The 10 Best Filtered Water Bottles We Tested to Have Clean H2O Anywhere

While cleaning your water bottle is a necessary chore, it’s easy to forget. Moreover, it’s difficult to keep up with daily washings on hard-to-clean spouts, straws, and multiple parts. This LARQ filtered water bottle is a game changer thanks to its multiple useful features, including cleaning itself.

The LARQ PureVis 2 is a tech-forward bottle that is self-cleaning, flashes lights to remind you to drink water, and tracks hydration progress via an app. It uses both a physical filter and a UV-C light to clean the water. I tried this water bottle and enjoyed the crisp, clean flavor water takes on after being filtered through it. It has a high price tag, but it’s worth it to have water that cleans itself and keeps things low maintenance.

I also loved that a soft white light would flash on the bottle to signal me to take a drink since I can often forget to hydrate while working. I found the app a bit overwhelming at first glance, though it was pretty intuitive on closer inspection. 

A huge part of enjoying camping is proper preparation. The LARQ PureVis bottle can be a great help while out in the great outdoors, thanks to its no-fuss self-cleaning feature.

Simone Scully, editorial director, tried this bottle while camping in Maine for a week. “It did keep my water cold while we went on hikes, and I liked having the reassurance that it was cleaning the water before we drank it,” she says. The UV-C purification process only takes 20 seconds. While we appreciate the insulation for its temperature-controlling properties, there is a noninsulated version that’s much lighter.

Since this bottle filters water with a rechargeable UV-C LED, you don’t have to worry about changing filters. All you have to do is recharge it via its handy USB charging port.

Note: This bottle does not come with a carrying strap, but you can purchase a travel sleeve for easy transport. And since it’s an open top, rather than a straw, it can spill easily.

While many self-filtering water bottles are expensive, there are certainly some worthwhile budget buys on the market. This Philips water bottle is one of them. It boasts easy functionality and a leakproof design, plus it comes with multiple filters.

I tested this filtered water bottle and quickly appreciated how pure the water tasted. Philips says it filters 99.999 percent of viruses and bacteria, pesticides, and heavy metals, giving me peace of mind. The bottle comes with three filters; each lasts about two months, meaning for less than $45, you get the bottle and six months of clean water.

I do wish inserting the filter into the bottle were smoother, but it took only a moment or two of fidgeting before it all came together, which isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Getting sweaty and being in the elements for long periods make it all the more important to stay hydrated. Thus, we launched a hunt for a lightweight, self-filtering water bottle, landing on this sports water bottle from Berkey as our best choice.

We love that this bottle is compatible with a bicycle bottle holder, making it perfect for cyclists. Similarly, we wanted to find a bottle with a good squeeze that could squirt water into the mouth. The convenience of this drinking option is especially important during active moments when you can’t unscrew a bottle top and want a quick drink of water. This bottle can achieve just that.

The Sport Berkey Water Bottle is another pick on our list that I tested and enjoyed. It was light enough that I didn’t find it annoying to hold while walking, and I appreciated how clean the water tasted. The filter can clean up to 110 gallons of tap water or 27.5 gallons of untreated or questionable water (think outdoor water or still water), according to the brand.

The straw can be difficult to use since it can be slow to draw up liquid. It can also be difficult to close the bottle, causing minor leakage. However, in the midst of intense outdoor activity, we doubt a little water leak will cause a major issue. 

Filtered water bottles may require a few steps and can be more challenging to set up than expected. Thankfully, you can count on an easy experience with this bottle from CamelBak.

I tested this water bottle and can assure you that getting started was super simple. All you have to do is rinse the filter, pop it in, and fill the water bottle. You’ll need to wait a few seconds, then you can enjoy clean, refreshing filtered water. You can expect to change the filter every 25 gallons.

While I liked the water’s taste, I was not a fan of the bottle’s straw. It was thick silicone that had a weird taste and was challenging to draw liquid from. That said, a thorough scrub and using the bottle long enough may be just the ticket to making this as easy to use as possible. 

We love this stainless steel filtered water bottle from Brita. It’s affordable, lightweight despite having solid insulation, and easy to use. I loved how simple it was to set up the filter. You just pop it in and forget about it for two months, which is how long the filter lasts. Other filtered water bottles can have a more sophisticated setup, which can be too time-consuming.

This bottle holds about 20 ounces, so you’ll find yourself refilling it throughout the day. On the plus side, the size comes in handy: It’s slim enough for a cupholder, the pocket of a backpack, or to slide inside a tote bag.

An issue I had with this bottle was that it doesn’t produce the most refined-tasting water. However, it’s still drinkable and is noticeably filtered. I also didn’t love the silicone straw and found it difficult to clean. That said, it’s a solid travel companion. It’s budget-friendly, too, so if you forget it on an airplane or in a hotel room, you won’t be heartbroken (okay, maybe a little). 

The design of a water bottle can make or break when it comes to convenience, efficacy, and how likely you are to use it. This BPA-free plastic water bottle from LifeStraw is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing, features an easy-to-clean twist-off top, and fits neatly in a cup holder or backpack pocket, making it our pick for the best-designed filtered water bottle. Beyond the physical design is the internal mechanics. Its membrane microfilter lasts up to five years with daily use.

Ashley Ziegler, an editor, enjoyed her experience with this water bottle, noting that it’s leakproof and fits in the pocket of her kids’ backpacks. The bottle’s ease of use is what really stood out to her. “All you have to do is fill up the bottle, and the filter does the rest,” she says, following up by noting that there is no complicated system when it comes to using this bottle.

The bottle isn’t insulated, which keeps it lightweight but means the water isn’t cold all day. Additionally, it has a twist-off top. Twist-off tops are typically much easier to clean than straw tops, but some may find them less convenient. However, the perk of cleanliness is sure to trump any concerns of convenience here.

Nalgene makes classic water bottles that students, hiking enthusiasts, and busybodies alike love. They’re affordable, can handle rough use, and hold a lot of water. Yet a major drawback is that their old-school functionality means those who want something a bit more up to date will miss out. Now, this drawback no longer exists: Epic Water Filters created filters specifically compatible with Nalgene water bottles, so you don’t have to buy a new water bottle.

While Nalgene bottles typically do not include a straw, this add-on provides one. “Drinking from this filter is very easy compared to the other filtered water bottles I tested,” says Nicole Bonaccorso, an editor. She notes the straw’s functionality was a real key asset, as it was easy to sip the water out of the straw.

We love how this option reduces waste since you can reuse your Nalgene rather than toss it altogether to purchase a new filtered water bottle. But, that said, it may be a bummer for those with different types of water bottles that they’d like to turn into a filtered water bottle, since this is exclusively compatible with Nalgene. It’s also worth remembering that Nalgene won’t fit in a cup holder. 

There are certain circumstances when a collapsible water bottle is handy: an emergency bag where space is scarce, camping (especially when you’ve overpacked), and on a long run, folded up into your fanny pack. Having a collapsible water bottle that filters water only ups the convenience.

We like the BeFree collapsible filtered water bottle from Katadyn. With a design closer to a bag than a bottle, it’s excellent for those who want the option of fresh water without the hassle of toting around a bottle.

Bonaccorso tried this water bottle and was impressed with its collapsibility. “It truly does get down to a small size since it is basically just a bag with a spout,” she says. She notes that due to its design, the bottle does not stand up on its own. Despite that, it’s very easy to fill up.

It can take some force to get the water up through the straw because it’s pulled through the filter when getting a drink. This doesn’t hamper its efficacy at all, just some design notes to keep in mind when determining whether this bottle is a fit for you. We think it’s perfect for any occasion when you’re tight on space and need a lightweight option for filtered water.

When thinking of what I’d like to keep in an emergency pack, I’m interested in something durable and efficient with a long lifespan. When I came across the Grayl UltraPress Purifier, I was confident it hit all three of those notes.

This bottle is made with sturdy BPA-free plastic and withstands 10-foot drops when full of water. Plus, a single cartridge can be used to filter 40 gallons, and the bottle comes with a 10-year warranty. The emphasis on longevity and reliability is why this snagged our vote as the best filtered water bottle for an emergency pack.

I had a chance to try this bottle and noticed how sturdy the material was. It’s not prone to scuffs and can absolutely handle some strong drops — all without leaking.

Admittedly, I struggled a bit with this bottle, though. It requires manual filtering, meaning there is an inner core containing the filtering cartridge that has to be pushed down into the bottle that’s full of water. I had to push down rather hard and dealt with some minor water spillage.

Though there was a learning curve, its durability is what has kept me hooked. The flip-top handle is a sweet extra detail, too, making it easy to tote around.