LifeStraw’s Enduring Popularity Is Proof It Can Save Your Life

When you’ve spent as many years as I have researching Amazon products, you come to understand which popular items are actually high quality. I have seen plenty of fads in my time: products that shoot up to #1 based on a viral video or media mention, only to falter as buyers realize their lack of durability. And then I see the products that hold at #1, year in and year out, throughout various Prime Days, Cyber Mondays, and the rest of the shopping year. The Instant Pot is the best example of the latter. But the LifeStraw should also be counted among Amazon’s superior bestsellers.

The LifeStraw has been the #1 Best Seller in the category of “Camping & Hiking Water Filters” for as long as I can remember. That is a plum spot to be in, considering that such a water filter is an absolute necessity for any person who enjoys outdoor recreation. As the name implies, it is a straw that can actually save your life.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness — $29.95

When you are relying on a product to play such an important role, you do not want to place your trust in some up-and-coming operation. Newer brands might get away with selling things like tech accessories, relying on lower prices to attract customers. But in a literal life-or-death situation, you need to go with a company with a verified track record of success.

Because LifeStraw has been around for a while now, it is possible to forget just how revolutionary the concept was. For years, hikers and campers had to bring their own water supply, knowing they could not risk whatever bacteria or other pathogens might be in the local water source. Eventually, companies like Nalgene came along with water-purifying bottles. You could then collect water from the stream or river, and then wait as the harmful elements were filtered out. This was a big improvement, but it still was a hassle, especially if you did not plan ahead.

The LifeStraw filter took the purifying process to the next level. Instead of having to pass water through a screw-on top and wait for it to become drinkable, LifeStraw made it possible to drink the water straight from the source. It acts as a straw for consuming the liquid in any of body of water found throughout nature.

How is this possible? How can you really trust that you can stick a LifeStraw in a brook and suck it out without consequences? The technology is brilliant, featuring a membrane microfilter with microscopic pores that removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), and 99.999% of waterborne parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium), as well as microplastics. It can filter as much as 1,000 gallons before needing to be replaced. And replacement is a cinch—its standard price is $30 but is very frequently featured in Amazon discounts. As I write this, it is $9.99.

If you are an avid outdoorsman, odds are you already know about LifeStraw. If you are new to the endeavor, then here is some friendly advice for you: Do not set off for the mountains or woods without the LifeStraw in tow.