I have been sent a 500ml GRAYL Ultrapress Filter and Purifier water bottle to test. There are other products in the range, such as a 710ml GRAYL GeoPress water bottle and also a 500ml and 710ml bottle made of titanium.
Features include:
Easy to use – fill, press, drink
- Removes waterborne pathogens including virus, bacteria and Protozoa
- Activated carbon filters particulates, such as sediment and microplastics, and adsorbs many chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, VOCs, flavours and odours
- Replaceable purifier cartridge rated for 300 cycles, or 150 litres.
- RiverFlow® spout
- FlipCarry® handle
- Multi-functional SimpleVent® drink cap vents air (by twisting cap ½ turn) during purification and filtration.
- Non-slip SoftPress® ergonomic comfort pad on drinking cap
- TPE TopoGrip® for tactile, non-slip performance and durability
- Price: £90
- See GRAYL
My thoughts: GRAYL Ultrapress Filter and Purifier nature water bottle
To be honest, in Scotland, it’s rare that I need to filter water when out in the hills and mountains. I have only occasionally been in the situation where fresh water hasn’t been in ready supply. But I know it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan for times when fresh water isn’t easy to find. Also, while I am usually pretty sure the water in the Scottish streams is okay to drink, I guess I can never be 100% sure.
So, I have been making more of a habit of taking the GRAYL filter bottle with me for hiking.
Compared to an ordinary plastic water bottle, the GRAYL filter bottle is heavier. It’s the design, with an internal water holder and filter, that adds the weight. It’s not stupidly heavy but it’s a point to consider when carrying a rucksack of kit.
The bottle looks and feels very well made. The materials are strong and durable and I am sure they will be long-lasting. The screw top and cap and really easy to use and I am confident they will go on being reliable for resisting leaks etc.
One thing that is surprisingly frustrating is that the bottle gets stuck when trying to push it into a mesh pocket on the outside of my pack. Because the outer material is tactile to touch, it also resists being easy to slip into a pocket. To insert the bottle into the mesh side pocket I had to hold the top of the pocket open wide and shoogle the bottle in.
In the end, I chose to place the bottle in a larger pocket that was made of nylon fabric rather than mesh.
To filter water, you pull apart the inner from the outer of the bottle. It’s not very easy but with a bit of twisting and pulling the two parts separate. You then fill the outer part of the bottle with the water you wish to purify and then reinsert the inner part of the bottle, which houses the filter.
Again, it’s not that easy to push the two pack together but if you open the cap a little and twist as you push they do go back together. I found the best method is to twist and push down a bit while the bottle is resting on a solid surface, listen for a bit of air escaping and then do the same again. It’s more of a forced action than I expected but it does work.
You need to ensure the two parts are fully back together because otherwise you might end up with the water leaking out.
You can then drink from either the wider cup-like opening or the smaller drinking spout, depending on which one you choose to unscrew
The filter is said to remove a range of viruses, such as Rotavirus, SARS, Hepatitis A, Norovirus; bacterias such as E. coli, Cholera, Salmonella, Dysentery, plus Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Amoebae, which might all be found in contaminated water.
It will also filter particulates, chemicals such as PFAS, chlorine and chlorofom, as well as lead, arsenic and chronium.
I can’t tell you if this is the case, as I do not have access to a lab but I have found the water I’ve filtered from various locations – including rivers, lochs and a pond – to look and taste good enough to drink.
The GRAYL bottle costs £90 (the titanium version is an extra £100), which is not cheap and you need to replace the filter cartridge every 150l. But if you are heading off for an adventure where you can’t be sure of accessing fresh water, this bottle is could be a good choice because it’s robust, durable and straightforward to use, even if it takes a bit of pushing and twisting to operate.