LifeStraw 3L Peak Series Compact Gravity Water Filter System – Reviewed & Tested

The days of putting up with slow water filtration on multi-day hikes or camping trips might just be over. The new gravity water filter system from Lifestraw not only cleans your water but delivers it in record time.

The LifeStraw 3L Peak Series Compact Gravity Water Filter System is designed for ultimate convenience, and speed. It’s been produced by Lifestraw, a brand that did filtration before they made bottles, or even sold products to the public. This immediately makes me trust this filter more than competitors who produced hiking gear, then added a filtration product just to complete their range. Lifestraw are the experts in this arena.

If I was choosing purely on paper, frankly, they’d probably be my number one choice. Thankfully that’s not how we do things at We Are Explorers – every product is tested repeatedly before any conclusions are made.

Brand spanking new and it feels sturdy

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I spend a lot of time hanging out in camp huts on multi-day hikes talking to other hikers about their gear. The one topic that’s mentioned on every trip is how hard it is to find a decent water filter. It’s the reason I’ve held off buying one for so long.

Every time I come across a new one, someone has had a negative experience with it and is all too keen to share their horror stories. And if you’ve watched someone try for two hours to get half a cup of water through a Sawyer Squeeze (on their second trip using it no less!), I doubt you’d be racing out to get one either.

All this is to say, I understand how important clean, fresh water is when you’re out in the middle of nowhere. I also understand how infuriating it is to miss a once-in-a-lifetime sunset because your water filter has malfunctioned and you’re madly trying to get it to hurry up so you can cook dinner before breakfast arrives. 

Let’s kick on.

But first, water (and a nice shot of my Teva Grandview GTX Low hiking shoes that are a great all-rounder)

Quick Specifications

Volume: 3L
Weight: 228g
Dimensions: 53cm x 22cm
Hose length: 1.2m
Pore size: 0.2 micron
RRP: $139.99

Performance

Durability

The Lifestraw Peak Series Compact Gravity Water Filter System has been made using premium materials with the aim that you’ll never have to buy another one. This is a big claim given almost everyone I know with a water filter system complains about them getting slow and clogging up within months of the initial purchase. For the record, I’d love nothing more than for this to be a lifelong investment. It’s coming with me on the Jatbula Trail in a month – and updates will be coming your way if anything goes amiss! 

The membrane microfilter can filter up to 2000L of water and when it reaches the end of its ability to filter properly, water will stop flowing through it so you know it’s time for a replacement. This is a feature I love. As an owner of one of the Lifestraw Tritan Bottles, an endless frustration of mine is that besides keeping manual records on how many litres it’s filtered (and no one is doing that!), there’s no way of knowing when the filter has gone kaput. This means I’ll either replace it too early or I’ll be drinking water that’s not filtered properly. This system has solved that problem and I’m thrilled.

No more guessing if my water is safe is a fantastic feeling

Versatility

If you read my review of the Teva Grandview GTX shoes you’d be aware that I love a product that can perform multiple functions. The list of ways you can use this filter initially impressed me before I quickly got cynical. Surely it can’t do all of that well? There’s gotta be a couple of functions where it just shits the bed (so to speak), right?

While it can be used as the intended gravity filter system, the packaging claims that components can also be used as a water bladder for storage, as a straw, or to convert a bottle to a filter (although I couldn’t figure out how to convert any other bottle than my existing Lifestraw one – I’m assuming that’s all they mean).

Everything included has been carefully considered and is easy to put together

The difference between this and other products that attempt to do it all, is that the components are doing the work of moonlighting to provide different functions, rather than the whole apparatus. Apparently, that’s the secret sauce to success because I couldn’t fault it.

Chuck the cap on the bag, and it’s a nice squishy bladder that moulds easily into your pack. Use the microfilter directly into a cup of water or from a stream as a straw – tick, no issues and great flow rate. And save on weight on a hiking trip by chucking the microfilter into your existing Lifestraw drink bottle so you don’t need to bring two filters along. Clever. 

Flow Rate

I cannot describe how excited I was to see this in action. Guys, this gravity filter from Lifestraw is fast. It’s might be navy in colour but it is exuding big red energy. The most convenient way to filter is to hang it up on a tree, or hook if you’re in a hut. The hose comes with a handy pinch clip so you can stem the flow of the water until you need it.

Releasing the pinch clip I was prepared to settle in and wait a few minutes but this water was waiting for no man. The flow rate was incredible – I haven’t seen a faster filter on any hiking trip and I’ve seen over a dozen.

Normally I watch others about the camp hang up their filter, position it over a pot then wander off to fill in half an hour while it drips through. No dripping here, I got around 1.5L out in about a minute. Impressed is an understatement. Apparently this speed is due to a reengineering of their membrane microfilter.

In the box you’ll receive a custom backwash accessory which is designed to allow you to remove air bubbles should you notice a reduction in speed. I haven’t had to use it yet, but it’s good to know I’ve got something I can try should it ever slow down.

I’m curious to see how this holds up over the long haul as I’ve only had it a month and tested it on five occasions so far. I genuinely got overwhelmed with the pace but lifting the nozzle higher than the hose was all I needed to do to slow it down (thanks gravity!).

Comfort

Peace of Mind

When you’re relying on an unfamiliar river to provide you with life-sustaining water, you want be sure it’s been cleaned properly before you swallow it. The Lifestraw Gravity Water Filter has been designed to give you that confidence so that you’re not nervous or hesitant to drink enough for optimal hydration.

It claims to filter 99.999999% of bacteria (that’s a LOT of 9s), 99.999% of parasites, and 99.999% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness. I don’t have any equipment laying around that’ll let me test those specs, but I can say that all the river water I’ve consumed that’s been through this filter has tasted great, and I’m not sick. So, that’s gotta be a tick.

In addition to filtering the nines out of your water, the Lifestraw filter meets US EPA and NSF P231 drinking water standards for the removal of bacteria and parasites. Just another tidbit to feed that peace of mind. The people who know how to check have done the checking and all looks good!

There is one thing that microfiltration (0.1 to 10 micrometres) isn’t good at: filtering out viruses. Viruses are incredibly small and to filter them out you need ultrafiltration (0.01 to 0.05 micrometres) which uses even smaller pores. The problem? Smaller pores clog more quickly, and the water flows slower, and they cost more to produce. If you’re looking to avoid these nasties (often more of a concern in developing countries) you can combine this LifeStraw filter with a purification method like tablets or boiling. LifeStraw also make gravity filters with ultrafiltration, which they refer to as ‘purifiers’ but they are nearly twice the price.

Read more: Comparing Different Methods of Treating, Filtering, and Purifying Water on the Trail

The list of what this filter…uh filters… is huge

Design

Setting it Up

Initial set up of the filter is pretty easy and the instructions are clear. The only part that could be nicer is the attachment of the hose to the membrane microfilter. This is a bit fiddly and it’d be better if it was a screw-in rather than haphazardly shove-on situation. That aside, the rest of it is logical and simple. The pinch clip is really effective but it would be nice to have an additional spare included as it does feel easy to break if you’re not being careful.

You can also use this to control the flow rate

The Filter Bag

The filter bag is designed to be fully leak-proof to use as a storage reservoir while moving about. The lid is very secure and doesn’t move an inch when knocked about. It hasn’t leaked once. The fabric of the bag feels thick and strong without being heavy. It also has handy measurements on the side so you can easily track how much you’ve got. This is great for cooking as well as safety on multi-day hikes.

Discreet, but very useful measurement indicators are a nice touch

Accessories

The LifeStraw Peak Series 3L filter arrives with a gravity bag with hose and standard quick connector, carabiner, leak-proof cap for water storage, easy carry strap, backwash accessory, and user manual. While the strap is awesome and essential for hanging up the filter, it would be great if we were able to remove it and attach only as needed.

I found it got in the way when I filled up the bag, as it would always get wet and be flapping around. Inevitably it would then get covered in dirt or sand while I attached the membrane microfilter, and then stay wet for hours, especially overnight. 

It would also be great to see a small bag included to hold the accessories and keep the hose contained when you’re using the bag as a water bladder. I ended up using a ZipLoc freezer bag for this but that will wear out over time.

Very handy strap but it’s also very annoying when wet

Sustainability

As a fellow Certified B-Corp (We Are Explorers is too!), LifeStraw is committed to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability. My favourite initiative of the brand is the Give Back program, which ensures that for every product sold, a child in need receives safe, clear water for an entire year. 

It’s the kind of thing that sounds good on paper but you never really imagine actually happens, right? I’d never given it much thought until I saw a presentation from one of their team who went to Africa to install water filters in a school as part of the program.

The filter was the easiest part of the job – the hard part was teaching kids that clean, safe water is clear, not brown like they were used to. They played games using the filters and demonstrated drinking the clean water to show that it was safe. It was hard to watch but great to see that LifeStraw is committed to making a real, tangible, measurable difference. 

They were an international aid company before they sold products to consumers and it shows. 

Price

The 3L LifeStraw Peak Series Compact Gravity Water Filter System has a price of $129.95 and it’s incredible value. Considering one of the LifeStraw Drink Bottles costs upwards of $85, and this system filters three times as much and is far more versatile, I actually think it’s underpriced.

The Peak Series Membrane Microfilter Replacement is $49.99 RRP, which is a small price to pay given you’ll only be replacing it when you absolutely have to, and that’s after a mammoth 2000L of filtration. It’s definitely cheaper than buying a new filter system.

You really do get three products in one with this (water bladder, gravity filter, and a lightweight filter straw – which can also be used in a bottle)

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to choose which water filter you’ll buy for multi-day hiking or camping trips, you can’t go wrong with the 3L LifeStraw Peak Series Compact Gravity Water Filter System. If you want your multi day hike to be about more than watching water slowly drip through a filter, it won’t disappoint. It doesn’t leak. It does what it’s supposed to do. And frankly, that’s all I ask of a filter.

Plus, just by purchasing one, you’re helping one child have access to clean, clear water for the first time, for an entire year. And you’re definitely getting the race car of filters. Think about the reality of what that means and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be hunting for an item from LifeStraw to buy just so you can support the initiative.