I’d heard about Berkey systems for years, so finally getting my hands on the Travel Berkey felt like a bit of a milestone. And the stylish water filtration system has been a nice addition to my countertop as I’ve put it through the wringer.
In many ways, the Travel Berkey is a superb device. It provides well-filtered drinking water from sources that might be questionable, it looks great while doing it, and the filters can last years. But it’s not all sunshine and roses. There are some downsides to the Berkey water filter that are important to be aware of.
In this Travel Berkey review, we’ll go through the highs and lows of this water filter system so you can see if it’s the right choice for your needs.
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A “Travel” Filter That Mostly Stays Put
If you’re not familiar with these, the Berkey filters are tall stainless steel water filtration systems. They dramatically reduce all sorts of harmful contaminants in your water supply with a gravity-fed design. You simply pour water into the upper portion, then it slowly seeps through the filters into the lower portion. You use a spigot at the bottom to get the filtered water.
Since Berkey water filters are designed for countertop use, I was surprised to learn about a “travel” version. We’re always bouncing around to new spots so it piqued my interest. But if you’re thinking this is a competitor to the Grayl Geopress or other handheld, water-bottle-sized filters, think again.
If you want a truly portable one, then get the GO Berkey Kit. It has a capacity of just 1 quart (a little less than 1L) and is actually made for travel.
The rest of the Berkey lineup, including the Travel Berkey, is made for mostly stationary countertop use. Although, I do think that having one in an RV can be well worth the space. There’s nothing worse than drinking the terrible water that you routinely encounter at campgrounds. This solves that issue.
The difference between the big Berkey vs. the Travel Berkey is basically just size. There’s an entire range of Berkey filters, ranging from the Travel Berkey as the smallest at 1.5 gallons (5.7L) up to the Crown Berkey as the largest with 6 gallons (22.7L). Details and dimensions for the Berkey water filter lineup are below.
Using It: Slow and Steady
Everything has its downsides. Thankfully, my least favorite part about the Berkey is entirely avoidable.
Serious water filtration does not happen instantly. The Travel Berkey takes some time to drain from the unfiltered end through the filters before it’s ready to drink. For one or two people, it’s usually plenty fast enough. But if you have more mouths to feed, get a bigger Berkey system or you’ll be playing the “is it full?” game all day.
The bigger systems not only have a larger filtered water tank, they also allow for more filters. This increases filtration speed. But the nice thing is that you don’t have to get more filters if you don’t want to. They all work with as few as two filters.
No matter what, there is one thing you must do: pay attention to the level of the bottom chamber. Without any accessories, you have to lift the upper section off to see the level of filtered water. But there’s a way around this.
The Water View Spigot upgrade is something I highly recommend. Not only does it provide a big upgrade from plastic to stainless steel spigot, it also has a water level indicator. No more wondering how much is left. You can instantly see the level of the filtered water and add more when needed.
What Is This Actually Fit For?
Water is a big part of life. I’ve always used a water filter because I want to avoid any water contamination I can. Even living in the city on pretty safe drinking water. And then as I ventured off into more remote spots relying on well water or natural sources, I understood the value of high-quality filtration and purification.
Berkey water filters are high-end devices that use Black Berkey element filters. According to Berkey, these can remove:
- Lead – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Arsenic – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Iron – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Mercury – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Chlorine – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Bisphenol-A – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Chloramines – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Pharmaceuticals – Removed to greater than 99.5%
- Petroleum Contaminants – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Methylcyclohexane-methane – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Pesticides – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Heavy Metals – Removed to greater than 99.1%
- Atrazine – Removed to greater than 99.9%
- Fluoride – Removed to greater than 99.9%
No more chlorine-tasting water. No more pouring heavy metals into your body. These systems really can do a lot.
However, it’s important to consider some limits of this filter. Independent tests show it performs well, but it hasn’t gone through the big-name certifications that other systems advertise. It’s not officially NSF/ANSI certified. That might not matter to everyone, but this is worth knowing if your water is coming from extremely contaminated sources.
This is great for an extra filtration for places running on well water. And for anyone that doesn’t want to drink everything in their tap. It’s also great for homes with limited or inconsistent electricity, especially if you’re very remote and don’t want to buy filters often. The gravity fed design combined with filters that can literally last years creates an exceptional choice. But I have some reservations about using it when an actual purification process is more suitable.
Quick Pros and Cons
What I like:
- Solid stainless steel build that looks good on the counter
- Noticeably better-tasting water
- No electricity or plumbing required
- Filters that can last for years
What I don’t love:
- Expensive upfront, plus the spigot upgrade really feels essential
- Not NSF/ANSI certified
- Slow filtration, especially if you forget to refill
- Setup and priming take a little patience
Best Fits
From using it daily, I’d say the Travel Berkey makes the most sense for:
- Couples or small households
- Countertop use in kitchens, cabins, or RVs
- People dealing with chlorine-heavy tap or well water
- Anyone who values long-lasting filters over constant replacements
My Take: The Travel Berkey
The Travel Berkey is about having a solid, mid-sized filter that quietly does its job every day. The stainless steel design looks good, the filters last for years, and the water tastes cleaner. The trade-offs are the price, the slow pace, and the lack of formal certification.
For two people who want dependable drinking water without hauling bottles, the Travel Berkey is a good fit. Just make sure to get the water view spigot right away. It turns the Berkey from a little frustrating into something I actually enjoy using.
