action filter come in easy-to-carry, compact designs, some as small as the palm of a hand, and are ideal for personal use.

Filter bottles and gravity filters usually take up more space due to the need for containers to keep the filtered water. As a result, we would say that gravity filters are better suited for bigger groups of people, such as families on camping vacations.

The majority of portable water filters weigh less than a pound. Gravity filters and Pump-action filters tend to be heavier and take up a little more space than other types since they include containers and hoses. Finally, you’ll have to consider that some types like the filtered bottles will weigh more when filled with water.

Flow Rate

The filtration speed (flow rate) can be determined by calculating the amount of water that flows through the filter in a certain period of time (1 minute).

Pump-action filters, water filter straws and filtered bottles purify the water almost instantly. Their flow rate is very high (fast filtration speed), but they may present a bit of resistance, which is not a big problem though.

Other filters may take longer (a few minutes). Gravity filters, for example, do not have a push mechanism like pump filters and no suction to force the water through, thus they are a slower alternative. They often take a few minutes to filter a couple of gallons of water.

Capacity

Depending on the type of filter, Gravity filters that treat larger amounts of water usually come accessorized with storage bags or containers to store clean water. These containers may have a capacity ranging up to 3 gallons in total but can be even larger. Big containers have a disadvantage in terms of portability, but they are ideal for large groups of people.

On the other hand, we have some more convenient and portable options, like filter straws and filtered bottles that treat water as you drink it (on the go). Filter bottles may store up to 32 ounces of water, making them ideal for long days outdoors. Filter straws don’t hold any water but can be used with containers of any capacity to filter 1,000 to 100,000 gallons of water over their lifetime.

Maintenance

Some maintenance tasks, like back-flushing the filtration system, cleaning clogs, or changing the filter cartridges, are indispensable for all portable water filters. Each manufacturer will define how often maintenance and cleaning should be performed, as well as the exact steps to follow.

Other maintenance duties may include washing and disinfecting. Cleaning and sanitizing products that come into direct contact with the user’s mouth, such as water filter straws and filtered bottles, should be a daily concern.

Durability

Portable filters must be durable whether they are used for backpacking, hiking, or in survival situations, because they should be able to endure the falls and knocks that come with being on the move.

Good quality plastic materials should be used to keep items lightweight, portable, and shatterproof.

Ease of use

Portable water filters are made to be simple to use. This is very important, especially for hikers and backpackers, when traveling or in survival situations, because they can provide quick access to clean, safe drinking water without the need to take unnecessary risks. Keep in mind that in some regions of the world, finding clean water is really difficult.

Among the most straightforward and simple to use devices are water filter straws and filtered bottles. Simply stick the straw into the water and you’re done. Especially in the case of a shallow pool of water, drinking with a water filter straw is much more practical and easy.

Fill and drink from the bottle; A portable filtered water bottle is an easy pick when it comes to convenience. It provides both the bottle to store the water and the filtration system, making it a practical choice to take on the road. Extra accessories may be included with portable water filters to make them easier to use. For example, carabiners are a handy addition that can help attach a bottle to the outside of a travel bag.

Other types of filters require a little more work. Pumps require manual operation, which might be inconvenient when traveling and gravity filters need to be hung or held up to let gravity do its work. Accessories are available, like clamps or hanging hooks, to make them easier to suspend while they filter.

Miniwell Filters

Miniwell offers a complete line of high-quality portable water filters that ensure clean drinking water wherever you are. These filters are small, light, and easy to transport, but most importantly, they are reliable. From straws and bottles to pump-action filters, here are some of the best options for safe drinking water on the go.

L630 Portable Water Filter Straw

This portable filtration device weighs only 1.4 ounces and is no bigger than a flashlight, making it easy to throw into any suitcase or rucksack. The Miniwell L630 Portable Water Filter Straw is an affordable filtration device that manages to offer a lot of useful functions into a small package.

The L630 is also very versatile. It can obviously be used as a straw, but it can also be attached to the included water pouch, a standard 1″ threaded water bottle (or Coca-Cola bottle, for example), disposable plastic bags, buckets, and so on.

The micro-filtration membrane removes 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and parasites, sediments and microplastics. It can filter up to 500 gallons of water, but with proper cleaning and care, it can go way beyond that.

L620 Collapsible Water Bottle with filter

This is a 24-ounce collapsible water bottle from Miniwell. It is made of BPA-Free Polyethylene, ABS (food grade, safe for use in food processing), and Carbon Fiber, and features a filtering straw.

The straw filters microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, and parasites, but also sediments, microplastics, and heavy metals. L620’s Carbon Fiber reduces harmful contaminants that most other portable filters miss, including chlorine, fluoride, lead, mercury and agricultural runoff. The two-stage filter also improves the taste of filtered water.

It lasts for 265 gallons of use and filter replacements are available.

This is an ideal gadget and the most convenient option for most adventurers like hikers and backpackers that travel all around the world and want to stay safe and hydrated at all times. You can carry water anywhere and it is very easy to use; just fill and sip. Plus, it is foldable and takes practically very little space when not filled with water.

The bottle is durable, and includes a carabiner to attach to a day bag or hiking backpack. A spare squeeze bag is included.

L610 Pump-Action Camping Water Filter

The Miniwell L610 Camping Water Filter is a hand-pump water filter with a very compact design, hardly being bigger than the palm of your hand. Thus, it is very easy to carry around and that makes it valuable in survival situations.

It consists of 3 parts: A long water inlet hose (with the pre-filter), a separate water outlet hose, and the main unit (pump). It is capable of pumping water from shallow streams to deep rivers.

Its triple-filtration system removes sediment and 99.99% of bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, Cholera, Campylobacter, Shigella, E coli, etc), cysts, parasites, protozoa, and viruses (e.g. Enteric, Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Rotavirus) from water. It also reduces the concentration of heavy metals (like lead, mercury, and cadmium) as well as unpleasant tastes, odors, and residual chlorine.

The pump can filter up to 265gal/1000 liters and replacement filters are available.

L600 Portable Water Filter Straw

The Miniwell L600 is an incredibly compact and lightweight filtration straw that weighs only 3.45 ounces. That means that it fits easily into a backpack or ordinary carry-on bag and is a must-have item to include in any emergency kit.

It’s a great companion for every adventure and very simple to use. Just stick the end into the source of water and start sipping.

It operates a triple filtration process (pre-filter PP, UF filter, Carbon Fiber filter) guaranteed to remove sediments, and has a 99.9% removal rate of bacteria, cysts, and parasites, microplastics, heavy metals (like Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury) from the water, leaving it clean and pure. Finally, it removes unpleasant tastes, odors and residual chlorine.

With correct use and proper maintenance, each straw should deliver 265 gallons of pure drinking water.

It is made of good quality plastic that is BPA-free. It is durable and is capable of withstanding difficult situations.

L630 Gravity Filtration Set

The L630 Gravity Filtration Set includes the L630 Personal Water Filter (that acts as the gravity filter), a Dirty Water Reservoir (101 fl oz), a Clean Water Collapsible Bottle (33.8 fl oz) to collect the filtered water, a Silicone Hose and Hose Clip and a Tree Strap (3.2 ft) for hanging on tree branches.

This high-capacity setup can filter 101 ounces of water at a time. Fill the dirty water reservoir and position it above the clean water bag. The water will run through the hose and filter into the clean water bag, filling it in only a few minutes.

The 0.1 micron ultra-filtration membrane removes 99.99% of waterborne bacteria (E.Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Cholera bacteria, Legionella) and parasites, protozoa, sediment and microplastics with no mechanical action (pumping) required.

It is ideal for larger groups of people like families on camping trips and for longer outdoor activities.