Lifestraw Peak Solo review: clean water on the go

As a journalist immersed in the tech, outdoor, and fitness realms, I often encounter products that strive for complexity in each iteration. That's why it was a breath of fresh air to experience the innovative simplicity of the Lifestraw Peak Solo.

No, with the Peak Solo, Lifestraw redesigned its most iconic product after 17 years, making it more compact and enhancing its primary purpose. The Peak Solo is a superb example of seemingly simple tools making a big difference.

After all, everyone needs clean water everywhere, and the Peak Solo enables you to have access to it no matter where you might be. It’s also affordable and has a clever design that ensures you won’t be able to use it once the filter is depleted.

Lifestraw Peak Solo review

Price and availability

The Lifestraw Peak Solo, available for purchase now from Lifestraw EU and Lifestraw US, is priced at a reasonable €32,95/ $29.95 (approx. £23.56/ AU$45.31).

What's more, every purchase of a LifeStraw product, including the Peak Solo, contributes to the Give Back program. Launched in 2014, this program ensures a school child in need receives safe water for an entire school year.

The Lifestraw Peak Solo is part of the brand’s Peak Series, which includes different water filtration products, carry cases and even carabiners.

Specifications

• Weight: 1.7oz / 48.2g 
• Dimensions: 5.1in x 1.3in / 12.9cm x 3.30cm
• Flow rate: 3L / min
• Durability: Lasts up to 500 gal | 2,000 L
• Purchase includes: Peak Solo water filter, top and bottom caps for leakproof storage, and backwash syringe

Design and construction

The Lifestraw Peak Solo is made with 50% post-consumer recycled BPA-free plastic and has a leak-proof top and bottom cap for easy carry. It’s an ultra-compact device, weighing only 1.7 oz (48.2g), yet has a flow rate of 3L/min. It can fill up a one-litre water bottle in just 20 seconds!

The bottom thread was designed so it can be screwed onto most common water bottles with a 28 mm thread. This means you can find a bottle almost anywhere that could serve as a container for the contaminated water.

Then, all you need to do is squeeze the bottle and make sure there is another receptacle (which can be your mouth) at the other end to receive the clean water.

Small as it might be, the Lifestraw Peak Solo can filter 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999999% of parasites, and 99.999999% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness for up to 500 gal/ 2,000 litres.

Better still, once the filter reaches the end of its lifecycle, it won’t let any more water through, making it almost impossible to drink contaminated water through the straw. Fool-proof design at its best!

Perfomance

As you’d expect, it’s ridiculously easy to use the Lifestraw Peak Solo filter. Get your water bottle out with the 28 mm thread, fill it up with water, screw the filter on, and you’re basically ready to go.

I assume most people will think that products like the Peak Solo are only suitable for hikers/campers trying to drink from streams or lakes. However, it can be super useful for general travel purposes. 

We often buy bottled water in shops when we’re on holiday (when I say we, I mean all of us), which is wasteful and unnecessary. Thanks to the Peak Solo filter, you can get a bottle and filter tap water for the duration of your trip without having to worry about getting a stomach bug.

Verdict

Thanks to its portable design, the Lifestraw Peak Solo can be taken anywhere. I’m thinking about buying another one and keeping it in my car for emergencies. It’s affordable enough not to significantly impact my budget, yet it offers so much in return.

It’s easy to use, does its job perfectly, and has a long lifecycle. I wish there were an option to replace the filter after it can clean water anymore, but it’s only a small grief and definitely not a deal breaker. I’d highly recommend it to everyone planning on travelling anywhere in the near and far future.