Lifestraw’s mission is simple: they make contaminated water safe to drink. I’m sure you’ve heard of them, and if you travel frequently to countries without potable water readily available or spend ample time in the backcountry, you have probably used their products. We’ve been using Lifestraws for several years, but never had we needed one so much as last month, hiking Mt. Katahdin in Maine. On that 11 mile hike, we ran out of water halfway through, despite finding a water source on the ascent and filtering water en route. It was a very humid day, and we went through it too fast. On the Katahdin knife edge, a section of the hike that requires concentration and coordination, several us became clumsy with dehydration. Lifestraw to the rescue: we found a literal puddle of rain water in a rock crevice and took turns using our Lifestraw to hydrate.
At that moment, we decided we wanted Lifestraw filters in ALL our water bottles. Lifestraw Universal gives you just that: this kit sets you up with one filter (2-stage), two sized bottle caps, and one cap lid. We have used the kit to add a Lifestraw filter to our favorite water bottles, from a wide-mouth Nalgene to a narrow-mouth Camelbak. Details for the caps: the wide cap is 63 mm and the narrow cap is 43 mm. The filter height is 7.3 inches. You also get a carry bag.
As always, the filter does the following:
- Removes 99.999999 % of bacteria
- Removes 99.999 % of parasites
- Reduces organic chemical matter (pesticides, herbicides, VOCs)
- Removes 99.999% of microplastics
- Compatible with most water bottles
- Lasts 1,000 gallons
Now when we backpack or camp, everyone in our family can use a Lifestraw filter in their favorite water bottle, and I can travel with a filter in the bottle I love to use for international trips. The Universal kit is only $34, allowing you to switch out your filter from bottle to bottle at will. Pick up your kit on the Lifestraw website or at other online retailers, such as Amazon.