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Since nearly 60% of the adult human body is comprised of water, it is pretty safe to say that nothing good can come from a lack of it. You may have already heard that the effects of dehydration include poor performance in the gym. But even outside of the exercise space, access to water has a huge impact on your overall health. Did you know that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 2 billion people don’t have access to clean and safe drinking water? In this Lifestraw Go review, I’ll describe how this device can help.
Unfiltered Water May Contain Bacteria, Parasites, and More
It’s a statistic that may not affect you much where you currently live, but if you are a world traveler or an avid hiker/camper, then this information may be a little more important to you. On your treks around the globe or into your local forest, you may not always have access to bottled water. Drinking from unfiltered/untreated sources of water could potentially leave you at the mercy of numerous contaminants. These include bacteria, parasites, viruses, and other dangerous substances. The water flowing in a stream or river may look pure. However, sampling some may net you a ticket to the hospital—or even worse.
The LifeStraw Go Makes Safer Water Accessible
Enter the LifeStraw Go. The concept is based on the original water filter idea by the Swiss company Vestergaard Frandsen. With the original LifeStraw, they could first increase access to clean/safe water for third world countries. Then, they were able to make it more accessible to the adventure crowd. This change allows outdoor enthusiasts to carry this portable water filter and obtain drinkable water in a much more streamlined way. I was able to use this water bottle on a recent trip to Thailand and I definitely came away as a fan.
Two-Stage Water Filtration Process
The Lifestraw Go uses a two-stage filtration process. It includes a carbon capsule to provide you with clean drinking wherever you are. The company stands by its claim of being able to remove 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria. In addition to removing bacteria and parasites (stage 1), it also reduces other contaminants. For example, it reduces chlorine and bad odors. And, it clears out organic chemical matter (pesticides, herbicides, etc) and improves the taste of the water (stage 2). The bottle is capable of filtering 4,000 liters, while the carbon capsule caps out at 100 liters (around 26 gallons and 3 months of continuous use) before it needs to be replaced. Keeping with the concept of cleansing the environment, the bottle is also made of BPA-free materials. The durable bottle holds around 22oz of water and is leak-proof.
Field-Testing the Lifestraw Go
I got to put this bottle to the test at several instances throughout my trip. Hiking through the countryside of Chiang Mai for long periods of time would have proved difficult without it. As opposed to packing multiple water bottles, I was able to rehydrate at streams pretty effortlessly. All that was required was the effort to fill up the bottle. Drinking water through the filter, however, did remind me of trying to drink a thick milkshake through a straw. It’s definitely a consequence of the filter being hard at work, but I’d much rather deal with that than a hospital visit. At $37, it’s not a bad pick-up at all—especially with a 3-year estimated lifetime.
