LifeStraw Original
LifeStraw is ideal for hiking, backpacking, camping, travel, and emergency preparedness. The straw-style filter design lets you turn up to 4,000 liters of contaminated water into safe drinking water.
Specification
- Ultralight: weighs only 2 ounces (57 grams)
- Meets US EPA drinking water standards
- Portable: only 9” (22.5 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter
- Requires no electrical power, batteries or replacement parts
- BPA free and contains no chemicals
- Raw materials meet US Food and Drug Administration regulations and standards
- No aftertaste: LifeStraw doesn’t use iodine or iodinated resin chemicals
- Removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella
- Removes 99.999% waterborne protozoa, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium
FAQ
Our original claims for LifeStraw and LifeStraw Go showed a 1000L or 264 gallon lifespan. However, we are happy to report that after extensive testing in both our accredited internal lab and certified external labs, our filters do achieve a 4000L or 1000 gallon lifespan! We tested older products as well, so you can be sure that the LifeStraws you bought a couple of years ago, carry this same longevity. We are working to update all of our messaging to accurately communicate the correct life of our products.
Yes it is BPA free and completely safe to drink through.
If your LifeStraw has been used, and is then exposed to freezing temperatures, water inside can freeze and crack the filter. You may not see these cracks, so we recommend never letting it freeze once it’s been used. When camping at high elevations or freezing temperatures, be extra careful not to let it freeze.
No. The heat of the dishwasher could warp the casing and possibly damage the filter. To clean, simply rinse with water, and leave uncapped to dry.
Not a good idea. Pool water is usually treated with chlorine and other chemicals. LifeStraw will only remove bacteria and waterborne parasites, not chemicals.
The LifeStraw is designed for the backcountry and will filter out 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of waterborne protozoa. Chemicals, salt water, heavy metals and viruses will not be removed. If you were looking for a high capacity filter to remove viruses, the LifeStraw Mission and LifeStraw Family 1.0 remove 99.999% of viruses.
After every use, backflush your LifeStraw by blowing a breath of air back into the mouthpiece to purge all remaining water trapped within the filter. If you have access to clean water, suck some into the filter and backflush it again. Give it a few shakes and leave both ends uncapped to air dry at room temperature.
When you use your LifeStraw for the first time, or when the filter is completely dry (after storing, for example), it takes a little longer to prime the filter. We recommend holding your LifeStraw vertically in water, with the water about half way up the filter, for 30 seconds before using. This will help get the membranes moist and make it easier to pull water through. Make sure you keep the mouthpiece dry so it doesn’t become contaminated.
The flow rate of your LifeStraw will decrease, and then stop pulling water through once it reaches the end of its life. You can increase the lifespan by cleaning the LifeStraw after each use. The great thing is, you can never drink contaminated water from a LifeStraw; when the water stops flowing through it, you know it is time for a new one!
The LifeStraw can filter up to 4,000 liters (1,000 gallons). This would mean, if you used the LifeStraw every day, for all of your drinking water, it will last for almost four years. If you just use it for travel and outdoor activities, it will last much longer.