Portuguese Prepper

Sawyer Squeeze vs. Lifestraw: Which is better?

The Sawyer Squeeze and the original Lifestraw are the two most popular portable water filters for bug-out bags and emergency kits.
While both remove 99.9999% of bacteria and protozoa, they function very differently in the field.

For most preppers, the Sawyer Squeeze is the superior choice due to its versatility and lifespan, while the Lifestraw serves best as a low-cost backup.

The core difference: Straw vs. System

The primary difference is how you access the water. The Lifestraw is designed strictly as a straw. You must place the bottom directly into the water source (or a cup) and use suction to pull water through. This makes it difficult to use for cooking or filling other bottles.

The Sawyer Squeeze is an inline filter with standard threading. You can screw it onto the included pouches or standard grocery store water bottles and “squeeze” clean water into your mouth, a pot, or another container.

Longevity and Maintenance

The Sawyer Squeeze is fully back-flushable using the included syringe. This means that when the flow rate slows down due to sediment, you can clean it out and restore performance. It is rated for up to 100,000 gallons, effectively a lifetime supply.

The standard Lifestraw cannot be easily back-flushed. Once the membrane clogs with sediment, the filter reaches the end of its life (typically around 1,000 gallons or roughly 3-5 years of occasional use).

Which one should you buy?

Critical weakness of both

Neither of these filters removes viruses. In North America and Europe, this is rarely an issue as waterborne viruses are uncommon in natural sources. However, if you are concerned about viral contamination (sewage scenarios), you must use purification tablets or bleach after filtration.

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