Yep, you touched exactly on why I prefer the Grayl over an internal filter bottle. The ability to dump the clean water into another container. Also, with the Grayl being a purifier instead of just a filter, it would be my preferred if I was near any populated areas like subdivisions, commercial agriculture, and industrial areas. Too many herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers to contaminate the streams to make me want to just use a filter instead of a purifier. About the only time I'd feel comfortable using just a filter would be in the mountains where there's no subdivisions, commercial agriculture, or industrial areas to produce contaminated runoff into the streams.

@dalton12316

9 ай бұрын

Even outside of urban areas, the woods I run around in are full of cinnabar (mercury ore) mines that are 100+ years old at this point, the risk of unseen mercury or other heavy metals in water is why I went with grayl . My home water supply has had unsafe levels of arsenic in it before and most filters won't remove that.

@srbontrager

9 ай бұрын

@dalton12316 yep, forgot that one. Near old(pre-epa) mine sites, where extremely harmful chemicals were used to extract and process the material.

@calid.

9 ай бұрын

Grayl geopress is the best no discussion

@1stRanger

8 ай бұрын

Take a LifeStraw Peak Squeeze or Katadyn BeFree if you want to pour clean water. Sawyer makes squeeze version as well. You're making up a problem that doesn't exist. As for "purification" abilities of GRAYL. Have you actually tested it?

@1stRanger

7 ай бұрын

@@kgm2182 Good tip on how to kill your carbon filter much quicker.

When you need a filter, use a Katadyn BeFree. When you need a purifier, use the Grayl. Both systems allow you to share water with your mates. Done.

@certamen832

Ай бұрын

Sawyer squeeze as filter/long term solution/to use when stationary (+boiling), grayl as a quick use solution (that+a couple extra cartridges should last you forever, along with the squeeze)

Here in the Midwest we have way too much farm run-off. I use the Grayl and will continue to do so.

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

That is awesome!

If you add a mill bank or some type of pre-filter bag, before you fill your grill bottle full of water, it will increase the longevity of the filter by a lot. This system works real well for me. Thought I might add..

GRAYL could solve all of this by also offering a micro filter option with 500gal capacity. That would give you everything

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

That would be a great idea!

I spent nearly two weeks in an Oregon wilderness are with what I thought was a bad case of the flu. A few years later I discovered it most likely was Giardia. That was the late 70's. Great weight loss program if it doesn't kill you.

I love how we have more options. Competition brings prices down.

Right out of the gate I can already tell the Grail for me is a better choice. Because you can simply pour it into another container. I don't want to have to suck on a straw. I want to be able to pour the filtered water into a cup or my mouth or something as well if i choose to make food or anything really

@GreenSnowleaf

20 күн бұрын

The Lifestraw Peak Squeeze is a squeeze bottle that allows you to squeeze the water though the filter into a cup or pan. I have one and I am loving it. Might be what you are looking for!

I loved your honest views between the different systems. Thank you. I thought it was going to be skewed. Nice job.

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Grayl. 1. Do I really want to gamble the filter misses something that's in the water? Nope. 2. The ability to pour the water into other containers, etc.

I'm glad that you stated that Grayl protects against chemicals, pesticides AND viruses. Grayl filters are one of the few purifiers that do that, granted viruses are less common in the U.S. than overseas. It's just good to know that one is fully protected when using a Grayl! Which is why I have been using Grayl Geopress purifiers for years, don't plan on using anything less.

@1stRanger

7 ай бұрын

GRAYL only protects to a certain extent and only against limited concentrations. By no means you are fully protected while using it. Don't get a false sense of security. Only use it as a precaution and only with relatively safe water that you suspect may have traces of chemicals or viruses and not if you know for sure it is contaminated.

@djames6255

7 ай бұрын

Grayl filters only last like 40gal they’re really only for emergency use

@1stRanger

7 ай бұрын

@@djames6255 GRAYL is only for clear water really while some people tend to filter all kinds of crap through their filter and complain it gets clogged fast. Be smart about it, use prefilter.

@sweetbeep

9 күн бұрын

How is the Grayl with filtering crap out of tsp water? ​@@1stRanger

Thank you for your pros and cons on these 2 filtration types. I overlooked the ability to share water or use it for cooking or others. Very good points. It seems like the best solution is to have both.

Definitely grabbing the GRAYL. I'll be spending a full year in India and can't risk it. I'll even be filtering the bottled water travellers depend on to get by while there. You just never know. The higher cost for the GRAYL would be nothing compared to the cost of getting seriously sick and being potentially hospitalized. It's an investment into your health.

@galochan8100

8 ай бұрын

Subscribed ;-)

As always, amazing clear and concise content with just the right pro/con to make an informed decision

The points you bring p are exactly why I use and prefer the Grayl. Lifestraw and Sawyer type suction filters are fine for backup and survival kits where your major need is direct hydration. The Grayl exceeds that by providing purified, pourable water for drinking, cooking, cleaning a wound, and other uses where the water must be transferred.

@spokojnyMamut

9 күн бұрын

Every suction-type filters may be set to autoflow by 2mins and cost few cents.

Speed isn't always best when your health and safety is involved. The life straw maybe quicker but I think taking the extra steps might be better when drinking water that might be contaminated.

Amazing product! Thanks for the review! Definitely going to buy a couple of these.

Face your bottle openings downstream when filling. Helps to keep out larger debris flowing downstream.

For day hikes, i usually have my Hydro-Blu bottle (same concept as the Lifestraw bottle) and an extra Nalgene of water. For longer hikes or camping trips, definitely prefer the Grayl Geopress for the reasons u noted in the video. Looking for a sale and will be picking up an Ultrapress at some point. They are worth the expense, but can't just run out and pick one up on a whim.

Grayl is still my go-to. I use mine as an edc emergency prep. If I'm ever in an emergency situation, I'm going to be in or around cities and suburbs most of the time. The lifestraw products frankly won't cut it for my needs.

G'day Aaron, yep the whole reason I payed extra for the Grayl is its activated carbon element, otherwise I'd just take a Sawyer and an extra bottle. Btw; another contaminant to be aware of, (even in the otherwise cleanest of sources), is animal carcasses, which may or may not be still visible. Cheers Duke.

You just saved me some money. You validated my concerns with this system.

Nice review on the Lifestraw Go and Grayl! I am glad to see that Lifestraw changed the design of the Go. They used to make it with an exposed mouthpiece, and there was a pressure valve that would allow dirty water in the bottle to come up over the lid and onto the mouthpiece when you encountered pressure/temperature changes. This version of the Lifestraw Go looks like it would not allow that to happen, which is much safer when hiking!

I've had the results of using a "filter" before and it isn't pleasant. They just don't get all the stuff out of the water. Thanks for the video. I now use a Grayl and will continue using it. The extra steps to get better water are well worth it.

Hello from Denver, Co, love your channel brother. Came across this video today after 2 other water filter videos caught my attention and thought I'd bring them to yours as well. The first is a recent release by Dan Becker interviewing the owner of Sawyer, I learned some unique and useful information especially regarding micron size of bacteria and viruses, how they are transported and how certain filters like Sawyer filter regardless. The other is a series of videos by another Coloradan WaterFilterguru, specializing in water treatment and testing, including many of our beloved camping or overlanding filters. Both are worth checking out and sharing with your viewers. Thanks again for all you do, much love brother. God bless you.

I agree with you I like grayl better primarily because it purifies but I’d like to get both tbh and use the grayl for certain situations where I know the source is questionable. Use the life straw go as my main filter. You had me sold on the life straw until I realized that you can’t pour it out for pets, cooking etc. I think life straw should make a separate upscale filter that purifies water.

When you got to the 9 min mark is why i will stick with the Grayl...thanks for showin tho

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

No problem 😉

Looks okay, but I wouldn't stop using my Grayl bottles for anything. Just took them to Rocky Mountain National Park, and it was epic!

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

Ya totally bomb, and though this is ok Grayl for life

I love that I can use the Grayl to fill my cooking pot.

It won’t work for cooking and coffee, GRAYL Ti all the way

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

Great option!

@colinst.claire2198

9 ай бұрын

Also cost $200 but they do look handy. I just use a nesting cup with my geopress for all that.

@bradgrand79

9 ай бұрын

@@colinst.claire2198 I got mine 20% off but your right, not cheap. I’m just not a huge fan of plastic.

@davidjacobs828

9 ай бұрын

​@@gideonstactical This life straw is nowhere near as good as the grayl... reason being ,if you pre filter your water prior to pressing it thru the grayl , the filter cartridge life us up to 10x longer . Plus with the grayl you can FILL OTHER CONTAINERS , enabling you to fill a 3 ,or 5 litre bladder AT ONE WATER HOLE . It's a no brainer .grayl all the way.

@eternaladventure-wm5fn

9 ай бұрын

I have the lifestraw bottle that came before this version and the problem is when you get down to the bottom of the water there is a decent amount of water that you can’t drink because of the way the filter is inside the bottle. Other than that and what you mentioned they are great for a get home bag.

You had me worried with that thumb nail, Aaron. I just bought a GRAYL (pretty much based on your recommendation) as I am currently with my family in a part of Asia with unreliable water..

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

Grayl can’t be beat in most situations 👍

@wayneorellana2549

9 ай бұрын

Agreed Brother! 👍

Great review and comparison. You hit all the points. However, they both have their advantages and disadvantages. This video will not make us stop using the GRAYL forever.

I have a couple of life straws and I even have the life straw adapter kit which is the system you are showing here but with a lid that fits on a nalgene bottle or one of my Klean Kanteen bottles. Really nice backup systems, but the limitation of not being able to fill up other containers or get clean water in any sort of other use besides just drinking from the bottle is why they will remain as backups. I carry a life straw everyday in my get home bag for example. But for backpacking trips my primary system remains a Sawyer filter.

Nice video, I am just looking for a water bottle to use everyday and filter microplastics from tap water. The Lifestraw is fine for me.

7:40 Yes, you can with a LifeStraw Peak Squeeze or Katadyn BeFree. GRAYL has carbon element though. Something most filters don't offer. Can't speak about its effectiveness though.

Excellent for city and urban use. Save grayal for all others.

So about a decade ago. Me and a buddy were talking about naked and afraid and what would the 1 item be that we would take. He said a life straw which was one of the best ideas i never thought of. I told him the life straw bottle would be better because you get a container to take with you. To bad it's not stainless so you could cook with it ect.

Grayl with an Lifestraw straw unit and a millbank prefilter. Done. Those give you plenty of options

Good points for each system I would carry both and use the grayl only as needed.

I have a membrane solutions best filter ever. It’s cheap it’s rebuildable (meaning you can get the carbon and the filter kits) then change out filter if you have a problem. Really for $40 you get a gravity bag a hose and the filter in a bag. Then for $12-14 you can get the extra filters a 2 pack so you can rebuild or just put another carbon filter in. Really good filter.

I find the fill and suck or straws to be way to hard to get water. Our creeks are high in silicates and it will stop up a straw with one use. I have use the Grayl in the same streams and much prefer this method over straws or straw type devices. Not being a backpacker I use a Nalgene bottle on a carabiner and carry my Katadyn Vario in my pack. When camping in the mountains I have been able to stay out for two weeks or longer by using the Katadyn pump to fill empty gallon jugs. Bi-directional pumping is fast and efficient. When it slows down you can scrub off the silver/ceramic disc and keep going. However, for lightweight carry while hunting I would likely prefer the Gray as the Katadyn weights in at a whopping 1 1/2 pounds.

Sounds like it might be a good idea to just buy both

Apples and oranges. Maybe a comparison between the life straw and a Sawyer. I've got the Sawyer bottle. I never use it. I use a Sawyer squeeze and a various size Klean kanteen. I use a lot of foods that need water. Brushing teeth, etc, etc.... For me personally I like having the reserves of clean water. Its worth a couple minutes of preparing to have it.

I have both. Lifestraw in the "get-home-bag" (just for me) and Grayl in hiking pack/recon pack (resupply me and others).

Grayl filters novoviris and more than Lifestraw does and for drink ability the Lifestraw is just too difficult in my opinion. Good review!! I have both and bring both around depending what scenario. Lifestraw go is better for canoe when you can’t really stop and press.

Lifestraw has a use but just buy the less expensive actual lifestraw as a backup and use the grayl mug part as the water reservoir to suck from (as a backup) the replacement cartridge weighs about the same as a life straw so one can just carry a new clean grayl cartridge as a backup to a clogged dirty cartridge. You cannot make coffee, or any food with the lifestraw.

Great as a personal on the trail filter, but no good if camping , cooking, boiling up water. Great to have another option to choose before heading out and doing whatever it is I'll be up to. Like I said, it's a personal filter and that's it. Grayl wins for me though.

Thanks for your work on this informative video. Really gives you more to think about. Been using the sawer system myself. Let's gravity do the work but does take some time.

I love my lifestraw 1 liter jug. I also love my bladder. Not sure what the problem with a bladder is. I like the fact that it’s centered in my backpack & it hasn’t frozen on me in my winter hikes. I hate reaching for water jugs in the side pockets of my backpack. I also like to hydrate a lot. So to me it’s easier to just grab the hose without having to stop to grab my water bottle & have a sip. I’ve seen those hose that you can attach to a bottle. That’s cool. But I rather put something else in that pouch than water.

Question. Weill the filter, filter out some added ingredients that i supplement into my water? like if i want to add natural sea salt, lemon and magnesium?

The bad thing about the straw without the bottle is when you lay down by the river to get a drink and a gator blast out of the water and bites your head off. I hate it when that happens

I had the 32oz version on a 9 day moose hunt in the backcountry. It was so much better than the sawyer I brought with me that failed halfway through. The gasket failed not the filter itself.

Grayling is the best all around but I tend to use a sawyer mini on a smart water bottle for filtering water I'm going to cook with.

What I don’t get about these water bottles is that you have to use it to scoop dirty water so every time you touch the bottle you’re contaminating your hands. Also, if it’s taking you 30 seconds to filter your water with the Grayl it’s time change to cartridge according to them, it should take

Sometimes its about an individuals chosen process. I carry a stainless steel canteen with a cup for boilingbsnd cooking (Pathfinder School of Self Reliance kit). I use the grayl to pricess the water then dump it into the canteen vs contaminating my canteen to later refill the grayl.

Can’t make me quit Grayl: just like you mentioned, grayl also acts like a pump-based filter and make clear water that I can put into other containers for more than drinking, e.g., cooking. Plus, LifeStraw Go does NOT remove viruses. Grayl does. However, there is another brand that no body seems to talk about:Oko H2O. It used the same type of electro-adsorptive filter as Grayl, so it is capable of taking out viruses. But it is a straw-in-bottle design with soft bottler so you can squeeze to get a very very good flow rate, instead of sucking really hard. Much lighter too. The filter is smaller than Grayl, whose filter takes about 1/3 of the whole bottle . Costs less than 30$ on Amazon.

@spokojnyMamut

9 күн бұрын

There is albo WaterToGo. Same type of filter but chaper and simpler.

Grayl is good I just wish it was lighter and had greater volume

Grayl all the way for me, suits my needs better! The life straw go bottle is nice but I don't feel comfortable have it for a shtf scenario.

Lifestraw. This is fine if you only need drinking water. You can’t filter and put the water in a different container. Also that 22 oz bottle doesn’t hold 22 oz when that filter is in it. Also the grayl is a purifier and the lifestraw is a filter. The sawyer filters give the versatility with cheaper filters. And sawyer offers a similar bottle. I wouldn’t waste my money on Lifestraw. In the US Sawyer is my go to. Outside of the US I would pickup a Grayl or another purifier.

Very useful information thank you

Awesome comparison, pros and cons of both. Earlier in my life I went to other countries and Grayl would be a no-brainer. I'm old and ugly now, don't foresee leaving the coun🎉try. Probably now the lifestraw would suffice. Again, I'm mostly urban and city, rarely country.

@Cetok01

9 ай бұрын

Mostly urban and city would mean an even greater need for the Grayl capabilities if the grid -- and reliable public water and sanitation -- goes down.

@mikeydurden

9 ай бұрын

You being old and ugly shouldn't make you not want to have the cleanest version of water though.

Where did you get the tops dragon fly “d-fly” from and could you do full review on it please. I’ve been looking at this for awhile but not much content on it

Wow the back drop! Where is this beautiful place on earth?

The metal water bottle are not great. I bought them me thinking it would be more durable but it just gets dented when you drop it, and also the paint scratches off. The slight flex you get from the plastic is way better at protecting it

Awesome video! Have you ever used the Lifesaver liberty? It can also filter down to viruses, and it lasts for 2000 liters, ou something around 600 gallons! Viruses are the most common cause of diarrhea, which can be life threatening in the woods

When I watched your video my thought was that the LifeStraw filter/bottle combo is great for travel overseas, or going on a car camping trip. Like everyone else I don't see the LifeStraw as especially useful for filtering water in the backcountry.

Hey Aaron, not sure if you can get them Stateside, if you can however, have a look at the Water-To-Go bottles, love your video's by the way, keep up the good work 👍

Southern Ohio hiker. Be free is great for mountain streams. Grayl is needed in the Appalachian foothills due to all the past mining / current agriculture. Be sure to pre-filter your Grayl. This can be tedious, but it will work smoother / longer. I will pre-filter w a buff, run it through my be free (I have one specifically for heavy metals usage), then the Grayl. Yes it’s tedious. No, I’m not drinking lead or glyphosate. Probably.

This video earned you my sub

I tend to bring my own water on day trips because over here are so many chemicals. Sharing and pouring water is important for me, so I stick to my Katadyn mini combined with a activated carbon filter. I'm hoping to find a good review of the Elanwell m-101 someday because on paper it is as good as the grayl but can filter a lot more liters.

If i were going to use a straw filtered bottoe, i'd use the epic filter/nalgene combo. I believe they claim way more stuff out...and i like the way it looks over the life straw.

You can call me an urban treker. Purified water is a priority for me.

The Lifestraw system will suffice for the casual hiker/ backpacker. As for myself, I'm investing in the Grayl system as it better suits my purposes.

I have the life straw and the Grayl an I choose the Grayl. The life straw takes forever to drink because you have to use more suction. The Grayl it takes me less than a minute to press the water through and I don't have to fight to drink water and the Grayl purifies vs filters.

Okay, good information. Question, what about the Grayl vs Backgold from Switzerland? The Backgold appears to be Europe's response to Grayl. Maybe Grayl's patent ran out, thus other companies can begin making their own.

Both look fine to me but i think I'll stick to my Sawyer Squeeze. The Sawyer works with Smart Water bottles, can be used in line on hydration systems, as a straw, the water can be squeeze from the dirty water container into a clean container or your mouth and can be use as a gravity ststem.

@Swearengen1980

9 ай бұрын

Same. The lifespan of Grayl just doesn't make it worth it for me unless I knew I was making a specific trip.

Great video I subscribed

@gideonstactical

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub! And welcome to the GT crew!!

Sooo... what about this would cause someone to want to never use the grayl system again?

I am a Grayl 100%, but I appreciate your review.

Is there an alternative product to Grayl? I like the function of Grayl but it's a little bit pricy.

Would this work for the water in Cuba or Mexico? We're going on a trip and thought this might be a good idea to use. Thanks

Hi! Is it working on spot in city where it's writte "non-drinkable water" ?

I’ll stick to my MSR Guardian. Yes it was stupidly expensive but it pumps super fast and will make drinkable water out of just about any source.

How do you know when to change the filter, does it have so type of indicator?

i use a standard life straw when i want to be lite on my feet chasing deer elk etc but my grayl goes everywhere too many mines where i'm from got to get those heavy metals out.

😊 Thanks for the information

Sawyer works for me. I dont need an internal filter. The press is cool, but the filter has a really short life.

I do believe I’ll be buying the Greyal

The life straw can you use it straight out of the bottel to water source ??

GREAT VIDEO- issues with my Grayl, very stiff to press, and taste from the filter is prohibitive. How is the Lifestraw flavor?

@gideonstactical

9 ай бұрын

No taste from my experience

I’ve used both more than I can count, what I will say is. Life straw is for like a average hiker at a state park or something If you’re into backpacking long camping trips in the back country I would recommend the grayl, especially in the mid west where I’m from the water is muddy etc

@1stRanger

8 ай бұрын

GRAYL does a terrible job with a muddy water. In fact it's absolutely the worst performer when it comes to muddy water. There's plenty videos on KZread alone about it.

Did you check water after filtration? Which is real good, better

I have a life straw. And a sawyer squeeze. But one day i'm gonna try one of the others out

Glad to see other choices and well as innovation. I personally prefer a Sawyer Squeeze, C noc bag and Smartwater bottle. Got gifted a Grayle and don't care for it . I would use a Grayle if I went to third world countries or had to drink from flood waters.

can u drink thru the lifestraw bottle with out the filter in it ?

@gideonstactical

7 ай бұрын

Sure, but you would need to really clean the bottle out first so you don’t have cross-contamination with the dirty water

Hmm. It’s water. They’re both great! I’ll take one of each! -maybe 2 😊

i bought both so I just transfered the already filtered water from grayl bottle into the lifestraw go bottle so its double filtered lmao haha ;)

Love my grayl, buut lok forward to using the go also.

Does life straw purify the water like the grayl

Nice product, I'll stick with my grayl. Just seems more durable than the life straw.