Technology in the outdoor industry continues apace across many categories, but it is perhaps water filtration and purification that has seen some of the most important developments in the last decade – it’s much easier to drink on the go in 2016. The LifeStraw Go is our favourite water filtration system. Not only is it brilliantly simple and easy to use, but the people who make it are committed to supporting clean water charities too.
Firstly it’s important to distinguish between filtration and purification. The former will filter out most bacteria and parasites, but a purification system is required to kill any viruses. For the most part a filtration system will suffice.
The LifeStraw Go is effectively a filtering straw attached to a water bottle that uses a two-stage filtration process. Stage one is a hollow fiber membrane that removes 99.9 percent of bacteria (E. coli and salmonella), 99.9 percent of protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, etc.), and reduces turbidity (the amount of cloudy stuff floating about in the water) by filtering particulate matter to 0.2 microns. Stage two is an activated carbon capsule that reduces chlorine, organic chemical matter (like herbicides and pesticides), and bad taste. The hollow fiber membrane filters up to 1,000 litres throughout its life; the carbon capsule filters 100 litres. Replacements for both are available.
