How can we improve GearLab? They are made using hollow fiber membrane technology; some of them also incorporate an activated carbon component. For over a How to Select a Backpacking Water Filter and Treatment System. It's pretty simple. It removes almost all waterborne bacteria, microplastics and parasites. The devices were distributed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2010 Pakistan floods, 2011 Thailand floods, and 2016 Ecuador earthquake, among other crises and initiatives. [11] The original device does not filter viruses, chemicals, salt water, and heavy metals,[12] but newer versions of the product, (like LifeStraw Flex or LifeStraw Home)[13] are capable of removing chemicals and heavy metals including lead. What's the best backpacking water filter? GearLab is reader-supported. The filter lasts around 1000 gallons (roughly 4000 liters), according to the manufacturer. [19], Brand of water filtration and purification devices, Slingshot (water vapor distillation system), "LifeStraw Go 2-stage filtration - LifeStraw", "Kenya: Lifestraw Water Filters Saving Lives in Mutomo", "SWEETLab deploys half million water filters in Rwanda", "Business as a Tool for Compassion: LifeStraw Brings Safe Water to One Million Children in Kenya", "LifeStraw - We make dirty water safe to drink", "IDEA 2019 Reveals Gold Winning-Product Designs", The Straw that Broke the Bacterium's Back, Weizmann Institute of Science, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LifeStraw&oldid=1101307298, Articles with dead external links from February 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 July 2022, at 09:30. (sediment, microplastics)? Another caveat to this system is that it doesn't store any water. In the Mutomo District in Kenya which has suffered from long term drought, the Kenya Red Cross supplied filters to 3,750 school children and 6,750 households. See our price match guarantee. It's a great emergency filtration system because of its quick ability to attain water. The original LifeStraw was designed as a portable water filter "straw". The filters can provide clean water without the need for batteries or chemical treatment. This value is hard to beat. While you can't clean this directly, you can blow the water back through if it gets clogged. [5] The company also funds a retail give back program that as of 2018 has provided safe water to more than 1 million school children in rural Kenya. From the storage, you can then drink. It provides good filtration but struggles a little bit in turbid water. While this isn't ideal, it works well enough. [8] Water that is drawn up through the straw first passes through hollow fibres that filter water particles down to 0.2m across, using only physical filtration methods and no chemicals. Let us know! undefined out of 5 stars with undefined reviews, Protects against 99.999999% of bacteria (including E.coli, Salmonella), 99.999% of parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), 99.999% of microplastics and reduces turbidity (sand, silt, cloudiness), Ultralight and durable, the LifeStraw weighs less than 2 ounces (57 g) so you can pack it anywhere, Long-lasting membrane microfilter will last up to 1,000 gallons (4,000 L) of water, thats enough drinking water for an individual for over 5 years, Be prepared with the ultimate survival tool, the LifeStraw has an unlimited shelf life and has been tested all over the globe to face the harshest conditions, Your purchase has impact: one purchase, one child, one year of safe water. Drink directly from lakes, rivers and streams or fill a container to use your LifeStraw on the go.
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For the first few seconds, you won't get anything as the tube needs to fill with water first before you can get water. The LifeStraw's longer length doesn't require you to get your face right into the water, but we typically found ourselves on our knees getting muddy or having to get into the water source to access the water. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. There are other products with a similar design that work better including the Sawyer Micro that offers a better rate of filtration flow, and less sucking strength required. [6], Contrary to popular belief, the original device does not incorporate a reverse-osmosis membrane nor is it able to filter out salts or mineral.[7]. Your purchase has impact. The mouthpiece that provides some flow, but takes a little effort at first. Its capabilities are limited to personal on-the-go use. A look at the intake for the LifeStraw. Utilizing a hollow fiber filtration cartridge with 0.2-micron pore size, it can filter out particulates, bacteria, and protozoa including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The water filters are designed by the Swiss-based Vestergaard Frandsen. [2] In addition to these portable filters, the manufacturer also produces high-volume purifiers powered by gravity that also remove viruses. The LifeStraw is one of the lightest options out there. 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter enables you to drink water safely from contaminated water sources and is great for use by homeowners during emergencies, by campers and hikers drinking from lakes and rivers and by travelers not wishing to rely on the quality of the local water. [4] In 2015, they were deployed in Rwanda. It, unfortunately, cannot store water, unless you donate a container that you carry dirty around with you. It does not treat viruses. This handy filtration system works best in clear water but has the affinity to clean out turbid water. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. A decent option if you're looking for a fast on-the-go filtration system. [9] While the initial model of the filter did not remove Giardia lamblia,[10] current models remove a minimum of 99.999% of waterborne protozoan parasites including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. If the water is murky, this becomes even harder, and the flow decreases significantly. LifeStraw has been generally praised for its effective and quick method of bacteria and protozoa removal and consumer acceptability. Blowing it out the other way works, but it's not very efficient. It does not require pumping, and it's not a chemical treatment. If the item details above arent accurate or complete, we want to know about it. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The original LifeStraw is a plastic tube .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}22 centimetres (8+58in) long and 3 centimetres (1+18in) in diameter. Unfortunately, you can't troubleshoot this filter as everything is enclosed and inaccessible. (Giardia,Cryptosporidium). When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, Number of Liters (L)/Gallons (gal) per Lifetime, Effective Against Protozoa? Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. LifeStraw is a brand of water filtration and purification devices. An ultralightweight filtration system that can be used for trail running or short backpacking trips. See how a store is chosen for you. You only need to find a water source that you can access. While originally developed for people living in developing nations and for distribution in humanitarian crisis, the filters have gained popularity as consumer products. You help support OutdoorGearLab's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners. Made of BPA-free plastic, this personal water filter features a hollow fiber membrane that filters up to 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of water down to 0.2 microns. [15], LifeStraw has been praised in the international media and won several awards including the 2008 Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas, the 'INDEX: 2005' International Design Award and "Best Invention of 2005" by Time Magazine.
Because of these limitations, this filter is best for on-the-go use with less ideal options for storage. After you've found your water source, suck with all you've got. [16] It was featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. All trademarks property of their respective owners There's not much needed for set-up. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Our only worry is the LifeStraw could snap along the length of the tube because it's so long. For every LifeStraw product purchased, a school child in need receives safe water for an entire school year. Prices, promotions, styles and availability may vary by store & online. [1] A bottle was later developed which incorporated a LifeStraw cartridge into a 650-millilitre (22USfloz) BPA-free plastic sports water bottle. A lightweight personal filter that allows you to drink from virtually anywhere. If it clogs, it's hard to unclog. Enter your email address to receive our latest deals, personalized offers, and MVP access to pre-order notifications.See Details, LifeStraw Personal Water Filter - view number 1. No sponsored content. Selecting a water treatment system is even more the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Lightweight, inexpensive, kills all pathogens (including crypto), reliable, Easy to use, super packable, lightweight, cheap in comparison to other filters, Inexpensive, lightweight, versatile, durable and reliable, Takes a long time to kill crypto, slight taste to the water, chemical treatment, Not safe to use long-term, lower value than other chemical treatments, poor taste, More expensive then other chemical treatment, chlorinated taste, does not kill Crypto, Hard to suck and squeeze, clogs easily, low durability of the included bag, These drops are a reliable and lightweight option to carry all over the world, This can be used as an emergency treatment system, but not much else, This is the lightest chemical treatment option out there, This personal and versatile on-the-go filtration system offers great value. It slides nicely into a side pocket of backpacking, or you can wear it around your neck with its removable lanyard. It's lightweight design and low price make it very attractive. The device is now used as a tool for survivalists and outdoor enthusiasts in addition to being used to help combat clean water scarcity worldwide. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Little puddles in granite pockets are a perfect place to get water while alpine climbing with the LifeStraw. It filters a maximum of 4000 litres of water, enough for one person for three years. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, A simple and inexpensive on-the-go filtration system designed for the solo adventurer. However, this isn't ideal as you have to sterilize that storage container before filling it with clean water once again. The Lifestraw Personal filter is suited for solo on-the-go use. If we had to choose between these systems, we'd go with the Sawyer Micro, but if money is your priority, the Lifestraw is hard to beat. If you plan on using this while backpacking and you know you have a long section without water, it's advised to carry dirty water in a storage container. However, the Micro also "sucks" in silty water. [17] In 2019, the Lifestraw Home water filter pitcher was launched and won the IDEA design award[18] and the Red Dot design award. This system seems to be pretty durable overall with few parts. We found that it was a little too long to use with a hydration vest as it got in the way, but could tuck into a pocket in the back. This model can also be used to drink from a bottle, allowing you to collect water at the source and carry it with you, and then you can drink it later. The LifeStraw can provide up to 5 years of safe drinking water, with proper use and maintenance, and is rigorously tested to meet protocols established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NSF International/ANSI. All Rights Reserved, Hollow fiber membrane filters up to 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of water down to 0.2 microns, Enables you to drink water safely from contaminated water sources, Great for homeowners during emergencies, campers and hikers drinking from lakes and rivers and travelers not wishing to rely on the quality of the local water. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. The wide intake and output give you a decent flow of water after those first few moments. Using the power of suction, attaining water is instantaneous. At just 1.75 ounces and a narrow profile, it's super duper easy to pack away and use for lightweight travel. Got feedback? [14], Although the devices are available for retail sale in the developed world, the majority are distributed as part of public health campaigns or in response to complex emergencies by NGOs and organizations that give them away for free in the developing world. These are designed for family and community use.[3]. Simply wear it around your neck or tuck into your pack as you adventure through the wilderness. The Sawyer Micro and Sawyer Mini cost just a little bit more and offer better performance and versatility overall. It might be hard to reach a river with a super steep bank or use this on-the-go filtration system off the side of a big boatunless you feel like getting in. LifeStraw, the original ultralight backpacking and travel-friendly straw water filter, makes contaminated water safe to drink and helps to prevent most waterborne diseases by removing bacteria (like E.coli), parasites (like Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and microplastics. The entire process is powered by suction, similar to using a conventional drinking straw, and filters up to 4,000 litres (1,100USgal) of water. However, it's sucking speed is a little "sucky" and there are better products out there if you're willing to shell out a bit more cash. Removes Particulates
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