One of the coolest inventions that I’ve used while hiking and camping has been the Lifestraw. It’s simple to use, easy to clean and is relatively durable for a water filtration system. If you’re looking into this great product you might be wondering how long it will last you.
Since most people consider the lifespan of products before purchasing, I decided to break down the Lifestraw lifespan and give some helpful tips for making it last longer!
How Long Does Lifestraw Last?
Although it depends on how frequently it’s used, the Lifestraw will last between 2-3 months before the filter will need to be replaced. The overall lifespan of a Lifestraw primarily depends on the amount of water that’s being filtered and how often. An unused Lifestraw can safely be used for up to five years since it was stored.
Lifestraw Personal lasts for 264 gallons or 40 days if used daily by one person to drink water. Replacement filters need to be replaced after filtering about 1,000 liters of water (264 gallons) which is quite impressive considering that they will purify an average amount of water in under 20 seconds.
One would need to change the batteries every now and again but the Lifestraw itself is fairly durable and can easily be carried in a backpack or stored anywhere else safely without much worry of wear and tear.
When using this product you are no longer dependent on bottles so it actually saves money as well as helps the environment. Because Lifestraw contains no chemicals like iodine or chlorine bleach and has been tested against strict US EPA guidelines so you can enjoy safe, clean drinking water every.
The Lifestraw Personal can filter up to 1000 liters of contaminated water without iodine, chlorine, or other chemicals.
Does Lifestraw Expire?
Although there isn’t an exact expiration date for Lifestraw products, they do recommend using it within 3-5 years for it to be the most effective at filtering. Even if it’s been properly stored and unused for those years, certain parts of the product begin to degrade and could eventually break once it’s used.
One major reason the Lifestraw has no hard expiration date is that the design has a hollow fiber membrane that is durable and has no pieces that break down. If the Lifestraw isn’t stored properly it will lead to a shorter lifespan and expiring parts.
Increasing Lifestraw Shelf Life
Over the years I’ve found a few tips that should help you get the most out of your Lifestraw and make it last for much longer!
Properly Clean After Each Use
Proper maintenance and care are two important factors that will help you increase your Lifestraw longevity.
After each use, you should follow the correct cleaning guidelines for your specific product to maximize the Lifestraw lifespan and keep getting clean water.
Read my full cleaning guide to wash and store your LifeStraw correctly.
Store it Correctly
After cleaning the Lifestraw you should store it somewhere that’s dry and ideally is room temperature. Storing the product anywhere that’s either cold or hot will shorten how long the product will last before needing to be replaced.
Replace Filters on Time
Since each filter has a maximum amount of water that it can filter it’s important to always replace the filters once they’ve reached the limit.
Using expired filters can lead to problems like a clogged straw, which can eventually lead to a shorter lifespan for the Lifestraw.
How Do You Know When You Should Replace Your Lifestraw?
The best indicator that it’s time to replace the Lifestraw filter is when it stops flowing as easily. If the flow rate drastically decreases, it’s either because of a clogged straw or that it’s filtered the maximum amount before needing to be swapped out.
I would recommend deep cleaning the straw before replacing any of the parts. It’s happened to me before where it was difficult to get water through the mouthpiece, but it went back to normal after proper cleaning on the gear.
Why Do Lifestraws Stop Working?
If your Lifestraw stops working it’s most likely because of a lack of cleaning, trapped air bubbles, or it’s time to replace the water filter. The majority of the time a stoppage is caused by clogging and can be fixed by following the steps in the Lifestraw unclogging guide.
Following their guidelines for cleaning and long-term storage should help you keep your Lifestraw working and in good shape.
