The Lifestraw is a reasonably cheap water filter which is light and easy to store. It does precisely as described; it filters protozoa and bacteria out of dirty water. Lifestraw claims it actually removes 99.9% of the above and the filter should work for up to 1,000 litres of water. In this Lifestraw review, I talk about what I think you should know:
What You Should Know About the Lifestraw Water Filter
The Lifestraw is a really simple contraption. You don’t need any bottles or tubes to filter the water. Instead, you simply place a Lifestraw into the water and drink. It’s pretty much the same thing as using a conventional straw – although a little more suction is needed. The hollow fibre filters are easily cleaned by backflushing the straw (blowing from the opposite end of the straw). In case you might be asking yourself, you will know the straw needs to be cleaned when the flow starts to slow down. Here’s some specifications for the Lifestraw:
Water Filter Type – Straw
Weight – 56 grams
Method – Hollow Fibre Membrane
Size – 3 x 22cm
And here’s a few things I like about the Lifestraw:
Weight – The Lifestraw weighs just 56grams which makes it one of the lightest water filters for hiking. You can place one in your pocket or bag and needless to say, you won’t even notice the weight.
Cost – It’s an ideal backup water filter for hiking. I know that many other filters will last for much longer than 1,000 litres but really – how long will it take you to go through 1k litres?!
Convenience – It’s just the easiest item to pack and carry. I would take this water filter on trips abroad and see no reason not to use this as your backup water filter for hiking at the very least.
You Can Buy the Lifestraw Here
My Lifestraw Review: The Perfect Backup Water Filter
The Lifestraw is one of my favourite water filters for hiking. But I should also mention that you can only filter water on-the-go. That is to say, you cannot filter a litre of water in one go and then store this water for later. You also need to get down close to the water to drink straight from the source but you can always fill a container and the use the straw. And that’s why you need a wide mouth water container for the Lifestraw because the contraption won’t fit inside a normal bottle.
Not every Lifestraw review is as complimentary and some say the straw can become dysfunctional after freezing. For this reason, it’s fine for the Irish climate but maybe not the best water filter for hiking in snow or freezing conditions.
Conclusion
The Lifestraw is a great backup water filter for hiking. You can store it quickly and easily and it weighs next to nothing. You need a wide mouth container but these are cheap and readily available in any shop. Overall, it may not be perfect for long distance trips, but I see the Lifestraw as a very practical item to carry while hiking and camping in Ireland.
You Can Buy the Lifestraw Here
Disclosure: Please note the trust my audience has for my advice is of utmost importance to me. Hence, I will only recommend equipment I love from brands that I trust. I was not paid to review this water filter and I purchased my own tents. I am also without obligation to leave positive reviews for the product, I just know what gear work really well for other outdoor adventurers and so they are likely to work for you too. This page contains affiliate links meaning I might receive a small amount from the supplier should you decide to purchase an item through one of my links. Thank you for supporting me.