Purifying plenty of water for an entire campsite or a small group of people just got a lot easier. On August 5, LifeStraw launched its Escape Purifier, a 5.25-gallon water jug with an integrated three-stage purification system. It allows you to pump up to 1 L of water per minute, eliminating 99.99% of viruses, bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and heavy metals.
Most of LifeStraw’s water filters and purification devices are designed for backpackers and individual use. They’re generally light and small enough to fit in a pack. The Escape, by comparison, is large, durable, and weighs 16 pounds on its own. It’s not a packable purifier. However, for groups of people or emergency use, the Escape fills a different niche.
“The Escape is designed to be both rugged and intuitive — powerful enough for serious emergencies, and simple enough for weekend basecamps or overlanding trips,” Alison Hill, CEO of LifeStraw, said in a press release. “It reflects our commitment to thoughtful design and innovation that meets real-world needs. And like all our products, it helps bring safe drinking water to communities who need it most.”
LifeStraw Escape Purifier: 5+ Gallons, Years of Clean Water, Endless Applications
GearJunkie has seen 5-gallon filters before, like the LifeSaver Jerry Can, which we reviewed in 2019. So what’s the big deal here?
Filters only prevent protozoa, bacteria, and particulates from passing through their hollow fiber membranes. Purifiers, by contrast, also stop pathogens like Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium), Giardiasis (Giardia), and hepatitis.
The Escape uses a three-stage filter that includes a pre-filter, a 0.02-micron ultrafilter, and an activated carbon + ion exchange filter. LifeStraw claims that the Escape will remove “99.99% of viruses, 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites, and 99.999% of microplastics.” According to the brand, the ultrafilter will last for 18,000 L of water, and the carbon + ion exchange filter will last for 600 L.
When in use, the Escape can purify up to a liter of water a minute. Users simply pressurize the chamber using the hand pump and then open the nozzle, and purified water flows out — no gravity or electricity necessary. A built-in pressure release valve prevents over-pressurization.
Because of its volume, the LifeStraw Escape may appeal to more than just backcountry users and outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoor professionals, humanitarian workers, and survivalists could also find a use for it. The Escape could just as easily provide enough purified water for a group campsite or hunting camp as for trail workers, remote villages, off-grid living, or during an emergency.
It’s a cool product with many potential uses across different outdoor activities. That’s why, when GearJunkie’s editor in chief, Adam Ruggiero, stumbled upon the Escape at the recent Switchback gear event, he named it one of the Best-in-Show products.
LifeStraw Escape: Value in Volume
The Escape Purifier retails for $330 on the LifeStraw website, while the Escape Replacement Filter costs $26. According to the brand, the Ultrafilter will last up to 5 years for a household before it needs to be replaced. The Carbon + ion exchange filter will last “about two months of daily use” under the same circumstances, the brand said.
Compared to other filters and purifiers on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Backpacking Water Filters, the Escape’s price tag is significant. It’s bigger than all but one other water purifier on that list (the MSR Guardian).
However, the Escape’s most notable feature — its volume — is what sets this purifier apart from the pack. It allows groups of people to share a single purifier that works like a faucet. Stay tuned for a full GearJunkie review of the LifeStraw Escape in the coming months.
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