A water filter is a device that cleans your drinking water. It takes out bad stuff like dirt and germs, so your water tastes better and stays safe to drink. Clean water helps your body stay strong and healthy!
The Berkey brand makes some of the very best water filters around. People say these filters clean water better than almost any other. They make gravity-fed filters that use simple physics to clean water very well. These filters are super popular because they work great at home or when you travel.
Check out these popular Berkey water filter models:
- Imperial Berkey Gravity-Fed
- Go Water Filter Kit
- Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed
Water Filter Way shares authentic reviews and honest guidance so they help you choose the very best Berkey filter for your family. Our goal is to make sure you find the perfect way to get clean water every single day. We find the top Berkey for your needs.
1. Imperial Berkey Gravity-Fed Stainless Steel
The Imperial Berkey Gravity-Fed system isn’t a whole-house filter; it’s a powerful Point-of-Use (POU) filter you keep on your counter. It cleans your drinking and cooking water. This filter uses gravity, so it needs no power or plumbing, making it super reliable in any situation, like during an emergency.
The system uses two Black Berkey filters that clean up to 6,000 gallons of water. It removes a long list of contaminants, turning unpleasant water into very clean water. This product’s biggest strength is its power to purify water that isn’t safe to drink from the start.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
| Brand | Berkey |
| Model | Imperial Berkey |
| Price Range | $451.00 |
| Rated Capacity | 4.5 Gallons (17 Liters) |
| Rated Flow Rate | Up to 5.5 gallons per hour (GPH) with two filters |
| Special Feature | Gravity-Fed; Stainless Steel Construction |
| Pressure Range | Not Applicable (Gravity-Fed) |
| Purification Mechanism | Exclusive Carbon Composite Media (Black Berkey) |
| Certification | None (Manufacturer-Certified Purifier Status) |
Filtration Technology and Performance
The Imperial Berkey uses a gravity-fed design. You pour the water into the top chamber, and gravity pulls it through the powerful Black Berkey filters and into the clean bottom chamber. This simple design works because the filters are super dense, making the water work hard to get clean. This means it always works, even without electricity.
The filtration stages are inside the Black Berkey Element:
- Stage 1 (Micro-filtration): The dense material physically blocks tiny particles, such as bacteria and very small particles, acting as a screen.
- Stage 2 (Adsorption): The special coconut shell carbon adsorbs chemicals like chlorine, pesticides, and compounds that make the water smell or taste bad.
- Stage 3 (Ion Exchange): A special resin exchanges harmful heavy metals like lead and mercury for less harmful substances. They ensure the water is safe from these toxins.
Contaminant Reduction Performance Range
This system cleans water so well that the company calls it a “purifier,” not just a filter, because it removes many impurities, including viruses
| Contaminant Category | Reduction Performance Range |
| Bacteria | 98.99% |
| Viruses | 99.99% |
| Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury) | 97.98% |
| Emerging Contaminants (PFAS/PFOA) | 99% |
Efficiency and Water Consumption Assurance
This is a gravity filter, so the system does not waste any water down a drain. All the water you put in the top chamber gets cleaned and held in the bottom chamber.
The flow rate is up to 5.4 GPH with the two standard filters. This rate is slow because the filters are so powerful and dense; the water takes a while to push through. It is best for the largest families as it has the capacity to carry more filters.
Certification and Trust
The Berkey manufacturer has chosen not to get NSF/ANSI certification. The company says its tests, done by third-party labs, show the filters work better than NSF requires.
Cost of Ownership and Maintenance
Initial Investment: The system costs about $451.00 to buy with the first two filters. It’s a high initial price, but it lasts a long time.
Recurrent Costs: The two Black Berkey Elements last an incredibly long time, cleaning up to 6,000 gallons. This makes the cost to clean one gallon of water very low, about $0.02. You only need to buy new filters every few years.
Critical Reliability Risk: The biggest risk here isn’t the filter breaking, but the supply of new filters stopping because of the EPA lawsuit. Getting new filters might become hard or expensive if the company loses.
Summary
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
| It’s a powerful purifier that removes bacteria, viruses, and chemicals like PFAS. | The company does not get NSF certification, so you just rely on their own tests. |
| The filters last a long time (6,000 gallons), making the water very cheap per gallon. | The ongoing EPA lawsuit created supply problems for replacement filters. |
| Made of 304 stainless steel and works with no electricity for emergencies. | The flow rate is slow (5.4 GPH), so you have to wait for the water to filter. |
| Cleans even dirty pond or lake water, unlike most other home filters. | For fluoride removal, you must buy a separate, optional filter. |
Our Final Verdict: Who is This Filter Best For?
The Imperial Berkey is a perfect choice for the ultimate preparedness user or anyone living off-grid. This is your system if you want a filter that you know will clean water from almost any source, including rivers or rainwater, and if you want a system that works when the power goes out. The performance is top-notch, but you accept a certain risk with the long-term availability of replacement filters because of that EPA lawsuit. Small households love how easy it is to use, too.
2. Go Water Filter Kit
The Go Berkey Kit is the smallest and easiest-to-carry gravity filter Berkey makes. It’s a powerful Point-of-Use (POU) filter built just for one or two people when they travel, go camping, or face an emergency. It’s made of tough stainless steel and uses a single Black Berkey Element to remove a wide range of impurities from the water.
It comes as a full kit, even including a special tool to make sure the filter works perfectly right away. The main point of this little filter is to give you super-clean water in a small, tough package.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
| Brand | Berkey |
| Model | Go Berkey Kit |
| Price Range | $234.00 |
| Rated Capacity | 1 Quart (0.95 Liters) |
| Rated Flow Rate | Around 1 gallon per hour (GPH) with one filter. |
| Special Feature | Very Compact; Includes Black Berkey Primer |
| Pressure Range | Not Applicable (Gravity-Fed) |
| Purification Mechanism | Proprietary Carbon Composite Media (Black Berkey) |
| Certification | None (Manufacturer-Certified Purifier Status) |
Filtration Technology and Performance
The Go Berkey uses the same gravity-fed design as the big ones, but in a small size. You pour water into the little top part, and gravity slowly pushes it through the dense filter. This gentle, slow movement ensures the water stays in contact with the cleaning agent for a long time, making it very clean. This is great for when you don’t have electricity.
The filtration stages are inside the single Black Berkey Element:
- Stage 1 (Micro-filtration): The element is so tightly packed that it physically traps tiny bad things, like dirt and germs, so they can’t get through.
- Stage 2 (Adsorption): The filter’s carbon soaks up chemicals like chlorine, pesticides, and things that make the water taste and smell bad, like a sponge.
- Stage 3 (Ion Exchange): A special resin swaps out bad metals like lead and mercury for less harmful stuff.
Contaminant Reduction Performance Range
| Contaminant Category | Reduction Performance Range |
| Bacteria | 98.5% |
| Viruses | 99.99% |
| Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury) | 98.88% |
| Emerging Contaminants (PFAS/PFOA) | 99.99% |
Efficiency and Water Consumption Assurance
This is a gravity filter, so no water goes to waste. All the water you pour into the top chamber gets cleaned and held in the bottom chamber.
The flow rate is about 1 GPH with the one filter. That’s slow, but it’s enough for one or two people to drink. This system might be too small for you. Its goal is super clean water, not super fast water.
Certification and Trust
The Berkey company chooses not to get NSF/ANSI certification. The company says its own test results, which use special labs, prove the filter works better than NSF standards. This means you have to trust the company’s test results.
The most serious problem is the legal fight with the EPA.
Cost of Ownership and Maintenance
Initial Investment: The whole kit costs around $234.00 to buy. This is a bit high for a small filter.
Recurrent Costs: The single Black Berkey filter lasts for 3,000 gallons, which is a huge amount of water. Buy a new filter for around $166.00; the cost to clean one gallon of water is only about $0.055. This makes the little Go Berkey very cheap to use over many years.
Summary
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
| It’s a purifier, removing viruses, bacteria, and new chemicals like PFAS. | The company does not get NSF certification, so you rely on their tests. |
| The filter lasts for a long 3,000 gallons, making it cheap to use over time. | The EPA lawsuit created sales bans in some states and risk for future filter supply. |
| Made of durable 304 stainless steel for travel and emergency use. | The 1-quart capacity is very small and only works for one or two people. |
| Includes the Primer tool, so you don’t need a faucet to make it work. | The small size means you cannot add the fluoride filters to this model. |
Our Final Verdict: Who is This Filter Best For?
The Go Berkey is a perfect choice for the solo traveler or Emergency Prepper. This is your system if you want a super-strong, powerful filter that fits in a backpack, works with no power, and cleans water from almost any source. The stainless steel build is tough. You must know that it is small and slow, and the fight with the EPA means there is a chance of supply issues in the future.
3. Travel Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter System
The Travel Berkey is the middle-sized filter, bigger than the “Go” model but smaller than the “Big” model. It’s built for travel, emergencies, and small-home daily use for about 1 to 3 people. It uses a gravity-fed design, so it needs no power or plumbing and is made of tough, polished stainless steel.
This kit is the best version because it includes the Deluxe Water View Spigot, a necessary upgrade that lets you easily see the water level inside. This system gives you a great mix of power, capacity, and portability.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Detail |
| Brand | Berkey |
| Model | Travel Berkey System |
| Price Range | $377.00 |
| Rated Capacity | 1.5 Gallons (5.7 Liters) |
| Rated Flow Rate | Up to 2.74 gallons per hour (GPH) with two filters |
| Special Feature | The upper nests into the lower for travel (11.99 inches high) |
| Purification Mechanism | 2 Black Berkey Elements |
| Filter Lifespan | 6,000 Gallons (per pair of filters) |
Filtration Technology and Performance
The Travel Berkey uses two Black Berkey Elements to achieve a very high level of water cleaning, called purification. You pour water into the top, and gravity slowly pulls it through the powerful filters. This simple method works because the filter material is extremely effective.
The system is tested to remove a wide range of harmful substances, including the new “forever chemicals” (PFAS), heavy metals, and common germs.
Contaminant Reduction Performance Range (Real-World Verified)
The Black Berkey Elements are known for their extreme effectiveness, which has been verified by independent lab tests.
| Contaminant Category | Reduction Performance Range |
| Bacteria | 98.99% |
| Viruses | 99.99% |
| Emerging Contaminants (PFAS/PFOA) | 97.77% |
| Heavy Metals, VOCs, Pharmaceuticals | 96% |
Deluxe 7″ Stainless Steel Water View Spigot: Why It Matters
The standard Berkey comes with a regular spigot, but because the stainless steel is solid, you can’t see the water level. This leads to problems: you might lift the heavy top chamber to check the water, or you might overfill it, causing a big spill.
The Deluxe 7″ Stainless Steel Water View Spigot fixes this. It has a clear sight glass on the side so you instantly see exactly how much filtered water is ready in the bottom chamber. This upgrade is made from durable 304 stainless steel, just like the unit, and makes using the system every day easy and frustration-free.
Cost of Ownership and Maintenance
- Initial Investment: The complete package with the necessary deluxe spigot costs $370.00. This is a solid price for a lifetime product.
- Recurrent Costs: The two Black Berkey Elements last for an exceptional 6,000 gallons. When you need to replace them (after many years), the pair costs about $165.00. This works out to a very low operational cost of only about $0.028 (less than 3 cents) per gallon.
- Maintenance Note: You can buy and add the optional PF-2 filters if you live in an area with high fluoride or arsenic. The wet elements must never freeze, as this will destroy the filter’s cleaning power and void the warranty.
Certification and Sales Status
The Berkey company relies on extensive third-party lab tests to prove its filters work better than US government standards, but they do not carry the official NSF seal (this is to protect their unique filtermanufacturing system).
The lack of the NSF certificate means some states, like California and Iowa, restrict sales. However, the Travel Berkey is often sold as an “outdoor system” in these areas to keep it available to buyers.
Summary
| What We Like | What We Do Not Like |
| Comes with 2 Black Berkey Elements that last for 6,000 gallons. | The company does not get the official NSF seal, relying on its own tests. |
| The Deluxe Water View Spigot is included, making it easy to manage the water level. | Sales are restricted or complicated in some states (like California and Iowa). |
| Purifies water, removing viruses, bacteria, heavy metals, and PFAS. | The wet filter elements must be protected from freezing when used in cold weather. |
| The upper chamber nests inside the lower for easy storage (11.99 inches high). | The maximum flow rate of 2.74 GPH is slow if you need a lot of water all at once. |
Our Final Verdict: Who is This Filter Best For?
The Travel Berkey with the Deluxe Spigot is the optimal home-and-travel bundle. This is the perfect choice for a small family (1-3 people) or an RV owner who needs a reliable, powerful water purifier for both daily use at home and for travel. The durability and the added convenience of the water-level spigot make this the best for a worry-free water supply.
Here is the comparison table of these 3 Berkey water filters:
| Feature | Imperial Berkey (4.5 Gallon) | Travel Berkey (1.5 Gallon) | Go Berkey Kit (1 Quart) |
| Price Range | $451.00 | $234.00 | $377.00 |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Storage Capacity | 4.5 Gallons (17 Liters) | 1.5 Gallons (5.7 Liters) | 1 Quart (0.95 Liters) |
| Performance Rate (Max Flow) | Up to 5.5 GPH (Gallons Per Hour) with two elements | Up to 2.75 GPH with two elements | around 1 GPH with one element |
| Filter Lifespan | 6,000 Gallons (with two elements) | 6,000 Gallons (with two elements) | 3,000 Gallons (with one element) |
| Fluoride Filter Option | Yes (Can add PF-2 filters) | Yes (Can add PF-2 filters) | No (Physically incompatible) |
This chart shows the price comparison of these three water filters:
This chart shows the storage comparison of these three water filters:
What are the Things to Check Before Buying a Berkey Filter?
The things to check before buying a Berkey filter are simple but really matter. Start by looking at your daily water use and the number of people in your home. A larger system saves refilling time, while a smaller one fits tight spaces better.
- Available Space and Placement
The filters are tall, so measure the space between your counter and cabinets. The smaller Go Berkey fits places that larger systems do not. For counter use, the compact Travel Berkey makes sense, particularly because you can easily move it around.
- Filter Capacity and Flow Rate
These details tell you how fast the water gets clean and how long the filters last. All Berkey Black Elements remove contaminants very well, achieving purifier status. The larger the model, the faster the water flows out. It’s smart to pick a filter that keeps up with your daily drinking.
- Material and Portability
Think about durability, too. All models use strong 304 stainless steel, making them very durable for years of use. For travel, the smaller Travel Berkey nests, becoming much shorter for packing.
- Authenticity and Replacement Filters Availability
This ensures you get a real Berkey, not a fake one. Getting genuine Black Berkey Elements later is critical for keeping your water safe. Make sure new filters remain easy to find, as some legal issues affect supply.
Water Filter Way stands as your dedicated partner in the USA for securing the cleanest drinking water possible. We commit to providing honest reviews and clear, accurate guidance to every customer. We do not just sell filters; we empower you to make the smart choice for your family’s health and preparedness.
What size Berkey water filter is best for a family of four?
The size of the Berkey water filter that is best for a family of four is the Big Berkey (2.25 gallons) or the Royal Berkey (3.25 gallons). The Big Berkey gives enough clean water for drinking and cooking every day. The Royal Berkey provides a little extra capacity, which is very helpful for busy families or during emergencies, so you refill less. You get to decide based on how much you cook.
How do I know which Berkey filter matches my daily water needs?
You know which Berkey filter matches your daily water needs by adding up the water everyone drinks and uses for cooking. Plan for about a half-gallon of water per person each day. For example, a Travel Berkey works for 1-2 people. A Big Berkey or Royal Berkey matches the needs of 4-6 people, as they hide drinking water contaminants like lead or chlorine.
Are larger Berkey systems always better than compact ones?
No, larger Berkey systems are not always better than compact ones. The best system depends entirely on your space and group size. A compact Travel Berkey works perfectly for small apartments or one person, and it takes up less counter space. Larger systems are better only because they hold more water and filter faster, reducing the number of times you refill.
What is the difference between stainless steel and plastic Berkey models?
The difference between stainless steel and plastic Berkey models is mostly durability and size. Stainless steel models (like the Travel or Imperial) are tough, durable, and last a lifetime. The plastic Berkey Light model costs less and weighs less. All models use the same powerful Black Berkey Elements, so the water quality remains excellent regardless of the material.
How long do Berkey filters last before replacement is needed?
Berkey filters last for an extremely long time before replacement is needed. A standard pair of Black Berkey Elements filters up to 6,000 gallons. For a typical family, this means the filters work for many years before you replace them. This amazing lifespan makes the cost per gallon very low, confirming the long-term value.
Can I travel with a Berkey water filter or use it outdoors?
Yes, you can travel with a Berkey water filter or use it outdoors. The smaller models, like the Go Berkey and Travel Berkey, are specifically made for this. The Travel Berkey even nests (the top chamber fits inside the bottom) to save space in your suitcase or backpack. This is key for camping or international trips, giving you safe water anywhere.
How can I confirm that my Berkey filter is authentic?
You confirm that your Berkey filter is authentic by purchasing it directly from an authorized dealer or the official company website. Look for clear branding and packaging. Real Black Berkey Elements have a special serial number you can verify. Beware of prices that seem too low, as those may indicate a fake product.
Do Berkey filters work well with hard water or tap water?
Yes, Berkey filters work well with hard water or tap water. The Black Berkey Elements reduce the minerals that make water “hard,” such as calcium and magnesium, but do not remove the beneficial ones. They also remove chlorine and chemicals found in city tap water. Filters like Berkey are very good at removing heavy metals in drinking water, making the water much safer.
What factors affect the flow rate of a Berkey filter?
The factors that affect the flow rate of a Berkey filter are mostly the water level and filter health. The flow rate is fastest when the top chamber remains full because gravity works harder with more water weight. The flow rate slows down as the water level drops. It slows down, too, if the filters become clogged with sediment, making abrasive cleaning necessary. The system effectively treats questionable water sources, too, giving you a high level of water purification.
Is a Berkey water filter a good long-term investment for safe drinking water?
Yes, a Berkey water filter is a good long-term investment for safe drinking water. Because the Black Berkey Elements last for thousands of gallons, the cost to clean one gallon is extremely low, just a few cents. This saves a lot of money compared to buying bottled water. It also ensures you always have purified water available during any emergency.
