In a world where clean drinking water isn’t guaranteed—whether due to natural disasters, wilderness exploration, or emergency scenarios—you need more than just trust in a product. You need a system. At Mountain Ready, we believe in field-proven, dependable gear that’s been tested in real-world situations. Today, we break down our four favorite water purification brands—LifeStraw, Sawyer, Grayl, and PuriBag—and show you how to combine them into one rock-solid, complete solution: The Water Matrix.
Why a System Matters
Each of these brands delivers outstanding performance in specific areas. But no single device can cover all bases in every scenario. That’s why layering multiple solutions is key—especially when facing turbid water, limited access to resources, or the risk of viral contamination.
LifeStraw: Portable, Proven, and Popular
LifeStraw is one of the most recognized names in water filtration, offering a wide range of products like the LifeStraw Personal Straw, Go Series Bottles, and Gravity Filters.
- Filtration Level: 0.2 micron hollow fiber membrane
- Removes: 99.999999% of bacteria, 99.999% of parasites, 99.999% of microplastics, silt, and cloudiness
- Optional Activated Carbon Filter: Reduces chlorine, improves taste, and removes heavy metals like lead and mercury
- Filter Life: Up to 2,000 liters for membrane, 100 liters for carbon
- Backflushable: Yes, for reusable and long-term use
Limitation: No virus kill step. While excellent at removing bacteria and parasites, it may not fully protect against waterborne viruses.
Sawyer: Absolute Filtration Strength
Sawyer filters—like the Squeeze, Mini, and Bottle systems—are known for their rugged design and reliability.
- Filtration Level: Absolute 0.1 micron hollow fiber membrane
- Removes: Bacteria, protozoa, cysts, and 100% of microplastics
- Durability: Filters are ~75% stronger than others in the market
- Filter Life: Over 100,000 gallons (with backflushing)
- Backflushable: Yes, maintains flow and extends life
Limitation: Like LifeStraw, Sawyer does not provide a certified virus kill step. However, it offers top-tier protection against most contaminants in North American water sources.
Grayl: The Power of Pressure + Purification
Grayl’s GeoPress and UltraPress bottles combine mechanical pressure with electroadsorption and ultra-powdered activated carbon to produce safe drinking water quickly and effectively.
- Removes: 99.99% of viruses (including Hep A, Norovirus), 99.9999% of bacteria (E. Coli, Cholera), and 99.9% of protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium)
- Also removes: Sediment, microplastics, chemicals (PFAS, VOCs), heavy metals (lead), and improves taste
- Filter Style: Press-based, no backflushing
- Filter Life: ~350 presses (65 gallons)
Limitation: Not backflushable. Filters can clog quickly if water is highly turbid. Larger storage containers may be necessary due to the 24oz capacity of the GeoPress.
The Puribag: Bulk Purification with a Chemical Kill Step
The PuriBag is not just a filter—it's a field purification system designed to process large volumes of contaminated water, making it ideal for humanitarian and survival situations.
- Capacity: 10 liters of contaminated water per cycle
- Process: Add water, drop in a P&G Purifier of Water packet (contains calcium hypochlorite), shake and wait 30 minutes
- Final Filtration: Built-in carbon filter (removes chlorine taste and chemicals), followed by a 0.1 micron membrane filter
- Effectiveness: Kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa—rendering even filthy water safe to drink
Advantage: It's the only product in this matrix that offers a chemical purification step for virus and pathogen neutralization. Ideal for bulk water treatment, especially when the source is questionable or severely contaminated.
Putting It All Together: The Water Matrix System
Here’s how you build your complete water security system:
- Step 1: Choose your personal filter—LifeStraw, Sawyer, or Grayl—based on your preference for portability, filtration strength, and ease of use.
- Step 2: Add the PuriBag for purification. It becomes your base layer for treating large amounts of water and ensuring virus elimination.
- Step 3: Use clean water from the PuriBag to refill your personal filter system and stay prepared on the go.
Remember: Two is one, one is none. Redundancy matters. Filters clog. Water quality varies. Situations change. With this matrix, you’re ready for any scenario.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re hiking in the backcountry, responding to a crisis, or just building your emergency kit at home, having a layered water strategy is essential. Pair any of the leading filter brands with a PuriBag for a system that offers both fast personal access and thorough purification.
Ready to build your Water Matrix? Tap here to shop trusted water gear now.