Gear Review: Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier Bottle
Value Rating: 8
Durability Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 8
Location of Test: Eagle Cap Wilderness
Duration of Test: 4 days
Product Name: Ultralight Purifier Bottle
Product Brand: Grayl
Best Use: International travel
Sizes: 16oz
The Full Review:
On a recent 4-day backpacking trip, I got the chance to try out a relatively new device in the water treatment market: The Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle. I find this name a little deceptive. By backpacking standards, this bottle is anything but lightweight. A Nalgene with the same capacity comes in at a third the weight. Though considering the absurd degree of water treatment offered by the Grayl and how usable it is, it is impossible to find a comparable product that weighs less.
The Grayl uses some clever active technology to treat water. When you press down on the filter (same as a French press) a combination of electro adsorption, activated carbon, and silver treated zeolites decimate anything that might cause gastric distress. Simply put, the Grayl is a purifier, filter, and container all wrapped into one easy-to-use unit.
During this 4-day trip, we used the Grayl to treat all drinking water for two people. This felt like the upper limit of the device. I would consider it a personal system. There are better products for group trips. Actual use of the device was incredibly straightforward: fill, press, drink. 16 ounces of water took only a few seconds to press through the filter and the taste was exceptional. I feel it is worth mentioning that the actual pressing requires a good deal of force. It took two hands and solid squatting motion to get the Grayl to work. Also, a bit of the activated carbon began to find its way into the treated water by the end of our trip. This occurs with many carbon-based filters.
At the end of our trip, I was left feeling like the Grayl was a bit overkill for backcountry water sources in the Northwest. If we were drinking from stagnant water in the jungle, I wouldn't hesitate to bring the Grayl along.
The Good
Incredibly simple and quick
Total water purification and filtration
Functions as a container
Very durable
The Bad:
Somewhat heavy
Short filter lifespan (150 L)
Small capacity
Considerable force is required to operate
The Bottom Line:
If you are traveling anywhere with seriously questionable water sources, look no further. The Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle is up to the task.
The Full Review:
On a recent 4-day backpacking trip, I got the chance to try out a relatively new device in the water treatment market: The Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle. I find this name a little deceptive. By backpacking standards, this bottle is anything but lightweight. A Nalgene with the same capacity comes in at a third the weight. Though considering the absurd degree of water treatment offered by the Grayl and how usable it is, it is impossible to find a comparable product that weighs less.
The Grayl uses some clever active technology to treat water. When you press down on the filter (same as a French press) a combination of electro adsorption, activated carbon, and silver treated zeolites decimate anything that might cause gastric distress. Simply put, the Grayl is a purifier, filter, and container all wrapped into one easy-to-use unit.
During this 4-day trip, we used the Grayl to treat all drinking water for two people. This felt like the upper limit of the device. I would consider it a personal system. There are better products for group trips. Actual use of the device was incredibly straightforward: fill, press, drink. 16 ounces of water took only a few seconds to press through the filter and the taste was exceptional. I feel it is worth mentioning that the actual pressing requires a good deal of force. It took two hands and solid squatting motion to get the Grayl to work. Also, a bit of the activated carbon began to find its way into the treated water by the end of our trip. This occurs with many carbon-based filters.
At the end of our trip, I was left feeling like the Grayl was a bit overkill for backcountry water sources in the Northwest. If we were drinking from stagnant water in the jungle, I wouldn't hesitate to bring the Grayl along.
The Good
Incredibly simple and quick
Total water purification and filtration
Functions as a container
Very durable
The Bad:
Somewhat heavy
Short filter lifespan (150 L)
Small capacity
Considerable force is required to operate
The Bottom Line:
If you are traveling anywhere with seriously questionable water sources, look no further. The Grayl Ultralight Purifier Bottle is up to the task.