Gear Review & Giveaway: Life Straw

A while back we were asked if we would be interested in reviewing the LifeStraw® by Vestergaard. It wasn't long (a week if that) before the LifeStraw® was at our door step. Being avid outdoors people you can only imagine what our answer was. We wouldn't be here right now if we had answered the other way. 

Unsure as to when we'd get a chance to try it out, it sat in our gear stash pile on the bookshelf for a couple weeks. Then Father's Day came and this was our chance. When asked what I wanted to do for Father's Day, the only answer was a family hike. We geared up, loaded up the car and off we were to Frozen Head State Park. We took a nice little family hike/stroll up Panther Branch Trail to Debord Falls and at least one pit-stop along the way for the Bug to play in the creek before reaching the falls (a whopping .6 miles from the trailhead). She's little so we take it slow.

Along the creek, we had the opportunity to pull out the LifeStraw® and try it out. Lightweight and LifeStraw® is easy to use and maintain. The only real issue is getting to the water source if you have no container to put it in. We all took turns pulling on the straw for a drink and I have to say, it is the most straightforward, easy to use, and easy to maintain/stow-away water filter ever. You put the straw in to water and suck. When you are done, you blow out the straw to remove most all of the water. Close both ends with the always attached caps and stow it away in your pack for the next time you need it.
easily packable, the

To clean the straw just drink water from a clean source through the straw and the blow out what water remains. It's that simple. The straw itself is only 56g or 2oz in weight, and measures 9in long and 1in in diameter. In other words it takes up only a minimal amount of space in your pack. As a matter of fact, with its size and weight I'm planning on taking it with me in September when I run the Barkley Fall Classic, to supplement my 70oz water bladder in my running vest. With that being said, we highly recommend the LifeStraw® as a water filter solution for you backpackers, hikers, and long runners. It's easy, and convenient. No need to wait for tablets to dissolve, no pumping, no stirring, just fill a container, insert LifeStraw® and suck. Or stick the straw straight into the water source (creek, lake, river, pond, well you get the picture) and suck.  Now for all the good stuff, the specs all you gear heads love to see:

SPECS:
Effective
Uses advanced hollow fiber technology
Removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and protozoan parasites
Reduces turbidity (muddiness)

Long-Lasting
Treats 1000 litres, enough for one person for a full year

Safe
Doesn’t use any chemicals
Raw materials meet US Food and Drug Administration regulations and standards

Easy to Use
Easy to operate
Requires no electrical power, batteries or replacement parts

Dimensions
22.5 centimeters (nine inches) long and 2.5 centimeters (one inch) in diameter
Weighs only 56 grams or 2 ounces (0.12 pounds)

HOW:

LifeStraw® uses advanced hollow fiber technology. This is a highly efficient method of filtration. Hollow fibre membrane requires no chemicals like chlorine or iodine.

Water enters and is forced through narrow fibers under high pressure.
Hollow fibers trap bacteria, protozoa, and other contaminants which are flushed out by backwashing. Clean water exits through tiny pores in the walls of the hollow fibers. Filtered water is safe to drink.

And that's how easy it is. Now for the good stuff. We've also been given the opportunity to give one of these bad boys away to one our awesome readers. How would you like to win a LifeStraw®? Just use the Raffle-Copter widget below to enter and we'll pick a winner on Friday, July 18, 2014. Simple, right?

Happy Trails,
Tim and Robin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Tim and Robin received the LifeStraw® for review purposes only and are not being compensated by Vestegaard for this review. The opinions expressed above are Tim and Robin's independent thoughts and experiences.