The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is a unique and stylish option for emergency situations. With its highly efficient design, this filter offers ideal filtration of bacteria, protozoa, and any microbe from the fresh water. It is highly specific in its work and offers great portability. However, it lacks the ability to filter viruses. Additionally, its size makes it a perfect suit for solo hikers but least preferable for a group.
Related: Best Water Bottles for Hiking
In terms of structure, this filter has a 0.2-micron hollow fiber membrane that succeeds in eliminating 99.999 % of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa. These statistics make this filter a reliable choice for the hikers. For ultralight hikes, this can be a great option, but for viral protection, LifeStraw offers the least impactful options.
Performance Comparison and Our Testing Results
Water Quality
LifeStraw removes bacteria and protozoa to a large extent. Research reveals that it kills almost 99.999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa. However, this filter fails to kill viruses in the chemical containers. This makes its use limited to the places where viral risks are low. Hence, the water quality depends on the area more than the filter itself.
Having used it on backcountry hikes, I’ve found it reliable where water sources were clear, but I did not use it in dirty water. I prefer to use water purification tablets, and in the worst-case scenario, I boil the water and then use it. All in all, I did not notice any bad-tasting water when used with clear sources.
Ease of Use
Drinking from the LifeStraw needs some effort while suctioning. Our experience and experiments show that water flows through the straw at a rate of approximately 3 oz/minute.
If the term is incomprehensible, let me tell you that it is a sufficient amount for sipping water, but it never quenches the thirst, and hence it is insufficient for hydrating multiple people.
It was a bit annoying to drink from a shallow water stream. I had to crouch, and most of the time it was an uncomfortable experience. However, I liked using it when the water source was deep and easy to access, as it avoided the need to put in extra effort.
Its process takes 10 to 12 seconds, while the lack of a squeeze mechanism ties you to the water source, limiting the freedom of use. While it is intuitive for emergency purposes, it offers less ease for frequent users compared to the bottle-friendly filters.
Water Taste After Filtration
Water after filtration feels good and tastes clean. It doesn’t leave any chemical tastes after filtration. The taste of plastic irritates initially, but it also fades after using it for a while. For misty water, the membrane helps prevent the earthy organic notes with its effectiveness.
However, heavy sedimentation requires initial clogging, which is very obvious and apparent. With its efficient membrane, it neutralizes the microplastics as well, so the taste of the plastic also diminishes.
In my experience, I prefer to use it mostly for clean water, as it does not clean dirty water properly. You may notice a bad taste. It was just okay when I used it on murky puddles
Overall, the taste of the water feels fresh and natural, like water from a stream with no odor or flavors.
Speed and efficiency
LifeStraw is efficient and fast in its work. It takes less than a minute to filter the water. As it doesn’t use chemical treatment, this filter takes less time comparatively. While it provides instant access to safe water, it is very slow in providing water.
You cannot gulp from it or drink in bulk. The straw only allows a small amount of water at a time, and it is considered sipping.
For quick sipping, this is a great option, while for hydration purposes, this filtration source lags behind compared to wide-mouth bottles. Lastly, it cannot store water. You must keep a general water container as a source for it separately.
I’ve found it perfect for quick drinks on the trail, but not for camp use where I need more water. I pair it with a collapsible water bottle and store the water for a longer duration instead of using it again and again.
Portability and Weight
LifeStraw wins over any competitor in its portability and lightweight. It weighs just 2 ounces and is slim enough to fit in a pocket. The ultralight design of this filter suits emergency backpacks for hikes and kits.
Although lack of multi-bottle compatibility limits its versatility, this filter still stands out as a perfect option for the hikers.
I rate it 10 out of 10 when it comes to portability and weight. I never notice it in my backpack. It’s a bit long, though—I usually pack it straight along one side of the backpack for easy access
Advantage and disadvantages of the ‘LifeStraw water filter
Advantages
LifeStraw is lightweight, effective, chemical-free, efficient for bacteria and protozoa, and gives an instant solution for the treatment of water.
- Exceptional Water Filtration
- Lightweight and Compact
- Quality Construction
- User-Friendly Setup
- Cost-Effective
Disadvantages
This filter cannot detect and remove viruses, has a lifespan of 1000 liters, and is also slow in providing water, i.e., it requires high suction efforts.
Limited Filtration Capacity: Compared to larger filtration systems, the LifeStraw has a more limited capacity, making it suitable for personal use but not for groups.
Should You Buy the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter?
Owning a LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is rather a personal choice. Keeping in mind that it is an excellent choice for the solo hiker, I would suggest this, as I have had a remarkable experience with it. Put simply, I liked it for its portability and lightweight; it could literally slip into a glovebox or a pocket.
It kills bacteria and protozoa to perfection, while for viruses, you cannot rely on this device. While it is lightweight, portable, effective in action, and very fast, it is also a budget-friendly option for the hikers. You can get it for $15 to $20. In this range, you cannot get a better option than the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.
Alternatives to LifeStraw Filter
Apart from LifeStraw, there are tons of other options with their pros and cons. Let’s discuss two of them, which we have used multiple times in our hikes.
Sawyer Mini
The Sawyer Mini is smaller and offers a faster flow of water. It has a hydration capacity of 100,000 gallons of lifespan. It makes this filter an ideal choice for frequent hikers. The price tag for this gadget is around $30.
Sawyer Micro Squeeze:
Sawyer offers the quickest filtration. It weighs 2.3 ounces, which is an excellent range for the lightweight hikers. It is a perfect option to balance weight and speed. It also ranges at a price of $32.
FAQs
How Effective is a LifeStraw Water Filter?
LifeStraw is extremely effective in its action. It removes bacteria and protozoa to a large extent. Research reveals that it kills almost 99.999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa. However, this filter fails to kill viruses in the chemical containers.
Can You Really Drink any Water with LifeStraw?
LifeStraw is used for drinking water. Although it is highly effective in its action, we suggest you avoid using saltwater, turbid water, chemical pollutants, and muddy ingredients in it. A pre-distillation is suggested in case of insoluble items in the water. It does not use chemical pollutants, so it is not very effective with chemicals.
How Long Does the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Last?
LifeStraw is designed to filter water for 1000 liters, but this time span depends on the usage. Careful usage can be beneficial. If the filter is used extensively with sediments, the lifespan may decrease owing to the layering of sediments in the filter.
Is LifeStraw Better than Boiling Water?
LifeStraw is a chemical-free filter that has an efficiency of 99.999% for bacteria and protozoa. It doesn’t release any chemical in the process but fails to counter viruses. Comparatively, boiling kills viruses as well. While both have specific purposes, we recommend a collective use in the high-risk areas.
Does LifeStraw Actually Remove Microplastics?
The LifeStraw personal filter has a 0.2-micron filter, which has the capacity to capture the tiniest speck of the microplastic present in the water. Microplastics are the most toxic substances, and they can infect the human body greatly. Use of LifeStraw can minimize the risk to a large extent.
Does LifeStraw Work on Salt Water?
Our experience explains a lot about not using the salt water with the LifeStraw filter. Saltwater clogs the filter and lessens the lifespan of the filter. The filter cannot treat salt water completely because the process does not involve chemical treatment of water. Without chemical treatment, salinization cannot decrease.
