When looking for the cheapest way to filter water for hiking, consider options that balance affordability, weight, and efficiency. Here are some of the most cost-effective water filters available:

Five Economical Options

1. Boiling Water

• Cost: Free (if you already have a stove and fuel).
• How It Works: Boiling water for at least 1 minute (or 3 minutes at higher altitudes) kills bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.
• Pros: Highly effective against pathogens.
• Cons: Requires time, fuel, and doesn’t remove sediment or chemical contaminants.

2. DIY Pre-Filters (Bandana or Coffee Filter)

• Cost: <$5 for materials.
• How It Works: Use a bandana, coffee filter, or similar material to remove sediment before drinking or treating water with another method.
• Pros: Extremely cheap and lightweight.
• Cons: Only removes particles, not pathogens.

3. Chemical Treatments

• Cost: $8–$15 for a pack of tablets or drops.
• Examples: Aquatabs, Katadyn Micropur tablets, or iodine drops.
• How It Works: These kill bacteria, viruses, and protozoa by chemically treating the water.
• Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, and effective against pathogens.
• Cons: Alter the taste of water and require a waiting period (usually 30 minutes).

4. Budget Squeeze Filters

• Cost: $20–$30.
• Examples: Sawyer Mini or comparable budget models.
• How It Works: Squeeze water through a small, compact filter that removes bacteria and protozoa.
• Pros: Long lifespan, portable, and removes sediment.
• Cons: Slower flow rate and not effective against viruses.

5. Straw Filters

• Cost: $15–$25.
• Examples: LifeStraw Personal or similar products.
• How It Works: Drink directly from the water source using the straw, which filters bacteria and protozoa.
• Pros: Lightweight, compact, and easy to use.
• Cons: Cannot store filtered water and not effective against viruses.

6. DIY Activated Charcoal Filter

• Cost: <$10 for materials (if you make it yourself).
• How It Works: Use activated charcoal to reduce some chemical contaminants and improve taste.
• Pros: Affordable and can be integrated into other filtering systems.
• Cons: Doesn’t remove pathogens without additional filtration or purification.

Affordable Water Filter Options

1. Sawyer Mini Water Filter

• Price: Approximately $25
• Weight: 2 oz (including a 32 fl. oz. pouch)
• Flow Rate: 1 L/min
• Filter Life: Up to 378,000 liters
• Description: The Sawyer Mini is one of the lightest and most budget-friendly filters. It's versatile, allowing you to drink directly from the source, fill bottles, or use it with a straw. However, it may clog easily in silty water and requires regular cleaning with a syringe.

2. Katadyn BeFree 1L

• Price: Around $45
• Weight: 2.3 oz
• Flow Rate: 2 L/min
• Filter Life: 1,000 liters
• Description: This filter is lightweight and features a high flow rate, making it efficient for quick hydration. It's easy to clean on the go and offers good filtration down to 0.1 microns, though it does not remove viruses.

3. Greeshow Water Filter

• Price: $61.99 USD (Worldwide Free Shipping)
• Innovative Ultrafiltration Technology: The outdoor pump water filter system use 0.001 micron RO membrane, can reduce up to 99.9999% of tiny material. Reduce TDS to Remove any Bacteria, effectively reducing odor from the nature water, health drinking guarantee even in the wild!
• High Efficiency Advanced RO membrane Filtering System, It's portable which makes it the perfect solution of water shortage in an emergency, and can instantly turn a water source nearby into healthy drinking water. Must for traveling, backpacking, camping and emergency kits!
• Super Fast Flow Rate And Fully Compact: Super-fast flow rate of up to max 300 ml, per minute; The water filter pump hiking can filter up to 2642Gallons(10000 L) before replacement of its reusable carbon filter is required. Tips: the Lifespan of the repalcement filter depends on the quality of the water, try to use clean water to extend the Lifespan. One unit of RO Water Purified Pump can be used by several persons at the same time.
• Ergonomic design: Special rubber on sides and bottom of pump helps maintain a firm and sturdy surface while pump is in use, as well as increasing durability. The shell is made of food-grade materials. Upgrade handle diameter up to 15mm, never break. Size: 10.6 x 3.7 x 1.8 inches,comes with detailed Instruction Manual, Tubing, Hose Clip, Advanced Filtering System, Carry Bag.
• Outdoor Survival Equipment: Our water filtration system works without electricity, will turn rainwater, lake and river water into clean and potable water quickly. It can delivers tasty purified water to meet your various outdoor water needs.Click here to buy

4. MSR TrailShot

• Price: Approximately $63
• Weight: 5.2 oz
• Flow Rate: 1 L/min
• Filter Life: 2,000 liters
• Description: This filter is simple to use and compact, allowing you to drink directly from streams or fill containers. While slightly heavier than others, its longevity makes it a good investment for regular hikers.

The Best Choice

Greeshow is an excellent choice for budget-conscious hikers, offering both affordability and functionality. While its price is not the lowest, it delivers the best value for money with a long filter lifespan and extremely low cost per liter filtered, making it highly economical. Its lightweight design and versatility make it suitable for various hiking conditions without compromising on quality or effectiveness.