The Lifestraw vs Sawyer water filters question comes up alot in the prepping and backpacking community. These are two of the most popular portable water filters around, and for a good reason. If you’re looking for a personal water filtration system for a reasonable price they both work well. However, Lifestraw has some considerable limitations.
Who wins?
The Sawyer Mini water filter is the clear winner in this comparison. The Sawyer Mini filters more water at a better filtration level than the Lifestraw. Additionally, the Sawyer Mini is far more versatile than the Lifestraw.
I have a bunch of these Sawyer Minis stashed everywhere. They are my favorite filter for emergencies. I have used them camping, hiking, and mountain biking for years. If you’re interested in how to store water long-term for emergencies, check out our post here.
Sawyer Mini and Lifestraw Features
The Sawyer Mini and Lifestraw use hollow-fiber membrane filtration. This technology uses a mesh to catch and filter waterborne bacteria and other harmful pathogens. Both of these filters are incredibly small and light. They are also straightforward to use. Both of these filters share many similarities in their general function. Still, there are some significant differences we need to discuss.
LifeStraw vs Sawyer Mini
| Filter | Micro Rating | Filter Life (Gallons) | Length | Weight | Flow Rate |
| Sawyer Mini | 0.1 | 100,000 | 5″ | 2oz | 1 liter per 5.5 minutes |
| LifeStraw | 0.2 | 4,000 | 9″ | 2oz | N/A |
The Lifestraw personal water filter was designed for emergency use in third world countries impacted by natural disasters. It was meant to be a cheap and effective filter to distribute to people. For these purposes, the Lifestraw works excellently. If you need a versatile water filter for long-term use, the Lifestraw is severely lacking.
Filtration Comparison
The Sawyer Mini filters 0.1 microns, superior to the 0.2 micron filtration offered by the Lifestraw. The smallest bacteria is 0.37 microns long, which means both filters should filter out all harmful bacteria. In practice, the filtration of both filters is excellent.
There are still limitations to these filters in that they don’t filter out the following:
Viruses
Heavy Metals
Chemicals
You probably won’t be worried about these things in your water in a camping or backpacking situation. Urban survival or cases involving sewage spills or flooding can create an environment where viruses and chemicals become a severe concern.
The LifeStraw is Only a Straw
One of the main drawbacks of the Lifestraw compared to the Sawyer Mini is the Lifestraw is ONLY a straw. You must drink directly from the water source with your face inches away from potentially contaminated water. The Sawyer Mini is massively versatile by comparison.
With the Lifstraw, you must put the end into a body of water and drink through the mouthpiece. You can use a container to collect the water, but you still need to use your mouth suction to filter the water.
You cannot do the following with a Lifestraw:
Collect filtered water to transport
Fill up a cooking pot
The Sawyer Mini is Supremely Versatile
The Sawyer Mini comes as a kit with a few accessories, making the filter highly versatile. The kit includes the following:
Drinking straw attachment
Collapsible water bottle/squeeze filtration bag
Cleaning plunger
The Sawyer Mini filter can attach to an ordinary water bottle allowing you to drink through the filter.
Ways you can use the Sawyer Mini
The accessories included with the Sawyer Mini offer a lot of options
Attach the filter directly to a water bottle and use mouth suction to filter the water.
Attach the filter straw to use it exactly like a Lifestraw.
Use the squeeze bag to collect water and squeeze it to filter your water into a cooking pot.
Attach the filter in-line on a water bladder system or hydration pack.
Attach the sawyer in-line and use it as a gravity filter.
Most commonly, I will carry two filters with me. One is in line with my water bladder, and the other I use with the squeeze bag for getting water for cooking and filling other containers. I’ve used all these techniques with the Sawyer Mini.
The Sawyer Mini Water Filter Includes a Cleaning Plunger
The Sawyer Mini includes a plunger to clean the filter. Fill the plunger with clean water and push the water back through to purge the filter. This cleaning process allows the Sawyer Mini to filter 100,000 gallons of water!
The Lifestraw cannot be thoroughly cleaned, one reason it can only filter about 4,000 gallons of water. The lifespan is reduced even further if you’re using the LifeStraw in very silty or dirty water.
Filter Cost
Sawyer Mini vs. Lifestraw cost isn’t substantially different. The Sawyer Mini is usually slightly more expensive. The choice is evident when you consider the highly versatile Sawyer Mini can also filter 100,000 gallons of water compared to the Lifestraw’s 4000 gallons. The Sawyer Mini is just a better filter in every way.
FAQ
How do backpacking water filters work?
Most backpacking filters use tube membrane filters to filter waterborne contaminates and pathogens.
Do I need to boil water filtered through a Lifestraw or Sawyer Mini?
Both filters do not remove viruses, chemicals, or heavy metals. Boiling for 1 minute will kill any viruses if they are a concern. Boiling will not remove most chemicals or heavy metals.
Can the Sawyer Mini or Lifestraw be used after being frozen?
No, freezing temperatures can damage the filters. They should be replaced if frozen.
Does the Sawyer Mini or Liftstraw remove chemicals or heavy metals?
No, neither filter removes chemicals or heavy metals. You need a carbon filter to remove chemicals and other harmful agents.
Does the Sawyer Mini or Liftstraw remove viruses?
No, neither filter removes viruses.
What contaminates does Sawyer Mini and Liftstraw remove?
Both filters will remove most bacteria, protozoan cysts, and particulates larger than 0.1 or 0.2 microns in size.
Do I need to filter water when backpacking?
Yes, you should always filter water before drinking while backpacking. Regardless of how clean you think the water source is.
Which filter straw is best?
The Sawyer Mini is the best filter straw on the market.
What is as good as LifeStraw?
The Sawyer Mini is a much better water filter than the LifeStraw.
