The LifeSaver Jerrycan is an all-in-one filtration and water storage system, capable of purifying 20.000 liters of water on a single filtration cartridge. It provides clean and safe drinking water that’s free of viruses, bacteria, cysts, and other parasites. Besides, the activated carbon disk will eliminate heavy metals and chemicals from your water. With the Lifesaver Jerrycan at hand, you can venture out further than ever before.
When we set off on our first big expedition in 2017 we relied on potable water sources daily. We used to fill up our Front Runner jerrycan at the most random taps, which honestly was a bit of a risk. We were always on the lookout for a fresh and assumingly safe tap. Once we started planning the South America expedition we decided to up our game and invest in a reliable and portable filtration system. In the end, we did not leave for South America, but instead took on a second Europe expedition, followed by the big Africa trip.
Thanks to the LifeSaver jerrycan we feel much safer. With the amazing filter capabilities of this jerrycan, we know our water is safe to drink, wherever we go. But is this rugged piece of gear worth the investment, will you use it, and what are the pros and cons?
The jerrycan is very easy to use. LifeSaver likes to describe it as Fill – Pump – Drink. A description that pretty much covers it. You simply screw out the pumping unit and fill the jerrycan with (dirty) water. Once you screw the pumping unit back in place you can start pumping it, pressurizing the entire jerrycan. So now, when you open the tap, the water starts to flow through the filter and is ready to drink.
The LifeSaver jerrycan is one of only a few products that will filter out a wide range of contaminants. The main filter cartridge itself prevents bacteria, cysts, viruses, and parasites from getting through. The optional carbon filter block takes out the less tasty and chemical contaminants like chlorine. This combination is golden and guarantees your water is safe and pleasant to drink. Therefore it’s not only useful in the wild but also on a campsite with chlorinated water.
To prove that the filter truly works it’s tested by independent parties and complies with the strict NSF P248 standard of the US Army Public Health Center, or in layman’s terms; it works very well! It filters out at least 99,9999% of bacteria (Log 6), 99,99% of viruses (Log 4), and 99,9% of cysts (Log 3). You can confidently drink the water wherever you are.
If you live (mostly) off-the-grid you definitely should! It provides you with the freedom to fill up your jerrycan wherever you want. Thanks to this jerrycan it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as there is a source of water you’ll be fine.
To us, the biggest surprise was the freedom it provides. If you’re stationary for a week you don’t need to worry about bringing loads of water. If there’s a water source nearby you can easily stock up on your water supply and you’ll be set. This is a big game-changer for people who are staying in one place for more than a few days. Thanks to this jerrycan we could self-isolate and go into lockdown, whilst wild camping in a remote region of Portugal at the end of 2020. Later on, it helped us to set up camp for multiple weeks on the edges of the Okavango Delta in Botswana too. The Lifesaver provided us with safe drinking water and made it possible to stay in one place without going to the store to buy water. We also love the fact that we can fill up our water at the most random wells in Africa. We fully trust it and use it every single day.
If you’re the type of traveler that lives off-the-grid or goes to remote places this jerrycan should be part of your kit. There aren’t that many rugged options to provide you with safe drinking water, luckily, this is one. Most options require a dedicated fixed water system, or electricity, or don’t filter out viruses. This is one of a few that truly works for overlanders and has proven its worth time and time again. If you’re not considering a fixed (and probably more expensive) water solution, then this is the portable unit you should buy. We won’t venture out without it.
If you would like to hear more about our experiences with the Lifesaver Jerrycan, feel free to send us a message!
As long-term overlanders we fully understand the need for high-quality and reliable gear. We know that if gear isn’t up to standard it can hinder your adventures, resulting in discomfort or a dangerous situation.
We write our reviews after extensive testing and with you – an adventurous overlander – in mind. We hope you appreciate our information, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
We store the LifeSaver jerrycan inside the vehicle, preventing theft. But we also have a Front Runner jerrycan on the back of the vehicle that we use to fill up our drinking bottles when driving. We often use the LifeSaver jerrycan to filter water from the river and use it to fill up the Front Runner jerrycan on the outside, which is more easily accessible.
It does take quite some time but isn’t bothersome when stationary in one place. Filling up our Front Runner with the Lifesaver jerrycan takes about 30-45 minutes and some pumping action in between. That’s with the carbon block installed, which reduces the water flow slightly. We often fill the Front Runner jerrycan when having coffee and breakfast. We use a hose to prevent any spillage of water.
For the Land Rover Defender people that are reading this: it will fit in the Front Runner jerrycan holder that mounts to the side of the vehicle. But the holder needs a small adjustment to make the pumping unit of the Lifesaver fit. Pretty easy and it will work well. The only downside is that the holder doesn’t cover the filter unit of the jerrycan, so if thieves are around it’s a bit of a risk.
International overlanders can find the full assortment on the website of Lifesaver.
Dutch and Belgian overlanders can also find them at for example Noodzaken.nl
Additionally, Dutch and European overlanders can also check out part of the Lifesaver range via our partner Bushcraftshop.nl.
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That’s quite amazing, thanks for the info and the review!