LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Water Filter System with Safe Water Storage - 8L + 8L Mountain Blue

After testing this product and others I've bought with tap water, I have found the taste of the "filtered" water to be terrible and worse than what comes from the tap. 2 products produce same results. Please advise on return for all I've purchased or supply a reason why taste is so awful.

Bottom line: filters but does so slowly.So far I've used this filter for a 6+ day canoe trip and a 3 day canoe trip. The first time I used it to filter 8L the flow rate was pretty good, and it filled the clean bladder within the advertised time. But the second time I filtered 8L the flow rate reduced to a trickle. I tried back flushing the filter but didn't notice an improvement in flow rate. After getting home, I couldn't get the filter to return to the fast flow I experienced the first time I used it. Assuming some error on my part or the product, I ordered another filter but had a similar experience (the first filtration was quick, but the flow rate slowed way down during subsequent filters). Back flushing seemed to improve the flow marginally but the clean ... MoreBottom line: filters but does so slowly.So far I've used this filter for a 6+ day canoe trip and a 3 day canoe trip. The first time I used it to filter 8L the flow rate was pretty good, and it filled the clean bladder within the advertised time. But the second time I filtered 8L the flow rate reduced to a trickle. I tried back flushing the filter but didn't notice an improvement in flow rate. After getting home, I couldn't get the filter to return to the fast flow I experienced the first time I used it. Assuming some error on my part or the product, I ordered another filter but had a similar experience (the first filtration was quick, but the flow rate slowed way down during subsequent filters). Back flushing seemed to improve the flow marginally but the clean bladder was still taking 60+ minutes to fill. The water I'm filtering isn't murky. 3 stars because if you're patient enough and have the time, this filter will get the job done, it's tough, and well-designed to carry.

I field tested a free 8L+8L setup given to me by the company to use while dry camping on Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana. Setup was a breeze, very intuitive and I didn't even need the setup instructions. I gathered water from a nearby creek feeding the lake, which was pretty clear to start with. Filling the dirty water bag was a bit awkward kneeling creekside due to the steep bank and I could only manage to get about 6L of water into the bag even with it completely submerged. I decided to wade into the creek to get a better angle and this worked so much better to get it completely full. I suspended the bag from a nearby tree with the clean catchment bag tethered directly below. The full 8L of water completely filtered in under 19 minutes, which meant the end product ... MoreI field tested a free 8L+8L setup given to me by the company to use while dry camping on Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana. Setup was a breeze, very intuitive and I didn't even need the setup instructions. I gathered water from a nearby creek feeding the lake, which was pretty clear to start with. Filling the dirty water bag was a bit awkward kneeling creekside due to the steep bank and I could only manage to get about 6L of water into the bag even with it completely submerged. I decided to wade into the creek to get a better angle and this worked so much better to get it completely full. I suspended the bag from a nearby tree with the clean catchment bag tethered directly below. The full 8L of water completely filtered in under 19 minutes, which meant the end product was still nice and cold when I got to taste test. The shoulder strap made for easy transport back to camp and cleaning/storing the bags once empty was very easy due to the large fill ports.LifeStraw hit another home-run with this product, I look forward to using it for years to come!