We no longer have to suffer tepid tap water in a water bottle whilst out walking, in the gym or working in the office, or have to go out and buy expensive disposable bottles of water from the supermarket. The emergence of filtered water bottles have been a real game-changer and a fantastic solution to improve our health and promote water drinking.
This article is designed to provide a strong overview of what a filtered water bottle is, how it works and offer a review of 8 of our favourites. This will hopefully save you the time of searching through countless websites and shops, making it easier to get your filtered water bottle and start a healthier, water-filled lifestyle.
Our Top Picks
Best Filtered Water Bottle of 2021:
![GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier [+ Filter] Bottle](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31n-egWFO-L._SL160_.jpg)
Filtered Water Bottle that are worth mentioning:
Our Top 8 Filtered Water Bottles
We’ve scoured the market and tested some fantastic filtered bottles, bringing together 8 of our favourites. Whether you go for the one we recommend or feel another is right for you, it’s always good to do further reading and research.
1. ClearlyFiltered Tritan Filtered Water Bottle
A great start to our list, this filtered water bottle really lives up to its name, targeting 99.9% of potential contaminants in the water.
Features:
Not happy with offering fantastic health benefits, its sleek design wouldn’t look out of place in the local gym or at the office. It is made from a BPA-free plastic material making it a lightweight solution. As an added bonus, you could fit ice cubes in the bottle if you so wished, with its wide opening.
Design:
So, with great filtration, nice design and lightweight feel, there aren’t many downsides here, except perhaps a lack of colour choices and possibly not fitting in some bicycle drinks holders.
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2. Epic Water Hydro Flask
The second on our list is a little different – it is only a filter and not an actual bottle.
Design:
But we think this isn’t a bad thing as its all about the filtration and gives you a little freedom to decide on the bottle you want, as they offer filters that fit both 32 and 40oz bottles. They have also listened to feedback and expanded the size of the straws, a big bonus to those people thirsty and in a hurry!
Filtration:
The filters offer similar claims to others, with 99.9% filtration of tap water and come in two different options: an urban model aimed at everyday use and an outdoor model, designing for filtering water found in the wilds during a hike or safari.
Certification:
They offer certifications with industry bodies for those very much conscious of seeing proof of filtration.
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3. GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier
The team at GRAYL have gone for simple but effective with this filtered water bottle, once more using a filter that gets rid of 99.9% of bacteria such as cholera, salmonella and more.
Design:
The strength of this simple design is in its durability, making it a perfect option for those keen to spend time outdoors.
Performance:
It is a lightweight, convenient solution that everyone will find easy to use, with no complicated features or requirements designed to frustrate you. No gimmicks, just a clean solution that means you get tasty, healthy water when you need it.
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4. SurviMate Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free
The SurviMate stands out from the crowd because as standard, they supply four different types of filter.
Filtration:
That’s right, you get four of them, designed for different environments and situations to make sure you stay safe and enjoy water wherever you are. The filters include two medical-grade filters, a coconut shell activated carbon filter and then one made of antibacterial beads.
Design:
Made of strong, lightweight material, it will be a fantastic investment for anyone looking for a long term solution.
Maintenance:
The filters state they last approximately 8 months, so you won’t need to buy replacements very often at all. Plus it looks good and is easy to carry!
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5. LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottles
Our next filtered water bottle is the LifeStraw Go and it has an interesting feature of filtering in two stages whilst you’re drinking water.
Filtration:
The first stage is when the activated carbon filter cleans the water of 99.9% of bacteria and the second stage is designed to minimise any chlorine and aftertaste in the water. Clearly, the second stage is less important, it’s a nice bonus to improve the taste of your water, whilst also making it healthier.
Capacity:
The bottle can hold 23 ounces of water, made from BPA-free plastic and a silicone mouthpiece. Its filters can remove bacteria for up to a massive 4,000 litres of water, meaning it will last for a very long time, however, the second stage only lasts for 100 litres, so you will see a taste difference fairly quickly.
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6. Brita 20 Ounce Sport Water Bottle
One of the biggest brands in water filters and coolers of all shapes and sizes, Brita have delivered a simple, yet effective filtered water bottle that has made it onto our list.
Design:
It is slightly smaller than some of the others, but we see that as a potential bonus for those who don’t wish to drag around a heavy water bottle all day.
Filtration:
It’s activated carbon filter performs well in tests and doesn’t let you down, targeting both bacteria and also the taste of the water.
Maintenance:
Made of sturdy plastic and a filter that only needs replacing at the equivalent of 300 bottles of water, that’s a pretty good financial saving, as well as helping out the environment.
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7. KOR Nava BPA Free 650ml Filter Water Bottle
One of the most stylish and interesting filtered water bottles on our list, the KOR Nava really does tick all the boxes for design, features and performance.
Design:
It is a sleek, 650ml water bottle that will fit easily into gym bags, hiking equipment or simply your hand as you walk along. It offers all the usual filtration performance you’d expect, using an activated carbon filter made of coconut shell.
Water Flow:
An interesting feature of this product is its so-called Easy Flow technology, which means that you don’t need to try and squeeze the bottle or suck the straw to get water. You just have to drink it as normal and we think this is a pretty nice touch. Bolt-on a cap designed to stop leaking and quick access, what’s not to love.
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8. WaterWell Travel Water Bottle
The team at WaterWell have aimed this at the hikers, the travellers and explorers who may worry about where they will be able to get water, when out and about in the wilderness.
Design:
It is made with a filter that lets you fill up from anywhere including a puddle or river and you will be able to drink clean, filtered and safe water.
Filtration:
Offering the standard 99.9% magic number for filtration, it means you can carry this around with you and forget about extra bottles or heavy back up supplies.
Maintenance:
The filter is said to filter up to 1000 litres before it needs replacing, more than enough for a long journey and saving incredible amounts of plastic going into the environment.
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9. Invigorated Water Store Filtered Alkaline Water Bottle
A truly stylish stainless-steel filtered water bottle now that combines performance with environmentally friendly practices.
Design:
These guys haven’t used plastic like most other manufacturers but chosen an insulated stainless-steel build instead. It really does look great as well as standing the test of time and reducing plastic waste. It will also keep the liquid at the same temperature for between 12 to 24 hours.
Filtration:
This stainless-steel water bottle will remove chlorine, heavy metals and other contaminants, as well as reducing any fluoride found in the water supply. Furthermore, it will help add in essential minerals, improving both the taste and smell of your drinking water.
Maintenance:
Each alkaline packet or pouch you get will filter approximately 16 gallons of water, which is the equivalent of 144 normal plastic bottles of water. That is a good performance level compared to other filters for water bottles.
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10. GRAYL Geopress Filtered Water Bottle
The last filtered water bottle making it onto our best filtered water bottles list is this impressive bottle from GRAYL. They really have delivered with this one.
Filtration:
Not only does this water bottle filter out bacteria and protozoa found in most untreated water supplies, but it will also get rid of viruses, chemicals, heavy metals and more! This really does put it at the top of the list in terms of a water filtration bottle without any kind of pump or power requirements.
Maintenance:
The filter in this water bottle will last for approximately 65 gallons of water, depending on the quality of water involved. This is far beyond most other water bottles out there and makes it great value for money, despite its price tag.
Design:
A stylish, 24-ounce water bottle means it not only performs well at water filtration but looks great in your bag or on the desk at work. Easy to operate with a simple design and a handle to make it easy to carry on long walks or camping trips.
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Summary
As you can see from our article, we are massive fans of a water filter bottle and it is something we recommend to everyone. Not only does it promote drinking more water and a healthier diet, it truly does protect you from harmful bacteria and saves the mountains of plastic that is polluting our environment. No matter the choice you make, they will almost all offer the similar kind of protection and functionality, so just make sure it looks right, feels right to carry and you will be on to a winner.
How they work
It is all about the filtration system which makes these water bottles stand out from the normal water bottles and an easy way to think it about it is that each filtered water bottle follows three main steps in its creation and filtration process. It all starts with carbon becoming activated and then in the water bottle, it adsorbs and filters what you don’t want to drink.
Activated Carbon
The vast majority of filtered water bottles will use a filter made of carbon (some will use UV but these are a more expensive, battery-powered device), which uses a source of activated carbon, such as charcoal. The purpose of this is to remove any impurities that may be present in your water source.
It becomes activated carbon by being changed inside a furnace, creating a greater surface area and more porous surface area, allowing the full filtration process to take place more efficiently.
Adsorption
This aspect of water filtration is all about binding any elements in the water to the activated carbon, which in turn filters the water. The reason that activated carbon is used is because it has a far greater amount of binding sites when compared to normal carbon sources, making it a more efficient method for filtering those harmful contents.
Filtration
Put simply, this means the carbon filter is absorbing everything that is harmful in the water, removing potential bacteria or minerals that could be harmful. The performance of the filtration system is key and so filters should be regularly replaced, as per the guidance from the manufacturer. If you don’t, then you are simply not getting the benefits of a filtered water bottle and protecting yourself from harm.
Pros
There are plenty of pros to buying and using a filtered water bottle and it is important to note that these will in general, always outweigh the cons. But it is important to be balanced and think about both sides, so let’s start with the pros:
Price
One of the most persuasive reasons for buying a filtered water bottle is the financial savings involved. Imagine how much you spend on disposable water bottles and replace this with a one-off investment for a filtered water bottle. Apart from the odd filter replacement, you will be saving money in no time!
Health
As highlighted in our initial section on how a filtered water bottle works, it’s all about filtering out the harmful minerals and bacteria in water. This makes it a no-brainer from a health perspective, always knowing that the water you’re drinking is about as healthy for you as you will be able to get.
Environment
The world is becoming more and more aware of the impact plastic and waste is having on our environment and single-use plastics are one of the main issues at the moment. If you can replace this with purchasing a single filtered water bottle, then you will stop a lot of plastic from being created and thrown away.
Travelling
Whether you are travelling to work, going for a walk or on a trip around the world, having a filtered water bottle with you is so important. You may be in a location that doesn’t have a shop or the local water supply isn’t that trustworthy and so this will give you a bit more peace of mind and filter out some of the bugs that may be present in water supplies.
Cons
As mentioned, there are some cons to choosing a filtered water bottle and as a result, it may not be the best choice for your specific situation.
Using a straw
The majority of filtered water bottles have a straw built into them because it forms part of the filtration system, not the bottle itself. Some may not mind this but for others, it may be a little frustrating.
Size
For some of the more active people out there, they may find the sizes of the filtered water bottles a little small. For most of us, they are actually just as big, if not bigger than shop-bought water bottles, so this won’t bother many.
Materials
These bottles will be made from a variety of materials including heavier stainless steel, so some will be too heavy for people to use regularly. You will want to do a bit of research and find the right sort of bottle for you, otherwise, it could become a bit of an annoyance after investing in one.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions about filtered water bottles, along with some short answers to help you navigate through the buying process.
Can you put them in the dishwasher?
- You need to be very careful with putting water bottles in the dishwasher, so our recommendation is always checking with the manufacturer instructions first. Whilst most are dishwasher safe, some tell you to put them on the top rack or take out parts of the filtration system first.
Which brand is the best to go for?
- There are some fantastic brands out there, including the well-known manufacturers like Brita and Grale. However, there are some great products out there right now from other brands so don’t feel you need to stick to a specific one. You just need to make sure that the bottle provides everything you need, offers a good warranty and has plenty of positive feedback from customers.
How much do I need to spend?
- This is a difficult question to answer because it very much depends on the type of water filter bottle you need. You can go for relatively basic water bottles, or go for more stylish, higher capacity ones that will filter out more harmful contaminants. You can even go further and get ones that add in minerals to improve the taste and smell of the water you are drinking.
Can I put the bottles in the fridge or freezer?
- Another situation where you should be very careful and check with the manufacturer first. In all likelihood, putting them in the refrigerator will be absolutely fine, but you shouldn’t put them in the freezer because it will damage the filter. It will most likely mean the membrane inside gets damaged and either lower the performance or results in you having to replace the filter. If you want ice-cold drinks, look for a water filter bottle that will allow for ice cubes to fit inside.
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