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Even if you’re familiar with water filters, you may not be familiar with a gravity water filter. This handy device actually does just what it sounds like it might do. It filters water using gravity. Obviously, it’s a bit more technical and we will explain it more as we go. You would most often use a gravity fed water filter when you were camping, backpacking, or in a survival situation. This wouldn’t be something you’d use in your home but would be great in any outdoor situation. So, if you’re looking for the best gravity water filter for your next outdoor trip, keep reading!
A gravity fed water filter will have two bags or chambers. One will have the contaminated, fresh water and the other empty bag will receive the filtered water that’s ready to drink. The top bag/chamber removes the contaminants as it passes through into the empty one. While the design of each gravity water filter will vary this is basically the way the water is filtered. Some water filters also include a mediator between the two bags or chambers, which transfers the water through to remove additional contaminants before it gets to you.
You can find gravity water filters that will work for anyone on most budgets. If you’re someone that goes camping and enjoys other outdoor traveling, a gravity water filter will make a great addition to your camping supplies. If you’ve read other gravity water filter reviews and are still looking for the right product for you, one of these gravity water filters might be right up your alley.
Quick Picks for the Best Gravity Water Filter of 2020
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- Top Pick — LifeStraw
- Budget Pick — Sawyer SP160
- Luxury Pick — Big Berkey
Our Research
- The best water gravity water filter of 2020
- Benefits of gravity filters
- How we chose the best gravity water filter
Our Picks for the Best Gravity Water Filter
In addition to many hours of hands-on tests, we looked at product and manufacturer information, as well as third-party gravity water filter reviews to determine the best gravity filter on the market. You can learn more about how the gravity water filters we’ve selected in our How We Chose section.
The LifeStraw Family 1.0 surpasses all of the standards set by the EPA in relation to water purifiers. It removes over 99.99% of bacteria, protozoan cysts, and viruses. With the LifeStraw Family 1.0 you can purify over 4,700 gallons of water without using chemicals. This would provide enough water for four people for as long as three years without needing replaced. LifeStraw is a trusted name that has been purchased by millions of people worldwide.
The flow rate on the LifeStraw Family 1.0 is between nine and twelve liters of water per hour. Like most gravity water filters, you pour the contaminated water in the top and the clean water emerges at the bottom. It’s a simple and reliable method for water filtering in an outdoor or survival situation.
Like with other LifeStraw products you get the chance to do some good, as well. With every LifeStraw purchase, including the Family 1.0 gravity water filter, LifeStraw will donate clean water for an entire school year to one school child. Click here to learn more.
Sawyer Products SP160 is a gravity water filter that is perfect for trekking through the backcountry. This one-gallon water filtration system is easy to use and setup and includes everything you need to get started. The filter is a dual-threaded MINI 0.1-micron filter. Nothing larger than 0.1 micron is able to pass through into the clean water. This means that salmonella, Giardia, and other cysts or bacteria will be filtered out.
The Sawyer Products SP160 offers a budget-friendly price and a long-lasting product. It should be able to filter 100,000 gallons of water before you need to replace the unit. The bag is collapsible, so it will take up barely any space amongst your supplies. When you’re ready to use it you just fill the fresh water into the bag from any water source and connect the tube from the bladder you just filled into the MINI. The bladder should be hung up with the MINI placed below it. As water flows through the MINI it purifies it, making it safe for consumption.
The Sawyer Products SP160 comes with the MINI water filter, a one-gallon bladder, cleaning coupling, a cleaning plunger, and a gravity hose with adapters. It’s everything you need to get started right out of the box. Click here to learn more.
The Big Berkey holds 2.5 gallons of water. This model is not only efficient and portable, it’s also stainless steel. This means that it is easier to keep it clean. This model is perfect for camping and outdoor situations. That said, it’s also very popular with aid organizations that need to gain access to clean water all over the world. Many also use this model during hurricanes or other survival situations.
The stainless-steel tanks are attractive, and they work like any other gravity water filter would work. The water is poured into the upper chamber. This fresh water can be obtained from nearly any fresh water source. The water passes through the filter and moves the water into the lower chamber. The water in the lower chamber is safe to drink and can be accessed using the tap on the front of the filter.
While the Big Berkey is the most expensive model here, it is built to last. If you’re curious about other Berkey products, we have a database of Berkey water filter reviews. These products offer excellent warranties and the replacement parts, when needed, are easy to get and relatively affordable. Everything you need to get started is included and easy enough to have it up and running in a few minutes. Click here to learn more.
Importance of Gravity Water Filters
There are plenty of situations where a gravity water filter would be a good choice. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all offer an easy way to filter water no matter what situation you’re in. Many people use them for backpacking, camping, and other outdoor excursions. They are also used in areas where clean water is not available. Some even use them in their homes during hurricanes or other events which are considered survival situations.
Here are some reasons that a gravity water filter can help you:
Safety – Clean water is a necessity. You can’t live without it. A gravity water filter gives you a chance to thrive in any situation. As long as you have access to some water, you can place your water filter in a tree branch or even just hold it in the air and it will filter the water, allowing you to have clean water. Most gravity water filters remove over 99% of bacteria and other waterborne cysts. This means that whether you’re in your backyard or across the world, you’ll be protected.
Taste – The most important thing is ensuring that your water is safe to drink. Beyond that, it would be nice if it tasted good, too. Using a gravity water filter ensures that your water loses the contaminants, but it also ensures it tastes better. This is particularly helpful for travelers who use their gravity water filter all over the world. The best gravity powered water filter will provide water that tastes crisp and clean no matter what source you’re retrieving it from.
Peace of Mind – Gravity water filters tend to be easy to transport and easy to use. You won’t have to worry about lugging gallons of water because you can purify any water that you come across. Not only that, but with a gravity water filter it will work with any water you encounter. Just pack up your filter in your camping supplies and you’re ready for clean water no matter where you end up.
How We Chose
Plenty of gravity water filters are on the market today. It was our goal to find you the best gravity water filter we could find. We spent plenty of hours testing as many gravity water filters as we could. Additionally, we considered all of the product claims and information, along with verified third-party gravity water filter reviews. Here is more of what we looked at to determine the best options.
Filtration Technology – One of the first things we considered was how your water would actually be filtered. Most gravity filters work through a similar process, but some include separate filtering mechanisms, while others don’t. We considered what bodies of water you could use your filter with, what would be removed from your water in the filtration process, and how fast the water would be filtered. Of course, we also considered taste as a factor, as well.
Brand Recognition – When you’re thinking of portable water filters there are a lot of good brands that come to mind. We looked for brands that have a reputation for quality products, fair warranties, and good customer service. We looked at things like verified customer reviews and recommendations for brands with a reputation for having the best products.
Quality – How the water filter was made and how long it would last were also some things we considered. If your unit has replaceable parts, how easy would they be to replace and how much would it cost to replace them? Ultimately, we wanted to find the best gravity water filter that was built to last and that would filter as much water as possible, for as long as possible.
Price – Prices vary for a lot of reasons, so we tried to look at a variety of water filters in differing price ranges. Just because it’s the most expensive product, doesn’t always mean it will be the best gravity water filter. There are some great luxury filters out there, but some of the budget-friendly models are equally as impressive. Ultimately, the most important thing was that the product lasts long enough for you to get your money’s worth and that you’re paying a fair price overall.
If you have any other questions on how to find a good gravity water filter, don’t hesitate to let us know! Feel free to leave us a comment. You can also visit our guide with the best water filters to learn more!
Ph.D. graduate working as a water quality consultant for many government agencies helping them find solutions to the ever-growing problem of polluted water. Loves a good coffee!
