When you're outdoors, there are a million things that can go wrong. From getting lost in the wilderness to being stranded with no supplies, there are countless scenarios in which you could find yourself in trouble. That's why it's important to always be prepared for the worst-case scenario and have a clean source of water. One of the most important things you can have on hand is a Survival Straw as your personal water filter. If you want to know more about why you should always keep a survival straw when outdoors, keep reading!What Is A Survival Straw?A Survival Straw is a simple, yet essential, piece of gear that could save your life in an emergency situation. It is basically a straw with a water filter attached to the end. This allows you to drink water from any source, without having to worry about bacteria and other bad stuff that comes in contaminated water.The water filter of a Survival Straw is made of durable materials that can filter out waterborne bacteria and parasites from dirty water. They act as your personal water filter and they are also incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is find a water source, insert the Survival Straw into the water, and start drinking. Its solar water disinfection capabilities make it an even more valuable ultimate survival kit to have on hand.This straw filter ensures that you get to have access to safe drinking water while you're outdoors, no matter what the situation is. It is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around with your water bottle in your emergency kits wherever you go.How Long Does A Survival Straw Last?Gear yourself with this ultimate survival tool because the water filters of Survival Straw have an unlimited shelf life and have been tested out to face the harshest conditions. However, the Survival Straw itself has a life span of around 1000 litres or 264 gallons. This means that it can provide you with safe water for years to come, as long as you take care of its water filter properly.To extend the lifespan of your Survival Straw, once you finished drinking with it, make sure to rinse it off in warm water after each use and allow it to air dry completely. You should also backwash it every few weeks to remove any dirt or debris that may be clogging the filter. When stored properly, your Survival Straw will be ready to use whenever you need it.For replacement filters, you can find them easily online or at your local outdoor gear store. Just be sure to check the compatibility of the replacement filter with your personal water filter model to ensure a perfect fit. You should also check the expiration date of the replacement filter to be sure that it is still effective.How Does A Survival Straw Work?Survival Straws have a long-lasting membrane microfilter that can filter up to 1000 litres of water. The hollow-fiber membrane microfilter works to remove bacteria, protozoa, and sediments from water, making it safe to drink. It is also equipped with a carbon filter that helps reduce water odour and taste.The straw's water filtration system is certified to meet EPA standards for removing E. coli, giardia, and cryptosporidium which are all common waterborne pathogen that causes water-related illnesses. Larger particles such as dirt and sand are also filtered out by the Survival Straw, making the water you drink cleaner and clearer.The water filter of the straw functions by using a pump to force water through the hollow-fiber membrane. This physically removes any contaminants that may be present in the water. The straw can also filter out up to 99.9% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, making it one of the most effective filters on the market. Its purification tablets and gravity filter make it a versatile system for treating water that can be used in a variety of different situations.In order to use the Survival Straw, first, you find a water source. It could be clear water, a river, a lake, or even a puddle. Once you've found one, remove the top cap and insert the Survival Straw into the water to start filtering the water. Then let its water filtration system do the work for you and you don't have to worry about heavy metals, bacteria, or other contaminants ever again.Remember that filtered water is safer to drink than unfiltered ones. Just don't forget to have a Survival Straw and water bottle or clean container with you whenever you go outdoors to make sure that you have access to safe drinking water. It could just be the difference between life and death.So there you have it! You now have access to safe drinking water by drinking directly in the small hole of your Survival Straw's mouth piece.Can You Drink Any Water With A Survival Straw?Access to a clean water source is a challenge familiar to many developing nations, but a Survival Straw can help to provide drinkable water in these areas as it does not require any electricity or batteries to operate. These straws can also filter out from any water source. This means that you can drink from rivers, lakes, puddles, rainwater, and even populated areas with confidence knowing that the cloudy water has been filtered and is safe for you to drink directly.On a longer trip where you ran out of bottled water or might need to ration to have enough drinking water, a Survival Straw can help you save on your remaining water usage. By drinking directly from the Survival Straw, you are cutting out the need for rolling boil or purifying large quantities of water which can be time-consuming. This also means that you'll have more in your water bottle to drink in case of an emergency.If you also worry about larger bacteria and larger pathogens with water in populated areas, Survival Straws have you covered. The water filter also has the added benefit of being able to drink from this in the event of a natural disaster when clean water may not be readily available. However, the iodine tablets in water filters are generally not a good choice for pregnant women or anyone with thyroid issues or shellfish allergies because of the potential side effects that may result.Can You Drink Your Own Urine With A Survival Straw?The Survival Straw's water filtration will remove most of the dirt, bacteria, and impurities in urine but we do not recommend drinking urine as it contains high levels of toxins and waste products that the body needs to get rid of and is not safe for human consumption. Drinking urine will only make you more dehydrated and could potentially make you sick.If you are stranded in the wilderness and have no other water source, the water filters of the straw can help to make your urine safe to drink. In a survival situation, your body will start to ration water and will send less urine to your hydration bladder. This concentrated urine will have a high level of dirt, impurities, and toxins so it is important to filter it before drinking. To do this, simply insert the Survival Straw into your urine stream and allow the straw to filter out the impurities. Once the process is complete, you can now drink the filtered water with confidence knowing that it is safe to consume.Other methods you can purify water from nature are by using the sun or fire. Heat rocks in a fire and places them in a container of water. The heat from the rocks will help to purify the water. You can also allow water to evaporate and then collect the condensation from the leaves and put it in your glass container, which will give you clean water. More so, the UV light from the sun will help kill or damage almost all biological hazards in the water.However, these alternatives offer a good water filter but not a complete or guaranteed bacterial and viral disinfection. The safest route is to use a water filter straw, which is a versatile and essential piece of gear for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors. Whether you are hiking, camping, or backpacking, Survival Straws can help to ensure that you have access to clean drinking water. They are easy to use and can be a lifesaver in a variety of different situations. So make sure to pack your new favourite personal water filter straw and water bottle in your emergency kits the next time you head out into the great outdoors!If you found this article helpful, share it with your friends and family to help them be prepared for their next outdoor adventure! Survival Straws are committed to helping people access clean water and we hope that this article has helped you to understand the importance of having a Survival Straw as your personal water filter when outdoors. Stay hydrated out there!