Outdoors writer John Fenna casts his critical eye over the Lifesaver water purification bottle.

Lifesaver Water Bottle

Lifesaver Water Purification Bottle

The Lifesaver Bottle, with its distinctive shape and colouring, is becoming iconic in the water purification world since being developed by Michael W Pritchard MWM.Soc after he saw the problems caused by the lack of fresh water following the 2004 Tsnami and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina floodings.

The Lifesaver Bottle measures some 32cm x 9.5cm, will hold 750ml and is simple to fill and use to produce clean drinking water.

Starting at the bottom of the bottle you have an “anti-slip” base plate and a twist lock pump handle in the removable base unit. This unit contains the replaceable “pre filter disc” that doubles as a sponge for getting water from awkward to get at sources (such as crevices, shallow puddles etc).

The base incorporates the pump shaft and screws onto the body of the bottle, the pump shaft feeding up the centre of the replaceable ultra filtration cartridge that is the central part of the Lifesaver Bottle.

Above this you have an optional replaceable activated carbon filter connected to replaceable “chew-proof” drinking teat and, on top, a snap fit, watertight lid.

To use the Lifesaver Bottle you simply unscrew the base, fill the bottle with water, give it a couple of pumps, open the lid, pull out the teat and filtered clean, taste-free water flows! It is as well to practise drinking from the teat – the water is pressurised and if you over-pump the bottle the water jets out at some speed – messy if you are not expecting it! The bottle is designed to work at any angle, so filling containers is easy.

Practice makes perfect.

The way the Lifesaver Bottle works is that water is forced through ultra filtration membranes in the cartridge to remove all sorts of nasties, including bacteria and viruses, while the activated carbon reduces chemical residues, including pesticides and heavy metals.

I am no scientist with a testing lab, but those who are at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine state that the Lifesaver Bottle works at a level above “legal requirements” and that it complies with UK, US, EU and WHO requirements. Good enough for me! The performance data is staggering and complements the ease of use of the Lifesaver Bottle, making it “the Rolls Royce of water filters”.

The bottle I have came with a filter that will treat up to 4,000 litres of water and when the ultra filter is at the end of its life, the “failsafe” technology stops any water flowing through the bottle.

The filters can be washed to remove particulate clogging, if this is the cause of the failsafe activating, but eventually you will need to replace the UF cartridge. Units to treat 4,000 or 6,000 litres are available – as are replacement activated carbon inserts.

Each bottle comes with spare seals and silicone grease, a spare teat and an instruction manual.

A simple-to-use but effective, non-chemical based water purifier, the Lifesaver Bottle is convenient and practical for using where clean water is hard to come by, needs no time-wasting performances – just pump and drink – and could save lives. It is definitely ideal for wilderness trip and foreign travel.

I am rather impressed!

The 4,000 L Lifesaver Bottle costs £102.50
The 6,000 L Lifesaver Bottle costs £138.00
A 4,000 L Lifesaver Cartridge costs £ 79.95
A 6,000 L Lifesaver Cartridge costs £ 99.95
Carbon Filter inserts cost £15.95 for a pack of 4.

More information on the Lifesaver Bottle is available from www.lifesaversystems.com

Of course those are Lakeland Bushcraft prices, you’ll pay more elsewhere.

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Handpresso

A rather cheesy promo video from Handpresso:

One of the drawbacks (or advantage depending on your POV!) was the ESE pods. Dead easy to use and low mess but what if you like to roast or grind your own favourite blend? Or what if you run out whilst away from anywhere that sells them? Then you’re stuffed.

Handpresso Domepod

Not now with the latest model the Domepod!

Handpresso Domepod

Just like the Wild, the Domepod is a great way of making real espresso (with crema!) out in the great outdoors but unlike the Wild you can use regular coffee grinds. Bonza!

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Just found out that an EU directive means that iodine purification drops and tablets are to be banned!

As you may know, iodine droplets and tablets will not be able to be sold in Europe for water purification purposes after 26th October 2009.

Although proven to be very effective and safe, unfortunately iodine is not being supported under the EU Biocides Directive. For this reason Lifesystems will discontinue supplying iodine products (stock codes 3100/3110) in August of this year.

It should be made clear that the product is still perfectly safe to use.

Please however be aware that we will not accept any returns on iodine after August, unless due to a quality problem.

Lifesystems have been working with various water treatment experts to make sure an improved alternative is available. Chlorine tablets will continue as normal, but we will also be introducing Chlorine Dioxide liquid and tablets to the range from August to replace Iodine.

Chlorine Dioxide is considered to be the best way to disinfect water in outdoor environments and will be very effective against most water borne pathogens including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and does not have any after-taste or long-term effects.

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Lifesaver Water Bottle

Lifesaver Water Purification

I’ve always been convinced by the Lifesaver bottle as the best portable water purification system out there, but sales were a bit hit and miss for quite some time.

Since the turn of the year though sales are on the up. Perhaps in part to wider exposure due to some Facebook advertising?

Anyway we are now carrying all the spare bits and pieces such as replacement cartridges, activated carbon inserts, pre-filter discs, teats and straps.

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2. Iodine Drops & Tabs to be Banned
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The Goldilocks Kettle!

Just in today from the Kelly Kettle Company, the new 1.75 pint Kettle! People have had the dilemma of thinking the 1 pint a bit small and the 2.5 pint a bit big, could this be the Goldilocks solution?

Certainly I’m impressed by the newbie, it’s a handy sorta size and I feel it might just be a bit more sturdy than the others – could just be my imagination mind.

Second new item from the guys at Kelly Kettle is the new cookset pack for the 1 pinter (the larger fits both the 2.5 and 1.75).

Both in stock now.

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3. Phew!

This review was first published in Sporting Shooter magazine and appears here courtesy of John Fenna.

Kelly Kettle

Kelly Kettle Company

The Kelly Kettle has a long and glorious history of boiling water quickly and efficiently in the outdoors, in practically any weather, and is the “traditional kettle of West of Ireland fishermen”.

The kettle is basically a double-walled chimney of aluminium with water held between the walls. A small fire lit in the base and fed from down the chimney will boil the water in about 3-5 minutes (depending on the fuel used), the conical internal shape of the kettle giving a large surface area for efficient heat transfer and almost blast furnace efficiency in the burning of twigs, paper, leaves etc.

Once the water boils, carefully lift and pour, using the spout’s cork (for transport use only) on its chain to tilt the kettle.
Kelly Kettles come in 2.5 pint capacity at around £42, and 1 pint capacity at around £37, and each comes with a drawstring bag and full instructions.

Also available is an accessory pack for the larger model, comprising a 2-piece grill, saucepan, frying pan and handle (which fit into the base of the kettle for storage) and allowing you to do some more adventurous cooking with your Kelly Kettle.

The latest addition to the Kelly Kettle Range is a 2-part fold-flat cruciform pot stand that sits in the top of the kettle’s chimney (without over obstructing the feeding of fuel into the kettle) and allows you to cook as the kettle boils. The pot stand costs around £5.00 and is great for making (amongst other things) toast – if you use non-smoky fuel!

Stunningly simple, tough and efficient, these iconic pieces of outdoor kit are used worldwide to great effect. My advice is to go for the big kettle – everyone will want a brew!

My thanks to Mark Richardson of Lakeland Bushcraft Trading Ltd for facilitating this review.

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WebTex Surviva Pure makes it to Lakeland Bushcraft

Finally, we have the WebTex Surviva-Pure gear in stock.

We’ve been asking for them every time we ring Thatchreed, since Noah was a lad.

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Previously I mentioned that John Fenna had reviewed the WebTex Warrior Stove (it was the Compact, not the Field Stove that I thought). John has been kind enough to give permission for me to reproduce his review here. This article first appeared in Sporting Shooter.

Compact and Lightweight

WebTex Compact Stove

The ideal stove for a quick brew-up in the field (and fresh made tea always tastes better than flask tea) needs to be small, lightweight and fast!

The Warrior Compact Stove from Web-Tex fits the bill nicely as it weighs only about 90gm, folds down into its plastic storage box to measure only about 5 x 5 x 11.5cm and yet is rated at 3000w – high powered and efficient heat!

Made from aluminium alloy and stainless steel, this compact stove has folding pot supports that fold out to 13cm diameter to support even biggish pans safely, a folding regulator handle, an integral (if rather small) wind shield on the burner and a screw fitting to attach the burner to almost any screw valve camping gas canister.

Fitted to a small butane/propane mix canister, the Compact Stove boiled 0.5litre of water from cold in a closed pot in just 3 minutes! Admittedly this was in dead calm conditions, but this is still good going.

Small, lightweight and fast, the Web-Tex Warrior Compact Stove fits into a pocket easily, makes a quick cuppa or hot snack in the field with minimum fuss, costs only around £15.95 and comes with full instructions.

You’ll notice that we are a wee bit cheaper than that!

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Me brewing up using a Kelly Kettle, Lifesaver Water Bottle and an Aerobie Coffee Press.

They say the camera adds ten pounds, I reckon there must have been at least 10 cameras on location!

Strange how the young good looking svelte bloke I am has been transformed into a lardy old tosser on video. Must be something wrong with my camera!

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