Safe drinking water is the number one survival concern in most emergency situations.
For short-term, mobile emergencies, a straw-type water filter is an essential item, especially for your bug-out bag or 72-hour emergency kit.
While not designed for long-term filtration, water filter straws can be lifesavers when you need to hike or survive for a short period without carrying water.
So which are the best emergency water filter straws available? I get into that in this article, detailing for each what I like about them and what their limitations are.
Key Takeaways:
- Water filter straws are ideal for short-term, mobile emergencies.
- They work well when you can’t carry water and are near a water source.
- Not suited for long-term water filtration; other systems are needed for extended use.
- Perfect for bug-out bags and 72-hour emergency kits.
My Favorites…
- Removes microplastics down to 1 micron
- Will filter 4,000 liters (1,000 gallons)
- Compact and lightweight
- Filter lasts up to 100,000 liters.
- Removes 89% metals.
- Weighs 3.5oz.
- Screw on bottles with 28mm thread.
- 0.1 micron filter
- Attaches to pouches, bottles, hydration packs, or drink directly.
- Filters up to 100,000 gallons
Best Emergency Water Filter Straws in 2024
1. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
- Removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.999% of waterborne parasites
- Removes microplastics down to 1 micron
- All claims are verified with laboratories
- Will filter 4,000 liters (1,000 gallons)
- BPA free
The LifeStraw Personal Water Filter is my top pick for water filtration when on the move in emergency situations.
What really stands out to me is its advanced membrane microfilter, which blocks 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites and even microplastics.
It will also filter out dirt, sand, and cloudiness which makes it a great addition to your emergency kit.
I love how simple the LifeStraw is to use. You just uncap both ends, stick the straw in the water, and start drinking.
And with certification by the US EPA and NSF P231 standards, you can feel reassured that you will be drinking water free from harmful pathogens.
Plus, at only 1.6 ounces and made from BPA-free plastic, it won’t add much weight to your emergency kit or bug-out bag.
The LifeStraw is designed to last for thousands of liters and has a solid track record of field-testing, which gives me confidence in relying on it whenever I’m out in the backcountry or facing an emergency situation.
Check it out here: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
2. Survivor Filter Straw
- Compatible with any 28mm threaded bottle for fresh water.
- Backwashable filter lasts up to 100,000 liters.
- BPA-free, removes 99.999% of pathogens, 89% metals.
- Weighs 3.5oz, compact and easy for travel.
- Lifetime warranty from a North American company.
The Survivor Filter Straw is also one of my favorites of this bunch of straws.
It has a three stage filtration system. The water goes first through a cotton filter, then through a 0.05 Micron UF Membrane Filter and then finally through a carbon filter. And the Survivor Filter Straw is BPA free.
According to the company website the straw is “tested at multiple USA labs to show log 5 removal 99.999% of protozoa (cryptosporidium, giardia and parasites) log 5 removal 99.999% of tested virus (Phi X-174), staph and bacteria. 99.5% mercury and 93% lead removal which matches or exceeds most home systems”.
The Survivor Filter Straw is quite a bit heavier than the LifeStraw above and some other options below. It weighs in at 3.5 ounces and is 7.1 inches long.
The straw will filter 200 ml or 7 ounces of water per minute. It will filter up to 1,000 liters or 260 gallons.
This is one if to use if you are really concerned about tiny contaminants or bacteria in your water source.
It screws onto standard water bottles and can be difficult to suck water through, but is much easier when it is attached to a water bag.
Check it out here: Survivor Filter Straw
3. Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filtration System
- Perfect for hiking, camping, travel, and emergencies.
- 0.1 micron filter, weighs 2 ounces, tested for performance.
- Attaches to pouches, bottles, hydration packs, or drink directly.
- Removes 99.99999% bacteria, 99.9999% protozoa, and microplastics.
- Filters up to 100,000 gallons; includes pouch, straw, and plunger.
The Sawyer MINI Water Filter is a go-to choice when you need a compact and reliable filtration system.
It only weighs 2 ounces, making it significantly lighter than the Survivor Filter Straw above.
What I like most is the 0.1-micron absolute filter that claims to eliminate 99.99999% of bacteria and 99.9999% of protozoa.
For something so small, it does a great job of providing clean drinking water on the go.
The Sawyer MINI filters out harmful bacteria like Salmonella, Cholera, and E. coli, along with protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium. It even filters out microplastics, which gives me peace of mind that my water is safe.
One of the things I like most about the Sawyer MINI is its versatility. You can attach it to the included drinking pouch, use the straw to drink directly from a water source, or even screw it onto a standard disposable bottle. This flexibility gives you plenty of options in emergency situations.
The hollow fiber membrane technology used in the filter was originally developed for medical dialysis. It allows water to pass through tiny micro-pores, trapping contaminants outside, ensuring the water you’re drinking is clean and safe.
This water filter straw makes a great addition to your emergency gear because of its reliability and ease of use.
Check it out here: Sawyer MINI Water Filter
4. HydroBlu Sidekick Straw
- Reduces chlorine levels in water.
- Hollow fiber membrane removes water impurities.
- 50-gallon capacity for long-lasting clean water.
- Comes with a 1.5L bottle for easy transport.
- Uses filtration and activated carbon for purification.
The HydroBlu Sidekick Straw is definitely one of my favorite water filter straws.
First, it is extremely small in size. It easily fits in a purse or pocket. It is great for backpacking because it literally weighs just less than an ounce!
It is only about six inches long, and is shaped kind of like a pen or magic marker.
Another reason why I like the the HydroBlu Sidekick Straw is that they have a three part filter system. The first part is an “Activated Charcoal” filter which absorbs chemicals chlorine, sediment, chemicals, iron, lead, odor and volatile organic compounds.
The second part is called its “Hollow Fiber Membrane” which uses hollow fiber tubes that have thousands of tiny holes (0.1 microns in size). This part blocks 99.9999% of harmful bacteria, Giardia, E. coli, protozoan cysts, Cryptosporidium and more.
These harmful living organisms are to large to go through the holes, but the water itself can go through freely.
The last part of the three part filter system is called the “Ion-Exchange” portion of the filter. This part acts as a polymer or medium inside a filter which exchanges harmful ions for better ions.
As contaminated water flows through the micro-beads, they capture poisonous and heavy metals ions such as copper, lead, and cadmium and replace them with sodium and potassium.
This filtering process improves the taste of the water while removing harmful contaminates and metals.
What amazes me the most about this straw is that as small as it is, it has one of the most complete water filtration systems of them all.
Since it is so small it does not last as long as many of the other ones but you can buy replacement filters for it to keep on hand as well.
Check it out here: HydroBlu Sidekick Straw
5. Waterdrop Gravity Water Filter Straw
- 5-stage filtration with activated carbon and ultrafiltration membrane.
- Filters up to 1,400 gallons with 700 ml/min flow rate.
- Includes 1.5-gallon gravity water bag for outdoor use.
- Recyclable straw with backwash feature for easy cleaning.
- Connects to water bags or bottles for versatile filtering.
The Waterdrop Gravity Water Filter Straw is a great choice if you need a reliable source of clean drinking water during outdoor activities or emergencies.
It has a pretty impressive capacity to purify up to 1,400 gallons of water, and with regular backwashing you can extend this up to a whopping 100,000 gallons.
You could feasible filter enough water for multiple people on extended camping trips using this system.
I really like the five-stage filtration system, which uses a 0.1-micron ultrafiltration membrane and high-quality coconut shell activated carbon.
This ensures that harmful substances, including bacteria, chlorine, sediment, and bad odors are removed – leaving you with clean and fresh tasting water – even when sourced from rivers and lakes.
The design is compact and light enough to chuck in your backpack without adding to much extra bulk, but it is the heaviest of the water filter straws on this list. I think the extra weight is worth it for the 1.5-gallon gravity water bag which allows you to filter and hold enough water to last all day.
There are a few things to keep in mind with this system. Some people have experienced minor leaking issues with the water bag but when handled carefully, it should work as expected.
I recommend testing it out to make sure everything is working properly before you are in a situation where you will be relying on it.
I like that this system is versatile enough to be used for both personal and group filtering, making it perfect for a variety of situations.
Check it out here: Waterdrop Gravity Water Filter Straw
6. Sagan XStream Straw
- Removes 99.9999% of contaminants.
- Ultralight 2-4 foot straw for easy drinking without bending.
- Includes pump for sharing water, washing food, hands, dishes.
- Ready to use; lightweight, fits in pocket or backpack.
- Purifies 250 gallons; exceeds EPA water purification standards.
The Sagan XStream Straw looks to me like a clever enough of a design that you will probably want to have one of these in addition to any of the other filter straws that you decide on.
The immediate benefits of the design that seem apparent to me are the fact that you have a filter attached to a long tube.
This means that you don’t have to get your face right down in the water which sometimes may not be practical or possible.
You can either suck the water up into your mouth, or they have a hand pump that fits on the end of the hose and allows you to fill up water bottles and jugs.
This is a light and portable filter system that has some real advantages depending on the situation you are in.
The manufacturer says on their website that this filter straw “removes 99.9999% bacteria, such as E.coli; 99.99% of protozoan, such as cryptosporidium and giardia; 99.99% of virus – making it safe to drink from ANY non-salt water source – even in 3rd world countries”.
This filter straw will filter up to 250 gallons or 945 liters.
It only filters down to 2.0 micron filter size, but the manufacturer says that it uses a special mesh tech with larger pores and that it is lab tested to remove the things that they say it will remove.
Check it out here: Sagan XStream Straw
7. Membrane Solutions Water Filter Straw
- Portable, 7.1" long, fits any 28mm bottle, and weighs 2 ounces.
- Filters up to 1,320 gallons; removable ends for easy cleaning.
- 5-stage filtration removes 99.99999% of harmful substances.
- 0.1-micron pore size offers high filtration accuracy and flow rate.
- Made of BPA-free, food-grade plastics; versatile for bottles and pouches.
The Membrane Solutions Water Filter Straw is one of the more recent water filters I’ve come across. It was recommended to me by a friend and after looking into it, I was impressed with its features, especially for outdoor use and emergencies.
This filter straw has a five-stage filtration system that includes a coarse filter screen, pp cotton fiber, activated carbon, and a 0.1-micron ultrafiltration membrane.
It’s designed to remove 99.99999% of harmful substances like bacteria, chlorine, and bad tastes from your water, all while keeping the essential minerals intact.
That’s a pretty solid level of protection, especially for something so small and portable.
It is a pretty handy size, only 7.1 inches long and just 2 ounces in weight, so it’s easy to throw in your backpack or even a pocket.
It can filter up to 1,320 gallons of water, and with regular backwashing, you can extend its life even further.
I like the versatility of this straw since it can fit onto 28mm threaded bottles, soft water pouches, or can even be used as a replacement filter in gravity systems.
The flow rate can slow down after a while, but cleaning it out with a bit of backwashing should solve the problem.
All in all, it’s a good, versatile option for anyone needing reliable water filtration in a variety of outdoor settings. When you get a pack of 4 or 6 it works out to be a pretty affordable option too!
Check it out here: Membrane Solutions Water Filter Straw
Final Thoughts
Okay I hope that this article has been helpful to anyone looking for the best filter straw on the market. I tried to include all of the information that was not only important to me, but that would be important to most people wanting to select the best water filter straw.
To me a water filter should not be the only emergency preparedness water solution, but they should definitely be one of them. There are situations that come up where having a straw could save your life.
Thank you so much for reading this article. If you can I would ask you to please share this article on your social media sites, especially if you felt like it was a benefit to you. This really helps us get the word out so that the article can benefit the most people. Thanks again!
