[QUOTE=gusvonpooch, post:24, topic:425858]
Maybe good reviews because buyers who hated it are still in the bathroom or have passed on?
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+++
[QUOTE=mewarmo990, post:19, topic:425858]
LifeStraws are some of the best personal water filters on the market, for the price. They are issued to U.S. military and countries receiving humanitarian aid, BUT it is very important to understand what they can and can’t do.
It will not filter viruses, which are hundreds of times smaller than bacteria or protozoa. That means you shouldn’t use it on human sewage, which is likely contaminated with viruses. In this case you should still pretreat with tablets. It will also not filter dissolved minerals and chemicals, which means it won’t desalinate salt water.
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I’d rather die than drink human sewage.
[QUOTE=jasonking0351, post:5, topic:425858]
I live in Northern Ohio. Would this device filter out the toxic algae in our water system (that came from Lake Erie) to make the water drinkable?
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To answer your question, NO. Not even boiling will kill the algae. Water has to be filtered then treated. Some people keep a UV pen for this purpose. What this filter doesn’t do is get rid of virus which is more of a problem in parts of the world. Recommend that if you get ANY FILTER, test it before you have to depend on it.
[QUOTE=k7ben, post:42, topic:425858]
I’d rather die than drink human sewage.
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I think the point he is making is that if you try you could do both.(ie;die than drink sewage)
[QUOTE=jazziz68, post:9, topic:425858]
Will this filter the water out of Vodka or Gin…???
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The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter removes 99.9% of waterborne bacteria and protozoan parasites down to 0.2 microns, but is not effective for removing chemicals or heavy metals. So, unfortunately it won’t remove alcohol from water.
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
[QUOTE=ericmons, post:18, topic:425858]
Ok, can anybody speak to its effectiveness against MONTEZUMA’S REVENGE? I must’ve done something in a past life to really upset this “Montezuma” guy, because no matter how hard I try to avoid the water in Mexico, I always spend about half of my vacation trying to find the nearest baño. If I can get a couple of extra days of vacation just by using this every time somebody puts an ice cube in my drink, then put me down for DOS!!
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The LifeStraw removes virtually all bacteria (99.9999%) and protozoa (99.9%) from contaminated water, including the most common pathogen that causes Montezuma’s Revenge (Escherichia coli)
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
Thank you so much for the review. I hear lots of people buying them for BOBs and the like, but no one actually using them. I hear that there’s plugging problems and the manufacturer saying the whole straw needs to be soaked first. That would work if you had a source of clean water to start, otherwise it sounds like it defeats the purpose. I did some research and opted for the Sawyer Mini’s instead, as you also mentioned. I haven’t tried them either, but I’m glad to get your review.
[QUOTE=rambo91145, post:30, topic:425858]
Forgot to add-remember these are hollow membrane filters (think of a jillion tiny soda straws taped in a bundle) so don’t crush them and more importantly DO NOT let them freeze with water in them. If it’s cold put them in your sleeping bag or hang them around your neck during the day. Freezing will expand and rupture the internal micro tubes, then you’re screwed.
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[QUOTE=Dwass, post:13, topic:425858]
Will it prevent Ebola?
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The LifeStraw uses a mechanical filter to remove waterborne bacteria and protozoan parasites down to 0.2 microns in size. Unfortunately many viruses, such as Ebola, are too small to be removed by this filter.
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
[QUOTE=rwalsh, post:27, topic:425858]
I was considering this but I can’t get the picture of the 3rd world kid drinking from a mucky tin basin…I seriously doubt that water was purified with that straw. Filtered sure…
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The LifeStraw reduces turbidity, filtering down to 0.2 microns, so water doesn’t have to be clear to safely drink through it.
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
Really?
[QUOTE=CourtneyEartheasy, post:47, topic:425858]
The LifeStraw removes virtually all bacteria (99.9999%) and protozoa (99.9%) from contaminated water, including the most common pathogen that causes Montezuma’s Revenge (Escherichia coli)
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
[/quote]
Better solution when traveling to South America is to stop in the nearest drug store after plane lands and buying a couple of packs of 500mg amoxicillin capsules and downing one with each meal. Cheaper and more effective than this straw at warding off Montezuma’s revenge.
[QUOTE=jrwwallis, post:51, topic:425858]
Really?
[/quote]
Really 
it uses a mechanical filter, so it filters down to 0.2 microns rather than using chemicals, iodine, or iodinized resin.
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
[QUOTE=CourtneyEartheasy, post:53, topic:425858]
Really it uses a mechanical filter, so it filters down to 0.2 microns rather than using chemicals, iodine, or iodinized resin.
- Courtney from Eartheasy, North America’s exclusive distributor of the LifeStraw
[/quote]
What is the mechanical filter made of, if not chemicals?
Botach offers the Aquamira 22-oz. Water Bottle with Microbiological Filter, model no. 41210, for $19.95 with free shipping. That’s $2 under the lowest total price we could find elsewhere. The bottle features a dust cap, finger loop, and an activated-carbon filter which treats up to 100 gallons of water and removes a purported 99.9% of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
[QUOTE=dliidlii, post:55, topic:425858]
Botach offers the Aquamira 22-oz. Water Bottle with Microbiological Filter, model no. 41210, for $19.95 with free shipping. That’s $2 under the lowest total price we could find elsewhere. The bottle features a dust cap, finger loop, and an activated-carbon filter which treats up to 100 gallons of water and removes a purported 99.9% of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
[/quote]
I have water bottles coming out of my patuti, which are space killers. One of these makes sense for an emergency bag or while traveling. Much more compact.
Great discussion. Giving back a little.
If you search for the sawyer mini on amazon the blue is 19 bucks with prime shipping. If your select the orange, pink or green, they are 23.84 or so. But if you pick the multicolor 4 pack, one of each color (and perfect for a family of 4 to prevent cross contamination) the price drops to 67 dollars! So that’s 16.75 a pop with free shipping for everyone.
not good with links.
http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1410829844&sr=1-1&keywords=sawyer+mini