AFFORDABLE & FLEXIBLE
The Wayfarer is an economical choice for couples and small groups of hikers as it's designed to draw water from the source (a river, lake or stream), through the purifying filter and into the container of your choice. It means that with one of these in your hiking gear, you can provide a whole group of people with clean, safe drinking water.
If you're walking alone, the LifeSaver Bottle has the water purification system built in so you only need add one item to your backpack. Or enjoy the best of both worlds with the LifeSaver Liberty. It too has a built-in water filter, but can either store the water it cleans or pump it into another container.
EASY ACCESS to WATER
The Wayfarer is supplied complete with a scavenger hose - so you won't get wet feet trying to reach streams and rivers with steep sides - and an 'out' hose to send the purified water to your drinking bottle. Replacement filter cartridges ensure longevity while Activated Carbon Discs improve the taste while filtering out other potential nasties.
HOW DOES THE WAYFARER COMPARE?
We looked at four similar products available on Amazon, and collected all the specifications. It's up to you to decide how the Wayfarer compares. All details taken from manufacturers' websites Nov 2025.
|
LifeSaver Wayfarer |
MSR
Guardian
|
Katadyn
Hiker Pro
|
Purewell
Water Filter
|
Survivor
Filter PRO
|
| Made in |
UK |
USA |
Switzerland |
China |
USA |
| Type |
Purifier |
Purifier |
Purifier |
Purifier |
Purifier |
| Method |
Ultrafiltration |
Ultrafiltration |
Ultrafiltration |
Ultrafiltration |
Ultrafiltration |
| VALUE |
| Cost |
$99.95 |
$429.00 |
$125.89 |
$42.29 |
$86.70 |
| Filters up to |
1,350 gal |
2,641 gal |
300 gal |
790 gal |
26,400 gal |
| Cost per litre |
7c |
16c |
42c |
5c |
0.1c |
| TECHNICAL |
| Flow rate |
2.5 pint/min |
4.4 pint/min |
1.8 pint/min |
2.5 pint/min |
0.9 pint/min |
| Filter pore size |
0.015 micron |
0.02 micron |
0.02 micron |
0.01 micron |
0.01 micron |
| PHYSICAL |
| Weight |
11.4 oz |
17.3 oz |
8.2 oz |
9 oz |
12.8 oz |
| Size HxWxD |
6.1x3.5x3 in |
12x5x5 in |
6.5x2.8x2.4 in |
6.7x3.1x2 in |
6.5x3.1x2 in |
| PROVEN CONTAMINANT REMOVAL TO EPA GUIDE PROTOCOL |
| Bacteria |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| Viruses |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
X |
X |
| Parasites |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| Particulates |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| AESTHETIC EFFECTS (ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER) |
| Chemicals |
✓ |
X |
X |
X |
✓ |
| Heavy Metals |
✓ |
X |
X |
X |
✓ |
| Taste & Odour |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
| SAFETY |
| FailSafe |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
X |
X |
| Independently tested to full NSF P231 or NSF P248 drinking water standards |
✓ |
✓ |
X |
X |
X |
