Backside Line
After testing the LifeStraw Peak Straw with the dirtiest water we might discover and evaluating it to different top-performing squeeze filters, we confirmed that it deserves a spot on the record of our favourite water filters. It’s versatile, sturdy, and simple to make use of.
The Peak Straw is right for individuals who wish to stoop down and sip from a pure water supply with out having to hold any additional water on their backs. It’s ultimate for path runners as a result of it offers clear water shortly in a 2.4-ounce package deal.
This filter takes care of something it’s essential fear about in backcountry water sources, from micro organism and parasites to microplastics. They even make a model with a carbon attachment for filtering out heavy metals.
Whereas the Peak Straw isn’t the quickest or most sturdy water filter on our record, it’s a superb funding for individuals who need fast hydration with out added weight.
How We Examined
The Peak Straw is a brand new water filter for our workforce, however we’ve subjected it to intense testing with among the dirtiest water conceivable. We deliberately tried to clog it with silty, turbid water to judge its sturdiness, stream fee, and water high quality.
Fast Specs
LifeStraw Peak Straw
Greatest Straw Water Filter
CleverHiker Score:
4.5/5.0
Value:
$25
Weight:
2.3 oz.
Movement Fee:
1.5 L/min
Filter Pore Dimension:
.2 microns
Lifetime Quantity:
4000 L
Execs
- Good stream fee
- Suitable with quite a lot of bottles
- Ultralight
- Compact
- Can be utilized as a straw
- Inexpensive
- Simple to wash within the area
Water High quality
The LifeStraw Peak Straw makes use of hole fiber membranes with a pore dimension of 0.2 microns to filter out 99.999999% of micro organism, 99.999% of parasites, and 99.999% of microplastics, silt, and sand. In different phrases, it filters out almost every little thing it’s essential fear about making you sick within the backcountry. The filter reduces a lot of the earthy style from natural matter and meets US EPA and NSF P231 consuming water requirements.
The Peak Straw doesn’t filter out viruses, so for some worldwide journey, think about using one thing that does. Though the Peak Straw doesn’t filter out heavy metals and chemical compounds, the LifeStraw Solo can be utilized with a separate carbon attachment that does.
Ease of Use
The important thing characteristic of the Peak Straw is its means to drink instantly from the water supply. Whereas another filters even have this characteristic, the Peak Straw is housed in an extended casing, so that you don’t should get your face simply 4 inches from the supply. The ergonomic mouthpiece can be extra comfy and simpler to attract water from.
The power to shortly drink straight from the water supply is a perfect characteristic for path runners in locations with ample water sources. As a substitute of carrying heavy water bottles, merely kneel, seize a fast sip on the subsequent stream crossing, and also you’re in your manner.
The Peak Straw can be used with a gravity system or instantly on a bladder or any plastic bottle with customary 28mm threads (sure, which means a smartwater bottle). We advocate these strategies over the straw characteristic for filtering bigger portions, because the latter may be fairly tiring on the cheeks. Each choices are very fast to arrange.
Therapy Time
The quickest technique to deal with water with the Peak Straw is the squeeze technique. It took us simply over a minute on common to filter a liter utilizing a Smartwater bottle (requires occasional “burping”), and as little as 40 seconds when squeezing firmly with a smooth bladder. These instances are just like these of our most well-liked squeeze filters.
The pace at which the Peak Straw filters a liter of water utilizing simply gravity really impressed us. When hanging from a tree department, the Peak Straw completed filtering a whole liter in simply two and a half minutes.
It seemed foolish, however we even timed how shortly we might filter a liter of water utilizing nothing however suction energy. Admittedly, we solely did this as soon as and wouldn’t advocate it, however you possibly can theoretically filter a liter of water in simply over two minutes with the ability of your cheeks.
No matter your most well-liked technique, it’s best to hunt down the cleanest sources with the Peak Straw. Therapy time decreases considerably with soiled sources.
Weight
Regardless of its bigger dimension, the Peak Straw stays a really light-weight filter at simply 2.4 ounces. It nonetheless serves as a superb possibility even for essentially the most ultralight thru-hikers aiming to save lots of essentially the most weight.
The bigger dimension, nonetheless, is barely extra awkward to pack away. It simply slides into most exterior backpack pockets, however when hooked up to a one-liter Smartwater bottle, it measures about 19 inches lengthy. For reference, that’s roughly the torso size of a medium-sized backpack.
To pack the filter securely, Lifestraw presents a handy carrying case particularly for the Peak Straw. Whereas it provides some weight to your pack, it’s useful for storing it in your sleeping bag at evening with out risking spills.
Upkeep & Longevity
Area upkeep with the Peak Straw is simple, however must be completed typically. To scrub, blow as arduous as you may on the mouthpiece to filter out any remaining water and sediment from the filter. This technique isn’t as efficient as a syringe backflush, so we advocate doing it after every filtering session. For those who don’t clear the Peak Straw frequently, it may well clog up shortly.
The Peak Straw has first rate longevity, lasting as much as about 4000 liters. When it reaches the tip of its lifespan, it would merely cease permitting water to stream by means of the filter – a transparent signal that it’s time to switch it. Whereas you will get fairly a little bit of use out of 4000 liters, it pales compared to the Sawyer Squeeze, which is rated for a 380,000-liter lifetime.
Like all hole membrane filters, it’s necessary to not let your Peak Straw freeze. When water freezes within the filter, it expands and might crack the delicate membranes, making them ineffective. Earlier than crawling into the tent for the evening, we advocate eradicating any water from the filter, wrapping it in a material (or utilizing the non-compulsory carrying case), and putting it within the backside of your sleeping bag.
Ought to You Purchase the LifeStraw Peak Straw?
There are positively different choices to think about in the case of a squeeze filter, however the LifeStraw Peak Straw is completely suited to consuming instantly from the water supply. With its ergonomic mouthpiece and prolonged size (which may be additional prolonged with a hose), it’s arduous to seek out a better option for this objective. We love utilizing this ultralight filter for path runs in moist environments to keep away from carrying any water on our backs.
The Peak Straw removes almost 100% of dangerous parasites, micro organism, and protozoa, offering clear, great-tasting consuming water within the outside. Its versatile design goes past a straw, serving as a squeeze and gravity filter with spectacular stream charges.
The Peak Straw does get clogged sooner than different filters and shouldn’t be allowed to freeze, however so long as you backflush it frequently, it ought to simply filter about 4000 liters of water.
What Different Water Filters Ought to You Contemplate?
Evaluate the Peak Straw with different squeeze filters on our full information to backpacking water filters.
Sawyer Mini Assessment: The Mini is one other versatile squeeze filter that can be used as a straw. It’s not as ideally suited to consuming instantly from a supply, however it’s lighter and extra packable.
Sawyer Squeeze Assessment: This filter successfully balances weight financial savings, stream fee, and ease of use. It maintains its stream fee for a very long time because of its highly effective backflushing syringe and might last as long as 380,000 liters.
Katadyn BeFree Assessment: Though it doesn’t have the very best longevity or only cleansing strategies, the BeFree presents an unmatched stream fee for a squeeze filter, particularly early on. If comfort is your essential precedence, this is perhaps the fitting filter for you.
LifeStraw Solo Filter: This different to the Peak Straw is appropriate with a carbon attachment to filter out heavy metals and dangerous chemical compounds.
