As hikers know, water is heavy. But essential. And the longer the hike, the less you can scrimp on water. You only have a few choices: Carry a big water bottle in your backpack, only hike places with lots of streams or lakes where you can filter your own drinking water, or adopt a llama that will carry water for you.

I always envy my dog on hikes, because he has the intestinal fortitude to drink straight out of mountain streams. My husband and I, ever alert for giardia and other nasties, opt to filter. But that involves a bit of work, and usually requires crouching on slippery rocks trying to pump a tube while holding onto a water bottle.

That’s why I’m excited about the new GoZero Adventure Filter from Philips Water Solutions.  It just became available on Amazon this week. The filter’s electro-adsorptive technology promises to eliminate up to 99.9% of viruses, 99.9% of bacteria and 99% of protozoan cysts from lakes and streams. And I always say, the fewer protozoan cysts in my water, the better. That goes double for viruses, especially these days.

If you’re leery of your city’s tap water, there’s also the not-quite-so-hardcore GoZero Fitness Filter. It uses activated carbon to reduce pesticides, lead and chlorine in your drinking water. And it’s dishwasher safe.

Here are the details, as provided by Philips Water Solutions: The GoZero Active Bottle will be available on Amazon starting October 20, 2020. The Active Bottle with Fitness filter will retail for $14.99, while the Active Bottle with Adventure filter retails for $19.99. Each package includes 1X filter that lasts up to one month. Filter refills will also be readily available on Amazon – a 3-pack of Fitness filters is slated to sell for $14.99, while the Adventure 3-pack is $19.99. Combo packs with the GoZero Active water bottle and both the filters will also be available at a later date.

This sounds like a low price to pay to avoid viruses and protozoan cysts, and to not have to do a balancing act to filter water.