Amazon Reviewers Love the LifeStraw Water Filter Straw

Christina Butan

Prime Day ended with a bang earlier this week, with Amazon selling 175 million products during its biggest annual sale. Among all the Fire TV Sticks and Roombas that sold like crazy, one of the retail giant’s top sellers wasn’t something you might expect. Over 200,000 bought the LifeStraw, a personal water filtering straw, during the event, making it one of the best-selling Prime Day items in the United States and Canada. So many people purchased the filtration gadget that it went out of stock for a while — but fortunately, it’s already back and ready to be added to your cart.

While the LifeStraw isn’t on sale anymore, it’s still pretty affordable at just $18 per straw. The small portable water filter can be used anywhere according to the brand, “whether you are filling up at a hotel tap, or drinking out of the Amazon River,” and protect you from bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), waterborne parasites, and microplastics. LifeStraw says its filters have a long lifespan of approximately 1,000 gallons of water, and never expire. Over 6,000 Amazon shoppers have left the product five-star reviews, raving that it’s a life-saver and essential for any outdoor excursion.

Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon

To buy: amazon.com, $18

“This thing is no joke! I took it backpacking on Maine's Bigelow range. When I ran out of the water I brought, I was A-ok with this. Just bring a wide mouth bottle to fill with water you find. On top of one of the lower peaks, I drank from the most disgusting looking crevice filled with brown scum. I thought, this is going to be safe, but taste horrid,” one shopper wrote. “WRONG. TASTED LIKE THE FRESHEST SPRING WATER. Better than any tap. I'm from Maine, and I've tasted plenty of water right from mountain springs, so take my word. Get one for your outdoor adventures, and one for your bug-out bag, which everyone should have in case of natural disaster.”

Related: How to Clean Water Without Buying Bottled While Traveling

Most customers tend to stock up on the LifeStraw, keeping one in several places from their work desk to their cars. “These are so small, lightweight and inexpensive that a person would have to be crazy to not have a few of these in a place where you or a loved one might need them someday,” another reviewer wrote. Plus, many have discovered other uses for it, like making their own home’s tap water taste better.

Whether you’re going on a hike or trip where there might be unsafe water — or want to keep one on hand just in case — you’ll definitely want to buy one (or two!) LifeStraw filters before they sell out again.