Way back in 2008, a very cool dreadlocked hippie mama RVing in a veggie-oil powered motorhome enlightened me about Berkey Water Filter Systems. I loved the idea of enjoying the purest, freshest drinking water wherever we traveled! But as a frugal RVer, I just keep finding other ways to spend the $300-plus dollars required to get a Berkey for our rig.
So I couldn’t believe when after all these years, I got the chance to find out what the Berkey fuss is all about. Have you ever thought about buying one? Here’s what you need to know about the Travel Berkey Water Filter System. Hint: I think it’s (almost) perfect for the nomadic life.
(affiliate links are in this post, and we received a complimentary Berkey in exchange for an honest review … which it is!)
I Tried My First Berkey Water Filter, Here’s What Happened
Last month I got a generous invite from a Berkey rep who asked me if I wanted to review the company’s most compact unit, the Travel Berkey. Of course I said yes! The company sent me a free Travel Berkey demo unit, and a whole new world of clean, tasty drinking water opened my eyes to the power of this pricey but oh-so-worth it water filter system that’s ideal for the RV lifestyle.
Ready to drink the cleanest water wherever you roam? You’ve come to the right place.
All sizes of the Berkey Water Filter System will remove 99% of bacteria and 99.9% of all contaminants from any water poured into the top chamber.
The Berkey has two stainless steel chambers: a top one where the unfiltered water goes, and a bottom chamber that holds your pure, filtered water. Built for nomads like us, the Travel Berkey holds 1.5 gallons.
- This is a gravity-fed system that doesn’t need power, and it relies on two charcoal filters to clean dirty water.
- You don’t have to plumb it into your RV water system, or stick it outside next to your gross sewer hose.
With a Berkey you are removing everything from tiny pathogens to polyfluoroalkyl substances, aka PFAS. Plus, it won’t strip the water so clean that you lose beneficial minerals, like calcium and sodium.
See: Eliminating Forever Chemicals: The Remarkable Power of Berkey Water Filters Introduction
Berkey-filtered water doesn’t taste like plastic RV plumbing
In 2018 we tried an under-counter in-line water filtration system that made similar claims. This cylinder mounted underneath our kitchen sink and the water output was superior to any typical Camco hose-mounted filter from Hellmart.
We loved that filtered water, But until I tried the Travel Berkey, I had no idea that water in our RV could taste this good!
Why does Berkey water taste better than any other RV water filter system?
Water that runs through a Berkey system never touches plastic RV plumbing. All you taste is the purest drinking water on the planet.
Not even the best internal or external RV water filter system will completely remove plastic aftertaste from RV plumbing and hoses.
With a Berkey, you just spend about 30 minutes or so to prime the filters and set it up for use. What comes out of that stainless steel chamber is the purest, tastiest water on the planet.
I have never tasted better drinking water. Ever.
Curious about the Berkey versus EPA lawsuit? Get the full story here.
Want to get the Travel Berkey for your RV? Don’t skip these steps
Have you ever heard the phrase “RTFM”? If you buy a Travel Berkey, then you need to read that manual! The Berkey system looks easy to set up but there are key things to know when you decide to put one in your RV kitchen. Here are the top three:
- Priming Berkey filters is a necessary hassle you will do whenever you buy new ones. Even though there is a faucet attachment, I don’t recommend doing it with your RV faucet. If you do, don’t blame me if your kitchen faucet aerator falls off like ours did.
- Use a measuring cup when refilling the top chamber, or else risk overflowing the bottom chamber and spilling water everywhere.
- And never, ever forget to take it off the counter when your wheels start turning!
The Two Reasons a Travel Berkey Might Not Work for Every RVer
As I recalled the day that hippie full-timer told me about the Berkey, I realized that she had a 35-foot motorhome with high kitchen cabinets and a lot of counterspace. And now that I think about it, the other Berkey evangelists in RVs that I’ve met since then, have all had bigger RVs than us.
Our current 2024 Arctic Fox 25R has more counter space than we enjoyed in our previous Arctic Fox. But from the day we unboxed it, we sadly discovered that the Travel Berkey is too tall for our rig if we want it to sit on the beautiful stainless steel base Berkey makes.
Measure carefully if you want a Berkey for your RV. Is there enough room between cabinets and countertop? Do you have a better location?
The Berkey needs to sit on a riser to easily pour water from the spigot. We rigged up a trailer trashy solution and put it on some RV leveling blocks. But that tacky hack was an eyesore after a while, so I ditched them and put it directly on the edge of our countertop. It’s the only other way we could easily access the spigot.
But that’s when another issue cropped up …
Our countertop lost valuable space
When you live full-time in an RV, every inch of available counter space is precious. If you get a Berkey for your RV, you’ll need to get creative about what goes where and how you use the rest of that countertop.
I thought we had one good place for it, next to our Nutribullet. Unfortunately that is right next to our stove, and Berkey suggests not keeping their system near a heat source.
After moving the Berkey to a recommended location, we quickly disliked how much room it took up right next to the doorway. Plus, that area can also be a heat source sometimes. But it’s the best we can do with what we’ve got, and it bums me out that we don’t have another spot where the Travel Berkey can sit.
For RVers like me and Jim, who really hate countertop clutter, I’m trying to be honest with myself. Is RVing with a Travel Berkey worth losing countertop space? I’m struggling with that question because this water is AMAZING!
If your rig has adequate space, a Travel Berkey for RVers is a no-brainer. It will give you the best tasting water on the road. Ever.
The Travel Berkey is an incredible accessory for RV living, and I’m thrilled at the quality of water I’ve been drinking for the last month. I know you will be too.
So if you’ve always wanted one, my biggest recommendation is to measure twice before jumping in. Make sure you have the space, and that you’re willing to sacrifice the footprint area it consumes in your rig. If you’re fortunate enough to have that kind of kitchen real estate, then yes! Go for it!
Just like the dreadlocked hippie told me all those years ago, Berkey Water Filter Systems are simply the best way to enjoy clean, healthy drinking water wherever your travels take you. Nothing else comes close.
We love our Berkey! We bought the plastic version for weight and it fits a lot of water…but I can’t remember how much. The only time we could not use it was in Mexico because it does not remove salt. It was such a hassle to keep 2 3gallon bottles full!
Mine is attached to the wall with Velcro straps so we don’t move it even when traveling.
I sent you a picture on your email.
We love our Berkey! We bought the plastic version for weight and it fits a lot of water…but I can’t remember how much. The only time we could not use it was in Mexico because it does not remove salt. It was such a hassle to keep 2 3gallon bottles full!
Mine is attached to the wall with Velcro straps so we don’t move it even when traveling.
Hah! Great minds, Patti! I LOVE that idea about using velcro straps. Hmmm….
Strap is old waistband from Jim’s jeans with velcro sewn on.
Fulltimer for 10+ years here.
I have NEVER had or used a Berkey and we use a Culligan water filter and have no regrets in not spending the funds for the pricey and BIG Berkey. We drink a lot of water and we really like the size and convenience of the Culligan 32 qt container.
I know many RVers love the Berkey, and I might as well, but just not interested in the initial cost and the size of the unit.
Thanks for sharing your review with us, I found it very interesting
Good to know Susan, thank you. Is your Culligan an internal or external filter? Glad you are happy with it.