LifeStraw - new water purification syste m, $2/yr

“If this pans out, this will save millions of people who currently do not have access to safe drinking water. Charities could buy it in bulk and distribute it by the tens of thousands every month (they mention a $2 single-item cost). You suck water through it, and that's it. No chemicals, filters, or batteries to replace. And it lasts a year - a full year of all the water you need. They even infer it will disinfect saline water, although I'm sure it doesn't remove the salt. That's a whole other process. But its a start.

And a nice side benefit - it looks like the perfect size, weight, price, and effectiveness for backpackers. The design would need to be modified to collect water in bulk (like in a Platypus or Nalgene), but that would be a minor job - just add a pump on the end you would normally suck.

Edit: after more research, it looks like it doesn't handle Giardia yet (5 micron beastie vs. 15 micron filter).

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000890054889/
http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2005/05/lifestraw.html
http://www.gizmag.com/go/4418/1/
last edited: 8/18/05 8:46:59 AM”

“Very cool.”

“All the ultralight freaks will be cutting them in 1/2 and drilling holes in them ... bet they don't work as well like that.”

“Ha, ha.”

“As long as it filters out bubonic plague infested chipmunks and hanta virus pikas, that's fine with me. Giardia is way overrated. This sounds lighter than the campfire grill I've been lugging around to filter out these critters. Thanks.”

“I've been using this one for a few years now and haven't had to replace it yet. I have gotten sick a few times though...

”

“Nigal, if that filter straw came in red, I'd be all over it.”

“This is what I am using as a water filter now.

”

“Nothing wrong with a little fiber in your drink. Good idea.”

“lol@nigal!”

“I still need the C3PO straw to complete the set but he's just gay.”

“NEVER drink out of a gay straw. You don't know where it's been.”

“There's nothing worse than crappy tasting water when you're really thirsty.”

“C3PO straw: Does the tube come out his back or ass?”

“The fact that this straw comes with a rubber should tell you something.”

“It also comes with an e. coli pre-filter.”

“http://giardiaclub.com/survival-water-filter-straw/index.php


I have one....”

“I guess you need to purchase C3PO separately? They always get you somehow.”

“You know I looked into this ... my MSR is ultra reliable but I carry iodine tablets to purify water on an emergency basis. I looked at one of these straws and decided the tablets were easier to use. You can purify liters at a time which wouldn't really work well/at all with the straw thing. Also the iodine is lighter than the 1oz of the straw. But for some reason I never stopped wanting one of these things. I never ordered one. It might be because I hate the taste of iodine treated water that I longed for one.

Does anyone use that Aquamira stuff? I thought about swapping that for the iodine tablets I carry but don't want to pop for the price of the stuff just for emergency supplies that in all likelihood I won't use.
last edited: 8/18/05 5:11:31 PM”

“The problem with tablets is they don't get the chipmunks out. If you're willing to drink chunkage, go for it.”

“hehe, chunkage .. I have heard it called "floaties" but never chunkage. That's funny!”

“Floaties are what girls call it. Chunkage is a man's term. Arrrr.”

“Aye, thar be much chunkage in the water, Cap'n. I think Pukin' Bill missed the head again...”

“LMAO!”

“where did you get that R2D2 straw....damn you if that's a file image..now i must go find it”

“pitts - I don't think this thing is the same as the currently available straw-type filters. I wouldn't trust them at all, either. This thing uses a combo of textile filters, carbon filter, and iodine to get it done.

I use Aqua Mira, exclusively. If I see too many floaters I'll use my hankerchief to strain them out. Multi-use rule. Used to carry coffee filters for that, but why bother when Mr. Hanky does the job?

Ok, who is the first person to link to a picture of Mr. Hanky...”

“about a skillion years ago, I bought water bottles on clearance at LLBean that had straws attached that filtered the water. They were so hard to drink through we quickly abandoned using them.
Are these things any different?”

“Their flow is about as slow as the old-style straw filters. If you put a manual pump on it, it probably wouldn't be any different than current pump-style water filters.”