LifeStraw is the most advanced personal water filter available today and it even surpasses the EPA’s rigorous filtration guidelines for E. coli, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium cysts.
LifeStraw removes/filters down to an incredible, 0.2 microns in size.
The LifeStraw removes virtually all bacteria (99.9999%) and protozoa (99.9%) from contaminated water sources and reduces turbidity (muddiness) by filtering out suspended particles.
Bacteria removed includes
- Escherichia coli,
- Campylobacter,
- Vibrio cholerae,
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
- Shigella
- Salmonella
Protozoa removed includes
- Giardia lamblia (“Beaver Fever”)
- Cryptosporidium Parvum
- Entamoeba histolytica
Measures 9″ long by 1″ in diameter weight is 2oz
The filter is good for up to 264 gallons (1,000 liters), and the straw is easy to use by placing one end in the suspect water and drawing it (sucking as if you have a straw in your mouth) through the device. There are no moving parts that can fail and no chemicals or the need for batteries.
If a LifeStaw was your only means of obtaining clean drinking water and you consumed the recommended 2-4 quarts/liters daily then you can expect between 250 and 330 days of clean water. There is no better way to ensure your survival than to carry a LifeStraw.
Iodine is a common chemical used to disinfect drinking water. However, consuming iodine treated water is not recommended for anyone with thyroid problems, those that are pregnant or are nursing. With LifeStraw, you can be assured there is no iodine present in the filtration system.
It is a true survival piece of equipment with a five-year shelf life. Make sure yours and each family member’s bug-out-bag has a LifeStaw in it for emergencies.
If you are in a survival situation and on the move, fill your canteen or water bottle and sip through the straw placed in the container as you find your way out of your predicament. No more waiting for purification tablets to work or having to worry about getting a fire started to boil water for purification. You can drink directly from the source as well by placing one end in the water and sucking the water up through the straw.
Have one for every family member in your homes’ emergency kit so when the power goes out, or there is a boil order issued because of suspected contamination, you can safely drink your tap water. Even if your home’s water supply is disrupted, you can find and consume any surface water source nearby if you have the LifeStraw.
Traveler’s disease is a common ailment and it can be extremely serious for those people traveling to countries with less than stellar sanitation records. The ailment is so prevalent in fact that doctors routinely prescribe antibiotics to those traveling to certain countries, to help fight off certain bacterial infections caused by contaminated tap water. Carry one or more of these straws, when traveling so if you have to drink the local water use your LifeStraw so you can be assured it is free of harmful bacteria and protozoa.
The LifeStraw does not filter viruses. If you are travelling to an area where this is concern, you should take additional precautions.
According to water.org, 3.4 million people die each year from drinking contaminated water and currently close to one billion people lack access to clean drinking water (water.org, 2013). You need clean drinking water every day and it does not matter if there is a natural disaster or you are lost in the wilderness you will still need a clean water source.
Never leave on any outdoor adventure without a LifeStraw in your pack. A two-hour day hike can turn into a nightmare of days and nights lost or stranded in the wilderness. Practically speaking because of the weight of water you cannot carry enough for more than a few days let alone a week or longer so this means you have to find a water source in your environment. You can survive for up to three weeks without food but only up to 72-hours without water.
Considerations
This is a personal water filtration device designed for use by one person. If you have to share the device, you must be aware that infectious diseases can be passed from one person to another by sharing devices of this nature unless the mouth area is properly sanitized after each use.
After each use, blow the water back out of the device and give it a good shake before capping each end. This is to prevent contaminated water from settling in the filter.
My Thoughts
Even though the filter is 9″ long I had no problem keeping one with me in my pack, it takes up less room than a water bottle and it is very light. I tested it out on a few different creeks and rivers while fishing and the LifeStraw does what it claims, no Doctor visits for me. I highly recommend you test out any water filtration device that you purchase. You don’t don’t want to find out it doesn’t work when you really need it to. I would like to thank Drew from BUDK.com for providing me with and excellent product to test and review. You can purchase the LIfeStraw at BUDK.com for $19.99