When I first bought my Grayl GeoPress, it was hailed as the best water filter bottle on the market. After over six years on the road, it remains the one item I never leave behind in my backpack.
What initially made the GeoPress an instant hit with travelers, backpackers, and hikers was its ability to both purify and store water effortlessly. This meant no more dealing with cumbersome straw filters or gravity kits—just fill up, press, and carry clean, safe water on any trail or when you’re testing the limits of street-side water fountains
But today, with many other water filter bottles for travel out there, does Grayl’s GeoPress still hold its ground as the water purifier bottle king? I recently started using the redesigned bottle and while not a lot has changed, it has changed the way I travel and hike.
Why You Can Trust My Review
I'm Olly, I've personally tested and reviewed the Grayl Geopress and over 10 other water filter bottles over the past 5 years.
I've put the Grayl GeoPress through the wringer– filtering glacial streams in the Himalayas to tackling dubious tap sources in Indian hostels. In this review, I'll help you decide whether the GeoPress deserves a place in your travel or hiking backpack—or if you should save your money.
Grayl GeoPress: Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Material | Polypropylene #5, food-grade silicone, TPE, ABS food-grade plastic |
| Capacity | 24 oz (710 ml) |
| Weight | 15.9 oz (450 g) |
| Filtration time | 8 seconds per 24 oz (5 liters/minute) |
| Removes | 99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.99% of protozoa |
| Filters | Particulates (e.g., silt, microplastics), chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, flavors, & odors |
| Durability | Withstands 10 ft drops (full of water) onto concrete |
| Cartridge Lifespan | 350 presses (65 gallons / 250 liters) |
| Warranty | 10-Year Warranty |
Cost & Where To Buy The Grayl GeoPress
You can buy the GeoPress on Grayl's website or on Amazon for $99.95 USD.
While it may seem like a significant investment for a simple water purifier bottle, factoring in the future cost savings of not needing disposable filters or bottled water helps justify the purchase. With its high-quality construction and a 10-year warranty, this is a bottle that will likely serve you well for many years to come.
Overview And First Impressions
The first time I picked up the Grayl GeoPress, it was hard to hard to miss the larger-than-average size– much larger than a standard 24 oz (710 ml) bottle. However, after pulling it apart, it's clear that the extra size is to accommodate its built-in filter membrane.
Unlike the Ultrapress models, the lid on the GeoPress features a handy silicone tab, a clever touch that prevents it from getting lost.
The GeoPress feels robust and high-quality in hand. Immediately you'll notice the high-quality construction of durable, thick food-grade plastic reinforced with silicone components.
However, you'll also notice the solid weight of 15.9 oz (450 g) empty—a factor gram-counting backpackers are quick to scorn at. However, once they try the GeoPress, they're usually quick to trade in their tangled hoses and bulky bladders.
Pros & Cons of the Grayl GeoPress
Pros
- Dual Functionality: Purifies and stores water in the same bottle.
- Effective Purification: Eliminates bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and contaminants.
- Durable Build: Made from high-quality, thick plastic and silicone components for long-lasting use.
- Leak-Proof Design: Ensures no spills or leaks in your backpack.
- Silicone Lid Tab: Prevents the lid from getting lost during your travels.
- Easy to Use: Simple operation in one convenient package.
- 350 Presses: Close to a year's worth of daily purification on one filter cartridge.
- 10 Year warranty
- Zero Waste: With Grayl’s Zero Waste Cartridge Recycling Programme.
Cons
- Heavy: Weighs 15.9 oz (450 g) empty, which may be a drawback for ultralight backpackers.
- Large Size: Bigger than standard 24 oz bottles, taking up more space in your pack.
- Pricey: Higher cost compared to some other water purifier options on the market.
- Filter Wear from Sediment: Heavy sediment water, like glacier streams, can wear down the filter much more quickly.
- Cartridges are Expensive: While a single cartridge usually lasts me a year, they cost $30 each to replace.
Testing the Grayl GeoPress For Travel & Hiking Trips
I've been using my Grayl Geopress almost daily since 2019. As a full-time traveler, I spend most of my time in remote regions where clean clean tap water is out of reach. For travel, the GeoPress is my daily bottle allowing me to reliably purify and store water from any tap, eliminating my reliance on single-use plastic bottles.
For hiking and expeditions, this bottle is a staple in my backpack. I've worked on several expeditions in Nepal and Pakistan where the teams are using exclusively these bottles.
Over the years, I've come to love this product, it's been a game changer for me and it's very hard for me to fault it. However, below I'll do my best to give you an honest review.
The Purifying Process
While Grayl has easy "quick start guides" on their website and packaging, using the GeoPress for the first time is very intuitive: grip the Outer Cup and Inner Press separately, twist to separate, and fill the outer cup from any water source.
Next, twist the cap halfway to release air, then press down steadily for about eight seconds and you have a bottle full of pure drinking water.
This simple process doesn't just remove bacteria, but also 99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, and 99.99% of protozoa. This makes it a purifying bottle, and the filter is by far the most effective from others I've tried.
Update: The earlier GeoPress models had a minor "squirting" issue caused by a slightly imperfect seal. I owned one of these earlier models, often ending up with water splashing in my face—a bit embarrassing at times. Fortunately, the redesigned GeoPress has effectively resolved this problem.
Purifying Dirty Water
The first thing Grayl newbies ask is "really, like ANY water source, what about that puddle?"
Yes, the Grayl GeoPress is designed to purify any water source. However, generally speaking, the dirtier the water, the lower the life expectancy of your cartridge filter.
Yes, you can purify water from a murky puddle loaded with giardia and other nasties you'd find on a Himalayan trail. Will it make the water safe to drink? I'm 99.99% sure it will. Does that mean you should test it just to prove a point? Probably not. But I have, and I can confirm that I didn’t end up needing an emergency helicopter evacuation.
In normal purifying conditions, you'll be filtering water sources from a suspicious tap or flowing stream. In this case, the bottle is very easy to press and the water comes out clear, smelling fresh, and tasting great.
Read: Grayl has released a new titanium GeoPress. Read my titanium Ultrapress review.
Using the Grayl GeoPress as a Travel Bottle
In my daily travels, the Grayl GeoPress is my go-to bottle. I use the bottle to fill the inner section with clean water from restaurants etc, but most of the time I filter straight from the tap in countries across South East Asia, Central America, and the Indian subcontinent. I'm yet to get sick from drinking water when using the Grayl GeoPress.
I even use the GeoPress to filter the heavy chlorine smell and taste from even supposedly "safe" drinking taps across Australia, the USA, and Europe.
The GeoPress shines as a beast of a travel filter bottle thanks to its simplicity and ease of use. While the initial cost might discourage some, backpackers quickly come to appreciate the savings and the environmental benefits of avoiding constant purchases of single-use plastic bottles.
Durability & Filter Maintenance
After spending near $100 for a water bottle, you'd expect the Grayl GeoPress to be robust, and it is. I’ve dropped this bottle multiple times, once from at least 10 meters while rock climbing, and it has endured each impact with only a few minor scratches.
Maintaining the GeoPress is straightforward, thanks to the cartridge filter system. The filter typically lasts for about 350 presses. I've found that cartridges usually last longer than this, though I do wish it had a longer lifespan. You’ll know it’s time to replace the cartridge when the bottle becomes noticeably harder to press.
That said, in the beginning, purifying water with the GeoPress is a swift process, taking around eight seconds per press. However, after using and replacing several cartridges over the years, I’ve noticed that the purification time extends significantly after approximately 100 presses. It's still fast and efficient, but something to note.
Tip: On my recent trip to the Karakoram, we were relying purely on mineral-rich glacial water sources. While the Grayl performed as usual for the first few days, I noticed that the heavy sediments in the water were making the bottle much harder to press. This is the first time this has happened to me, but I would recommend bringing a spare cartridge if you are using the GeoPress on an expedition.
Verdict
If you can't tell from this review, I'm a huge fan of the Grayl GeoPress. Forget the BeFree squeeze bottles and ditch the Lifestraw. In my use case as a traveler and hiker, this is the best water purifying solution I've found after trying every water bottle filter on the market.
Why?– Because it's simple, it works, and the filtration is amazing.
Yes, it's slightly heavier than alternatives and the initial cost may give some backpackers pause. However, if you travel or hike a lot, the Grayl GeoPress is a must-have addition to your kit for long-term savings, not to mention the environmental benefits of reducing single-use plastic.
For clean drinking water anywhere on earth, pick up the Grayl GeoPress for $99 on Amazon or directly from Grayl's Website.
