Seychelle's Water Filtration Straw

I purchased my first "Survival Water Straw" at a gun show back around 1985 or so. It didn't work very well - it clogged pretty fast and once used, it was done.

Over 25 years later, we have better "straws" now.

In the entry/post below this one, you will see the Seychelle Water Filtration Canteen. They also make a great little water filtration straw. It is very well made!

The advanced model is $16.95, a small price to pay for the peace of mind the unit provides. This is the advanced model which comes with the additional treatment/filtration insert. So, if you want better bottled water or if the tap water you have is objectionable for whatever reason, you can simply use this straw.

For more survival-oriented use, unscrew the end that you would be placing in the questionable source of water and place the additional insert in there and screw the end back on, very simple.

Use of a pre-filter like a Millbank Bag to remove sediment/particulate matter is not required but it will make the filter last a lot longer. This is not a shortcoming of the Seychelle filters, it should be done with any water filtration system.

If you do not have a Millbank Bag, an excellent piece of British Kit, you can make your own out of cotton canvas or use a bandanna or even something like the small cloth bag that sunglasses like Oakley's are supplied with. If you intend on sticking this filter straw directly into a source of water, then you can use a piece of ParaCord or a Ranger Band or rubber band and secure the bandanna or cloth bag to the end of the unit, tightly.

The unit has a threaded cap to keep the mouthpiece from being contaminated, a very nice touch instead of going the cheaper route and simply having it unprotected or using some type of pressure-fit cap.

You can either have your pre-filtered water in a container of known volume so you know how much "life" you have left in your straw or you can use a more primitive method if you intend on obtaining water right from the source. You will have to measure how many "mouthfuls" of water it takes to make a cup of water and then how many cups of water to a gallon then mark the body of the straw with a Sharpie marker or whatever you have available or record that in a notebook or piece of waterproof paper in your survival kit, etc. When you reach 25 gallons, you know the filter has reached its effective life and you can then discard it.

Here is some information from Seychelle's website:

Key Features:

Up to 25-gallon filter life.

Now with BIOSAFE®, removes up to 99.99% of bacteria, virus, contaminants and pollutants found in drinking water including Guardia, Cryptosporidium, and E-Coli Bacteria.

Proven effective against bacteria and virus to six logs reduction (99.9999%).

Waterproof carrying case.

Ideal for everyday use and disaster preparedness.

Ultra light and compact.

Non-toxic BPA free materials.

Tested by Independent laboratories using EPA /ANSI protocols and NSF Standards 42 and 53.

Costs less than bottled water.

Filter Types: Our products come with either a Standard or Advanced filter. The type of filter is indicated by the words Standard (Std.) or Advanced (Adv.) in the product name.

Seychelle Standard Filter The Standard filter is ideal for any in or out-door use; like traveling, hiking, biking, camping, fishing or for emergency purposes. It can be used with any type of water source excluding salt water such as tap or rainwater, rivers, streams or even lakes.

Now with BIOSAFE®, removes up to 99.99% of bacteria, virus, contaminants and pollutants and pollutants found in fresh water supplies including Aesthetics such as chlorine, Sediment and dirt; Biologicals such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E-Coli Bacteria; Chemicals (VOC'S) such as DDT, MTBE, Benzene, Chloroforms (THM'S); and Dissolved Solids (Heavy metals) such as Arsenic, Lead, Mercury, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum and Chromium 6.

Seychelle Advanced Filter The Advanced filter is made of the same media as the Standard filter with the addition of EPA approved iodinated resin (EPA Reg #: 35917-2), which has been proven effective in the removal of bacteria and virus to six logs (99.9999%).

BIOSAFE® antimicrobial media has been added to all Seychelle filters. It is safe, non-toxic and non-leaching; EPA, FDA and NSF approved. It acts like a pincushion of molecules that are permanently bonded to the filter that disrupts and ruptures the cell structures of water borne micro-organisms. Its biostatic effect reduces bacteria to 99.99%. BIOSAFE® has an indefinite shelf life.

Money Back Guaranteed for 90 days!
Approx Weight: 0.50 lb. / each
Dimensions (LxWxH): 1.00 x 2.00 x 8.00 in