• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Food For Net Logo (Realistic)

Food For Net

  • Original Recipes
  • Recipe Roundups
  • Artisanal Beverages
  • Comfort Food
  • Gourmet Food
  • Beer
  • Whiskey
  • Wine
  • Subscription Boxes
  • Meal Delivery
  • Outdoor Cooking
FoodForNet.com is a member of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, plus other affiliate programs, meaning we earn commissions from qualifying purchases through affiliate links. We strive to make all reviews honest (albeit opinionated!), so you can make the best buying decision.

Top Five Gravity Water Filters For Cleaning Water Wherever You Are

December 2, 2020 by Food For Net

Share this with friends!

2 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
clear and clean water pouring into a crystal glass amid a background of a blue sky with text layer top five gravity water filters

Having access to safe drinking water is important. Worldwide, more than 2 billion people get sick from poor quality drinking water due to diseases like cholera, typhoid, or diarrhea. Here in the US, pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and salmonella are present in most water sources.

Which is why if you’re backpacking in the wilderness, it’s essential to have a drinking supply that’s clean and potable. If you don’t mind carrying more weight, you can bring your own supply but if you prefer to keep it light, a gravity water filter is your best option.

That’s because this type of filter is lightweight, portable, and easy to use. Gravity water filters essentially rely on gravity to remove contaminants from the polluted water. Among backpackers, a typical gravity water filter would consist of an upper bag for feed water, a lower bag where the filtered water will be stored, and the mediator with the filter elements in between.

The upper bag is filled with raw water and then hanged on a tree. Gravity then pulls the water down through the filter element where its microscopic pores will trap the contaminants, allowing only the water molecules to pass into the water reservoir bag. This is how you get to have potable drinking water.

If you're at home, there are the countertop types. Some models come with spouts or spigots; others feature more fancy filters. Some will also remove chlorine, mercury, and copper along with the bacteria. But, some are also designed to remove heavy metals like lead. These types are best for those who live in communities with contaminated water sources or for households trying to live off the grid.

The best ones are those that also purify rather than just filtering. The pores in their filter elements are smaller than the usual so that they are able to capture viruses, which are smaller than bacteria.

Nowhere are these water filtration systems more useful than in emergency preparedness kits. Relief agencies worldwide have used them in their disaster response services because they’re easy to set up and use because there is no plumbing required.

When picking your gravity water filter, pick one that best fits your needs. In this post, I’ve listed both personal and countertop types which have some important elements. They all filter water efficiently, but some of their features have additional advantages.

Here are my top five choices of the best gravity water filters on Amazon.

Water pouring into glass on a blue background

Table of Contents

  • The Best Gravity Water Filters
    • 1. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter
    • 2. Platypus Gravity Works High-Capacity Water Filter
    • 3. Santevia Gravity Water System
    • 4. TRK Drip Ceradyn Gravity Water Filter
    • 5. Doulton Household Gravity-Fed Water Filter
    • Buyers Guide to Picking the Best Gravity Water Filter for Your Drinking Needs
      • Type of Filter
      • Filter Lifespan
      • Filter Flowrate
      • Material

The Best Gravity Water Filters

  1. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter
  2. Platypus GravityWorks High-Capacity Water Filter System
  3. Santevia Gravity Water System
  4. TRK Drip Ceradyn Gravity Water Filter
  5. Doulton Household Gravity-Fed Water Filter

1. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter with 2 Black Berkey Elements–Enjoy Potable Water While Camping, RVing, Off-Grid, Emergencies, Every Day at Home

This is a portable water filtration system that filters and purifies water for about 1-3 people each day. It can hold about 1.5 gallons and takes about 2 hours to filter a full bag.

It does not only filter out pathogenic protozoans like giardia and cryptosporidium but will also trap heavy metals like arsenic and lead, drugs like acetaminophen, and viruses too. According to the manufacturer, it will also remove or reduce pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment, and even radiologicals in your drinking water.

It’s easy to use and lasts for a long time. A pair of its purification elements will last up to 6,000 gallons before needing replacement. It’ll also save you money too. You’ll end up spending an average of only 2 cents per gallon of purified water.

The Black Berkley Purification element comes with a 2-year prorated warranty calculated in 6 months intervals.

Pros

  • Has a very fine filter which can also capture viruses
  • Ideal for use in purifying heavy metal contaminated drinking water

Cons

  • The filter needs to be handled carefully; the stem at its base will easily break off if mishandled or dropped
  • The set doesn’t include a flouride filter; you have to buy it separately

Buy It Here On Amazon!

2. Platypus Gravity Works High-Capacity Water Filter

Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 4-Liter

This gravity water filter is best suited for group camping and for emergency preparedness kits. It has an 8-liter capacity and produces 1.75L of clean water per minute.

Made in the USA, it uses a Hollow Fiber design that bundles hundreds of hollow fibers into a single filter. This increases its surface area up to 18 times more than traditional filters.

Its filter pore size is 0.2 microns and it meets the EPA standards for filtering 99% of bacteria and 99.9% protozoa, including cholera, E. coli, and salmonella. It’ll also last for 1,500 liters or 396 Gallons.

It’s also easy to use. When outdoors, just fill the 4-liter dirty water reservoir, hang it from a tree and watch the 4-liter clean water reservoir fill with filtered water in just 2.5 minutes.

Pros

  • Easy to use; no need for pumping
  • Very lightweight

Cons

  • Doesn’t filter viruses or chemically contaminated water
  • The filter is advanced but delicate; not for use in cold environments below 32°F (0°C)

Buy It Here On Amazon!

3. Santevia Gravity Water System

Santevia Gravity Water System Alkaline and Fluoride Filter | at Home Water Filter That Makes Water Alkaline and Adds Minerals | Chlorine and Fluoride Filter (Countertop Model)

This is a countertop water gravity filter equipped with a filter that can reduce fluoride and chlorine by up to 98%.

Its upper tank can hold about 5 liters/1.3 gallons of dirty water while the lower tank is capable of storing 10 liters/2.6 gallons of filtered, clean water. It uses a ceramic pre-filter that has a 0.3 micron pore size which is more than enough to filter out rust, sediments, bacteria, and even microplastics!

A unique feature of this brand is that it claims to filter water the same way that nature filters mountain spring water. They’ve developed a filter that has a 6-stage purification process:

  • Stage 1 filters out bacteria and parasites
  • Stage 2 removes chlorine, color, and particulates through the use of activated carbon and charcoal
  • Stage 3 alkalinizes the water by filtering it through silica sand
  • Stage 4 takes out heavy metals by using a zeolite granule layer
  • Stage 5 infuses it with ionized minerals to oxygenate the water
  • Stage 6 uses a bio ceramic brae for final filtering

The final filter, however, is not included in this model and must be purchased separately. But even without this special multi-stage filter, this filtration unit will still be able to produce clean water quickly and efficiently. One user said that it took about 2 hours for the whole upper tank to filter to the lower section.

Pros

  • Filters microplastic
  • Its fluoride filter does not leave an aluminum aftertaste, unlike most filters in the market

Cons

  • Filters have short lifespans; the shortest is the fluoride filter which is only good for four months
  • Requires tedious cleaning; mineral rock filter, for instance, needs to be boiled in order to sterilize it

Buy It Here On Amazon!

4. TRK Drip Ceradyn Gravity Water Filter

TRK Drip Ceradyn Gravity Personal or Group Water Filter, Long-Lasting Up to 150,000L, Cleanable 0.2 Micron Ceramic Elements for RV, Cabins, Base Camps and Emergency Preparedness

This is a portable water filter that has been field tested to produce up to 150,000 liters under the harshest conditions. This is a Swiss-made product that markets itself as the top choice for military and relief agencies worldwide .

It uses three 0.2 micron silver-impregnated ceramic filters that meet the EPA standards for removing 99% of bacteria and protozoan cysts from contaminated water. It’s also engineered to withstand cleaning in the field. It can be scrubbed time and time again.

The water filter is also easy to use. The upper compartment can be filled with up to 2.5 gallons of untreated water. Just fill it up and the water will just drip through the ceramic filter and into the bottom compartment. Its holding tank can hold up to 10 liters of filtered water, making it ideal for base camps or cabins without running water.

Pros

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Durable ceramic filters; users say it will almost last forever

Cons

  • Doesn’t purify water of viruses, heavy metals or minerals; it won’t improve the taste of water
  • Poor flow rate; only good for producing drinking water for 6 people, not for domestic use

Buy It Here On Amazon!

5. Doulton Household Gravity-Fed Water Filter

Doulton W9340100 HFK Household Gravity-Fed Water Filter with 2 Doulton Sterasyl Ceramic Candle Filters

This is a low cost gravity water filter that has a 4.2-gallon capacity. It uses a sterasyl ceramic candle 0.9-micron filter that removes 99% of suspended solids, water borne protozoan cysts, and pathogenic bacteria from contaminated water. The candle also contains silver to inhibit bacterial growth so you don’t have to boil it to sterilize.

Its filter is engineered to last long. It can be cleaned and reused to produce more than 5,000 gallons of filtered water.

It’s also compact and portable. The manufacturer says that all of Doulton ceramics are made from 100% natural elements. This filter unit also comes with 2 polypropylene food grade containers with snap on flat lids for easy water storage.

Pros

  • Easy to install and use
  • Less expensive than most countertop gravity water filters

Cons

  • One user says it takes 24 hours to filter a full load
  • Another said that the container lids need to be tightened carefully in order to prevent leaking.

Buy It Here On Amazon!

Buyers Guide to Picking the Best Gravity Water Filter for Your Drinking Needs

Type of Filter

How small are its pores? The usual standard is 0.2 microns and that’s enough to filter out usually 99% of bacteria and particulates. But if you want something that can also trap viruses, look for something smaller than 0.2.

Some models will use a more complicated filtration mechanism to filter out toxic heavy metals or carcinogenic pesticides. Others will combine a mixture of elements, like ceramic impregnated with silver. This makes the filter self-sterilizing, so you don’t have to clean it.

Countertop models will have more specialized filters which can do more than filter your water. Some models can be equipped with multi-stage filters that can also turn the water alkaline.

Filter Lifespan

Look at the number of gallons it can filter before it needs to be replaced. Then calculate how often you will replace it based on your water use.

If you’re looking at a filter that uses several filtration elements, check the lifespan of each element since they all have different capacities and lifespan.

Also note if the filters are easy to replace. Some models tend to have filtration elements that easily break. Pick the ones that have been tested under field conditions.

Filter Flowrate

In general, it takes 40 minutes for a gallon to fully filter down into the water reservoir chamber. If you plan to use the gravity water filter on a hiking trip, you might want to look for a filter that has a much faster flow rate.

Material

Plastic and stainless steel are usually used for making the upper and lower chambers of a gravity water filter.

Stainless steel is more durable, yet some models use steel that’s easily dented. But stainless steel is also safer than plastic because it doesn’t leach chemicals into the water.

That’s not to say that all plastic water filters are dangerous. The type of plastic being used is essentially food-grade quality, so you can be sure that nothing will leak into the water. Still, it’s best to pick the ones that have a BPA-free label.

Category: Kitchen ToolsTag: Water Filters
Previous Post:Plate with cooked pork belly and peppers to represent Colombian style pork bellyColombian-Style Pork Belly
Next Post:Buy Fresh Rhubarb Online From These 4 WebsitesRhubarb stalks on a wooden table, next to a bowl of cut up pieces of rhubarb

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Sidebar

About The Owner

cooking bbq pizza outside

Hi! My name is Rick and foodfornet.com is just a website about food and drink that I like. That includes sous vide, slow cooking, grilling, smoking, and homemade pizzas.

I also make my own beer, wine, cider, kombucha, and sake… and am a whiskey enthusiast! 🍕🍺🥩🥃

Subscription Boxes

Meal Kits By Category

Monthly Clubs

Weight Loss Subscription Boxes

Baking Subscription Boxes

International Snack Subscription Boxes

Manly Food Subscription Boxes

Japanese Snack Subscription Boxes

Kid Friendly Subscription Boxes

Keto Subscription Boxes

Diabetic Subscription Boxes

Korean Snack Subscription Boxes

European Snack Subscription Boxes

Tea Subscription Boxes

Wine Subscription Boxes

Paleo Snack Subscription Boxes

Coffee Subscription Boxes

Gluten Free Subscription Boxes

Chocolate Subscription Boxes

Hot Sauce Subscription Boxes

Diabetic Meal Kits

Family Meal Kits

Weight Loss Meal Kits

Senior Meal Kits

Vegan Meal Kits

Dairy Free Meal Kits

Organic Meal Kits

Vegetarian Meal Kits

Gluten Free Meal Kits

Paleo Meal Kits

Keto Meal Kits

Cheapest Meal Kits

Low Carb Meal Kits

Eco Friendly Meal Kits

Soy Free Meal Kits

Nut Free Meal Kits

Kid Friendly Meal Kits

Cheesecake of the Month Clubs

Macaron of the Month Clubs

Candy of the Month Clubs

Bacon of the Month Clubs

Olive Oil of the Month Clubs

Cupcake of the Month Clubs

Spice of the Month Clubs

Meat of the Month Clubs

Cookie of the Month Clubs

Gourmet Food of the Month Clubs

Cake of the Month Clubs

Fruit of the Month Clubs

Pie of the Month Clubs

Balsamic Vinegar of the Month Clubs

Charcuterie of the Month Clubs

Salami of the Month Clubs

Pizza of the Month Clubs

Steak of the Month Clubs

Copyright © 2023 · Privacy Policy · Food For Net · Blog · Instagram · Twitter · Pinterest

FoodForNet.com is a member of the Amazon Associates affiliate program. We earn commissions from qualifying purchases through affiliate links.