How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier

Capable of removing microplastics, bacteria and parasites from your drinking water, this 3-pack of LifeStraw Sip Reusable Stainless-Steel water filter straws is a simple solution for life on the move.
Imported.
View all LifeStraw Straw Water FiltersBest Use | Travel |
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Filter Type | Straw |
Filter Medium | Hollow-core membrane microfilter |
Removes/Destroys | Protozoa And Bacteria |
Housing Material | Stainless Steel |
BPA Free | Yes |
Field Cleanable | Yes |
Dimensions | 10 inches |
Weight | 3 ounces |
Sustainability | From a Climate Neutral Certified brand |
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These straws were so thin that I was a bit skeptical to try them. I'm glad that I did. Not only did it work flawlessly but I could not tell the difference between the fresh water through the straw and water from a filtered water bottle. I went back and forth between the straw water and the water bottle several times and couldn't believe the similarity. This was my first time using a filtered straw and I drank quite a bit of water using it. For that reason, I wanted to wait some time before I reviewed the product to make sure that I didn't get sick. It's been about two weeks and I feel great. These will be going with me on every hike and camping trip because they are so small and extremely handy. Clean water is everything!
The LifeStraw Sip is the first LifeStraw product that I've ever tested and so far, it's been a surprisingly convenient, lightweight, and compact water filtering option for quick hydration stops outdoors while on the go biking and hiking on day trips or to have on hand while traveling in towns/cities and other areas with potentially questionable water quality. It's also a convenient item to add and have on hand as part of an emergency disaster kit. Pros: The straw is compact, lightweight, filters down to .20 micros (But keep in mind this straw does NOT filter viruses), is reusable and easy to store, it has a relatively long lifespan (1000 L) and drinking water is easy, with only minor, but noticeable resistance compared to a normal straw. It's easy to sip water through the straw provided the water isn't too murky or full of sediment and it doesn't take much effort, especially if using the straw to drink from a cup, Nalgene bottle, or directly from a moving water source, such as a stream, river, or lake. On the aesthetics side, the straw doesn't attract a lot of attention at restaurants or in other public settings. It's also easy to store and have on-hand in a daypack, laptop bag, or a large hip pack. What Could Be Improved: Adding a cap or seal that can be placed on the bottom of the straw to help prevent any lingering unfiltered water from contaminating the drinking end of the straw while in the carrying case would help minimize the chance of accidentally consuming parasites, bacteria, or microplastics. The included instructions are clear about blowing out/discharging any excess water from the straw before putting it in the carry case, so this might not be an issue so long as you're diligent about doing it consistently, but adding a simple plastic cap or cover would help provide more piece of mind and help minimize the risk. Overall, I’ve been impressed with the simplicity of the design, the ease of use, and how little space the straw takes up in a pack (or while stored in an emergency disaster kit). If in the future LifeStraw can develop or add filtration technology that filters viruses without making the straw more challenging or cumbersome to use, it would be an even more versatile product.
I have a LifeStraw from many, many years ago that was large and bulky and fairly expensive. So many years later, these are a huge improvement. They're lightweight, have a slender and cute carrying case, and far less expensive. I'm impressed with how much this technology has improved over the years. I carry these on camping and backpacking trips and it makes it so much easier than bringing along a bulky water filtration system. The instructions are very clear and tell you how to make sure they're dried out a bit before storing for a longer period of time. Overall, these are a great product to bring along on your next camping trip!
The new LifeStraw Sip is a great addition to the LifeStraw lineup. Being slim makes it easy enough to carry everywhere, any time. The case keeps it clean and the caps are so easy to remove for washing. I love that this came in a 3 pack, giving me options to leave one full time in my hiking pack and one in my emergency bag. You could even gift some to friends of family. Water tastes fresh and clean and the LifeStraw Sip is just like using a regular straw making it more convenient than previous products in their line. Definitely read the instructions to be sure you prep the filter properly and understand the filtration limits. While it's a great product it is a filter not a sanitation product and might not remove chemicals or fertilizers from run off.
Overall, this is a solid straw to have as backup for the backcountry and great for traveling. It’s sturdy, compact, well-made, and very discrete. Definitely take note of the care instructions for storage and cleaning, which are simple but noteworthy. The straw is difficult to drink from, and although the FAQ indicates it’s easier to drink once the membrane is saturated, I didn’t notice a significant difference personally. Because of this, I would not use it as a primary option for backpacking but it is small enough to have as a backup filtration (I typically use gravity filtration or squeeze systems for backpacking which has a lot more volume). These straws are fantastic for travel, especially in countries where the water is a bit more susceptible. They also look much more standard straw-like (therefore discrete) than some of the other LifeStraw models which I appreciate. I have also used this in places with well/hard water and I do notice a difference in taste in these locations. Overall I would recommend this product for travel and backpacking.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This water filter straw is very eco-friendly for the environment. I got the Apricot color, which is a light orange color - really aesthetic. It also came with a case so I can carry it anywhere. However, it requires more pressure to sip water than a regular straw. The water that it filters tasted ok, not good but not bad. Overall, I like the idea of this product, but it’s not practical for me.
The Straw is super convenient and easy to carry and use. This could be a great option for travel or hiking as well as keeping at your desk to filter out the taste of city water. It really can’t get any easier to use. The only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is that it didn’t check the hiking box for me because I use an inline filter on my water carrier, otherwise it’s fantastic!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This has became my new go to straw. I really like the design and the storage case it came with. It’s a very durable straw and can be used for up to a year of daily use. It removes all the bad stuff from water so keep me peace of mind at all times.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This straw seems very durable and somewhat easy to clean, but it is so hard to get liquid thru. I first tried it with my iced coffee and I literally had to suck so hard to get anything out. Cute packaging tho, not great for everyday use
I brought the LifeStraw SIp Water Filter Straws with me on a camping trip and I found them to be very convenient, easy to use, and they made the water taste good! I'm always concerned about drinking water from campsite taps, but knowing that the straws filters out 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites, 99.999% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness, helped me feel more at ease during the trip. I plan to include these in my camping gear and bring them with me when I travel. Although the straw is easy to drink from, I gave the product 4 stars because it was a bit challenging to blow the water out of the straw after use.