Lifestraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze 1L Water Bottle with Filter review: a lightweight and convenient hydration solution

Lifestraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze 1L Water Bottle with Filter: first impressions

Whether you’re day hiking, thru-hiking or trail running, if you don't want to keep stopping for 20 minutes to purify water or you’re just looking for a space-saving solution in your backpack, this water bottle and filter combo provides the answer you’ve been looking for. The Lifestraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze 1L Water Bottle with Filter comprises a soft water bottle with a lifestraw membrane microfilter that inserts into the bottle with a drinking spout. 

When you’re ready for a refill, you can unscrew the top, fill the bottle with water from a stream or lake, then drink directly through the filter and avoid bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt and sand. (Users should be aware that, being a water filter and not a water purifier, this model does not capture waterborne viruses such as norovirus, present in many rivers and even streams on some trails.) You can also remove the filter from the bottle and drink directly from a stream, using the filter like a straw, or carry extra bottles and squeeze the water into them. The lightweight, sleek, cylindrical soft bottle design compresses as you drink and easily packs into your backpack pockets. Make sure you follow the instructions for regular maintenance of the filter to prolong the life of this high quality hydration system.

Lifestraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze 1L Water Bottle with Filter: in the field

I’m thrilled to have finally got my hands on one of these water bottles with built-in filters. Over the years I’ve gone from slowly pumping water into my stainless steel water bottle to a much faster squeeze filter plus soft bottle set up, but this combo really takes all the work and worry out of filtering water in the wild. Now I can just throw this bottle in my backpack and know that stopping to gather water only takes as long as it takes to fill a water bottle.

I have used this on every hike for the last few weeks and I’m loving the convenience factor of just filling and drinking on the go. Plus, the cylindrical shape of the water bottle fits easily into my daypack pockets even when full, which frees up room in my pack, and as with all soft bottles, I love how it compresses as I drink.

Aside from the fact that it doesn't catch waterborne viruses, I can’t honestly say there are any downsides to using this bottle. There was an initial plastic taste but it was gone before I’d finished my first bottle. I had a few newbie mishaps because I didn’t take time to read the instructions. For example, at first I didn’t realize that once the bottle is half empty, I need to raise it up because you can’t suck water through the straw then, but that’s hardly a hardship. I will also say that because I initially had to suck to drink out of it, I was fooled into thinking it wouldn’t leak if I didn’t screw the lid on but that’s my fault for not checking and all I got was a wet passenger seat in my car.

Lifestraw has included a backwash syringe and simple instructions for routine maintenance, but remember that maintenance comes with all water filters and is important for your health. This product is of excellent quality so I have high hopes that it will last a long time.

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