Traveling abroad, especially outside of North America, Australia, and Europe, often means you can’t always drink the local tap water. Most people then buy bottled water, which usually comes in single-use plastic. For eco-conscious vegan travelers, this can feel like a big dilemma!
Plastic bottles are not only harmful to the planet, but they’re also expensive, wasteful, and may even pose health risks. Luckily, there are great alternatives. With the right purification devices, you can enjoy safe, clean water without the plastic.
Here are some of the best options for zero-waste drinking water while traveling:
SteriPEN
The SteriPEN is a compact UV purifier that uses short-wave germicidal light to make water safe to drink. It disrupts the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa so they can’t reproduce, leaving the water safe.
In clear water, it eliminates:
- 99.9999% of bacteria
- 99.99% of viruses
- 99.9% of protozoa
It works in cold or freezing conditions and doesn’t affect the taste. Just fill your bottle, swirl the SteriPEN for 90 seconds, and you’re good to go. It’s rechargeable with USB and lasts for many uses between charges.
👉 Pros: Quick, effective, portable.
👉 Cons: Needs a wide-mouth bottle and doesn’t neutralize larger organisms like worm eggs.
We’ve used the SteriPEN for years with no issues — it’s definitely a must-have for eco-conscious travelers.
🔗 View SteriPEN models on Amazon
🔗 Learn more about SteriPEN on Katadyn
LifeStraw
LifeStraw makes contaminated water safe to drink by filtering out bacteria, parasites, and microplastics. It’s basically a straw that you can use to drink directly from streams, lakes, or a bottle. Its hollow fiber membrane filters down to 0.2 microns, removing:
- 99.99% of bacteria
- 99.99% of parasites
- 99.99% of microplastics
The water tastes clean, and the filter is light, easy to use, and very travel-friendly.
👉 Pros: Reliable, portable, cost-effective.
👉 Cons: Doesn’t filter out heavy metals, chemicals, or viruses. Not suitable for saltwater or sewage-contaminated water.
This is a great daypack companion for filling up at restaurants, malls, or natural sources.
LARQ Bottle
The LARQ Bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle. It uses UV-C technology built into the lid to kill up to 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. It even switches on automatically every 2 hours to purify both the water and the bottle’s surface.
- Cleans water in 180 seconds
- Long battery life
- Insulated to keep drinks hot or cold
👉 Pros: High-tech, effective, eco-friendly.
👉 Cons: Pricey and currently only comes in one size.
Tip: Bring an extra bottle to refill your LARQ for longer trips. For wilderness travel, we recommend also carrying a backup purification method in case the battery runs out.
Aquatabs
Aquatabs are one of the world’s top-selling water purification tablets. They’re lightweight, simple to use, and widely trusted, with both WHO approval and NSF 60 certification. One tablet can kill bacteria, viruses, and Giardia cysts in about 40 minutes.
👉 Pros: Affordable, easy to carry, effective, and ideal as a backup.
👉 Cons: Leaves a slight chlorine taste and doesn’t kill Cryptosporidium.
Aquatabs are perfect for wilderness travel or emergencies when your SteriPEN or LARQ battery runs out. They’re cheap, small, and great to keep in your first aid kit.
🔗 Learn more about Aquatabs
🔗 Aquatabs Tablets Product Page
Final Thoughts
All of these devices are simple, effective, and excellent alternatives to single-use plastic bottles. While there’s an upfront cost, they quickly pay for themselves if you travel often. Plus, the planet will thank you for choosing zero-waste drinking water solutions.
Let’s Discuss!
Do you use a water purification device when you travel? Which of these options sounds best to you and why? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!
More Product Reviews
Interested in other eco-friendly finds? Browse our Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Product Reviews for more vegan and zero-waste recommendations.
