LifeStraw Water Filter-the easy way to filter water

A Personal Water Filter Story

The LifeStraw Water Filter-the easy way to filter water. Lightweight and effective, it is the easiest way to filter water in the wilderness.

I have been hiking and camping in the Canadian back-country since I was a child. One sunny morning, I stopped for a refreshing drink of pure glacier-fed, river water. After gulping down almost a litre of this teeth-freezing water, I hoisted my backpack onto my shoulders and began to work my way up the river again.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter-the easy way to filter water

The sun was shining, the mountain peaks were gorgeous, and walking the river gravel was a  pleasure, to say the least.

Working my way up-river, I could see a sharp bend, up ahead and I was a little dismayed with the thought of having to leave the dry river-bed and re-enter the dark forest to continue my journey up into the valley.

A Surprise on the River

To my satisfaction, I would be able to walk along the river-bed and stay in the sunshine for a while. My joy was short-lived.

In the distance, I could see the rotting carcass of a moose, that had fallen victim to a pack of wolves, and I had been drinking this moose-flavoured water!

I can still see that rotting moose carcass to this very day, whenever I come to a bend in a river, and needless to say that this became a very convincing argument for the purchase of my first water filter.

The remainder of that morning was filled with thoughts of water filters, and of how soon I could get one into my hands.

Product Description

This Time Magazine “Invention of the Year” winner,
LifeStraw contains no chemicals, no batteries, and no moving parts to wear out.
It features a high flow rate and yet, it weighs only 2oz.
It is the perfect water filter, for ultralight backpackers, campers, hikers, travellers, boy scouts, hunters and for everyone needing to filter their drinking water in the wilderness.
It can and is also being used in emergency situations, such as hurricanes and typhoons.
Unlike many similar filters on the market today, LifeStraw has met EPA standards for water filtration in independent testing.
LifeStraw has been used around the world under extreme conditions for humanitarian relief.
Please NOTE: It takes roughly 3-5 seconds of sucking to start the flow of water through the filter.

Product Review

 Product Name: LifeStraw Water Filter

Website: https://www.lifestraw.com

Best Place to Buy: Amazon

Price: $28.72 CDN.

Do not neglect to consider Amazon Prime.

Rating: 9.9 on 10

From the Manufacturer

  • LifeStraw offers easy access to clean and safe drinking water anywhere!
  • LifeStraw is the most advanced, compact, ultralight personal water filter available.
  • LifeStraw contains no chemicals or iodinated resin, no batteries and no moving parts to break or wear out.
  • It features a high flow rate and weighs only 2oz. LifeStraw is perfect for the ultralight backpacker, traveller, boy scout, hunter, and especially for emergency preparedness.
  • LifeStraw filters to 0.2 microns through the use of hollow-fibre 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.
  • As you get closer to 264 gallons (1,000 litres), the pores will eventually become clogged with debris and the flow will stop.
  • LifeStraw is the water filter chosen by leading NGOs for humanitarian relief worldwide since its launch in 2005.
  • LifeStraws have been sent to Africa, Pakistan, Haiti, and South America for disaster aid, and a portion of domestic sales support this donation program.
  • LifeStraw has only been available in North America since 2011 when excess inventory has allowed it.

How To Use the LifeStraw Water Filter

Filtering your drinking water could not be simpler.

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.

When finished drinking, blow a breath of air back down into the LifeStraw to purge the remaining water out, shake, and recap.

If you drink 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.

The LifeStraw will not desalinate saltwater, remove dissolved chemicals or minerals, nor remove viruses.

If drinking from water that may have viruses in it (e.g. contaminated by human sewage), pre-treat with water treatment tablets.

See the included instruction manual for more information.

Warning! … It does not filter chemicals, salt, viruses, heavy metals, taste or soapy little boys!

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter-the easy way to filter water

Additional Features:

  • No after-taste. LifeStraw has no after-taste since no chlorine, iodine or other chemicals are used.
  • No waiting time. You can drink from your LifeStraw right away. There is no need to wait for the water to drip or chemicals to act.
  • LifeStraw meets or exceeds EPA standards for efficacy. LifeStraw was successfully assessed in laboratory conditions (harsher conditions than what is required by the EPA in terms of turbidity and organic matter), up to 1600 litres (approximately 160% of design life). Independent testing at the University of Arizona showed that LifeStraw exceeds the EPA requirements of LOG 6 reduction for bacteria and LOG 3 reduction for protozoan parasites.
  • Bacteria removed include Escherichia coli (“E. Coli”), Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae (“Cholera”), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella, Salmonella.
  • Protozoa removed include Giardia lamblia (“Beaver Fever”), Cryptosporidium parvum (“Crypto”), Entamoeba histolytica.

Awards and Accolades

  • ‘One of the Things That Will Change The Way We Live’ Forbes (February 2006)
  • ‘Invention of the Century’ Gizmag (December 2005)
  • ‘Innovation of the Year’ Esquire (December 2005)
  • ‘Europe’s Best Invention’ Reader’s Digest (July 2006)
  • ‘Best Invention of 2005’ Time (November 2005)
  • 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas
  • ‘INDEX: 2005’ International Design Award
  • ‘Well-Tech 2006’ Innovation Technology Award

My Personal Use Of This Water Filter

I have personally used this water filter for many years now and never leave home without it.

At 1.8 ounces and approximately 1-inch diameter x, 9 inches long, weight and size is never a reason to not carry this amazing piece of technology.

My use has been limited to North America where the water was quite clean, to begin with.

It is used very extensively throughout the world where pure, clean water is a rare commodity.

It has been called ” Invention of the Year “ and ” Invention of the Century “ and rightly so!

Comments, Questions, and Suggestions

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this water filter or any other means of water filtration, I would be pleased to answer them.

I can also suggest and recommend many other outdoor products that I have been using for years in outdoor and wilderness settings.

4 thoughts on “LifeStraw Water Filter-the easy way to filter water”

    • This handy, lightweight water filter is the cat’s meow. Your son will love you for it. You use it just like a regular drinking straw. When finished, just blow out the water that inside. That’s it. Please have your son comment on its use when he has the time. Don’t forget to read the instructions. Paul

  1. Wow, this is amazing! I should get this filter — I won’t have to spend any money anymore on bottles water ! Not only will I be able to filter my sink water, I will be able to filter water directly from the source — from a river or lake, or even puddle. Becuase like your story, who knows how many dead animals could be in the lake?

    Reply
    • Hi Ben … and thanks for your comments .

      I hope that by sink water , you mean ” kitchen tap water ” because these filters do not filter soap and chemicals !

      They can , none-the-less , be used to filter lake , river and even puddle water ! The purpose of these 2 water filters is for ” outdoors ” … or … ” wilderness ” use .

      For home use , I suggest that you look into BRITA type filters or even more elaborate ” house-hold ” water filters .

      If you need anymore assistance in the selection of water filters please feel free to return for more ” water filter ” ideas .

      Paul

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