LifeStraw Go Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Replaceable filter, unique purpose, well-made, durable
Cons: Expensive, small capacity, can only be used with water (no other liquids)
Manufacturer: LifeStraw
Our Verdict
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 This Product
LifeStraw Go | |||||
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| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $39.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $24.94 at Amazon | $20 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Replaceable filter, unique purpose, well-made, durable | Durable, easy to carry, wide mouth for easy cleaning, lid insert for easy drinking | Light, durable, resists flavors, simple design, wide mouth makes for easy filling | Sleek design, affordable, low-profile for filter bottle | Affordable, insulates well, has interchangeable lids, portable |
| Cons | Expensive, small capacity, can only be used with water (no other liquids) | Expensive, heavy | Diameter too big for cup holders, wide mouth makes it difficult to drink from when walking or driving | Limited to water use only, small capacity | Paint chipping after a few months of use, flip cap seemed to lack security |
| Bottom Line | This bottle provides filtered water on the go, but this also restricts its overall versatility | Our favorite choice for daily use because of the size, shape, and ease of use in an insulated stainless steel bottle | A tried and tested classic, this model is versatile and reasonably priced | A bottle that is aesthetically appealing and effective at providing filtered water without leaks and other mishaps | This is one of our top ranking bottles because it's easy to use, just the right size, lightweight and inexpensive |
| Rating Categories | LifeStraw Go | YETI Rambler 26 | Nalgene Wide-Mouth | Stainless Steel Fil... | Simple Modern Summit |
| Ease Of Use (40%) | |||||
| Durability (25%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Taste (15%) | |||||
| Specs | LifeStraw Go | YETI Rambler 26 | Nalgene Wide-Mouth | Stainless Steel Fil... | Simple Modern Summit |
| Body Material | BPA-free Plastic | 18/8 stainless steel | Eastman Tritan co-polyester | 18/8 stainless steel | 18/8 stainless steel |
| Empty weight (oz) | 10.0 oz | 22 oz | 6.4 oz | 13.9 oz | 12.4 oz |
| Volume (oz) | 19 oz | 26 oz | 34 oz | 20 oz | 22 oz |
| Bottle weight (oz) per fluid oz capacity | 0.53 oz | 0.85 oz | 0.19 oz | 0.7 oz | 0.56 oz |
| Mouth diameter | n/a | 3 in | 2.5 in | 2 in | 2.25 in |
| Base diameter | 3.14 in | 3.25 in | 3.25 in | 2.8 in | 3 in |
| Height | 9.25 in | 10 in | 8.25 in | 10.75 in | 9.5 in |
| Body Type | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional |
| Free of Materials | BPA-free | BPA-free | BPA, BPS and Phthalate Free | BPA-free | BPA-free |
| Cap/Lid Type | Bite Straw | Wide-loop cap | Loop-top screw cap | Screw-cap with straw | Screw Cap |
| Volume Options | 10oz, Flex | 18 oz, 20 oz, 36 oz | 16 oz, 48 oz | 20 oz | 14 oz, 18 oz, 22 oz, 32 oz, 40 oz |
| Warranty | 30 day return | 3 or 5 year warranty | Lifetime Guarantee for normal use | 30 day | Limited Warranty |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Go is a small volume bottle with an integrated filter. We had a hard time figuring out the best use for this bottle, as it is too small and cumbersome to use backpacking, and lacks the ability to filter large quantities of water. For short hikes near a water source, the LifeStraw is useful because it can be refilled anywhere. This means you can carry less water, and thus have a lighter load. The bottle is also useful in an urban setting where you may not have access to filtered water all the time.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
The underwhelming score that the LifeStraw received in this metric is due to the difficulties we had drinking out of the filter-straw. The filter also takes up a ton of volume in the bottle itself, which reduces the overall capacity of the bottle drastically. You have to suck on the straw pretty hard to get water through the filter, which can get tiring after a while. When we had the bottle full of drinkable water (which we usually did), we often took the lid off and skipped the straw and filter altogether. We found the Camelbak Eddy+ to be much more effective as a comparable straw-style bottle. Of course, the Eddy+ does not have the filter component that the LifeStraw does.
The LifeStraw is made up of three components, making it easy to take apart and clean. That said, bottles with integrated straws, like the Camelbak Eddy, can be a challenge to keep clean in the long term.
Durability
In terms of durability, we found the Lifestraw to be in general a very durable bottle. the hard-sided, BPA-free plastic bottle saw no real damage throughout our testing period. We did not run into any issues with the filter either. According to their website, LifeStraw recommends replacing the filter after 4000 liters (or 1000 gallons). The filter is the weakest point of this bottle and it can be easily replaced.
Weight
The LifeStraw is on the heavier side of the plastic bottles in this review in terms of weight. This high tech bottle weighs in at 10 ounces. The extra weight, of course, comes from the integrated filter, which weighs a bit on its own. This is a bit of a detraction because it also takes up a fair amount of space in the bottle, reducing the capacity. If you are set on filtering your water, then the weight is less of a concern, but it is something to be noted.
Taste
Because it has a built-in filter, it is no surprise that the LifeStraw Go gets a relatively high score regarding taste. The hollow fiber membrane and integrated activated carbon capsule filters bacteria and reduces chlorine and bad taste. Obviously, this bottle makes water taste good! The downside is that the bottle is only made for water, meaning you cannot put any other liquids in it. The straw can collect a bit of flavor, and if you are constantly filling the bottle with bad tasting water, a slight smell can develop. The filter itself also traps flavor, which is another reason to only use water in this bottle.
Value
The LifeStraw is way more expensive than similar-sized plastic bottles. Of course, the bottle comes with a fairly high-tech filtration system, so it makes sense that you have to pay a bit more for this setup.
Conclusion
The LifeStraw Go is a unique bottle with a number of positive features and a few downsides. If you are looking for a bottle with an integrated filtration system, this bottle is a great option, and it is not insanely expensive. If you need a bottle that will be more versatile, the LifeStraw may not be the best option. It is difficult to drink out of, has a fairly small volume, and can only be used to hold water. It also filters water and makes it taste great! So it's up to you to decide whether filtered water is a priority or not.
— Jane Jackson