Description
Viruses filtering water purifier XStream™ Deluxe Straw Ultralight Water Filter Sagan Life
XStream™ Deluxe Straw is a hand-pumped water purifier that reduces viruses as well as bacteria and protozoa. It is suitable for hiking, travelling and emergency preparedness in situations where access to safe drinking water is uncertain.
The water purifier is compact and easy to carry on hikes, trips, in a vehicle or as part of an emergency kit. Water can be drawn directly from a freshwater source through the long drinking hose or pumped into a bottle, cooking pot or other clean container using the included hand pump.
EPA Est. #94138-ID-1
What can the Sagan XStream water purifier reduce?
According to independent laboratory tests stated by the manufacturer, the XStream Journey filter reduces:
- 99.9999% of bacteria, including E. coli
- 99.99% of protozoa, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia
- 99.99% of viruses
According to the manufacturer, the filter also reduces substances such as heavy metals, chlorine, turbidity and certain taste and odour problems. Its effectiveness against individual chemical contaminants depends on the substance, concentration and overall water quality.
XStream does not remove salt from seawater. It should also not be used to treat water suspected of containing high concentrations of fuel, industrial chemicals, radioactive substances or other unknown toxins.
How long can the XStream Deluxe Straw water purifier be used?
The Journey water filter is rated for 250 US gallons, which is approximately 946 litres of water. The supplier rounds this capacity to approximately 1,000 litres.
The actual service life depends on water quality, turbidity, limescale, sediment and other contaminants. The filter may last longer when used with clear water than when treating very cloudy or dirty water.
Limescale in tap water can also gradually clog the filter. For this reason, the filter should preferably be used with the clearest available freshwater, and visibly cloudy water should be pre-filtered.
The filter can be dried after use and stored for future use. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, it should be allowed to air-dry for approximately one to two weeks. Once completely dry, the filter can be stored in an airtight bag or container.
When should the filter be replaced?
The replacement interval depends on the amount of water treated and how contaminated the water has been. The filter material binds contaminants and gradually becomes clogged during use.
The filter should be replaced when:
- the stated capacity of approximately 946 litres has been reached
- the water flow has slowed considerably
- drinking through the filter requires noticeably more suction than before
- the hand pump no longer produces a practical flow rate
According to the manufacturer, reduced flow is generally caused by the filter becoming clogged. The filter should not be used indefinitely simply because a small amount of water can still pass through it. Replace it no later than when the stated capacity has been reached or when continued use becomes impractical.
Is it easy to drink through the filter?
Yes. Water can be drawn directly through the filter by suction. Some suction effort is required because the water passes through the purification material before reaching the mouthpiece.
The drinking hose is approximately 60 cm long. With the included extension hose, the total length can be increased to approximately 120 cm. The longer hose makes it easier to drink from the edge of a lake or stream without having to bend down directly to the water surface.
Water can also be pumped into a container
The XStream Deluxe Straw can also be used with the included manual pump. Purified water can be pumped into a bottle, cooking pot or other clean container.
The pump is useful when water is needed for cooking, for several people or for carrying away from the source. The actual flow rate depends on how the pump is operated, the quality of the water and the condition of the filter.
A brief look at the purification technology
According to Sagan Life, the filtration technology used in its water purifiers is based on electroadsorption and physisorption rather than only conventional mechanical pore filtration.
In simplified terms, the electropositively charged filter material works somewhat like a magnet. When untreated water comes into contact with the material, the filter binds very small contaminants found in the water, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
For this reason, the performance of the filter is not primarily described by a micron rating, as is common with many hollow-fibre filters. Instead, its performance is stated as contaminant-reduction percentages measured in laboratory testing.
According to the manufacturer’s information, the filtration medium consists of multilayer pleated material containing electropositively charged filtration media and activated carbon. The activated carbon helps reduce certain taste and odour problems.
Earlier technical material from the manufacturer described the filtration medium as multilayer glass fibre coated with nano-aluminium and containing activated carbon and antimicrobial silver. These detailed material specifications may vary between production versions, so the most important information for the product description is the independently tested purification performance.
Filter durability and freezing
XStream does not use a conventional hollow-fibre filter. According to earlier information from the manufacturer, the Journey filter construction withstands drops and freezing better than hollow-fibre filters.
However, the manufacturer’s current instructions do not specify exact freezing conditions, the permitted number of freeze-thaw cycles or separate purification testing after freezing. The filter should therefore not be intentionally exposed to freezing.
After use, the filter should be thoroughly dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions before long-term storage. A completely dry filter does not contain water that can freeze in the same way as a wet filter.
Cloudy water should be pre-filtered
If the water contains visible sand, mud, algae, plant material or other solid debris, it should first be passed through a clean cloth or separate coarse pre-filter.
Pre-filtering does not make the water safe to drink by itself. It reduces the amount of solid material entering the Journey filter and may significantly extend its service life.
Drinking directly from a water source
- Connect the hose with the mouthpiece to the filter using the quick connector.
- Attach the second hose as an extension if required.
- Place the intake end of the filter in a non-saline freshwater source.
- Open the mouthpiece and draw water through the hose.
Keep the mouthpiece and the clean-water end of the hose separate from untreated water.
Using the hand pump
- Place the filter in the freshwater to be treated.
- Connect the hand pump and hoses using the quick connectors.
- Direct the clean end of the hose into a bottle, cooking pot or other clean container.
- Repeatedly squeeze and release the pump until water begins to flow.
Avoid allowing untreated water to come into contact with the clean-water container, mouthpiece or clean section of the hose.
Drying and storage
Disconnect the filter from the hoses after use. Allow it to air-dry for approximately one to two weeks, or until it is completely dry.
The mouthpiece, hoses and hand pump can be washed with warm soapy water, rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry before storage.
Do not seal a wet filter in an airtight bag for an extended period. Once completely dry, the filter can be stored in a sealed bag or container until the next use.
Features
- tested by an independent laboratory
- reduces bacteria, viruses and protozoa
- capacity of approximately 946 litres per filter
- drinking hose approximately 60 cm long
- total hose length approximately 120 cm with extension
- water can be drawn directly through the filter
- includes a hand pump for transferring water into a container
- does not require electricity or batteries
- does not use chlorine, iodine or purification tablets
- activated carbon helps reduce certain taste and odour problems
- according to the manufacturer, the construction withstands drops and freezing better than hollow-fibre filters
Who is the XStream Deluxe suitable for?
- hiking and trekking
- canoeing, fishing and bicycle touring
- travelling
- emergency equipment for the home or vehicle
- situations where viruses also need to be reduced from the water
- users who want to both drink directly from a source and pump water into a container
Important limitations
- Use only with non-saline freshwater.
- The filter does not remove salt from seawater.
- Always choose the cleanest available water source.
- Pre-filter visibly cloudy water or water containing sediment.
- Keep clean-water and untreated-water components separate.
- Do not use water suspected of containing dangerous concentrations of fuel, industrial chemicals or radioactive substances.
- Do not intentionally expose the filter to freezing, even though the manufacturer states that the construction withstands freezing better than hollow-fibre filters.
Technical specifications
- Product: Sagan Life XStream™ Deluxe Straw Water Purifier
- Product type: virus-reducing water purifier with hand pump
- EPA establishment number: EPA Est. #94138-ID-1
- Filter: Journey™ Water Filter
- Filter capacity: approximately 946 l / 250 US gal
- Bacteria reduction: 99.9999%
- Virus reduction: 99.99%
- Protozoa reduction: 99.99%
- Filter length: approximately 22 cm
- Filter diameter: approximately 2.5 cm
- Length of one hose: approximately 60–61 cm
- Total length with extension hose: approximately 120–122 cm
- Filter weight: approximately 55 g
- Hose with mouthpiece: approximately 53 g
- Extension hose with connectors: approximately 33 g
- Pump and hose: approximately 123 g
- Combined weight of listed components: approximately 264 g
- Total weight stated by the supplier: 290 g
- Operating methods: direct suction or manual pumping
- Power source: no electricity or batteries required
- Suitable water: non-saline freshwater
What is included?
- Journey water purification filter
- approximately 60 cm drinking hose with mouthpiece
- approximately 60 cm extension hose with quick connectors
- manual pump with hose
- operating instructions
Our thoughts
XStream Deluxe is more versatile than a conventional personal hiking filter because water can either be drawn directly from the source or pumped into a clean container. It is particularly suitable for users who also want to prepare for treating water that may contain viruses without electricity or chemical purification.
Water quality has a major effect on whether the filter reaches its stated capacity. Choosing the clearest available water and pre-filtering visibly cloudy water may significantly extend the useful life of the filter.
Testivoittaja. Kevyt kantaa.