Gravity water filters are designed to serve the drinking water needs of families at home or backpackers in the backcountry.
In these systems, the unfiltered water is poured into an upper reservoir. Then, with the help of gravity, it slowly passes through the filtration media and ends up in the bottom reservoir or, in the case of some backpacking systems, directly in your bottle.
For families who want to treat tap water or backpackers who depend on surface water or untested springs, gravity filters are an excellent way to access safe and clean drinking water.
But do you know which gravity units are the best, most reliable, or most durable?
If you don’t, you needn’t worry, as we forayed into the market, researched and tested many products, and compiled a comprehensive list of the absolute best. Our list contains the best countertop, budget-friendly, and backpacking gravity filters on the market.
If you want the best, the Big Berkey Water Filter is the crème de la crème among its competition. Keep reading to learn about other high-quality options.
- Filtration technology: Black Berkey Filter Elements
- Contaminants removed: 203+
- Water capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 3,000 gallons (2 years)
- Size: Length 8.5” x Width 8.5” x Height 21”
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Filtration technology: ProOne G2.0 Element Ceramic Filter
- Contaminants removed: 200+
- Water capacity: 3 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 1,000 to 1,500 gallons (1 year)
- Size: Length 9” x Width 9” x Height 22.75”
- NSF Certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, P231, P401, and P473
- Warranty: 5 years on the stainless steel body & 1 year on the ProOne G2.0 Element
- Filtration technology: Epic’s proprietary blend of filtration media
- Contaminants removed: 200+
- Water capacity: 1.7 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 150 gallons (2-3 months)
- Size: Length 12” x Width 9” x Height 8”
- NSF Certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
- Filtration technology: 0.2-micron microfiltration + activated carbon + ion exchange
- Contaminants removed: Not provided by the manufacturer
- Water capacity: One gallon of unfiltered water
- Filter lifespan: 500 gallons for the microfilter (6 months), 26 gallons for the activated carbon + ion exchange (a couple of weeks)
- Size: Width 10.6” x Height 18.7”
- Hose length: 70 cm
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Three years
- Filtration technology: 0.2-micron microfiltration
- Contaminants removed: Not provided by the manufacturer
- Water capacity: 4L and 6L options
- Filter lifespan: 1,500L (400 gallons or 5-6 months)
- 4L-option size: Width 3.25” x Height 9.5”
- 6L-option size: Width 10” x Height 19”
- Hose length: 24 cm (4L), 49 cm (6L)
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
Gravity Water Filter Reviews
Big Berkey Water Filter – The Best Countertop Gravity Water Filter Overall
- Filtration technology: Black Berkey Filter Elements
- Contaminants removed: 203+
- Water capacity: 2.25 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 3,000 gallons (2 years)
- Size: Length 8.5” x Width 8.5” x Height 21”
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Black Berkey Elements is an innovative blend of different water treatment methods
- Removes more than 203 contaminants
- Retains healthy minerals
- 3,000-gallon filter lifespan
- Tested by third-party labs
- Comes with seven performance data sheets
- Water chambers made of stainless steel
- Lifetime warranty
- Plastic spigot
- Doesn’t remove fluoride
- Expensive
Not only is Big Berkey the best gravity water filter, but it’s also one of the best countertop water filtration systems currently on the market. Its status is mostly due to its unique filtration technology that removes more than 203 contaminants and its filters that last more than two years (3,000 gallons) without requiring replacement.
The filtration technology of Big Berkey’s cartridges is called the Black Berkey Elements. Depending on your filtration needs, the Black Berkey Elements come with either a two-filter (for families of four or less) or a four-filter setup (for crowded families).
The Black Berkey technology blends different filtration media, varying from activated carbon to microfiltration and adsorptive walls trapping hazards with an ionic structure (like lead).
Additionally, Big Berkey uses prolonged contact time between its media and water due to its construction, which is full of twists and turns.
All these features ensure its unmatched efficiency in removing aesthetic impurities, the most prominent health hazards, and many of the newly-emerging chemical compounds.
While most filters on the market also remove healthy minerals alongside other contaminants, Big Berkey retains calcium, magnesium, and potassium in the water.
Although the system has no certifications from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), several independent laboratories have tested its claims on radiological, chemical, perfluorinated chemical, organic, and inorganic reduction claims. So, it comes with seven different performance data sheets.
Big Berkey has a 2.25-gallon water capacity. Considering that an average American citizen drinks half a gallon of water per day, it’ll provide a day’s worth of clean drinking water for a family of four once it’s filled.
As the cherry on top, Berkey offers a lifetime warranty on its flagship item, showcasing the brand’s trust in its product.
However, it has a plastic spigot despite its stainless steel water chambers. Albeit BPA-free, it’s not suitable for such a high-quality device.
Also, if you want to remove fluoride, you must pay extra and purchase Berkey’s fluoride filters since Black Berkey Elements aren’t effective against fluoride.
Lastly, Big Berkey is one of the most expensive gravity filters on the market.
ProOne Big+ Gravity Water Filter – The Runner-Up Countertop Gravity Water Filter
- Filtration technology: ProOne G2.0 Element Ceramic Filter
- Contaminants removed: 200+
- Water capacity: 3 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 1,000 to 1,500 gallons (1 year)
- Size: Length 9” x Width 9” x Height 22.75”
- NSF Certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, P231, P401, and P473
- Warranty: 5 years on the stainless steel body & 1 year on the ProOne G2.0 Element
- 100% stainless steel construction
- Removes more than 200+ impurities
- Removes fluoride
- Holds all the relevant NSF certifications
- 3-gallon capacity
- More affordable than Big Berkey
- Reduces calcium levels in water
- 1-year filter lifespan is half what Black Berkey Elements features
- Humble warranty offer
If you are a bit put off by Big Berkey’s plastic spigot, we present you with the all-stainless steel ProOne Big+ Gravity Water Filter.
With ProOne Big+, you may still remove more than 200 dangerous pollutants from your water while spending a hundred dollars less than you would have on Big Berkey.
ProOne Big+ utilizes a ceramic filter called the ProOne G2.0 Element. Unlike Black Berkey Elements, the ProOne G2.0 Element has only one cartridge. Despite that, it removes many health hazards from water, including volatile organic compounds, heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, and emerging contaminants such as microplastics, PFOA, and PFAS.
Another advantage the ProOne Big+ model has over Big Berkey is that it holds all the relevant NSF certifications in NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, P231, P401, and P473. It also comes with a singular and impressive performance data sheet that lists all the contaminants it removes and their reduction rates.
The water storage unit of ProOne Big+ has a 3-gallon capacity, which is 0.75 more than what Big Berkey provides. As a result, filling the ProOne unit once will likely last more than a day for a family of four with average daily drinking water needs.
Distinguishing itself from Big Berkey, the ProOne unit handles fluoride without add-ons.
However, ProOne Big+ is slightly inferior to Big Berkey in certain respects.
For one, it reduces calcium by 81.1%, which isn’t very useful, as calcium is an important mineral for heart, muscle, and nerve function.
Furthermore, the ProOne G2.0 Element’s lifespan is only one year, roughly equalling 1,000 to 1,500 gallons of filtration capacity. That’s half the capacity of the Black Berkey Elements.
But what reduced it to only a runner-up for us was its warranty. ProOne Big+ comes with only a 5-year limited warranty on its stainless steel and a 1-year warranty on the ProOne G2.0 Element tech, which is inferior to the warranty you get with the Big Berkey.
Epic Pure Water Dispenser – The Best Budget-Friendly Countertop Gravity Water Filter
- Filtration technology: Epic’s proprietary blend of filtration media
- Contaminants removed: 200+
- Water capacity: 1.7 gallons
- Filter lifespan: 150 gallons (2-3 months)
- Size: Length 12” x Width 9” x Height 8”
- NSF Certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty
- Affordable
- Removes 200+ contaminants
- Its lead, arsenic, benzene, and PFAS reduction rates are industry-leading
- Removes fluoride
- NSF-certified
- Eco-friendly
- Compact
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in USA
- 1.7-gallon water capacity
- Requires frequent filter replacements
- Made of plastic
Epic is a prestigious brand for many Americans because it produces eco-friendly, affordable, and highly efficient water treatment solutions. The Epic Pure Water Dispenser is no exception to that rule, as it removes more than 200 drinking water pollutants with remarkable success rates while costing only $75. Its humble price makes it a great budget pick.
Similarly to the Black Berkey Elements, Epic employs its proprietary blend of filtration media for its water treatment process. This blend brings together a solid activated carbon block (tackling aesthetic impurities such as taste, odor, color, chlorine, and chemical compounds) and ion exchange properties (targeting heavy metals with ionic structures, namely lead, arsenic, and mercury, as well as risky minerals such as fluoride).
As a result, it achieves impressive numbers on all fronts, with lead reduction rates up to 99.4%, benzene reduction rates up to 99.8%, and PFAS reduction rates up to 99.6%. These rates are among the best in the industry.
Like the ProOne device, the Epic Pure Water Dispenser bears all the relevant NSF certifications with NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401, supporting the manufacturer’s claims. An independent lab also provided a performance data sheet with the contaminants it’s effective against and their reduction rates.
The Epic Pure Water Dispenser is compact, too, at almost half the size of Big Berkey or ProOne Big+. You can easily fit it into your fridge if you want cold filtered water.
Besides its efficiency, reliability, and compactness, the eco-friendliness of the manufacturer also made us happy. Epic is a member of the Inland Ocean Coalition, helping preserve the water quality on land or ocean (pun intended), and the brand runs its own recycling program. By registering for this program; you’ll get one free Epic pure filter for every three you send to the manufacturer.
That said, the Epic pure filter only has a 150-gallon filtration capacity, meaning you’ll need to replace it once every two months.
In addition, its filtered water capacity is just 6.5 liters, roughly equalling 1.7 gallons. For an average family of four, it’ll barely last a day.
On a final note, the unit is made of BPA-free plastic.
Still, you’ll be happy to know this unit has a lifetime warranty and is made in the United States.
Lifestraw Flex With Gravity Bag – The Best Gravity Water Filter Overall for Backpackers
- Filtration technology: 0.2-micron microfiltration + activated carbon + ion exchange
- Contaminants removed: Not provided by the manufacturer
- Water capacity: One gallon of unfiltered water
- Filter lifespan: 500 gallons for the microfilter (6 months), 26 gallons for the activated carbon + ion exchange (a couple of weeks)
- Size: Width 10.6” x Height 18.7”
- Hose length: 70 cm
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Three years
- An ideal choice for backpackers
- Removes 99.9% bacteria and protozoa
- Portable
- One gallon capacity
- 70-cm hose
- Hangable
- Not certified by the NSF
- No filtered water storage
- Activated carbon + ion exchange media with only a 26-gallon lifespan
- 3-year warranty
If you’re traveling the backcountry with a backpack, you probably have no access to tap water or bottled water, so your best bet is to filter surface water or water from unregistered and untested springs.
In such cases, Lifestraw Flex, coming with a gravity bag, will be your best travel mate thanks to its rigorous treatment of bacteria, protozoa, heavy metals, and chemicals. Plus, it’s small and portable.
Surface water (rivers, lakes, and so on) and unregistered springs are typically bacteria-, sediment-, and pathogen-ridden. Giardia and cryptosporidium are some of the most prominent pathogens found in these water bodies due to human and animal waste. When ingested, these pathogens lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues, which may turn fatal if you don’t have access to health facilities.
With its 0.2-micron microfilter, activated carbon, and ion exchange features, Lifestraw Flex is a solid defense mechanism against such pathogens and sediment. In addition, thanks to its ion exchange properties, it targets ionic heavy metals, including lead and arsenic, that may be present in surface water or springs and result in various severe health complications.
You’ll also be happy to know that this portable gravity filter meets NSF criteria in treating heavy metals, bacteria, and microplastics, as it reduces them by at least 99.9%. Despite that, we must note that the product has no NSF certifications.
Lifestraw Flex comes with a one-gallon gravity bag for unfiltered water. It doesn’t have filtered water storage but has a 70-cm hose that allows you to fill your water bottle anywhere.
Additionally, it features a hanger, so it’s attachable to tree branches, car roofs, and even to its owner’s neck, so it’s easily portable.
While the 0.2-micron microfilter (responsible for taking care of pathogens) has a lifespan of 500 gallons (six months), the activated carbon and ion exchange media only last for 26 gallons (a couple of weeks). So, it’s best to stock replacements to prevent bad surprises on the road.
Lastly, Lifestraw offers three years of warranty on its product.
Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System – The Runner-Up Gravity Water Filter for Backpackers
- Filtration technology: 0.2-micron microfiltration
- Contaminants removed: Not provided by the manufacturer
- Water capacity: 4L and 6L options
- Filter lifespan: 1,500L (400 gallons or 5-6 months)
- 4L-option size: Width 3.25” x Height 9.5”
- 6L-option size: Width 10” x Height 19”
- Hose length: 24 cm (4L), 49 cm (6L)
- NSF Certifications: Not certified
- Warranty: Lifetime
- Features a high-capacity filtered water bag
- The 0.2-micron microfilter is highly effective against pathogens
- 1.75 liters per minute filtration pace
- 1,500 liters of filter lifespan
- Hangable
- Lifetime warranty
- Not effective against heavy metals, chemicals, or viruses
- Not certified by the NSF
- Slightly expensive for a gravity bag
The Lifestraw option above doesn’t have filtered water storage, but if you’re traveling with a crowded group, high-capacity storage may be essential, be it for drinking or cooking.
Because of this, we included the Platypus GravityWorks system on our list. It comes with two water storage bags, one for unfiltered and one for filtered water, and depending on your preferences and needs, you may pick the four- or six-liter option.
As we said earlier, pathogenic bacteria and protozoa in surface or unregistered spring water are the most dominant threats for backpackers. Thanks to its 0.2-micron hollow fiber microfiltration screen, Platypus GravityWorks is perfectly equipped to deal with those threats and provide relatively safe water in dire circumstances.
Compared to countertop gravity units that sometimes take an hour to filter a couple of liters of water, Platypus GravityWorks filters 1.75 liters of water in a minute. So, if you want immediate access to pathogen-free water, this is the right pick for you.
Additionally, the Platypus system has an uncontested advantage over the Lifestraw one. It endures 1,500 liters of dirty water without needing any replacement. That number equals 400 gallons or five to six months of usage.
Similar to the gravity bag of Lifestraw Flex, the two bags of Platypus GravityWorks feature hangers.
In terms of warranty, Platypus has the upper hand on Lifestraw, as it comes with a lifetime warranty.
While all that’s good and well, there’s a reason why this product is the last on our list. Since it doesn’t utilize activated carbon or ion exchange, it’s helpless against heavy metals, chemical compounds, or viruses with an electrical charge.
Like the Lifestraw, Platypus GravityWorks has no NSF certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following section answers the most frequently asked questions regarding gravity filtration units.
Among countertop gravity systems, Big Berkey removes the highest number of contaminants, more than 203, as listed in its several different performance data sheets.
The product doesn’t have an NSF certification, but several water-testing labs certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have tested it against NSF and EPA standards. So, the numbers on its performance data sheets are dependable.
When it comes to backpacking gravity bags, Lifestraw Flex takes the cake. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t reveal just how many contaminants the product can remove, but the Lifestraw gravity system is one of the rare backpacking units that remove chemicals and heavy metals alongside pathogens. This makes it the most efficient backpacking gravity kit.
The replacement frequency depends on the type of filtration unit.
For countertop units, you usually need to replace the filtration cartridges once every six to twelve months. However, high-end units, such as Big Berkey, require replacements once in only two or more years, depending on the usage.
On the other end of the equation is the Epic Pure Water Dispenser, which has two to three months of filter life.
For backpacking systems, the filtration media type included in the system plays a role in the replacement frequency.
For instance, Lifestraw Flex has an activated carbon and ion exchange filter with a 26-gallon capacity. Such filters typically have lesser lifespans when employed in portable units.
However, when backpacking filtration kits only utilize a microfilter, as the Platypus GravityWorks does, the replacement frequency might reach up to six months.
A stainless steel countertop gravity unit with durable cartridges (e.g., Big Berkey or ProOne Big+) costs anywhere between $200 to $500. On the other hand, plastic water dispensers that utilize gravity technology with less durable filters (Epic Pure Water Dispenser) will usually cost less than $100.
Backpacking kits are more affordable than countertop units, but their prices depend on the warranty, material, and filtration capacity. With that in mind, they usually cost in the range of $20 to $100.
Conclusion
You can use a gravity filtration unit as a countertop device to provide clean water for your family or a backpacking kit to access safe water during your hikes in the backcountry.
The best countertop gravity unit on the market is Big Berkey. It removes more than 203 contaminants, has at least two-year filtration capacity, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
ProOne Big+ is a worthy runner-up in countertop systems, albeit with limited warranty options. Its performance data sheet shows more than 200 removed contaminants, and its cartridge lasts about a year.
If you want a budget- and eco-friendly option, the Epic Pure Water Dispenser is the obvious choice, but with a less durable filter (2-3 months). It’s effective against more than 200 impurities.
Do you travel where the only water is unsafe by any standards? Lifestraw Flex, with its gravity bag and ability to tackle pathogens, heavy metals, and chemicals, will be a good road companion. If you want a higher-capacity gravity bag that’s equally efficient in removing pathogens, we recommend the Platypus GravityWorks.
