How Long Does A Lifestraw Last?

If you’ve got a Lifestraw, you probably love how great it is at filtering water! You can turn so many water sources into drinking water, and they last a long time!

But exactly how long does a Lifestraw last, and how much water can you filter using it?

What Is A Lifestraw?

Lifestraws are fantastic little devices that many campers take with them on their journeys. Lots of people find them to be essential pieces of kit!

They’re used to filter water in the wild. They can easily turn almost any water you find into a drinkable water source!

They are great for a few reasons. First of all, they mean you have a backup source of water in case your carried water reserves run out!

As long as you can find another source of water, you’ll be able to make drinking water when your canteen runs out.

Another reason people love the Lifestraw is that it’s reusable! Instead of only being able to filter a small amount of water, the Lifestraw can be reused again and again during your adventure.

They’re small and compact, and don’t need any external power source. Everything you need is neatly contained in the unit itself, meaning that there’s nothing that can spill and make a mess.

The Lifestraw can be packed away really easily, doesn’t take much room, and is also free of many dangerous chemicals too!

They shouldn’t be used as a complete replacement for bringing your own water supply, as you should always make sure that you have plenty of water in the first place.

However, they’re a handy backup, and can also be of great use if you know you’re going to a place that has a water source that you can filter through the Lifestraw.

How Much Can You Use A Lifestraw?

As previously mentioned, one of the great things about Lifestraws is that they can be reused. Instead of them being something that can only provide a small amount of water, like water purification tablets, a Lifestraw can be reused again and again.

But exactly how much water can you actually filter with a lifestraw?

It’s actually a lot more than you might think, considering how compact the Lifestraw is! A Lifestraw can actually be used to filter up to 264 gallons, or 1000 liters of water before the filter needs to be replaced.

They can be used for up to 40 days of use too, assuming that the Lifestraw is used by a single person and they use it every day while they’re out.

That’s a lot of water! So it’s no surprise that many people like to take a Lifestraw out with them, as if they’re going to a place with a known water source, they can save a lot of weight carrying water!

Of course, it’s always a good idea to not rely on a single source of water, as things don’t always go to plan when in the great outdoors.

That’s why the Lifestraw is popular too – it gives you another way of providing water for yourself if something unexpected happens.

Do Lifestraws Have An Expiry Date?

Lifestraws do actually have an expiration time, although the date itself isn’t printed on the product.

We previously discussed that a Lifestraw can be relied on for up to 40 days of continued use by a single person, and can process up to 264 gallons of water into drinking water during that time.

But how long can an unused Lifestraw last?

The company responsible for making the Lifestraw recommends that they’re used within three to five years of the purchase date.

Even under best storage conditions, an unopened Lifestraw will start to lose filtering effectiveness after this time period. It just won’t work as well for filtering water.

In fact, as the filtration won’t be as effective, they’re probably not going to be able to safely provide drinking water for you once they’re expired.

If your Lifestraw is stored badly, and mishandled, then it could well last for less time than this.

Keeping it in a safe, dry place where it won’t get damaged will make sure that it’ll last as long as it can – but after a few years, you should probably replace any unused Lifestraws, as you won’t be able to rely on them to filter water anymore.

How Can You Keep A Lifestraw Working?

Lifestraws are actually really simple to use, but there are still a few things that you should know about that can help yours last as long as possible!

You should definitely make sure to clean your Lifestraw after every single time you use it. Exactly how you clean your Lifestraw can depend on the exact one you have, so be sure to check the instructions.

Always make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using, cleaning, and storing the Lifestraw!

Make sure that you store your Lifestraw well. This means keeping it dry when not in use, so that mold and bacteria aren’t given a chance to grow.

If possible, the Lifestraw should be stored at room temperature – but of course, that can be difficult when you’re outside! Still, keeping your Lifestraw at room temperature is a good way to ensure that it lasts as long as possible.

Eventually, the filters on your Lifestraw will run out and need to be replaced. As previously mentioned, the filters are good for up to 264 gallons (1000 lites) of water before the filtration system isn’t effective anymore.

So, once you’re approaching this amount of water, it’s time to change the filter.

Lifestraws can be cleaned out if water flow becomes impeded. However, it might be a sign that the Lifestraw needs to be replaced entirely.

If your Lifestraw hasn’t been properly stored and maintained, then this can happen even sooner.

Although Lifestraws can have their filters replaced, eventually most things tend to break eventually, so it might well be worth replacing yours if you find that getting it to work as you need is becoming too much of an effort.

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has helped you to learn how long a Lifestraw lasts!