Compact Water Filtration: Lifestraw vs. Sawyer Mini

Every outdoorsman needs a quality water purifier. For a long time that meant either bulky pump filters that aren’t really viable for camping or bad-tasting iodine tablets. In recent years, Lifestraw has become the go-to brand for water filtration thanks to its portable design and humanitarian work. The filter straw has been on the market for awhile, and is now being challenged by the Sawyer Mini.

Both filters are ultra light at just two ounces and each surpass EPA standards for water filters, though it seems that’s where the similarities end. Looking at the stats, the Sawyer Mini is capable of removing bacteria (salmonella, E.coli) at 7 log (99.99999 percent) versus the Lifestraw’s 6 log (99.9999 percent). The Mini also removes 99.9999 percent of protozoa, including giardia and cryptosporidium while the Lifestraw is only capable of 99.9 percent. This is due to the Sawyer Mini packing a 0.1-micron filter versus the Lifestraw’s 0.2 microns.

Design is also important when considering portable filters, though the Sawyer Mini has the Lifestraw beat here, too. They are both roughly the same diameter, but the Mini is about half as long, in addition to offering more ways to use it. The Lifestraw can only be sucked, but the Sawyer Mini also lets you filter water by pouring it out into a container or screwing it onto a bottle, allowing in-line filtration while you drink.

The Sawyer comes with a plastic straw and packable water pouches, in addition to a plunger/syringe for cleaning the filter, which allows you to extend its use beyond 100,000 gallons, versus the Lifestraw’s 264 gallon lifespan.