Alexapure Survival Spring Personal Water Filter: Hands-on Review

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By Bryan Lynch •  7 min read

Having a way to filter water is a must for any survival kit.

Survival Spring Personal Water Filter

It does not matter if you are on an outdoor adventure or at home, clean water is necessary no matter where we are.

Large debris and particulates such as grass and dirt can be relatively easy to filter with minimal supplies.

But it is the little things that we cannot see in our water that is most likely to make us sick, or worse.

For this article I will be trying out and giving my impression of an easily portable water filter, the Survival Springs Field-Ready Water Filter.

Let’s start by seeing what this water filter by ALEXAPURE has to offer.

Survival Springs Water Filter Specifications 

survival spring packaging

Dimensions

The filter is 8.75 inches long by 1.25 inches wide. Weighs in at just 0.2 pounds 

Three Stage Filtration

Removes up to 99% waterborne protozoa and bacteria through a three-stage filtration system.

Stage 1 consists of a tough grate at the bottom for filtering out large particulates and sediments. By removing large debris first, the second and third stages can be more effective.  

Stage 2 is constructed of hollow fiber membranes that trap pathogens as water passes through it.

Stage 3 is made from specialized carbon that removes chlorine, sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bad tastes, and odors. 

Reusable

Each personal survival filter is rated for filtering up to 300 gallons from any freshwater source.

survival spring cap

Carrying 

The Survival Personal Water Filter is outfitted with a lanyard that can be hung around the neck, wrist, or attached to a pack for easy transportation.

Cap it!

At the top of the filter is a cap that can be secured over the mouthpiece. This will help to keep the filter as clean as possible on the most important end. 

Priming

survival spring filter priming

Before testing out the filter it first needs to be primed. Instructions for doing this are included with the filter and here are those three easy steps. 

  1. Uncap the top 
  2. Place the inlet bottom portion of the Survival Spring in your source water for ten seconds. 
  3. Take 5-7 quickdraws from the mouthpiece to bring the water up and through the straw. 

Test 

I decided to try and prime the filter inside with regular old tap water. 

Now, the area in which I live doesn’t have particularly good tasting tap water so I thought this would be a good place to start and it would help me to become familiar with the filter. 

I grabbed a glass and filled it up with water from a bathroom faucet.

 Since this was tap water, I wasn’t going to be able to see any difference in the clarity of the water from using the filter, my home water is not that bad.

But I was curious if there would be a difference in the taste or odor.

After filling the glass up I followed the instructions and allowed the large end of the filter to rest in the water for ten seconds. 

I then took five quickdraws, pulling water up and through the filter.

The first initial draws were difficult. It was similar to sucking through a plastic straw with a piece of ice clogging the end. 

But after a few more pulls on the mouthpiece, I could feel the water being drawn up through the filter.

Once the water was coming out of the mouthpiece, I spit the first couple of mouthfuls out. Sometimes there can be residue left on water filters and it is good practice to discard what first comes out. 

Taste

I took another long draw and got a mouthful of water, which I swished around for several seconds before again spitting it out. 

The water no longer tasted like my tap water, which can be a good thing, but instead had an odd plastic taste to it. 

I thought this was maybe due to the filter being new and decided to take four more draws from the mouthpiece. 

Each time I spit the water and could detect that odd taste. The best way I can describe it would be like licking a disposable plastic cup.

I am not sure if this taste is normal, contributed to the filter being new, or is not normal and should not taste that way. 

I did not like the taste that was produced. However, if that taste is normal for the filter I could live with it when water must be filtered.

Using It

As I mentioned above, the first couple of draws can be difficult even after the filter has been primed. 

But once everything inside the filter is saturated it is quite easy to drink and pull water out. 

Cleaning It

It is recommended to clean the filter after every use and to allow it to completely dry out. 

To clean it, simply blow filtered water through the mouthpiece until the water come out of the bottom end turns clear. 

To dry it out, the filter can be given a few shakes to quickly discharge excess water and the cap should be let off to further speed drying time. 

 Pros 

Cons 


Survival Spring vs Lifestraw vs Sawyer Mini

FeaturesSurvival SpringLifeStrawSawyer Mini
Water AmountUp to 300 gallonsUp to 1,000 gallonsUp to 100,000 gallons
Bacteria Removed99% bacteria 99% protozoa 99.99% bacteria 99.99% parasites 99.99% microplastics/dirt/sand99.99% bacteria 99.99% protozoa 100% microplastics
Pore Size0.2 microns0.2 microns0.1 microns

Survival Spring vs Lifestraw 

All things considered, the Survival Spring Filter and the Lifestraw look almost identical.

They are also incredibly similar in terms of weight and operation. 

From what I could find the inside of a Lifestraw consists of hollow membrane material like stage 2 of the Survival Spring filter. But the addition of a carbon filter in stage 3 of the Survival Spring gives it a leg up.

However, based on the specifications the Lifestraw can produce more than double the amount of drinkable water.

Survival Spring vs Sawyer Mini

Between these two, the Survival Spring Filter is easier and quicker to use over the Sawyer Mini.

But that is the only advantage the Survival Spring appears to have. 

The Sawyer Mini is the winner because it can filter up to more than three hundred times the amount of water and filters out more debris with a smaller micron rating.

The Sawyer also comes with a small pouch that can be used for carrying extra clean water while on the go.

The Winner?

The Sawyer Mini is the winner over the other two options. It can be used directly from a water source, threaded onto standard water or soda bottles, and can connect to inline water packs.

Filtering one gallon of water a day, the Sawyer Mini could last roughly 273 years. 


Verdict

The Survival Spring Field-Ready Water Filter is not bad, and I do like that its stage three filter is made from specialized carbon for removing VOCs.

 The downfall of this product is that it is slightly more expensive than others and filters drastically less water.

Do you have any experience with the Survival Spring Water Filter? If so, sound off in the comment section below and let us know. Thanks for reading and stay prepared! 

Bryan Lynch

Bryan grew up in the Midwest and spent every waking moment outdoors. Learning how to hunt, fish, read the land, and be self-reliant was part of everyday life. Eventually, he combined his passions for the outdoors, emergency preparedness, and writing. His goal was to spread positive information about this field. In 2019, Bryan authored the book Swiss Army Knife Camping and Outdoor Survival Guide. His second book, Paracord Projects For Camping and Outdoor Survival, is scheduled to be released on March 2, 2021.