Skip to main content

Drink Dirty Water Without Worry Using the LifeStraw Filter

Lifestraw
Image used with permission by copyright holder
LifeStraw’s mission statement can be summed up by the tagline on the website: “We make contaminated water safe to drink.”

So let’s be clear: You don’t want to have to use a LifeStraw product. Much like car insurance, a home security system, or a will, the company offers a product most people would only use in a less than ideal situation. But if you ever find yourself at risk of dehydration but without a reliable source of clean drinking water, you’ll be damn glad you have one of LifeStraw’s fine filtration devices with you.

Recommended Videos

I’m a frequent enough hiker/camper, but I’m far from a serious survivalist. Still, I keep a LifeStraw personal water filter in both of my family’s cars and I include one in my gear whenever I head out to the woodlands (you never know when that hand-pumped water filter might break. I’m not expecting to be stranded miles away from clean water by a car (or society) breaking down, but if that ever happens, I’ll know that, thanks to that 5.6-ounce cylinder stashed in the glovebox, my family and I can source hundreds of gallons of clean, safe drinking water from a drainage ditch or trickling stream. Or from a suspect sink at a gas station.

If you’re only going to get one LifeStraw product, go with the original LifeStraw. It costs $20 and could be the difference between you getting sips of safe, fresh water and ingesting bacteria, poisonous chemicals, and dangerous metals. The classic LifeStraw and its similar, though more robust scion, the LifeStraw Steel, use a two-stage filtration system.

First, the water is drawn through an activated carbon capsule which filters out chemicals like chlorine, pesticides, and more. As the water continues up toward your mouth, it passes through bundled, hollow-fiber membranes in the second stage. These fibers capture up to 99.99 percent of all harmful bacteria and protozoa. By the time you have drawn water all the way up through a LifeStraw, it will not only be safe for you to consume, but it will be almost odorless and tasteless too.

Beyond the classic LifeStraw, there is the aforementioned LifeStraw Steel, which is really the same product, just housed in an almost indestructible tubular metal casing. The company has also recently branched out into LifeStraw Go water bottles fitted with a filter insert, convenient for capturing liquid from a waterfall, sink, or other source into which you can’t easily plunge a straw, as well as for transporting.

And, for larger groups needing fresh water, there are higher-volume products as well. My familiarity stops with the LifeStraw and LifeStraw Go bottle, though having used the straw several times (thankfully only for testing and for convenience, not in a survival situation), I’m confident everything they make works well. This is a company dedicated to quality above profit — both quality of products as well as quality of life. Since its early years back in the 1990s, LifeStraw has dedicated a significant portion of the company’s revenue and energies to providing safe, clean water to people living without reliable access. As the LifeStraw story goes: “It all started with the issue of safe water. Which should never be an issue.”

Originally published by Brandon Widder in May 16, 2014. Last updated by Steven John on October 10, 2017

Brandon Widder
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…
When you’re hiking in Death Valley, don’t do this
Taking the path less traveled is not advisable in this case.
Rugged and scenic terrain in Death Valley California

Safety should always be a top priority when visiting national parks, and this has become even more relevant than ever as the National Park Service recently had to rescue a hiker from a near-death experience at Death Valley National Park.

Just a few days ago, a hiker found himself in a precarious position after splitting up from his travel buddy and leaving the main trail at Mosaic Canyon. When these two visitors split up, one remained on the established path, and the other decided to attempt to navigate a side canyon, believing he could reconnect with the main trail further ahead. However, as the canyon became steeper, the hiker found himself trapped, unable to move forward or descend safely.

Read more
5 clever ways to use paracord on your next camping trip
Tie up the loose ends at the camping site with these 5 paracord uses
Purple and green twisted paracord

Sometimes, the simplest tools are the most effective, especially when camping. I've found that paracord is one of those things that most people have at the bottom of their bags, but do you really know how to use it to its fullest potential? Originally designed for parachutes, paracord is lightweight, durable, and (in my humble opinion) essential for any camping trip. Like with a camping knife, using paracord does require some skill, but once you know the right knots, it will change your game. The next time you're in the wild, try one of these paracord purposes.
How to use paracord while camping

Paracord ideas for shelter and weather protection
You never know when you'll need a little extra length to your tent guy lines. Paracord is just the thing. Just cut the amount you need and use a taut-line hitch for adjustable tension.

Read more
The ultimate guide to avoiding ticks in the wild — learn from my experience
Stay vigilant, and use these tick tips next time you're outdoors
Close-up of a red tick and water droplets on a blade of grass

When people think about outdoor hazards, they picture bears, venomous snakes, or poisonous plants like poison ivy. However, one of the most dangerous threats in the forests is something much smaller — ticks. These tiny bloodsuckers can carry a bunch of diseases that you really don't want, and many of them are difficult to treat.

Lyme disease is one of them, and after getting infected during a teenage game of manhunt in the woods, I struggled with my health for seven years before finally overcoming it. Needless to say, I'm always very careful every time I venture out into the woods. Here are my top precautions and tick tips for the next time you venture into the outdoors.
Top tick tips from someone who's been bitten before

Read more