If carrying an extra two ounces on a hike could save your life, would you do it?

Well, with the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, you have just that. It only takes a few missteps or miscalculations of timing and mileage to be caught outside longer than you would have liked. If you don’t happen to have plenty of extra drinking water along, things could turn bad pretty quickly on any of America’s best hikes. With the different bacterias that live in water in the wild, it can be more dangerous to drink it than to wait a few more hours for help. Of course, you can attempt to filter water while out of things you find on the trail. But, walking that fine line is one you shouldn’t have to do. LifeStraw has given themselves over to creating easy to use and reliable life-saving devices, such as portable water filters. Their LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is well worth the small weight and size in order to have clean drinking water wherever you go. 

A Little About LifeStraw

In 1994, Lifestraw’s parent company, Vestergaard, was approached with the issue of removing Guinea worm larvae from contaminated water. This problem, which was solved by Vestergaard through a filter which has now practically eradicated the disease. Inspired by their success, they created a whole line of personal, family, and community water filters. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter was developed out of this in 2005 and has been a spectacular seller since. However, LifeStraw believes in more than just creating. In 2014, they introduced their Follow the Liters program. With this program, a part of sales from every LifeStraw product goes toward community purifiers which are put into schools in developing communities. With this program, each purchase of a LifeStraw product has given one school child in a developing country safe water for a whole year. So, we can get behind both LifeStraw’s products and their heart. 

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Features & Benefits

Top of the Line Microfiltration

The microfiltration membrane on the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is capable of removing 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.999% of waterborne parasites. This means by using this simple water filter, you are avoiding possible complications from giardia, cryptosporidium, E. coli, and salmonella. The filter goes takes contaminants down to 0.1 microns. This both keeps chemicals out, but it also filters microplastics. It also reduces turbidity down to 0.2 microns. With all of this intense filtration, you can rest assured you’ll be safe and sound as long as you have the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter around. This is truly top of the line microfiltration, and Lifestraw wouldn’t hand out anything else.

Long Lifetime

If you’re looking into lifesaving, portable water filters, then you’re obviously on the market for high-quality gear. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter was built to perform for quite some time. It can provide one thousand gallons of clean and safe water as long as you take care of it. One thousand gallons is more than the average person drinks in a year to put that into perspective. Proper care of the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter includes backwashing it and keeping it clean and dry when not in use. Keep in mind this amount will fluctuate depending on the amount of sediment in the water that you’re filtering.  Overall, the price, this water filter provides an outstanding amount of filtering, showcasing its terrific value.

Ultra-Lightweight and Portable

Part of being a great water filter for hiking, backpacking, and traveling requires a small size and an even small weight. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter weighs a mere two ounces, making it nearly undetectable. It is just nine inches long and one inch in diameter, you can slide this in a daypack or the side of your backpacking pack. Either way, it is an easy addition to any hike. Two ounces of weight in water is quite small. So, imagine if you could swap out carrying extra water bottles for having the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter around. As long as you know there are streams or rivers to drink from, you can greatly decrease your carrying weight be adding these two ounces. It may seem counter-productive at first, but you’ll be shedding weight in no time.

Chemical-Free & FDA Approved

There is a multitude of ways to purify or filter water these days. However, many include intense chemicals, long wait times, or don’t fully filter every potentially harmful substance. But, the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter has been through rigorous testing. Using protocols from the EPA, NSF, ASTM, and FDA, this filter has been put through the ringer. It is free of all chemicals and harmful substances, giving you confidence in what you put into your body. Long gone are the days of iodine tablets and boiling water with the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. Simply find that moving water source and drink up. It is just that easy. 

What Travelers Are Saying About the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Simple, fast, affordable. It almost sounds too good to be true. But instead, it’s just a phenomenally designed product. The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is commended for its ease of use and great taste. Often water filters have a plastic or metallic taste, but instead, LifeStraw has provided a great tasting water filter. This is probably the most praised feature of the LifeStraw. On top of this, though, many travelers love how simple this personal water filter is.

There are two things that are often commented on as disadvantages of the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. First off, to get water flowing, you have to suck quite a bit. If you’re already winded from hiking, this can make water breaks that much longer as you wait to catch your breath. Another comment against the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is that versus competitors, it is not quite as long-lasting. There are alternatives that filter more gallons for just about the same price. In turn, they are not as difficult to get the water flowing. But, these other brands don’t have the same dedication to the global clean water initiative. So, for those adventurers who want to get behind the heart and mission of LifeStraw, purchasing the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is a great place to start.

Alternative Portable Water Filters  You May Like

Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System

Our first alternative to the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is the Sawyer Products Mini. It is very similar to the LifeStraw with just a few additions. The filter itself matches the LifeStraw at just two ounces with a 0.1-micron hollow membrane filter. But, the Sawyer Products Mini can attach to a drinking pouch or water bottle in addition to being a straw. So, if you’re not about to get down and sip water on your belly from a stream, this can give you some other options for getting that safe water. 

It can also filter much more than the LifeStraw over the course of its life. The Sawyer Products Mini is capable of running up to 100,000 gallons through its filter as long as you clean it well. It is highly likely that you would lose this filter before it actually stops filtering. Overall, for just a few more dollars, the Sawyer Products Mini Water Filter is an exceptional alternative and well worth the comparison.

Survivor Filter PRO

Do you need a heavier duty water filter that does a little more? Look to the Survivor Filter PRO. It has been tested and proven to have the best independent filtration level on the market. It removes viruses, protozoa, bacteria, as well as most mercury and lead. While you won’t find the contamination in most environments, when it is there, the Survivor Filter Pro is ready to keep you safe.

The triple filter system is what allows it to work so well. On top of that, it comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee and warranty. That is simply unbeatable. With a flow rate of seventeen ounces per minute, you can easily provide water for your whole troop with this. You will have to pump it with your hand, but that’s not too time consuming or stressful. Made to last, the Survivor Filter Pro is a great option if you’re willing to spend a few more dollars.

GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Filter & Bottle

The GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier Filter and Bottle has introduced an innovative way to filter water that we simply love. It’s perfect for an everyday water bottle but is prepared for emergencies, global traveling, backpacking, and survival. With this product, you simply fill the water bottle then press the filter lid down on top. Then, drink away. There is no sucking, pumping, or waiting with this. So, this is your fastest option when it comes to the best water filter bottle. Even with this design, it still removes 99.9999% of viruses, disease-causing bacteria, and 99.999% of protozoan cysts. In addition, it can filter chemicals like chlorine and benzene, as well as heavy metals like lead and arsenic. So, when you add great clarity and flavor on that, we can’t help but love this bottle as an alternative to the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. 

Overall, the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter has given a beautiful gift of clean water to backpackers and developing communities alike.

If you’ve been on the search for the best portable water filter, the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter might just be it. With a solid company, a proactive mission, and a time-tested product, you can’t go wrong here. The meager two ounces could save your life when you’re out traveling or backpacking. So, invest in your safety and the safety of those you adventure with by grabbing one of these as soon as you can. You don’t want it to be too late when you wish you had the LifeStraw with you.

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