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Water Filter Straws Review – Which Portable Filter is Worth the Buck?
WATER IS LIFE! There is no denying that every creature on this planet needs water to survive. But most of the time, we take water for granted. And the mere fact that most of us have an easy access to clean water, sometimes we do not appreciate what we have. But for people who love to go on adventures and love the great outdoors, this is not the case. To most adventurers and outdoor survival enthusiasts, it is a well known fact that in order to survive and remain strong and healthy in any survival situation, clean and drinkable fresh water is vital. This is probably the main reason why water filter straws were invented.
In the wilderness, you can never be sure that the water from creeks and rivers are safe and without impurities. With the help of water purification straw filters, you can at least rest assured that the water you are drinking is filtered, purified, and 100 percent clean.
There are so many different kinds of water filter survival straw products that are being sold in the market today. Every outdoor adventurer and survival enthusiast has their very own favorite water purification straw filters. But what are the most important features that should be taken into account when choosing a straw filter?
Here are some of them:
- Lightweight design for ease of portability
- Filters with adequate pore sizes for exceptional filtering quality
- Ease of care and maintenance
- The products are durable and long-lasting making them ideal for repetitive use
- Straw water filters make water taste clean and drinkable
- Affordable water filtering options
In today’s market, there are so many portable water straw filters that are being offered. Let us take a look at these three particular survival water straw filters.
Re-usable Survivor Filter by Survivor Filter ($29.99)
The Re-Usable Survivor Filter was designed in order to have an easy access to clean drinking water most especially for people who loves to travel. With its great design and affordable price, this filter is a must have if source of water is questionable and no water refilling station is near the area.
Like all water filters out there, the Re-usable Survivor Filter also has its downside. It’s designed to be used as a straw, but you could feel flow resistance when using it. The advertisements make using the product look simple and straightforward – just use it while drinking directly from the water source. But if you try to do it just like it is in the advertisements, it’s not as easy as it looks. This may be due to the many layers of filters that the water has to go through before it reaches your mouth. But despite this, the survivor filter works as it should, so it is still a great water filter product to consider if you are planning on getting one.
Product Description:
- Better Filtration
- Last Longer than competition
- Lightweight
- Screws into most water bottles and canteens
- Purchased with survival filter
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the U.S.A
Pros and cons of the Re-usable Survivor Filter Straw:
Pros:
- Relatively easy to use
- Lightweight
- Removes everything
- Great price
- Great design
Cons:
- All-plastic tool
- Durability may be an issue
Closer Look…
Reliability
The survivor filter is the only re-usable straw filter that was subjected to virus testing. From the test conducted at Intertek Labs in Columbus Ohio, it showed that the re-usable water straw filter has a 99 percent virus and bacteria removal accuracy. The re-usable survival filter uses an ultra and carbon filter plus a cotton pre-filter.
Cleaning this water straw filter is also easy thanks to its replaceable carbon filter design. Just make sure that after each use of your survivor filter, blow out any remaining water inside the unit. Let it dry properly before storing it away. This will prevent the presence of mildew inside your unit most especially if you’re planning to keep your survivor filter for a long period of time.
Durability and Versatility
Made from Acrylonitrille-Butadiende-Styrene plastic or ABS plastic and weighing just around 3.5 ounces, the re-usable survivor filter fits perfectly in your hands as well as in your tackle box, glove box, knapsack or your bag-out bag. The survivor filter is also lightweight (3.5 ounces), BPA free, and durable. It has a drift rate of about 200ml/sec and also has an easy to open flip- on, flip-off cap.
Verdict
The re-usable straw filter is a good thing to have with you not only on your outdoor and survival adventures, but also in your everyday travels. Whether going on a camping trip, hiking, trekking, or fishing, having a portable and re-usable water straw filter will make your outdoor adventures more manageable and easier. The re-usable water straw filter can also be carried easily or just strapped in your backpack – always available when the need for clean and drinkable water arises.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter by: LifeStraw ($19.95)
Product Description:
- Award-winning LifeStraw has been used by millions around the globe since 2005
- Removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria
- Removes minimum 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites and filters to an amazing 0.2 microns
- Filters up to 1000 liters of contaminated water WITHOUT iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals
- Comes in a sealed bag, perfect for storing for emergencies
Like all straw water filter products in the market, the LifeStraw has its own shares of pros and cons. But I got to admit that with just a price tag of less than $20, the LifeStraw is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of purifying water. It is also lightweight, simple, and easy to use.
Here are some pros and cons of the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Simple
- Inexpensive
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Stores up to 8 liters of purified water
Cons:
- Treated water can’t be transferred into another container
- Sipping through the LifeStraw can sometimes be difficult
- No separate storage for clean and dirty hoses
- Hard to collect water from non flowing water sources
- Can treat only small amount of water at a time
Closer Look…
Reliability
The LifeStraw is a handy water treatment that is perfect for people who loves to travel. It is effective in straining harmful water bacteria, protozoa and cryptosporidium. The filter of the LifeStraw can last up to around 1000 liters of filtered water. After that, a change in filter is recommended.
The LifeStraw is also easy to use. Just put your filter on top of your water source and drink from it like an ordinary straw. If it’s your first time using the LifeStraw, you may find it a little tricky to use. But once you get the hang of it, sipping water from the LifeStraw will be a breeze. The only thing that you need to anticipate when using the LifeStraw is that sometimes it can be difficult to use because of its short straw. You can’t also transfer your treated water from another container. The only way to drink your filtered water is through the products own filter.
Durability and Versatility
Weighing only 2.7 ounces, the LifeStraw is one of the lightest water filters in the market today. It can filter up to 1000 liters of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals. And with its relatively small size, the LifeStraw is the perfect water filter companion for back packing trips and to people who loves to go on an adventure. It is also ideal for emergency water treatment. The price ($19.95) of the filter is also a big factor and hard to beat. Drinking through it is also easy and instantaneous. No pumping and incubation period is required like chemical treatments do.
Verdict
The LifeStraw may not be the best water filtering product that you can find but with its affordable price, good filtering results and simplicity, the LifeStraw is perfect for personal and emergency use. Most importantly, it works fairly well.
Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System By: Sawyer Products (Starts from $19.99)
Survival today has become not only a common sight in TV shows but also in reality. And sometimes, people who enjoy the challenges that the great outdoors bring tend to forget one of the most essential factors in survival: clean, safe, pure, and drinkable water. Because of this, portable water filtration products were invented. The Sawyer mini water filtration system is just one of them.
The Sawyer Mini is a versatile and effective water filtration product that should be in every backpacker’s survival lists. It is affordable and can filter 99 percent of all water bacteria. It is also lightweight and can be easily brought along wherever you go.
Product Description
- Ideal for outdoor recreation, hiking, camping, scouting, domestic and international travel and emergency preparedness
- High performance filter fits in the palm of your hand
- Weighs 2 ounces
- Attaches to drinking pouch, standard disposable water bottles, hydration packs, or use the straw to drink directly from your water source
- Removes 99.99999% of all bacteria
- Filter rated up to 100,000 gallons; includes 16-ounce reusable squeeze pouch, 7-inch drinking straw, and cleaning plunger
- Kit Includes: 1 – sawyer mini water filter with tip cap; 1 – 16 oz reusable squeeze pouch; 1 – 7″ drinking straw; 1 – cleaning plunger; cleaning and maintenance instructions
Pros and Cons of Sawyer Mini
Pros:
- Cost Effective
- Lightweight
- Great in removing water impurities
- Durable
- Easy to use
- Made in the U.S.A.
Cons:
- Some users reported leaks as the pouch does not seal to the water filter
- Water bag material is not that strong
- Hollow membrane fibers break easily
- Water does not flow easily, it needs a bit of suction
Closer look…
Reliability
As the products saying goes” A Lifetime of water at hand”, the MINI as a portable water filtration product is reliable and very easy to use in water filtration. It is lightweight and the collapsible drinking pouches is a space saver making it an ideal survival tool for outdoor recreation, hiking, camping, fishing, and other survival activities. The MINI can filter and remove 99 percent of all water bacteria such as salmonella, cholera, and E coli. The included drinking pouches can also be easily attached to any disposable bottles and hydration packs. The straw in the MINI can also be used directly to drink from any water source.
Durability and Versatility
The MINI weighs just about 2 ounces, making it the lightest water filter product in the market today. Rated to 0.1 micron absolute, it can also filter up to 100,000 gallons of water. The small size of the MINI is also an advantage. You can hold it in the palm of your hands and it also has the most compact filters available today. The hollow fiber membrane of the MINI offers a high flow rate sip on the straw. It filters the water directly from the water source as the water moves slowly to your mouth. With its 0.1 micron filter, you can be assured that 99 percent of all the water bacteria has been removed, making the water clean and safe to drink. Just make sure not to freeze your MINI. Doing this can ruin the hollow fiber membrane of your product.
Verdict
You can say that the Mini Water Filtration System is a game changer in the field of portable water filtration products. It’s affordable, properly designed and easy to use. Yes, it has it’s downsides but the MINI’s ability to filter water directly from the source without carrying bulky filtering machines or chemicals is enough to say that the MINI would be a great addition to one’s survival bucket list.
Final Word
We can conclude that all three products that we’ve reviewed are all excellent portable water straw filtration system materials. Each has its own pros and cons as well as its strengths and weaknesses. But the most important features that these three portable water straw filtration systems have is their ability to filter water filled with impurities directly from the source. So if you are looking for an affordable, tested, and effective portable water filtration system to add in your survival pack, then, any of these three products can do the job for you.
Source: http://crisissurvivortips.com/water-filter-straws-review-which-portable-filter-is-worth-the-buck/
