LifeStraw Peak Series - Collapsible Squeeze Bottle Water Filter System – 650ml for Trail Running, Through Hiking, Travel, Cycling, and Fishing; BPA-Free; Mountain Blue

Why it's worth it

The LifeStraw Peak Series collapsible squeeze system is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, packs down small, and works as a bottle, a straw, or an inline filter. It's the least expensive complete kit here and a sensible first filter.

For a first backpacking filter, this covers what a weekend trip actually demands. LifeStraw certifies the Peak Series to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 standards, with 99.999999% bacteria and 99.999% parasite reduction, rated to 1,000 liters. That's the same protection profile a weekend hiker in a national forest needs, in a package that collapses into a jacket pocket.

Versatility is what you're really buying. The filter unscrews from the collapsible bottle and threads onto other Peak Series components, standard bottles, and — owners report — some third-party running flasks. You can drink through it as a straw, squeeze into a cook pot, or run it inline. That flexibility means the kit adapts as you figure out what kind of hiker you are.

From our review of 7 backpacking water filters, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +For a first backpacking filter, this covers what a weekend trip actually demands
• +Versatility is what you're really buying
• +The bottle itself is noticeably tougher than the thin flasks that come with competing squeeze kits
• +It ships with a backwash accessory, and you need to use it

What to know

• –Clogging is the recurring complaint
• –The 1,000-liter rating and the 650mL bottle both limit it