LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Review

The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter cleans water to 0.2 microns through the use of hollow-fiber membranes, which are small tubes with even smaller pores. These pores allow water to pass but prevent contaminants larger than 0.2 microns from flowing through. With LifeStraw you can drink directly from puddles or streams, or you may find it easier to scoop water with your wide-mouthed water bottle and drink from it using the LifeStraw. When new, the filter membrane is very dry and must be primed before use. Uncap the top and bottom caps and insert the base of the straw into the contaminated water, being careful to keep the mouthpiece dry. Let it sit for 30 seconds to allow water to creep up the membrane, then take 5 quick sucks to get the water flowing. It takes roughly 3-5 seconds of sucking to start the flow of water through the filter when the membrane is dry.

Specifications:

• Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 6 reduction)
• Surpasses EPA standards for water filters
• Removes minimum 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites (>LOG 3 reduction)
• Filters to an amazing 0.2 microns
• Filters up to 1000 liters of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals
• Comes in a sealed bag
• Item Dimensions: 9 x 1 x 1 inches
• Item Weight: 0.11 pounds

Filtering

The LifeStraw imparts no strange flavors like its chemical brethren, its flow rate is perfectly acceptable for active pursuits, it has no moving parts to break or filters that need replacing every couple of days. Besides, what other water treatment system has been tested successfully by people on a daily basis in the most contaminated parts of our planet?

Cleaning

When you’re finished drinking, blow a breath of air back down into the LifeStraw to purge the remaining water out, shake, and recap. If you drink the murky water and the water flow stops, blow back into it to purge the water and mud from the filter. When you return home from a hiking trip, drink some tap water with the LifeStraw, purge the filter by blowing back into it, and leave it to dry with the caps off.

Where to Buy:

The LifeStraw is available at these retailers:

eBay:

Sportsman’s Guide:

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Amazon:

Buy It on Amazon

Check out a video review below:

Conclusion

For the weight, there is no better backcountry water treatment available. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter does all of this at a fraction of the cost and weight of other filters and UV water treatment options.