On the hierarchy of resources required for survival, clean water is near the top. As the old adage goes, humans may survive as little as three minutes without air, three hours without shelter (in extreme climates), and three days without water. But even if you have access to a nearby lake or stream, there's a high likelihood the water is contaminated by microorganisms that will make you violently ill. To avoid this, you'll need to purify the water first. British water purifier company LifeSaver, whose products we've reviewed in the past, recently launched a new compact purifier called the LifeSaver Wayfarer — the company's smallest and lightest device yet.
The LifeSaver Wayfarer is designed to fit easily into a pocket or small backpack, and weighs only 11.4 ounces. As with other LifeSaver products, it's made in Britain and tested to exceed NSF/ANSI P231 standards for removal of bacteria, protozoan cysts, and viruses. It also removes chemicals, microplastics, heavy metals, and unpleasant taste/odor from water. Additionally, the Wayfarer features the company's FailSafe technology that cuts off water flow once the filter reaches the end of its lifespan, ensuring contaminated water won't pass through.
The Wayfarer consists of a black polymer housing with a retractable pump handle, inlet tube, and outlet tube. The 4.2-foot scavenger hose is connected to the inlet, then placed into a body of water; the integrated float keeps it from sinking to the bottom. A shorter clean water hose connects to the outlet, and can be placed into your water bottle or hydration bladder. Pumping the handle forces water up through the first-stage ultrafiltration (UF) cartridge and second-stage activated carbon disc. Both components are replaceable — the cartridge lasts for up to 5,000 liters, and the disc lasts for up to 100 liters.
We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the LifeSaver Wayfarer will retail at an MSRP of $105. Many purifiers in the sub-$100 price range are made in China with questionable testing standards or no mention of lab testing at all. So, the Wayfarer seems like a solid value in comparison.
LifeSaver says the Wayfarer will become available on February 1st, 2023, but it's currently available for preorder. we're looking forward to seeing it in person later this month at SHOT Show. For more updates, keep an eye on IconLifeSaver.com.