8 Best Filtered Water Bottles of 2020

You might buy bottled water while you’re out and about, especially if you’re in an area where the water quality or taste is particularly unpleasant.

A water filtration bottle offers a much more wallet and environmentally friendly solution. You’ll only need to buy the water bottle and filter once, then factor in for buying replacement filters in the future.

Wherever you go with your filtered water bottle, providing a water source is safe for drinking, you’ll be able to use it to fill your portable water filter bottle with tap water and let the filter do the work.

This means you can enjoy the same great tasting water from your bottle no matter what the drinking source.

What is a filtered water bottle?

A filtered water bottle, otherwise known as a water purifier bottle, offers a portable means of enjoying clean, pure drinking water on the go.

If you spend a lot of money on buying bottled water, a filtered water bottle would most likely offer a better solution for you.

There has been some controversy about the quality of some types of bottled water, and concerns raised relating to contaminants and free radicals present in water at a higher rate than the permitted level.

Bottled water also contributes to enormous yearly plastic waste, while a self filtering water bottle is designed to last for a minimum of a couple of years.

A filtered water bottle looks just like a standard, hard-edge water bottle, except it contains a filter that removes impurities and contaminants from water.

You can buy water bottles with built in filters in a range of different styles, colors and material types, so if water bottle aesthetics are important to you, you won’t be let down by the selection.

As you may expect, because water purification bottles are such in-demand products, some bottles on the market are more trendy than practical.

If you want to get the full benefits of the water filter feature in your bottle, you’ll need to buy one that’s slightly more practical in purpose.

Read up on filtered water bottle reviews and make sure your bottle of choice is effective at filtering out impurities, and offers clear instructions on how to clean, use and change the filter.

Best Filtered Water Bottles

• LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
• Brita 23.7 Ounce Hard Sided Water Bottle with Filter
• KOR Nava Filter Water Bottle
• Seychelle Extreme Water Filter Bottle
• Sawyer Products Personal Water Bottle Filter
• SurviMate Filtered Water Bottle
• Bobble Classic

Water Bottle	Details
LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle	Capacity: 23 ounces Filter longevity: 264 gallons Material: Plastic, silicone	See price on Amazon
Brita 23.7 Ounce Hard Sided Water Bottle with Filter	Capacity: 23.7 ounces Filter longevity: 2 months or 40 gallons Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon
KOR Nava Filter Water Bottle	Capacity: 22 ounces Filter longevity: 3 months or 300 refills Material: Triton polyester	See price on Amazon
GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier	Capacity: 16 ounces Filter longevity: 40 gallons or 2-3 months Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon
Seychelle Extreme Water Filter Bottle	Capacity: 28 ounces Filter longevity: 100 gallons Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon
Sawyer Products Personal Water Bottle Filter	Capacity: 34 ounces Filter longevity: 100,000 gallons Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon
SurviMate Filtered Water Bottle	Capacity: 650 ml Filter longevity: 1500 liters Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon
Bobble Classic	Capacity: 18.5 ounces Filter longevity: 300 refills Material: Plastic	See price on Amazon

How do filtered water bottles Work?

There’s more to a filtered water bottle than just its appearance. If you want to know what to look for in a bottle, you need to understand the basics of water bottle filtration.

The two more popular filter systems for a water bottle are:

• Systems that filter water as you fill the bottle
• Systems that filter water as you drink from the bottle

Both systems work on a similar basis in that when the water flows through the filter media, whether into the bottle when you fill it, or out of the bottle when you drink from it, the filter catches the impurities and removes them from the water.

It’s able to do this because water particles are relatively small, whereas contaminant and impurity particles are larger, and are unable to pass through the filter media.

Type of filter

While water filters for household use might consist of several filters in the same unit, a water filtration bottle is obviously a lot smaller and more compact – which means the filter needs to be smaller and more compact, too.

Most water purification bottles use an activated carbon filter, which relies on activated carbon, or activated charcoal, to eliminate contaminants from the water.

If you notice tiny black dots on the bottom of your filter, it’s an activated carbon filter. The black specs are water impurities; a sign the filter is doing its job.

Activated carbon filters require changing regularly to ensure they continue to remove contaminants from your water efficiently. The activated carbon has a very big surface area to volume ratio, which helps the filter to remove as many impurities from drinking water as possible.

The filtration process

The activated carbon filter is spread out across the filter media, which gives an increased surface area for ions and molecules to bind to. Water is able to pass through the activated carbon, but water’s contaminants bind to the media, essentially becoming trapped.

You can see from this process that eventually, the carbon filter would no longer be able to store contaminants in the media that could affect quality and taste, including bacteria and viruses.

This is why it’s important to pay close attention to your filters and change them when you think they need changing, or as per the instructions provided in the product manual.

Contaminants removed by filtered water bottles

Water bottle filters are designed to filter out three key contaminants:

1. Bacteria
2. Viruses
3. Chemical compounds

Here’s why these contaminants can be bad for us in water:

• There are a number of bacteria that are found naturally in the environment, particularly in water sources. Some bacteria may also enter water during the treatment process, although this is rarer, and indicates a large-scale problem. Even in small amounts, bacteria can cause short-term health effects like stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. They can cause more serious problems for people with a weaker immune system, like children and the elderly.
• If water becomes contaminated by animal waste, viruses may become present in water. While the water treatment process should remove any cause of waterborne disease, if you drink contaminated water, you’re likely to fall ill. Viruses can present as a number of unpleasant symptoms, including sickness, stomach cramping, a high temperature and nausea.
• Water is thought to contain traces of hundreds of contaminants, but chemical compounds are the most prominent. Compounds like chlorine, fluoride, chloramines, hormones, nitrates and pesticides are all found in small traces in our water. While these aren’t particularly bad for our health in smaller doses, they can affect water quality and taste.

Advantages of filtered water bottles

There are many advantages to switching your standard water bottle for a water purification bottle. Take a look at the list below for the biggest benefits of water bottles with a filter:

Portability

One of the best things about a water filtration bottle is that you can take it wherever you go, whether that’s to work, the gym, or across the world on a vacation away.

Filtered water bottles work on any drinking water, so you can get great tasting water no matter where you are. Most bottles are standard water bottle size, and are compact enough to fit inside a handbag or in a backpack bottle pocket.

With a filter water bottle, you won’t need to be at home to enjoy clean, pure water, like you would if you had an under-sink water filter or reverse osmosis system. You can take your filter with you anywhere you want, so you’ll never need to make another bottled water purchase again.

Some water filtration bottles for travel are designed to be more durable and space saving, which can come in useful for storage and the expected wear-and-tear of being on the road. But generally, the majority of filter water bottles are suitable for taking with you out of the house.

Cost effective

Many people who buy bottled water do so because they prefer the taste. This is especially the case if you’re visiting a different part of the country or the world, and you find the water in the area to taste particularly unpleasant.

Water filter bottles eliminate the need for buying bottled water, as you’ll be able to produce great tasting water anywhere. If you’re the sort to buy water bottles on a daily basis, it’s worth adding up how much you think you spend per week, per month, or even per year.

Then compare this to the cost of a water purification bottle and its replacement filters – you’re guaranteed to be making a really good saving.

The majority of water filter bottles online cost between $30 and $70, which, for a one-time purchase, is a fairly good deal. Replacement cartridges cost between $5 and $15, depending on the brand and the filter quality.

No other water filtration product – not water filter pitchers, under sink filters or countertop filters – are as low in price as water filter bottles.

If you want to enjoy clean tasting water but your budget won’t stretch to a whole-house alternative, a water bottle with a filter is the best solution for you.

Removes contaminants from water

Whatever your reason for wanting to drink clean water, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of contaminant free water with a water filtration bottle. The activated carbon filter in most purifying bottles is designed to remove contaminants like bacteria, viruses and chemicals for safer, purer, better-tasting water.

Activated carbon filters are particularly effective at removing chlorine from water. All water that goes through the treatment process has chlorine added to it to disinfect water and kill disease-causing pathogens.

While chlorine plays an important role in making water safe for us to drink, once it reaches our faucets, it’s no longer needed. When it is filtered out of water with an activated carbon filter, the water that’s left over is much more appealing to taste.

Environmentally friendly

The world is in a plastic crisis, drinking bottled water will only make the situation worse.

Although water bottles can be recycled, they don’t ever biodegrade. This means that if somebody disposes of a bottle incorrectly, it will only ever break down into millions of tiny particles, which then pollute waterways and soils.

Ultimately, these tiny plastic particles end up being ingested by us, when we drink from plastic-contaminated water sources and eat foods that have been cultivated in plastic-ridden soils.

The only way to solve the plastic problem is to stop using throwaway plastics altogether. This is where durable, long-lasting water bottles designed for multiple use come in to play.

With a minimum two year lifespan, filtered water bottles are a much more environmentally-friendly solution to drinking pure filtered water, without you having to compromise on taste.

Safer for drinking

Another issue with single-use bottled water is that it often contains toxins from the plastic itself. The chemicals used to make these bottles can leach into water over time, especially if the bottle has been exposed to heat.

Toxins like BPA can pass into your bloodstream and cause a number of health issues. Some studies have linked plastic toxins from water bottles to some cancers, as well as damage to the liver and kidneys.

Luckily, you can avoid these issues by choosing to drink from a water purifying bottle. Most water bottles with a filter are BPA-free, which means they’re deliberately designed without the BPA toxin in their material, so there’s no risk of it leaching into the water.

While throwaway water bottles are designed for quick and one-time use, a lot more care goes into designing water filter bottles, and manufacturers can be more mindful of the materials that are used.

Simple filtration solution

If you’ve often resorted to tiresome methods of water filtration or decontamination, like boiling water, adding disinfection tablets, running water through UV lights, or even using a filter hand pump, water filter bottles offer a much more simple and convenient solution.

With a water purification bottle, all you need to do is fill it with drinking water from a faucet.

The bottle filters the water when it enters or leaves before you drink it, without any effort on your part. You just need to make sure your filters are changed regularly, and the inside of the bottle is cleaned out when necessary. You won’t need to go to any extra effort for clean, filtered water.

Disadvantages of filtered water bottles

Costlier than standard water bottles

When it comes to making a decision between a standard long-life water bottle and a water filter bottle, the latter are significantly more expensive.

You might be able to find a good-quality regular water bottle for as little as $5, whereas for a water purification bottle, you’ll need to spend at least $30 to get a decent product that’ll last a long time.

You’ll also need to factor in the cost of changing your filters regularly. A standard water bottle without a filter won’t need any upkeep apart from cleaning, but a water purification bottle won’t filter your water properly if you don’t change the filters as instructed by your product’s user manual.

Drinking from a straw

With most filtered water bottles, you won’t have a choice for drinking – you’ll have to drink through a straw, as this is attached to the filter and makes it possible for the removal of contaminants as you’re drinking.

Not everyone enjoys drinking from a straw, and it can get annoying if you want to take a big gulp of water, as straws restrict how much water you can drink at a time.

The straw feature of water filtration bottles also makes them more difficult to clean. There’s usually no way of taking apart a straw to be able to thoroughly wash its inside, which can lead to a build-up of nasty stuff over time.

While this shouldn’t be too harmful, as the water you’re drinking is filtered and pure, you might not enjoy being unable to properly clean out your bottle.

heavier weight

Some water filter bottles are made from BPA-free plastic, which makes them a good lightweight choice for travel and taking on the go.

However, a good number of water bottles with a filter are made from stainless steel. Some people may prefer the design options that stainless steel offers, but you should bear in mind that it’s a heavier material that may get annoying to carry around.

Container size

Water purification bottles might be the least expensive filtration option of them all, but this is largely because they can only produce a smaller quantity of filtered water at a time.

Unlike water filter pitchers, which allow you to make a large batch of filtered water for use over a period of hours, your water filtration bottle will empty at a much faster rate.

When you want to fill your water bottle with a filter, you’ll have to wait until you’re at a water source to do so. A standard filtered water bottle holds 20 ounces of water, which might not be a satisfactory amount for you.

Water purity

Water filter bottles are incredibly effective at removing contaminants and impurities from water, but there are even more thorough alternatives out there if you’re looking to remove up to 99.9% of contaminants from water.

While water purification bottles can remove contaminants and pathogens like bacteria, viruses and chemicals, other filtration methods, like reverse osmosis, can remove other common contaminants like lead, arsenic, pesticides and herbicides, and hard water-causing minerals.

Because of their level of filtration depth, these systems take up more space and are usually installed underneath a kitchen sink.

You won’t be able to buy a reverse osmosis water bottle.

you should use a filtered water bottle when..

You’re on vacation

Traveling to a new destination for a vacation often means one thing: different or unusual tasting water.

If you don’t usually adjust well to different drinking water tastes or odors while you’re on vacation, you can simply take a water purification bottle with you to filter out the unpleasant taste. You’ll be able to use your bottle on any drinking water that’s safe to drink, no matter how it tastes, looks or smells when it comes out of the faucet.

You go to work

If your usual solution for avoiding your workplace’s poor-quality water is to buy batches of bottled water – or worse, a sugary drink from the vending machine – make the switch to a filtered water bottle and see how much money you can save.

You’ll be able to keep your filtered water bottle on your desk or in your locker, and refill it with tap water whenever your supply is running low.

you’re at home

You might not be able to justify the cost and maintenance fuss of an under-sink water filter, and that’s fine.

A simple and cost-effective alternative is to use a filtered water bottle, and simply refill it every time you drink what’s in there.

You could even buy multiple water filter bottles if you wanted to have a slightly bigger supply of filtered water on hand whenever you needed it.

you’re on the go

Whether you’re traveling by car, train or plane, you’ll most likely grab a bottled water from your local store for the sake of convenience.

With a filtered water bottle, you have an even more convenient solution – a multiple-use bottle that you can refill whenever you need to.

You’ll find means of refilling your water bottle with safe drinking water at most airports, train stations, cafes and restaurants, so there’s no need to worry about running empty.

you go to the gym

When you’re at the gym, if you don’t have a water bottle with you, you’ll probably end up drinking water out of a machine from a disposable plastic cup.

The less wasteful alternative is to bring your water bottle with a filter, so you can stay hydrated throughout your entire gym session with the freshest, best tasting water.

Most gyms have space for storing a water bottle on all their workout machines, so you’ll be able to take yours around with you on the go.

How to Buy a filtered water bottle

If you’re ready to buy a filtered water bottle, the best first step is to go online and read a buyer’s guide like this one. You’ll be able to gather all the information you need to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

You might find water filtration bottles in stores at your local shopping center, but your best choice will always be online.

There are many advantages to shopping on the internet, and being able to take the time to read up on a product can help you to find the highest quality bottle that suits your budget and filtration requirements.

Things to consider when buying a filtered water bottle

Bottle size

You’ll be able to buy a water purifier bottle in various sizes, but the standard capacity for holding water is 20 ounces.

Of course, there are bottles that are bigger or smaller than this, but you’ll have to consider whether these will be suitable for taking with you on the go, and whether they’ll be sufficient enough to provide you with enough water at one time.

Bottle material

If you want your filtered water bottle to last for a long time, you’ll need to make sure the quality of the material is sufficient.

Look for strong, BPA-free plastic that won’t bend or break after a short time. Alternatively, stainless steel bottles are durable, but remember that they are a little heavier.

If you’re looking for a lightweight water bottle with a filter, plastic is your best bet.

It’s hard to determine the quality of a filtered water bottle just from looking at images online. The best thing to do is take a look at reviews of the bottle and pick up on any negative trends in customer feedback. If a number of people have complained about leaks, or that their bottle arrived broken in the post, this can be a sign that the quality isn’t too great.

budget

As with all water filtration products, the price for a water filtration bottle varies quite significantly from product to product. It’s not always a case of ‘you pay for what you get’, so if your budget can’t stretch to some of the more expensive filters, you’re most likely not missing out on much.

Generally, the average price of a water bottle with a filter costs $30 to $40.

Some best-selling products are cheaper than this, at around $20, and some are more expensive, at $80 or higher.

Price is less important than you think, although it can of course indicate the quality of the materials used to manufacture the bottle, the origin of manufacturing, and the popularity of the manufacturer. If a filtered water bottle is especially low in price, read up on reviews and make sure the filter functions to an expected standard.

the type of filter

Most water filtration bottles contain a carbon activated filter, which traps the impurities from water in the filter media, allowing only water particles to pass through. Note, though, that some water bottles use a UV filter instead, which is often pricier and needs batteries to operate.

UV filters are great for removing viruses and acting as clean, chemical-free water sterilizers. The only issue is that they’re not effective in the slightest at removing chemical compounds that are in the water, like chlorine and fluoride.

Some water filtration bottles combine UV filters and carbon activated filters in one, which makes for a more expensive purchase, but provides the most thorough purifying process for your water.

What you want filtered out

While most water bottles with a filter are designed with the same carbon activated filter media, not all of them can filter out the same contaminants.

Generally, you’ll find that a filtered water bottle will remove chemicals like chlorine, copper and fluoride from your water and improve its taste and odor at a minimum. This tends to be the standard purpose of a water bottle with a filter.

It’s also common for water filtration bottles to filter out parasites, bacteria and viruses from drinking water. If you’re drinking from a water source like a stream or a river, this type of filtration will make your water safe for drinking.

It’s worth considering the purpose of your filtered water bottle when you’re looking for one to buy.

Read a bottle’s product description to learn whether it’s better for just dealing with chemical compounds, or can filter out the harmful pathogens mentioned above. If you’re just planning to take your water bottle with you for home and work purposes, you won’t need to worry so much about bacteria removal, as standard tap water has already been sterilized at a water treatment center.

Features to look for in a filtered water bottle

BPA-free

As we mentioned earlier, BPA is a harmful chemical that’s used in many plastic products even today, and can leach into food and water sources that come into contact with the plastic.

There are health concerns linking BPA to damage to the brain and prostate glands of fetuses and infants in particular.

More and more manufacturers are now creating BPA-free products, so you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to filtered water bottles. Being BPA-free is a good marketing plug, so most products that are will boast it somewhere in their product descriptions.

Easily cleaned

You want your filtered water bottle to last for as long as possible, which means being able to clean it regularly to keep it in good condition. Some water filtration bottles are easier to clean than others, and some can be washed in a dishwasher for extra convenience.

Look at a product’s reviews to see if anyone has mentioned an issue with cleaning or hygiene with the bottle itself before you make a purchase.

high quality filters

To get the most out of your filtered water bottle, you should look for a design with a high quality water filter that’s built to last.

The better the quality of a filter, the more use you’ll be able to get out of it before you need to replace it. You’re looking for a filter that can efficiently eliminate contaminants from water, improving taste and odor.

The standard lifespan of the filter in your bottle is around 2 months, but you should always check a product’s user manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations to be sure. It’s important that you change your filter to continue to benefit from drinking clean water from your bottle month after month.

Filtered water bottle maintenance and when to change to a new one

Most water filtration bottles require the filter changing once every 2 months or after every 40 gallons of use, whichever comes first.

To prepare and change your filter, you’ll first need to flush your new filter – removing any contaminants that might have made their way into the filter in the manufacturing and packaging process.

Simply run a steady stream of water from your tap through the filter for a minimum of 15 seconds to do so, Make sure you aim the water at all areas of the filter, including the sides and the inside, which will wash out any loose carbon particles.

Insert your new filter by pressing or twisting into place. Then align your straw and twist on the bottle’s lid. You’ll be able to use the water filter straightaway, so fill with water and enjoy immediate, great-tasting water.

Cleaning your water bottle is a simpler task. Simply twist the bottle’s lid open, remove the straw, unclip or unscrew your filter and put it safely to one side. Submerge the bottle in warm, soapy water and clean out the insides with a sponge. If your bottle is dishwasher safe, you can use this cleaning option if you prefer.

Try to get into the habit of cleaning your water bottle regularly, especially focusing on the straw, to prevent the build-up of bacteria. Washing it out every day and subjecting it to a deeper clean once a week is a good routine to get into

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I store my filtered water for?

When your water is filtered by a water purifier bottle, you’ll be able to benefit from clean, contaminant-free water that’s much more preferable – and not just to you. Micro-organisms like algae and mold thrive in pure water environments, which is why it’s important not to store your filtered water for excessively long periods of time.

If you want to store filtered water, keep it in the fridge for up to a day. Avoid areas of heat or direct sunlight. It’s fine to keep your bottle out of the fridge for a few hours at a time without use, or all day if you’re constantly drinking from it. It’s just not the best idea to leave your bottle sitting out in the sun and forget about it for a week.