Etekcity Portable 1500L Emergency Camping Water Filter Review
The Etekcity Portable 1500L Water Filter is always in the discussion when looking at the best portable water filters. As a brand, Etekcity is lesser known than LifeStraw and Sawyer, but they manufacture a range of excellent outdoors equipment at affordable prices.
Like all good portable water filters, the Etekcity filters out 99.99% of waterborne pathogens, mold, bacteria, cysts, and other nasties, and is incredibly easy to use as soon as you find a water source.
Design Features
The Etekcity has some cool design features and comes with some useful accessories:
Extension Straw – In my opinion you should always choose a water filter that comes with an extension straw. For the sake of a little extra weight it’s worth it to know that you’re going to be able to reach a water source easier.
Double filter system – For those who are a little paranoid about germs there is a double filter system inside the Etekcity. There is a hollow fiber UF membrane, and an antibacterial carbon filter for additional safety.
Compact and lightweight – At around just 2oz even the lightest of backpackers will have no issue carrying this filter. It’s a lighter option than carrying fluids every time, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re carrying one to reduce weight.
Comes with a water pouch – There is a water pouch included in the purchase to enable you to collect and carry some water with you when you find a source. This is another feature that’s overlooked by some other filters, yet is a simple and really useful addition that will make your life easier.
Easy to clean – The filter comes with a handy syringe so you can shoot some water into the filter after use to give it a quick clean.
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Comparison Information
Two of the large players in the portable water filter market are LifeStraw and the Sawyer Mini. Both have their advantages, with the LifeStraw being more of a convenient and handy option, and the Sawyer being better for heavy usage.
The Etekcity Portable 1500L Water Filter falls somewhere in the middle of these two in my opinion. The Sawyer can filter a massive 100,000 gallons, while the LifeStraw is only good for 264 gallons, and the Etekcity can filter 330 gallons (1,500 liters).
This model also comes with all the accessories of the Sawyer like the extension tube and the water pouch, which the LifeStraw does not. Coming in at a more affordable price makes the Etekcity the best choice for value, functionality, and most importantly just as a reliable and quality water filter as any other filter.
How to Use
The Etekcity is simple and quick to use. It’s called a straw because you use it exactly like a straw, you can drink directly from a water source and as the water passes through the device it filters into safe, drinkable water.
The pouch that comes with the filter can be filled with water and stored in a backpack. You can then filter and drink it whenever you need to. You can also squeeze the water through the main device into a bottle to make drinkable water.
To clean the filter just push fresh water through with the syringe that’s provided.
The Pros
- Comes with a water pouch to carry water and filter on the move
- Affordable price point
- Double filter system to purify dense water
The Cons
- There are filters capable of filtering much higher volume on the market
Insider Tips
Don’t forget to use the pre-filter that comes in the box with your filter and other pieces. If you need to filter water that is particularly turbid then it’s better to be safe than sorry. This is a pretty cool feature not found with most other models so make use of it.
Conclusion
The Etekcity Portable 1500L Emergency Camping Water Filter should be part of any survival kit or tucked away in a backpack. It’s affordable, lightweight, and might just prove to be a life-saver in an emergency when you need drinkable water.
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