Clean water is essential to everyday life.

Food, water, and shelter are the main proponents of a safe and healthy environment when you start to think about caring for your family. With the natural and manmade disasters happening these days, you can’t be too careful when it comes to prepping for things. You might have already researched how to make a water filter when you're out in the woods. But, before things escalate that much, you can also use the same tools to have grand outdoor adventures. The LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier can filter enough water for a family of four for three years. So, you can use this on family camping trips for crisp clean water straight from a creek. Or, you can haul it with you on your next cross country road trip for your sneaky free camping spots that don’t have water provided. Either way, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier will keep you and your family safe for years to come.

A Little Bit About LifeStraw

Since 1994, LifeStraw has been in the works to develop a safe, sustainable water filter that can be used all over the globe. This mission was spurred when their parent company, Vestergaard, was approached with the problem of how to filter out Guinea worm larvae from the water. After tackling this issue head on, the disease is near eradicated. This, in turn, motivated them to create personal water filters that communities could use to make sure they had safe drinking water. So, the personal LifeStraw was born. Many products then followed. Now, with LifeStraw’s Follow the Liters program, a portion of all proceeds of LifeStraw consumer sales goes toward purchasing LifeStraw Community purifiers. These are then given to schools in developing communities. So, each consumer purchase provides one school child in a developing community with safe water for an entire school year. This is a company we can truly get behind.

LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier Features & Benefits

Powerful Filter

When you are going through the work of researching, purchasing, and setting up a water filter, you obviously want it to work. It should be able to kick all contaminants to the curb without chemicals or power. That’s just what the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier does. The filter is incredibly small, removing things down to 0.02 microns. Most water filters these days run around the 0.1 micron level. So, you can see how the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier has stepped up their game. Due to this, they are able to take out 99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, and 99.9% of protozoan cysts from the contaminated drinking water. What you are left with is clean, clear, and tasty water. This will, in turn, keep you hydrated and thinking clearly when you’re out in the woods or in an emergency situation.

Gravity Powered

You may have seen people trying to pump enough water for their family using a hand pump. Or, you may have been that person yourself for a while. Either way, you know its not fun when you break a sweat while trying to quench your thirst. The LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier uses gravity to power its filter. This means all you have to do is pour, wait, and enjoy.

How does this all work? Well, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier comes with a two liter bucket on top in which you pour your dirty water into. It flows down the provided tube then through the filter. There is a blue tap ready for the clean water to come out of. A red tap at the bottom releases contaminated water. There is also a red bulb attached which is used to backwash the filter to clean it and keep it flowing strong. You can also switch out the blue bucket on top for something of your own design if you want it to be more portable. Overall, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is a great hands-free way to bring safe, clean water to you and your family.

Decent Flow Rate

So, we just walked you through how you don’t have to do the hard work of pushing the water through the filter. But, without some power going into it, you might be wondering how fast water could truly flow. Well, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier boasts a nine to twelve liters per hour flow rate. That is more than enough to keep your family hydrated and cooking for quite some time. When you first get your LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier, it may take a run or two to get it up to speed. Then, when it starts slowing down again, you probably need to clean and flush the filter. How often you need to do this will entirely depend on how much contamination and sediment is in the water you are filtering. But, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier truly has a great flow rate.

Long Product Lifespan

Investing in quality over quantity or a low price point is well worth it when it comes to health and safety. You want the products you buy to be with you for quite some time. Well, the award-winning LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is used by over thirteen million people worldwide, so you can now be assured it is a solid choice. But, it can clean nearly five thousand gallons of water. This will provide clean drinking water for a family of four for three whole years. This is a great investment, especially when you look at the price point too. It is often on sale on Amazon for under fifty dollars, making this quite a steal. So, when it comes to value, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is unsurpassed on the water filter market.

What Travelers Are Saying About the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier

Peace of mind. That’s the most common sentiment mentioned when travelers, campers, and preppers are asked how they feel about their LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier. Knowing they have this handy water filter allows them to breathe easy knowing they can provide safe, clean drinking water for themselves and their loved ones for three years. Most reviewers use this on camping trips or trips to third world countries. A popular necessity among missions trips and medical teams as well, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier has become synonymous with safe water in dangerous places. So, if you want that peace of mind, this is the water filter for you.

One of the common issues people bring up with this is not necessarily a product issue but a user error. Due to the gravity filter set up, you may find yourself pouring dirty water into the bucket which is directly above your clean water bucket. Avoid this at all costs. This will contaminate your clean water. Instead, just make sure to offset the clean water bucket or keep a lid on it. Either way, this isn’t an issue specific to the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier. The other complaint is that the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is a bit bulky. While it does take up some room, there are small hacks you can do to make it lighter and smaller. Switch out the two liter bucket for starters. But, remember that this is a large capacity filter for a family, so it has a bit of heft.

Alternative Portable Water Filters You May Like

Survivor Filter PRO

If you’re looking for a water filter with an even smaller and more precise filter, check out the Survivor Filter PRO. In addition to filtering viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, it can filter out 99.5% of mercury and 93% of lead. This is due to the triple filtration system which filters down to 0.01 microns. On top of this impressive filtration, the Survivor Filter Pro has a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime warranty. So, if you ever don’t like it or it ever stops work, no sweat. You can get your money back or a new one for free. Unlike the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier, though, you’ll have to pump this water filter. When pumped quickly, you can get seventeen ounces per minute. This is enough for the whole family with just a little bit of time put in. Sturdy, food grade materials are used in all the parts to give you confidence in this filter. It comes with all the necessary filters, tubing, cups, travel bag, and a detailed instruction manual. So, if you’re looking to step up your water filter game even further, keep the Survivor Filter PRO in mind.

Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System

This wee little filter is the perfect one to bring along on a backpacking trip or when traveling solo abroad. At just two ounces, the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System can fit in the palm of your hand. It’s easy to bring anywhere with you, unlike the large LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier. It filters down to 0.1 microns with its absolute hollow fiber membrane inline filter. As it is so small and simple, you can attach it to a drinking pouch, hydration pack, a water bottle, or even drink directly from the water source. Either way, you’ll be protected from all the bacteria and protozoa. This water filter has an undeniably amazing lifespan. It can filter up to 100,000 gallons. So, if you’re needing a lightweight, portable, and budget-friendly water filter for one, then the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System is it.

GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Filter & Bottle

Our next alternative to the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is quite ingenious. It is a water bottle and water filter in one. The GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Filter & Bottle is an ideal choice for travel, hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, or survival. You simply fill it up at your water source and press the filter and lid on. Then, you’re all set to drink. There’s no waiting or prolonged pumping, which is great. This whole process takes about fifteen seconds, and then you’ll have a whole bottle of safe drinking water. It can filter more than just viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts. It also filters particles, chemicals, and many heavy metals like lead and arsenic. So, you won’t be worrying about what goes into your system is you have the GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Filter & Bottle around. 

All in all, the LifeStraw Family 1.0 Water Purifier is a simple and straightforward water filter powerhouse.

If you need an easy option for your family camping trip, this will keep you and your family with safe water for quite some time. You won’t have to worry about coming down with a tummy ache or worse if you are using this great water filter. If you have a trip planned abroad and need to provide safe drinking water for your work partners or clients, this will work for that as well. Although it's in the name, this is not just for families. So, whoever uses this with will be grateful that you provided them with such an easy and simple solution to safe drinking water. 

Related Article: 7 Best Portable Water Filters for Your Outdoor Adventures