LifeStraw Peak Series 650 ml Collapsible Squeeze Bottle Water Filter System ($37.95)
Designed for rugged backcountry adventures and runs, the Peak Series 650 is designed to deliver clean tasty water anywhere in the wild and anytime, day in day out, on the go. In my testing it delivers!
Life Straw’s origins date to the1990’s when their Swiss parent company Vestergaard was challenged by the Carter Center to develop a low cost. simple water filtration system to help eliminate guinea worm sickness in Africa. They developed the LifeStraw and then community based filtration systems. LifeStraw is a B Corp and every purchase, including the 650 ml filter flask here, supports clean water for a child for one year. To date, they have provided 39 million guinea worm filter straws. Read their history here.
The 650ml filter flask reviewed here includes a long lasting, high performance, replaceable filter that screws into the flask cap. LifeStraw also sells a wide variety of other format filtration systems from plastic water bottles, to home dispensers that will also filter for PFAS (the flask doesn’t), to group gravity filters, as well as their iconic straws.
We selected the Peak Series 650ml for review as its size is just right for hiking and running as well as for day to day use.
Features
Backcountry versatility for trail running, through hiking and limited space adventures! Protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness
Ultra-compact, our reconfigured filter is tiny but mighty with a super packable kit that doesn’t sacrifice weight or space
Extreme durability: 2x thicker, premium materials make it tougher and ultra leak-proof
Highly versatile use as a bottle, squeeze water through it into cooking containers or other drinkware, use as a straw, remove the filter to use as a storage system, or connect to other Peak Series systems
Includes: LifeStraw Peak Series 1L collapsible squeeze bottle with screw-top cap and tether, backwash accessory, user manual
Filter Specs
Removes:
- 99.999999% of bacteria
- 99.999% of parasites
- 99.999% of microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness
- Pore Size: 0.2 micron
- Membrane Microfilter lasts up to 2,000 L | 500 gallons – water will stop flowing through once the filter has reached the end of its lifetime
- Meets US EPA & NSF P231 drinking water standards for the removal of bacteria and parasites
- BPA Free, FDA approved materials
It may sound strange to start the review of a backcountry focused filter system with its “looks” but we will as its form factor and looks has made it more than just a superb adventure companion. A dark charcoal gray, the flask and caps are far more substantial and discrete looking than the usual “blue” translucent water flask or plastic water bottle. I always have a collapsible filter flask when hiking or when on long runs in the mountains.
Basically, this rugged 2x thicker than usual flask can go and fit in anywhere. It has been an ideal work, at my desk, commute and travel companion. And as it is collapsible and soft, it fits in many pockets empty or full.
For example, I found it was very comfortable with no bounce during trail runs in my Salomon race vest in the side pocket. I actually preferred this side carry over the usual front carry although it is harder to just lean over and suck water down low.
As it is more substantial in thickness than the usual flasks with a non-slip texture, it is easier to grab and return to pockets. Given its width, it will not fit in the front pockets of most “race vests” designed for slender bottles. There is a capacity bonus with the LifeStraw as it is 650ml whereas most vest flasks are 500ml.
The screw on cap is easy to open on the go and has a stout easy to turn threading. No water will leak just turning it upside down even with the cap off as flow has to come through the filter by sucking or by squeezing .
Of course in the backcountry it is essential to filter water for the nasties and per the specs above the flask is highly capable. I do note the Peak Series does not filter for PFAS ( “forever chemicals") which require activated carbon and ion exchange resin. LifeStraw’s home dispensers do filter for PFAS.
The Water…The taste is superb with no plasticky residue or strange taste. Tap water can often be neither that tasty or in some places suspect. The taste is so good in fact that I have the flask with me all the time, be it at my desk, in the car or when traveling.
Last summer we trekked in Queyras region of France for 8 days. and while the water likely was OK, I used a Hydrapak filter flask at all times. This summer on our Tour du Combin trek it will be the LifeStraw Peak Series 650!
Shop for the Peak Series 650 and LifeStraw
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Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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