LifeStraw Universal Review

This unique system turns your favorite water bottle into a filtration system. Both adaptors are super lightweight and ultra packable, giving it application for all sorts of backcountry or front country missions. Since it doesn't filter out viruses, be careful not to use it in places where water-borne viruses could be a problem. It's a great option for anywhere in North America.

Performance Comparison

Water Quality

This bottle adaptor kit can get rid of particulates, bacteria, and protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium, with a 0.2-micron hollow filter membrane. This filtration method cannot rid contaminated water of viruses. It's best for areas where viruses are not problematic, so it's perfect for most backcountry locations in North America. The activated carbon used in this filter removes bad tastes and odors from water, improving flavor.

Durability and Maintenance

We didn't experience any issues with this unit while drinking. In sandy water, the filter can get clogged, but when run under clear water it is simple to clean. You can also blow out sediment from the other side if you want to backflush the unit. This filter has a lifespan of about 4000 liters or 1,000 gallons.

Several online users reported that the filter came undone from the lid, which put them at risk for drinking contaminated water. If your bottles aren't translucent, this is an even bigger problem as you can't see if it's detached. We had this experience but realized when it was because when the straw is saturated it gets weighed down and can pop off. We wish this lid had threads to ensure this doesn't happen. We really had to push it in to ensure this didn't happen — double check to see if your filter is in place before drinking.

Treatment Time

Given that this filtration system filters on the go, the time to get drinking water is instantaneous. This system comes with two water bottle adaptors that have varying rates of flow. The water that you can get from the bottle into your mouth depends on your sucking force and the bottle itself.

Weight and Packability

The parts of this package are super lightweight. The filter detaches from the base of each adaptor head. The filter weighs 1.60 oz, while both heads with the cap weight the same at 2.10 oz. Altogether, the system weighs 3.70 oz, not including the weight of the bottle.

The parts of this system are super packable and don't take up much space. You can affix both the filter and the appropriate adaptor to the head of your water bottle. Or you can pack the different parts away into a small pouch for use later on.

As a result of this ultralightweight design, it's a good option for backpacking if you plan on taking your own container. It's also great for front country use where you might be concerned about water quality. It even comes with a carry case to avoid lost parts.

Ease of Setup

The bottle cap adaptors are compatible with a plethora of different companies. It fits bottles from Nalgene, CamelBak, Hydroflask, and Klean Kanteen.

There are two size options. The filter sits into the housing under the lid. The only downside is that you have to choose a bottle that is longer than the filter itself. So it doesn't work well with containers that are less than 1L or have a shorter, fatter profile. The filter itself is about the length of a Nalgene bottle.

When you find a compatible bottle, screw insert the filtration unit into the lid. Then scoop up your water from your source, and screw the lid onto the bottle. Voila…you have a filtration system.

Ease of Filtration

While the setup is easy, the actual drinking process is a little cumbersome. Both mouthpieces worked when we used the unit, but the smaller mouthpiece functioned far better than the wider one normally used with the Nalgene container.

When your bottle is full, it takes just a few sucks before you'll get water. You have to pull water into the filtration unit using sucking force. The more narrow adaptor is far better at this than the wider adaptor. The narrow unit also has a better suckling valve that makes it easy to bite while the larger one is harder to suck through. Once you've saturated the filter, the flow rate is adequate, providing you with water at the rate at which you suck.

If your bottle is not full and the filter is not saturated, it's important to note that the flow rate will decrease significantly or won't work at all. Saturate the filter before trying to drink. All in all, like all on-the-go filters, it requires a little work to get water. We like the narrow bottle adaptor better than the wider option.

Value

This unit can turn any bottle into a filtration system, which is valuable. The only downside is you should find yourself replacing the filter after 265 liters, which in the long run may become expensive, depending on how often you use the system.

Conclusion