Is the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel bottle the best filtered water bottle on the market for traveling internationally? In this post I deep dive into the specs of this water bottle, pros and cons, and how it keeps you safe while drinking from virtually any water source.
I live in the US, and even when I’m not traveling, I always make sure to be drinking good quality filtered water. I love my Berkey filter system at home and when I decided to begin my international travel journey, I knew I needed to find something portable that would filter my water the same way.
After a long hunt for finding the perfect filtered water bottle for traveling, I decided to try out the Lifestraw Go Series Stainless Steel bottle. This is not a sponsored post (although I wish it was) I am just sharing my real experiences with this bottle while traveling outside the US.
By the end of this post you’ll know if this water bottle should be your next investment before your next international trip.
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Pros of the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel Water Bottle for Travel
- It’s plastic-free. Having a plastic-free water bottle was something that was very important to me when I was shopping for my a new water bottle. I do not want to be ingesting any microplastics so stainless steel is a great option.
- It keeps your water cold. Another big pro of not having a plastic bottle. This stainless steel bottle can sit in the sun for hours and still be cold.
- You don’t have to buy plastic water bottles when traveling. In countries where the tap water is unsafe to drink, you have no choice but to buy plastic bottles with filtered water. I saved a lot of money by using my own filtering water bottle. Plus, you’re going to be saving a ton of plastic from going into the landfill.
- Filters are easy to change on the go. The black carbon filters (which I talk about later on in this post) are small and can easily fit in my backpack when traveling. They are also very quick and easy to change out so you can always have clean water on your trip.
- This bottle comes in different sizes. I got the 24 oz which I think is a pretty standard water bottle size. It’s not too big, and not too small. But if you want something different, the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel bottle also comes in 18 oz and 1 liter.
Cons of the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel Water Bottle for Travel
- Cannot be used at outdoor water sources, only tap water. Lifestraw is most known for their personal water filter straw which can be used in any rivers or lakes while hiking or camping. The filter in the Lifestraw Go Bottle is NOT the same kind. It is only recommended to use at tap water sources such as sinks, hoses, or water fountains.
- Needs to be cleaned often. I would say the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel bottle needs to be washed every 1-2 weeks to keep it clean and smell free. This is a pretty good rule of thumb for washing any water bottle, but when traveling, finding the time and place to thoroughly wash your bottle can be tricky.
- High elevation makes water spill out of the top. This isn’t a big problem but whenever we would get on planes or drive up a mountain, when I would unscrew the cap to drink, water would spill out of the mouth piece due to the high altitude.
- Can’t get the final sips of water from the bottom of the bottle. Again this isn’t really a big deal, just also a bit annoying. The filter doesn’t quite reach all the way down to the bottom of the bottle so there’s always a few sips left that you aren’t able to get. I can see this being more of an issue with larger sized bottles.
- Can’t use with electrolyte powder packs. I didn’t find this a huge deal either because if I was hiking in high altitude I would just buy a regular electrolyte drink and carry that with me and that worked for me. But if you’re backpacking and want to have a bottle that you can easily pour an electrolyte mix into, look into a Grayl.
How Does the Water Taste with the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel Bottle?
I like the taste of the filtered water in the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel bottle. It tastes similarly to water from my Berkey filter system.
The main thing I bought this bottle for was my first trip to Peru and it worked very well. The water I got there from the sinks and filtered through my bottle tasted the same as it did when I tested it with tap water in the US.
I also never got sick on any my trips so it is definitely reliable with proper filter use.
Filter Lifespan
One of the biggest hassles about having a filtered water bottle is keeping up with changing the filters. Luckily with the Lifestraw Go, it’s super easy to do on the go. The filters really don’t take much upkeep.
The Lifestraw Go is composed of two different filters: a white membrane microfilter and a black activated carbon filter. You need both for the water bottle to filter all the bad stuff out properly.
White Membrane Filter
⭐The white membrane filter protects against bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella, parasites like Giardia, and microplastics.
⏱️This filter has a very long lifespan and only needs to be changed every 4,000 L or 1,000 gallons or roughly every 5 years with regular use. You will know it needs to be changed when water is no longer able to flow through the filter.
💵They are about $20 a piece and can be purchased on Amazon or the Lifestraw website.
Black Carbon Filter
⭐The purpose of the black carbon filter is to help improve taste and reduce chlorine and odors.
⏱️This filter needs to be replaced about every 2 months (or every 100 L/ 26 gallons) with daily use. I’ve always been able to tell when the carbon filter needs to be changed because I will notice a slight change in the taste of the water right around the 2 month mark.
💵You can easily buy these carbon filters by themselves (they come in a 2 pack) or on Amazon for about $10. I highly recommend buying these at the same time when you purchase your water bottle. That way you won’t forget about them and when the time comes to change the filter that your bottle comes with, you’ll already have some on hand.
Priming & Changing the Filters
Priming and getting your water bottle ready for use is an easy and hassle-free process. It really just takes a few minutes.
I used the video linked below provided by Lifestraw to guide me through preparing my water bottle and priming the black carbon filter.
I end up referencing this video whenever I change out my black carbon filter too just to make sure I’m priming it correctly. But essentially, all you have to do is pop out the black filter and rinse it under clean water for about 60 seconds.
The white membrane filter doesn’t really require any special priming. Simply fill the bottle with water, let the filter sit for a few seconds, and take 5 strong sips through the mouthpiece. The flow may feel slow and require some extra effort at first as the air is displaced from the filter. After a few more sips, however, the water should flow much more easily, making it easier to drink.
Best Way to Clean the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel Bottle
One of the main drawbacks of this water bottle is that within several days of daily use, the mouth piece of the bottle starts to smell and grow some build up on the inside.
If you keep your bottle clean by washing it consistently you can avoid this problem.
To wash the bottle you’ll want to take off every piece individually and wash each. This includes the mouth piece, the lid, and the bottle itself.
The only important thing is to not get any soap on any part of the filters. I don’t even rinse it with water, I just screw it off and set it down on a clean surface while I wash each of the other pieces.
The mouthpiece and the inside of the lid are usually what gets the most dirty. I always have q-tips on me and they come in handy for getting out the gunk inside the small holes of the mouthpiece and lid.
As long as you wash it regularly, you will have no issues with the cleanliness of the bottle.
Should You Buy the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel Water Bottle for International Traveling?
Yes I do recommend the Lifestraw Go Stainless Steel water bottle for international travel. As long as you can keep up with cleaning it and changing the carbon filters every 2 months, it will be the perfect filter water bottle for travel.
I’ve used it for several of my trips throughout South and Central America and it has yet to let me down.
The water tastes great and it has proven trip after trip to protect me from anything bad in the tap water wherever I am.
Even when I’m not traveling internationally, I still use my Lifestraw Go when I’m traveling in the US. Whether I need to fill it up from a garden hose, a gas station bathroom sink, or a questionable park water fountain, I feel good knowing I can safely drink from any of these water sources. This bottle has been a great addition to my busy travel lifestyle.
I hope this article was helpful for you in deciding whether or not to purchase the Lifestraw Go filter water bottle. Thank you so much for reading!
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