The Best Water Bottles with Filters

Buying Guide for Water Bottles with Filters

Why buy a water bottle with a filter?

Even if you have a destination in mind, you never know the quality of the water that you’ll find. Maybe you’re on the way to the gym, a remote location in the Rocky Mountains, East India, your office—the tap water or spring water, for example, will undoubtedly contain at the very least the odor and taste of chlorine. With a reliable water bottle with a filter in hand, you’ll never have to worry about water quality.

What should you look for in a water bottle with a filter?

• Design: Water bottles with filters come in many shapes and designs. Each water bottle with a filter differs in design to best serve its intended use. A water bottle for everyday use may have a larger capacity and feature a carrying loop. Those which are designed for extreme environments may be made of polypropylene, a heavy-duty plastic that won’t dent if it falls. Color and decorative design matter, too.
• Filter: The materials used in filters don’t differ widely; most are activated carbon. However, levels of filtration differ considerably. Some filters remove the taste and odor of chlorine, while others filter 99.99% of tap water impurities, and others remove all pathogens.
• Perks: Every water bottle with a filter we review here has its perks. What’s important to you? Some bottles are made to look nice with appealing colors and designs. Others come with a replacement filter. A few companies promote environmentally friendly or equal access to resources activism, which you may find of value. Some bottles come with grip material so you don’t lose your bottle in treacherous conditions.

What should you do when you receive your new water bottle with a filter?

Maybe you’ve noticed that when you open a box of brand-new sneakers, plastic storage containers, even books—you’re met with a distinctive odor. You may find this when you first open your new water bottle. So, wash it thoroughly first. Washing it also removes particles that may have entered the filter in the packaging process. Then, you will want to run water through the filter several times to prime it for future use.

Our Picks for the Best Water Bottles with Filters

Pros: Chances are you’ve heard about the line of Brita water filters. Well, this 36-ounce filtered water bottle will not disappoint Brita-lovers and may win over those who are new to the product. While large, the water bottle fits in most car cup holders. It’s easy to carry by hand too with the built-in carrying loop and safe to tote in a bag with its leak-proof lid. By using the Brita for one year, you’ll replace approximately 1,800 single-use plastic water bottles a year. Yet, the highlight is the carbon filter that reduces the taste and odor of chlorine.

Cons: There may be difficulty cleaning the mouthpiece as it can’t be removed from the bottle.

Bottom Line: This environmentally proactive Brita water bottle product filters like a champ. You may be able to solve the issue of mold build-up by washing the bottle daily, in the dishwasher, or by hand with a water bottle brush.

 

Pros: Nalgene has been manufacturing water bottles with environmental motivation for decades, most notably their 32-ounce wide mouth bottle. The Epic company has teamed up with them to create the Epic Nalgene OG (Original Gangster), a water bottle with a filter. It filters 99.99% of tap water impurities, including bacteria, viruses, lead, chlorine, fluoride, herbicides, pesticides, and a lot more. How? With a USA-made organic coconut shell-based carbon mesh filter that’s rigorously tested by third-party labs.

Cons: The filter doesn’t reach the bottom, making it tricky to drink all of the water without taking the top off.

Bottom Line: Such an ‘epic’ product may come across as a little exclusive, but students, travelers, professionals, gym rats—most everyone can find something to like about this useful water bottle. Plus, the available artsy designs are a nice touch you can take on your next adventure.

 

Pros: This is not your average water bottle with a filter. It’s made to keep you hydrated on the roughest trails, for global travel, any extreme physical experience where potable water might not be an option. You can dunk the GeoPress in a wilderness stream teeming with Giardia. All you need to do is fill the bottle, press down, and drink up. The filter works via electroabsorption and multiple layers of ultra-powdered activated carbon to remove viruses, bacteria, protozoa, filter particulates, chemicals, and heavy metals. What else do you have to look forward to? The TPE TopoGrip material and SoftPress pads help prevent the bottle from slipping from your hands as you climb over boulders or insanely busy airports.

Cons: This is a pricier option.

Bottom Line: Again, this is not your average water bottle with a filter. It’s made to turn any water of any quality into thirst-quenching, life-saving water.

 

Pros: What’s better than chlorine odor and taste-free water? Cold chlorine odor and taste-free water! This 32-ounce stainless steel Brita water bottle keeps icy cold water cold for 24 hours. The stainless-steel design is simple with double-wall insulation, and the carbon block filter sits right inside. The leak-proof lid keeps the water inside and dirt and debris outside. Open the lid and sip the straw for a cool, clean refresher at the gym, a business meeting, or a rock concert.

Cons: For some, the straw seems may be too long to fully snap the lid on.

Bottom Line: It keeps odorless, tasteless (in a good way) water cold for a full day.

 

Pros: The filter LifeStraw designed for this water bottle is ‘two-stage’ because, indeed, the water goes through stages of filtration. First, the water you gather from a drinking fountain or countryside creek goes through a membrane microfilter, which removes bacteria, parasites, and microplastics. Then it moves through an activated carbon filter which reduces chlorine, bad odor, and chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. Both are made to endure with the microfiber that lasts up to 4,000 liters and the activated carbon filter that lasts up to 100 liters. The plastic bottle is BPA-free and tested to meet protocols safety protocols. When you buy a bottle, LifeStraw ensures that a kid in need gets clean water for a full year.

Cons: There are two filters to keep track of, which may get tricky if you forget when it’s time to replace them.

Bottom Line: This durable water bottle with two, high-quality filters make life easier for you to venture outside—and the purchase helps someone else too.

Final Thoughts

Having a filtered water bottle on-hand is an essential and helpful product to have when you’re on the go and need to stay hydrated. To ensure you get the most health benefits out of your water, a water bottle with a filter can do just that.