We’re big fans of Lifestraw and their clever water-filtering straw, which has seen numerous iterations through the years, each one getting lighter and more compact than previous installments. Their latest, the Lifestraw Sip Essential, is their lightest one yet, making it incredibly convenient to take with you anywhere.
How light is it? According to the outfit, it weighs less than three ounces, which is incredibly light. It’s slim, too, at just over half an inch thick, making it incredibly convenient to bring along, whether you’re hiking, traveling, or taking off for any kind of adventure where potable water may not be as easy to find.
The Lifestraw Sip Essential is the latest evolution of the outfit’s water filter straw, coming in a slim and light package that makes it very easy to pack with the rest of your gear. It measures 10.8 x 0.53 inches (length x diameter), so it mostly looks like a really long marker pen. As such, it’s very easy to carry, since you can put it in your pants’ back pocket, slide it on a pouch on your backpack, or just slip it inside your bag. You can carry it on its own, of course, although it does come with a carrying case that just looks like an even thicker pen.
It’s equipped with a 0.2-micron membrane microfilter that, the outfit claims, is able to deliver advanced filtration without the usual bulk. According to Lifestraw, it can remove nearly all traces of bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness from any water source enough that it meets US EPA and NSF P231 drinking water standards. Despite the tiny size, it can filter up to 1,000 liters of water, too, allowing you to use it on a lot of adventures before needing a replacement.
The Lifestraw Sip Essential comes with a cover for the mouthpiece, which remains attached to the straw even when you take it off, ensuring you never lose it accidentally. The filtered area at the bottom has a removable cap, too, which can be taken off completely, so you need to make sure not to lose it whenever you take a sip. It’s removable because the cap is designed to serve a second purpose – a cutout on its side allows you set the straw down on it without having the whole thing roll off the table.
The straw is made from BPA-free stainless steel, so this thing should hold up to the most rugged environments. Same goes with the individual carry case, so you can take them most anywhere without worries. The caps and mouthpiece are all made from silicone. Like other filter straws, you can clean it by sipping water then blowing it back through the straw to backflush. Make sure to wipe everything down dry before storing. Unlike some of their bigger straws, by the way, the filter isn’t replaceable on this one. As such, it’s meant to be disposed after running through the 1,000-liter limit. You’ll have to get the bigger versions if you want one that you can reuse long-term.
The Lifestraw Sip Essential is available now, priced at $19.95.
