What’s the Ideal Travel Water Filter Pitcher?
Written by: Alexandra Uta // Last Updated: Sep 14, 2023
This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
If you make use of a water filter at home, you may want to continue using one when you travel.
Whether you’re going on holiday abroad or just to stay with friends or family, the quality of a water supply in a place you’re not familiar with can be a real concern.
Luckily, there are a great variety of travel water filter pitchers that you can bring with you to your destination! These types of filter have qualities that make them ideal for traveling, as they are often compact, light, durable and reliable at removing harmful microorganisms in a sufficient space of time.
Contents
show
Key Takeaways
- Depending where you are traveling, you should look for a water filter pitcher capable of removing dangerous microbes from water supplies.
- Make sure to buy water filter pitchers backed by NSF testing or certifications.
- Also consider the size, weight, compactness, and durability of a pitcher to have a much easier time when traveling with it.
The Ideal Travel Water Filter Pitcher
Of course you are free to buy whatever water filter pitcher you’d like, but we highly recommend the Epic Nano. It’s NSF-tested to safely eliminate specific types of viruses, bacteria, and cysts, as well as other pollutants (you’ll find a list below).
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
The Epic Nano Filter Pitcher removes many harmful contaminants and microorganisms, including the following:
- Chemical additives
- Microorganisms (Giardia 99.999%, Cryptosporidium 99.999%, E. Coli 99.9999%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 99.9999%, Virus MS2 Phage 99.95%)
- Pesticides & herbicides
- Pharmaceutical & emerging contaminants
- Volatile & semi-volatile compounds
- Total trihalomethanes (such as chloroform)
- Heavy metals (such as aluminum, iron, lead, manganese, cadmium, chromium 6 and copper)
- Microplastics
- Radiological elements
Pros
This filter pitcher is NSF-tested by independent laboratories to reduce and remove harmful contaminants and microorganisms. Jug size is ideal to fit into your suitcase while still storing plenty of filtered water.
It is made of BPA-free plastic and its filters are 100% recyclable. What’s more, they have a life of up to 6 months. Lifetime warranty and a simple refund policy means you also have peace of mind when purchasing.
Cons
The lid can get stuck and even fall off during pouring, which may get a bit frustrating. There have also been some complaints about the filter cartridges being slow to filter water after a few weeks.
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
The Clearly Filtered Pitcher removes a wide variety of contaminants not including microorganisms, such as:
- Fluoride
- Microplastics
- Volatile and semi-volatile compounds
- Phthalates
- Pesticides & herbicides
- Pharmaceutical drugs
- Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, cadmium, silver and cobalt
- Chemicals disinfectants like chlorine & chloramine, iodine, ammonia, nitrates & nitrites, sulfate and sulfide
Pros
The Clearly Filtered Pitcher is NSF/ANSI tested to reduce harmful contaminants in a water supply, whilst retaining essential minerals. Quick to assemble and easy to use, this large 10-cup pitcher is suitable for large households, made of BPA-free plastic, and even has a cartridge filter life of up to 4 months on average. A 30-day money back guarantee means that it’s a risk-free purchase if you end up unhappy with the results.
Cons
There aren’t very many cons with this pitcher, other than a few minor complaints about clogging and the fact that it’s more expensive compared to other pitcher filters.
Why Do You Need a Travel Water Filter Pitcher?
Purifiers vs Filters
When people refer to a water purifier, they often mean a product that has the ability to remove viruses, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens from water – as opposed to a regular water filter, which cannot, but removes other contaminants like sediment, chemicals, and heavy metals instead.
When you’re traveling, we recommend looking for a product that is marketed as a water purifier, as this should remove dangerous microbes from the water supply in some foreign countries, which may not be treated to the same high standards as you are used to back home.
Further Reading:
Quality and Features to Look Out for When Shopping for a Travel Filter Pitcher
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to choosing a pitcher filter model. However, there’re a few qualities that every good water pitcher should have, which we’ve listed below.
Effective Filtration Backed by NSF Testing/Certifications
Not only does NSF/ANSI testing and certification guarantee that a water pitcher can successfully filter out harmful microorganisms, but it’s a good measure of overall filtration performance. When a filter pitcher has been tested or certified by an independent body, you can have peace of mind that it performs exactly as it was advertised to you.
Removal of Harmful Microorganisms
Depending on where you go, a travel pitcher filter should be able to remove a significant amount of microorganisms. As mentioned above, a water pitcher filter that has been verified against NSF standards will be evidence of this, as they’ve been checked by independent organizations to test their effectiveness in removing such contaminants.
Compactness
It should probably go without saying – if you’re looking to bring an item with you when traveling, you’ll want it to be as small in size and compact as possible. The same goes for a water filter. If you can find a pitcher that is smaller in size than the average model, you’ll have a much easier time finding somewhere to store it in your luggage!
Light Weight
The lighter your filter pitcher is, the easier and more convenient it will be to carry around in a bag or suitcase when traveling.
Durability
The last thing you want when traveling is a water filter pitcher that cracks in transit or breaks whenever your luggage has a bit of a bumpy landing. A durable pitcher made of high quality (and BPA-free) plastic should be able to withstand any knocks or falls that it endures whilst on the move.
Jug Transparency
While transparency may not be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a filter pitcher to buy, it is useful. A pitcher jug that is transparent will allow security staff at airports or customs to see that the only thing you’re traveling with is an empty plastic container!
What Should I Be Aware of When Traveling?
Drinking water in countries abroad may not be subject to the same high standards and checks that your water supply is in America. (In fact, not all states may have their water treated in the same way!)
Whether it’s water from a tap faucet or a well; if you’re unsure about where the water comes from or what prior filtering (if any) it has undergone, always use your water filter pitcher to purify the water. It really is worth the investment!
If you have any questions about travel water filter pitchers please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
About the Author Alexandra Uta
Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.