Life Straw: a portable, affordable water filter

 In the world of survival and preparedness, there are many excellent choices for filters that provide safe water. The Life Straw stands out as unique because of its portability, simple design, effectiveness, and price point. This month I had the chance to try out a Life Straw and right away noticed 3 very likable features.

First, it was lightweight (weighs only 2 ounces!) and has a neck cord to keep the filter handy when outdoors. Our family likes to camp, and of course my son loves the idea of slurping water from a stream, but what mother in her right mind would let her child do that?? A Life Straw strung around his neck would allow him to enjoy a swig of wilderness water and the freedom to play Bear Grylls without the worry.

In the case of an emergency evacuation, a Life Straw around your neck would provide an immediate means of purifying water on the go without having to lug heavy water bottles, if you live in an area with plentiful water sources.

I could totally see myself doing this. The second impressive feature was the filter’s effectiveness against scads of waterborne bacteria and parasites and the fact that it exceeds the EPA’s standards. Just for fun, the kids and I filled a drinking glass with muddy water (mud courtesy of our backyard) and put the Life Straw through a real-life test. Of course the kids were too squeamish to drink the water, but I took the challenge. The water tasted just fine, without even a hint of mud. It wasn’t exactly scientific, but the results were impressive.

I was impressed with the price point, around $20. At this price, it would be easy for most families to add a Life Straw to every emergency kit and even keep one in the car and with camping equipment. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you definitely need a way to purify water.

The Life Straw is BPA free, can filter up to 264 gallons of water, and has a 1 year warranty.

You can find the Life Straw in retail stores around the country.

By the way, while you’re checking out the Life Straw page, take time to browse through the other products and articles on the EarthEasy website!