HydraMate Water Filter Straw. Removes Bacteria, Protozoa & Heavy Metals With Carbon & UF Membrane. 1200L/1500L Capacity. BPA FREE. Easy to use. With Foldable Bottle & More!

The standard filter is pretty good kit. It is well made and well packaged, at a price which will take some beating. It is also very versitile. For the price, this is one filter that should be on any back packers 'consideration' list.It may be used as a normal straw, it can be used as a 'squeeze' system and it can be integrated into a water bladder system. It comes complete with a roll up 750 ml bladder and a pre-filter with four spare elements. The filter may be used to take water from rivers, lakes, public fountains and even muddy puddles, so just about universal in this respect.In use, as per normal advice, it should be really only be used when the water source is clear and running if possible. This is to extend the life of the filter and also there will be less nasty components in the water source. The worse the water, the quicker the filter will clog.Having said that, I have used this filter in some filthy water. It tasted very clean, like the best quality cold, bottled water, with a good flow rate. However, the water was still cloudy, so you would not want to perhaps cook in the stuff, unless brought to a boil first. If adding to dry rations, it may put a few people off, which is why a clear water source is desirable. Having said this, the filter does take out the nasties in any water, so in an emergency, this filter can be used with confidence with most water sources.No virus groups can be totally eliminated by just filtering. These come in at around 0.004 microns, so a filter of 0.01 microns will have no effect. This is usually not a problem, but if the user is concerned, then boiling, chemical tablets or a uv pen will solve the problem.Thus this filter is a very good performer, light weight and for the price, worthy of consideration by any traveler.

Filter system to be used when trekking overseas. Hydramate in use appears to work well but durability not yet put to the test. The protective cap for the sports mouthpiece is very stiff to remove - impossible with cold fingers. Should ease with use? If not will be quickly lost and / or the hydramate prove unusable - ony time will tell.

EXCELLENT QUALITY & PERFORMANCE. FAST DELIVERY.

Just right for 72 hr pack

Although I’ve not tested it out in the field yet, you can just tell that this is a quality package. First impressions are great, there’s a real survival pack feel about the kit, which is very appealing. Unlike similarly marketed items, this filter straw is more of a complete wilderness drinking system – it includes a pre-filter extension as well as the HydraMate folding water bottle, a great item in itself which I already own. The addition of a removable compass and signal mirror make this a great item for anyone outdoorsy, as well as those who like survival gear and prepping. The straw itself feels like a quality item and unlike other versions, this straw will filter out some heavy metals (with the “Standard” carbon filter model) which I think is a great plus. Attaching the straw to the bottle (or any standard size bottle thread) is really easy and means you can take the water with you without having to stop and filter it first, a great timesaving measure, plus you can use it to pour and filter water into another container. The pre-filter extension also means that you don’t have to lay on the ground if you want to drink from a lake! I've been looking for a filter straw for a while and I'm pleased I went with this one. All in all this is a great item and I can’t wait to take it out soon!