Ever wondered what to do if you were stranded on an island without a reliable source of clean water? Probably not.
But being cast away isn’t the only case where you’ll need a guaranteed water source. If you enjoy hiking or road trips, then you must realize the importance of a portable water filter.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a review of Berkey water filters.
Best Berkey Water Filter Summary
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If you’re in a rush to know about our favorite Berkey products, here are our top 3 picks.
Now, let’s start our review of the best Berkey products in-depth.
Our Top 5 Berkey Water Filters
Berkey water purification systems are one of the world’s celebrated filters. Not only are their products user-friendly and worth the cost, but they can also match your every need.
Go Berkey Kit
Let’s start small. The first product in our review is suitable for long hikes and outdoor sports that take extended periods of time.
The Go Berkey kit includes what every hiker will probably need. First, there’s the Berkey lightweight water bottle. It’s BPA-free and just about the right size to keep it in your backpack.
The second thing you’ll find in this kit is the stainless steel, elegantly polished Go Berkey water filtering system. It can purify up to 1 gallon of water per hour, and only weighs 3 lbs when empty.
Specifications
- Weight when empty is 3 lbs
- The Go storage capacity is 1qt
- Height is 14 inches
- Diameter is 4 inches
Pros
- Great for hikes and long bike rides
- Portable and lightweight
- Durable stainless steel
- Purifies up to 1 gallon of water per hour
- Available with a user guide and maintenance instructions
- Comes with a nylon carrying case
- Good price
Cons
- Contaminated water might spill on the bottle’s body if you’re not careful
Travel Berkey Filter
What if you’re looking for another travel-friendly filtering system that’s a bit larger?
The Travel Berkey can be great for camping trips with the family. You can spend a few days out under the stars, and make use of the little pond you’re camping next to.
Also, if you’re into exploring remote parts of the world, this travel filter might be your faithful companion.
Another thing we admire about this Berkey is its size. It filters 2 gallons of water per hour, which should be comfortably suitable for your use, besides 2 more people.
Additionally, this product comes with 2 Black Berkey filters and 2 PF2 Fluoride filters.
Specifications
- Weight when empty is 6.97 lbs
- Storage capacity is 1.5 qt
- Height is 19.2 inches
- Diameter is 8.5 inches
Pros
- Travel-friendly
- Stainless steel body
- Features 2 Black Berkey filters and 2 fluoride filters
- Suitable for groups of 3 people
- Purifies untreated water from lakes, ponds, etc.
- No batteries required
- No electricity required
- Reasonable price
Cons
- The purifying process might be slow
- Some reviewers have reported rust issues
Big Berkey Countertop Filter
You don’t necessarily need to be a traveler to own a water filter. Not everyone trusts tap water at home, and for good reasons.
So, you can refrain from testing your tap water every now and then by simply getting this Big Berkey filtering system.
This system should be suitable to use at home, as it can provide enough purified water to fill the needs of 4 people. Also, the product comes with 2 Black Berkey filters and 2 fluoride filters.
What we also find great about this filter is that it can hold up to 2.25 gallons of water. In addition to that, you wouldn’t need to worry about the space it takes on your kitchen counter.
Made from high-end stainless steel, the Big Berkey’s body is durable. Also, each purification element has a lifespan of 3,000 gallons. This means that with two filters, you’ll get to purify 6,000 gallons of water before having to change the filters.
If you’re wondering about the price, we find it great for such performance.
Specifications
- Weight when empty is 9.04 lbs
- Storage capacity is 2.25 qt
- Height is 19.2 inches
- Diameter is 8.5 inches
Pros
- Good for home use
- Suitable for medium-sized families
- Stainless steel finish
- Space-saving
- Each Black Berkey filter can last up to 3,000 gallons of water
- Each fluoride filter can last up to 1,000 gallons of water
- Easy to assemble and maintain
- The Big Berkey can take up to 4 purification elements
- No batteries or electricity required
Cons
- Some reviewers have faced rust issues
Royal Berkey Water Filter
Looking for larger storage capacity on the go? This water filter might be what you’ve been searching for.
If you take your family on a camping or a hiking trip, then you’ll probably need more than your usual Travel Berkey filter. If that’s the case, you should be comfortable in knowing that the Royal Berkey should work out just fine.
With a capacity of 3.25 gallons, this water filter should suit the use of a 4-member family. Also, the resulting water has been tested in independent labs to make sure it’s up to standards.
Not only does the Royal Berkey filter water, but it also purifies it. By removing 99.9% of the bacteria, heavy metals, and more elements that you need to rid of, you could drink clean without worrying.
Also, it can be considered an economical choice. Since you’d only need to change each filter after purifying 3,000 gallons of water.
Specifications
- Weight when empty is 8.8 lbs
- Storage capacity is 3.25 qt
- Height is 23 inches
- Diameter is 9.5 inches
Pros
- Suitable for home and outdoor use
- Perfect for a family of 4
- Stainless steel body and finish
- Easy assembly
- Economical choice
- Can take up to 4 purification elements
- No batteries or electricity required
Cons
- Doesn’t come with fluoride filters, but they can be bought separately
Crown Berkey Water Filter
Last but not least, here’s the best choice for large families. This 6-gallon Berkey filtering system could be what you’ve been looking for if you have 6-12 family members.
Also, we were amazed to discover that this big buddy is portable, too! Don’t let all these dimensions trick you; this Berkey can join you on your camping trip as well.
Besides that, you can add up to 8 purification elements to the Crown Berkey. This means an increased flow rate and a longer lifespan.
Not only can you use it at home or outdoors, but it can also come in handy in case of emergencies.
Specifications
- Weight when empty is 12.48 lbs
- Storage capacity is 6 qt
- Height is 30 inches
- Diameter is 11 inches
Pros
- Perfect choice for extended families
- Made of durable stainless steel
- Great for home use as well as outdoors
- Doesn’t require batteries or electricity
- Simple assembly
- Instructions manual included
Cons
- Fluoride filters aren’t available but can be purchased separately
- Might be a pricey choice
Why You Should Buy A Berkey Water Filter
Now that we’ve reviewed a few of their amazing products, let’s discuss the factors that make Berkey one of the best manufacturers of water filtering systems.
User-Friendly
The first reason why Berkey has such an awesome reputation worldwide is that their products are easy to use. Besides that, they’re simple to assemble and clean.
So you wouldn’t go around in circles to figure out how to put all the pieces together.
Reliable Purification
What most users admire about Berkey’s products is that they can be used to purify treated and untreated water.
You can use it to purify tap water or water from other sources like ponds and lakes. Also, their systems are so powerful that they can remove red food coloring from water without affecting the beneficial minerals that our bodies need.
Gravity-Fed
By gravity-fed, we mean that these filters don’t rely on electricity or batteries to do their job. It’s the mere force of gravity that does all the work.
All you have to do is pour water from the top.
High-Quality Materials
Berkey has put much thought into the materials it uses for its containers and water bottles. The containers are made of high-end stainless steel. While their bottles are BPA-free.
FAQs
How often should I clean my Berkey filter?
For the best results, you should clean your water purification system on a regular basis.
For instance, you should clean the stainless steel chambers monthly. As for the filters, it’s recommended to clean them every six months to increase the flow rate.
How to clean a Black Berkey filter?
The process is pretty easy and quick.
First, disassemble the filters from the purification system. After that, you can use a cleaning pad or a toothbrush to gently scrub the outside part under running water.
Eventually, put the purification elements back into place.
In Conclusion
Water pollution has been an issue for a while now. That’s why many manufacturers like Berkey are trying their best to make pure water accessible.
After such a detailed Berkey water filter review, we found that our favorite was the Big Berkey Filter.
It has the right size for a countertop water filter. So it should cover a medium-sized family needs just fine.
Plus, the price is reasonable for such quality and performance.