Berkey Water Filter Review

Gary Johnson
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The Best Filtered Water Bottles

Does your water taste like it’s been going through the dishwasher for a while?

Does it make you think of the times that you’ve had to slake your thirst after hiking through the jungle?

If you drink enough of the stuff, it can leave you feeling washed out, or as if there’s something in your water.

If you’re partial to filtered water, as we all should be, then the Berkey Water Filter bottles might be a good match for you.

Aside from filtering your water, these bottles also feature a handy cap lock so that you don’t spend a lot of time screwing and unscrewing the cap every time you want a drink. That’s a big bonus as you’ll never have to worry about spilling anything.

The Berkey water bottle includes a healthy filter, which does use some pretty cool technology. Inside the bottle, you’ll find the filter itself, and the quick release handle for removing it.

NameCategoryProduct
Berkey Black Berkey Purification ElementsBest OverallBerkey Black Berkey Purification Elements
Berkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 ModelBudget PickBerkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 Model
Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water FilterUpgrade PickBig Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

1. Berkey Black Berkey Purification Elements

Our rating: 9 / 10

Berkey Black Berkey Purification Elements

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Pros:

  • Produces up to 9 Gallons of purified water per hour
  • Built to last a lifetime
  • Doesn’t interact with taste of water
  • Has a 4 micron sediment filter that reduces chlorine and other harmful chemicals
  • Comes with Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements to reduce those chemicals

No other water filter system can compare to the value that you get with the Berkey. This water filter system is ideal for survival, emergency preparedness, and disasters. Its intuitive design allows you to remove 99.999% of every harmful pathogen in the water, purifying it to an incredible degree. We think that this water purification system is the ultimate water filter for personal use.

But first, a word about the quality of this product. The Berkey system is created using the highest quality materials available: strong stainless steel, top-quality construction, and BPA-free plastics. These materials ensure that the filter is built to last a lifetime and will continue to operate well after you are long gone. In fact, these filters are rated for 20,000 gallons of water – meaning that the average family could use them for decades before a replacement is ever necessary.

2. Berkey PF-2 Fluoride Filter

Our rating: 8 / 10

Berkey PF-2 Fluoride Filter

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Pros:

  • Great for families
  • Permanent and long-lasting
  • Removes fluoride and arsenic
  • Durable, BPA-free plastic
  • Glass ceramics fibers for higher capacity
  • Outperforms other filters
  • Removes over 200 contaminants from over 50+ sources of water
  • Removes fluoride, arsenic, and mercury
  • Removes over 200 toxins from over 50+ sources of water

Cons:

  • Doesn’t fit other Berkey water filter options
  • There are reports of leaks
  • Time-consuming to use
  • High maintenance
  • Can be difficult to rinse

(Fluent Option for Fluoride Filtration)

There are a lot of water filters on the market particularly for this brand, when it comes to choosing the right one, you need to consider the following factors to make the best decision.

Does the filter remove fluoride, arsenic, and mercury from water?

3. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

Our rating: 8 / 10

Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

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Pros:

  • Relatively easy to install
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Highly efficient
  • Easy to travel with
  • Large capacity
  • Doesn’t require electricity

What Is A Travel Berkey Water Filter?

Travel Berkey Water Filters are small, plastic bottles that are filled and refilled, and stored on your shelf or cupboard. Their purpose is to remove fluoride, heavy metals, and other impurities that accumulate in your water. These impurities are mostly added by local governments in order to provide the best water possible.

The Travel Berkey Water filter does this with a simple but effective filtration process. First, the filter bottle can be filled and refilled with water, and stored in your house or on a shelf. The water will sit in the filter bottle and slowly get filtered through the carbon. Most people recommend that the water sit in the filter bottle for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Then, the water can be poured directly into your pitcher or another area to be stored, or be drunk right from the bottle.

4. Berkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 Model

Our rating: 8 / 10

Berkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 Model

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Pros:

  • Made with high-quality, durable materials
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Can be attached to any Berkey gravity system
  • Removes 99.9999% of harmful bacteria, parasites, and cysts
  • Can be attached to any Berkey reservoir
  • Comes with a cap cover and cleaning brush
  • Manufactured by a family-owned company
  • Budget-friendly
  • Dishwasher safe; easy to clean

If you want a no-fuss, no-muss water filter, then the Berkey Sport filters are an excellent choice. These filters are not only fairly priced, but they’re also super easy to use.

Simply fill up the bottle with tap water and screw on the filter. When you want a drink, just unscrew the cap and drink as you would from any other water bottle.

The only part that might require a little struggling is unscrewing the top from the filter to refill it with water. But even that’s not a big deal.

5. Berkey Shower Filter

Our rating: 7 / 10

Berkey Shower Filter

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Pros:

  • Filter can remove up to 95% of contaminants
  • The shower head uses 2.5 gallons per minute of water
  • The shower head also comes with two flow settings
  • Replacement filters are effective for approximately 6 months
  • The filters are easy to install and maintain
  • Not costly to buy replacement filter cartridges
  • The filters can filter up to 2,000 gallons of water
  • The filters are easy to clean
  • The filters are made in the United States

Cons:

  • The filters are not effective for lead
  • The filters are not effective for pharmaceuticals
  • The filters are not effective for pesticides
  • The filters are not effective for cysts, giardia, cryptosporidium, or other pathogens
  • The filters are not effective for chlorine or chloramine

And other contaminants commonly found in tap water.

The Berkey shower filter is the best option if you want optimal water quality in your shower and water that is enriched with minerals.

6. Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

Our rating: 7 / 10

Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter

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Pros:

  • Cheap
  • Small
  • Small Footprint
  • Comes with Certification
  • Assembled in the USA
  • Can Remove Many Contaminants
  • Low Maintenance

The Berkey water filter is one of the best water filters you can buy for your home or office. It’s highly effective and efficient in removing many contaminants that could potentially harm you and your family.

The Berkey is a gravity-fed system that stands close to 6ft tall. The units come in various sizes, with the larger ones being able to produce twice as much water as the smaller units. Luckily, the filter is also able to be packed down into the size of a briefcase or a suitcase for easier transportation.

This particular Berkey model comes with 2 black berkey purification elements which are able to remove most diseases, chemicals, heavy metals, and radiological contaminants. These filters have a life expectancy of around 2 years and can treat up to 9,000 gallons of water.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do Berkey Water Filters Really Work?

Are Berkey water filters worth the cost? These are probably more common water filter questions. Let's take a look at the research and see if we can get answers to these and other questions…

  • Does the Berkey water filter really work as claimed on YouTube?
  • Does the big Berkey filter really work faster than the little Berkey filter?
  • Can the Berkey filters really remove fluoride, chlorine, pharmaceutical drugs, fluoride, bacteria, and viruses?
  • Is the Berkey water filter worth the money?
  • Is the Berkey water filter cheaper than a reverse osmosis system?
  • Does the Berkey water filter remove fluoride?
  • Do Berkey filters remove fluoride?
  • Do they remove fluoride from the water?
  • Do Berkey filters remove fluoride and chlorine?
  • Does it remove pharmaceuticals?
  • Does it remove heavy metals?

Are Berkey water filters worth the money?

This is a common question often asked by those looking for a Berkey water filter review. The short answer is yes, Berkey water filters absolutely provide value for the money compared to purchasing bottled water.

As we briefly discussed earlier, 0.5 to 2% of the bottled water in the U.S. is likely contaminated. By investing in a Berkey water filter, you can avoid this risk entirely and enjoy clean water at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.

This is a particularly good investment for those living in water-poor areas that need to transport water. Also, municipalities across the U.S. have been found to be adding inorganic compounds to the water supply in an attempt to prevent leeching into the ground from the pipes.

For those who are interested in a particular filter, be sure to find one that is easy to use, high quality, and most importantly one that fits your budget.

Why are Berkey water filters banned in Iowa?

Back in 2016, Iowa banned the use of Berkey water filters due to health concerns. Specifically, the filters were banned due to their propensity to leach toxic formaldehyde. This isn't the first time that Berkely has been in hot water either, in 2010 they were sued for using misleading advertising and misleading statements regarding the health benefits of their water filters. The lawsuit claimed that they used tests that were inconsistent and should have known better.

While our guess is that Berkey is probably not the best company to deal with, it doesn't mean that their filters don't have value. We know people who rely on Berkely water filters on a daily basis and have been happy with their performance.

We still recommend doing your homework before buying a water filter of any kind. You can start by reading the Oregon State University water filter study. The study goes over the various issues of filter safety and offers ways to almost always get the best bang for your buck.

Is Berkey better than Brita?

Berkey Filters are considered to be the best in the business and we couldn't agree more! Since the inception of the company they have done quite a bit of research and development, addressing the issues that users experienced with other models.

The best thing about Berkey Filters is the fact that they filter out most if not all of the pathogens that are in our water. Your water, as you know, can feel quite dirty after you use your tap water to wash your hands. With water filters installed, you will find that the water coming out of your tap is clean and odorless.

Yes, it is a bit more expensive to install a Berkey over a Brita, but the cheaper filter can't compare to the quality and results of the Berkey BKRWF. If you have the extra money, though, you're wise to invest in a Berkey filter. You'll taste the difference and your health will thank you!

Conclusion

We know there are a lot of choices when it comes to choosing an effective water filtration system, but after combing the web for the best Berkey Water Filter reviews, we were drawn to the Berkey water filter. This is a top-of-the-line counter-top purifying and cleaning solution for home use. It is what the experts recommend for those concerned with serious ground water contamination.

There are several products in the Berkey product line but we are focusing on the Big Berkey and the Royal Berkey. These are the main models that we have had a chance to review.

Our Recommendation

NameCategoryProduct
Berkey Black Berkey Purification ElementsBest OverallBerkey Black Berkey Purification Elements
Berkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 ModelBudget PickBerkey Sport Filtered Water Bottle BPA Free Portable 22oz New 2018 Model
Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water FilterUpgrade PickBig Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter