Blackie, about four years ago I bought the 24 oz Geopress like yours. I also bought an extra filter. At that time the literature that came with it said that once you wet the filter by using it, it would need to be replaced in 6 months ( May even have been 3 months; not sure exactly). For that reason I have never even tried mine out. I bought it more to provide safe water during a SHTF situation or a natural disaster, like a tornado, that might interrupt the water supply, not so much for hiking and camping. I figured that if I "tested" it, then I'd have to use it a bunch to get my money's worth out of it in 3-6 months, so I didn't test it. I assumed that it was because of whatever chemicals or magic it was that enabled it to PURIFY the water, ie, remove pesticides, micro plastics, herbicides, viruses and all the things that water FILTERS don't remove, anymore than boiling does. I assumed that that special stuff expired at some point, after being wetted. This video prompted me to double check my memory on the expire dates on the cartridges, with the intention of advising you to not use the filter for more than 6 months because that's what the instructions said, but when I went to the Grayl site, now they say that they WILL LAST 3 YEARS with proper maintenance. So thanks for making the video because it led me, indirectly, to find out that my Grayl Geopress can be tested and still give 3 years of service after that. In return for producing this video, I'd like to share with you some knowledge that I gained during my research. The large filter is supposed to only be good for 65 gallons or 350 cycles. You said you estimated that you filtered hundreds of gallons, so you may be FILTERING after that initial 65 gallons, and not fully PURIFYING. I don't pretend to know how they accomplish that part and you may not even care about that part. Also, the website says to prep the system for storage by "dry pressing" it, with no water in it, twice and then emptying the water that gets pushed out. After that you let the filter element air dry for up to 4 days, if it's humid, and then it's ready to be stored. Please don't think I'm trying to tell you your business, it's just that you helped me with this video, so I wanted to share what I learned along my journey. Keep makin' good content, we need it out here! Peace!

Blackie, you have the "GEOPRESS" and that is the larger 24 oz capacity. The smaller one is the "ULTRAPRESS" at 16.9 oz capacity. There is a $5 difference between the two. I recently used mine at a hotel, because the water tasted strongly of chlorine and this helped a lot. I also bought the Stanley cup to go along with my Grayl GeoPress thanks to your video 3 years ago! Thank you sir, you have the best advice.

I have one of those survivor water filters with the pump. I solved this clogging problem by using 100 micron polishing filter pad from my aquarium. I used a hose clamp to secure it to the pre-filter that goes into the water. I know it works because this setup works for polishing the micro particles out of the aquarium water, so I tried it on really dirty water. It came out clean and much faster. I didn't have to back flush the pre-filter after each time either. I live in Virginia and we have clay and extremely fine sand in the fresh water along the coast with other nasties added in. Same principle as my aquarium and works the exact same way. I thought I'd share this here so others might learn and have other ideas from my findings. Take Care and Stay Safe people.

I use a bandanna as a pre-filter

Thanks, Blackie.

Thanks for the pre filtering tip!!!

Yeah, I love the grayl fiter system. I have 2 ultra and 1 norm. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

Thank you for the update Blackie. Good idea to take while traveling.

Great info

I bought one on you're recommendation and loved it so much I got another. Thanks again for the wisdom and the words.

Good video Blackie , thanks for sharing , God bless !

Great advice! Never thought to keep filter in water. Thank you for sharing your practices.

All good advice. I like the Grayl Geopress and have used it for a couple years now. I bought replacement filters at the same time I got the Geopress (and when they were considerably cheaper than they are now. Great discussion Blackie!

Thanks for sharing this with us. I love my Grayl Geopress, too. It’s just amazing how it takes yucky smelling water and makes it taste like clean bottled water. I should order a new filter for mine, too, so I appreciate this reminder.

I use mine every day. I stopped buying bottled water. I travel for a living besides my back country fun times. This thing has filtered water in 48 states and 3 provinces in canada. Everything from hotel faucets to Louisiana swamp water. I have always ( when in backcountry) prefiltered with a dedicated coffee pourover filter with great success

My grayl is awesome, I made the same mistake on the replacement filter. Amazon representative helped me on the phone and emailed me a return label... I also keep a life straw in my pack just in case..

I have had the large Grayl, for about 2 years now. The tannins in the BWCA will plug it up on every trip I've been on in 3-4 days. I even went to center of lakes to try get more life. By the end of a 7 day trip it is spraying water out the sides. After last falls trip I was about done with it, but I found out that tannins plug it fast. This year I'll prefilter through one of the other bag filters out there, that does not filter down so far and see if it last longer, after prefiltering. I do like the idea of it though.

Blackie, Great Video and Information Thanks For Sharing. You Are The Master Woodsman and Bushcrafter and passing on the Craft. I appreciate your hard work and sharing your experience , knowledge, wisdom. Tim L.

Hi Blackie , greeting from Australia, thank you for your time to make these videos. You fisrt purchased the ultra geopress filter, they. Call the one you want just geopress filter. I love. The Grayl geopress, however I use mine in conjunction with a Milbank filter bag.

Interesting idea storing it full. I think pre filtering is always a good idea too.

I have 2 GeoPresses. They are heavy, but damn, the water comes down clean,stays cool,looks classy tastes great and you can add Crystal Light or something with the new silicone sleeve.

Thanks for the thorough lifetime review of this product, have always caught my eye at REI seemed very useful for travelers.

Thanks Blackie

I’ve had and used my grayl I always pre-filter The water that goes into it. It helps on the filter life of the grayl

I just bought one......now I find out I did a good buy!

Thanks for another great video Blackie. I bought one and a couple filters a couple years ago, like one of your subscribers I planned to keep it for an emergency. After your video and reading the comments I might have to break it out and give it a try. How about placing a coffee filter over the end of the bottle when you're filling it? It might be faster than waiting for it to drip through a mil bank bag.

I like Grayl so much that I have 3! ...and the right spare cartridges... ...and I use my faithfull Millibank bag to pre-filter! Thanks, stay safe

Blackie, after you revealed that you bought the wrong filter from Amazon I paused the video and checked the two spare filters I got from them, and by dumb luck, they fit. I have the exact same GeoPress you have. Thanks for the heads up. Great video!

Thank you very much for your great Blackie! Just subbed about a wk ago, James has a hand in it. I've watched so many of your videos but for some odd ass reaso. I never got around to subbing, even though I told myself too! Sorry brother but I really do appreciate your content and genuiness about you! Keep the great content coming! By the way thanks for this vid because i had no idea that there were more than one size Grayal system available!!!

I'll be honest, I've used wat6er filter one season and it worked okay. What bothered me was it was another piece of gear to worry about. I have two pots. One nests in the other and I fill the void with whatever. I can use those pots for more than cooking or boiling water. You can't do that with filter. When I had to filter I used a piece of cloth over the top to keep out the critters and debris. Works just fine. But you are absolutely right about the only drawback to Boling. Unless of course you actually need hot water for food, beverage, or cleaning. BTW, Ohio water sucks. Either from the tap or wild, it's contaminated. That's why I prefer well water or natural springs when I can find them. A practical tip for those carrying water is to freeze it. Serves two purposes. If you are packing any perishables it keeps them cool. And as it melts you get cold drinking water.

👍 I agree, great filter. If you have reasonably reliable water sources. In many areas of the Southwest that is not the case. In fact a water source that exists in December through April or May might not exist the rest of the year. Given the capacity of this filter I find it better to carry a 2nd full liter of water and a Sawyer filter. Depending on where you go, when you go, and how long you plan to stay sometimes even 2 liters of available water is not sufficient.

I'm a truck driver !!! I got this filter little over year ago !! I have to say this thing is so amazing !! It's filtering water fast and clean !!! I have 1 gallon plastic bottle I fil it up for free from ruck stop sink, and filtering it trough Gryal filter when I need it !! You guys don't realize how much money I used to spend on drinkable water !! It's at list $3.00 + per day !! It was run me easy $1000 per month !! Now it's cost me nothing !!! This water filter was and is an excellent idea !! And it's not that expensive , I only paid $90 plus tax !! My filter still going strong , and I filtering at list 2-3 bottles every day !!!

I’ve had my Geopress for about 3 years as well. I usually have replaced the filter cartridge at the first of the year every year. I’ve even taken mine on several trips to Mexico with zero issues

Hey Blackie- Ive heard good stuff about them Grayl filters and would like to get one, but it may be extremely difficult for the price point, to convince the sergeant major wifey. I guess I'll wait and see if the prices drop eventually. Thanks for the info- Be good-

Appreciate it. Just bought my own recently 👍😎

Yeah I do like you I filter through a millbank bag then into the grayl. The new filter they have is supposed to be easier to push and you are able to put powder electrolytes in it now.

I'd like to eventually get a GRAYL filter. I didn't know they came in different sizes either. I figured they were all the one size like the one you have. That's the only ones I've ever seen.👍

The new version filter has a one way valve that lets you add drink mixes to it aswell

Yea noticed they had 2... Think that little guy came out recent... Indide the last year or so... Your definitely right, i wont get water out of a tap anywhere... Might get it off the drink station in a truckstop, those are usually (not always) filtered. I get some heavy minerals from time to time. I got a 1 gallon steel thermos that'll stay cold for 36 hours with a 1/4 of it full of ice. Pondered getting a Grayl just cause of that.

My wife and I took a road trip loop through most of America in 2018. I made a point of drinking at least one small glass of unfiltered tap water everywhere I stopped. It all tasted different. There was one place we stopped, and the restaurant staff refused to give me tap water. They kept insisting I wouldn't like it. I convinced them that wasn't the purpose of my experiment, and it would not reflect badly on them. I simply wanted to know what people were drinking wherever I was at. I even tasted most of the Springs in Saratoga, NY, which is not for the faint of heart for sure as many are encrusted with sulfur and iron deposits. As a gen X child in the early 70s growing up in the PNW, I drank directly from many streams, lakes, and mud puddles. I never got sick, but it was just how things were back then.

Amazon returns are fast and easy usually, in most cases they pay to ship it back then give you a QR code to show at the post office to get the shipping label. Its really easy actually and ive had to use it few times lol 🤷

The grail is not a filter it is a purifier, there is activated charcoal in the filter elements that helps to remove heavy metals and toxins. Their advice on changing the filter element when the press time takes too long to press is based on the filter portion clogging up and not the activated charcoal. By prefiltering (which by the way I do) you prevent the filter portion from getting clogged but you don't stop the activated charcoal from becoming used up. At some point it just becomes a filter and not a purifier. My .02¢ worth.

Let’s not forget, a sawyer/lifestraw/insert your favorite filter here, is cheaper. However, those are not “purifiers”, they are filters, huge difference. Depending on your neck of the woods that could be extremely important… The Grayl is listed as a purifier.

I like the aquamira pressurized hydration reservoir which you can get different filters depending on your environment. This is the best design I’ve found also I add a charcoal filter.

I was told that you can dry the filter out before storing it. I put mine in front of a fan and dried it out to store.

👍👍

Thanks

Absolutely love mine I've had it just about 16ish months and use it daily , like you said I don't like the taste of treated water so it goes through the press . I've had to replace mine 2x in that time span but I drink about 4 - 5 refills per day at work

👍🏾

The filters are not cheap. What I do is buy an extra. When the first is done, I put the extra in it and then go order another using the information off the package. I also keep a package with the number in the file cabinet with all the manuels from apliances and machines. Don't feel bad, I have ordered wrong more than once when I was not preparred with the right number.👍

If you are using tap water to back flush your filters don’t do it with a Sawyer the anti corrosion added to most systems to keep lead and stuff out of your water blocks the filter. Says so in the instructions. Have fun stay safe.

If you estimate that you have filtered “hundreds of gallons”, then you are doing very well since it is only rated for 65 gallons (350 uses or 250l).

Strongly recommend pre filtering and back flushing, makes the filters last way longer and work better.

Thanks for the review Blackie! I have a geo press in each BOB and a couple to use now. Yes it was a little costly, but having the security was worth it to mw. I do have a millbank bag for each filter. I purchased a couple SRO stainless cups made for the geo press and they fit great. I do like and use the sawyer as a backup. I always look forward to your new videos!

I've run out of water more times than I want to admit so I carry more liquid than necessary by now, plus some filtering and/or purifying option. I got the lesson good and still often can't find a source of water, especially going up mountains... If you're not familiar with the terrain, you should research and plan ahead!

Not sure what you’re trying to say in this video. Ordering the wrong filter is your mistake, the small filters are for the Ultralight/Ultrapress and the larger ones are for the Geopress. The water quality will affect the life of the filter, not Grayl’s fault. Try filtering with a bandanna or something.

i have had one over 4 years now, the first filter i used did about 35L from new filtering what appeared to be clean water, got so i couldnt press it anymore and smelt of old socks. So i contacted grayl and they sent me another filter for free ... that's done maybe 200L and its slow now (... i have a spare filter on stand by) As i understand it, the filters age even when not used. I discovered pouring boiling water into the dead filter can restore it to a certain extent, (it might not be as effective, but i havent noticed any bad effects) I think the grayls are excellent, either for constant use, or for a specific trip ... their not so good when used intermittently, i followed the cleaning advice but sometimes drying the filter (to put it away between uses) is difficult, if you leave ANY moisture in it then it can start molding (hence the old sock smell) and shorten the filter life.

I'll add this. I dont drink straight from the grayl bottle. I ALWAYS pour it into a cup or other container first. I ended up ruining a pretty much brand new filter when I got strep last year.

Spot on Blackie! I'm finishing up a two and a half year defense technical contract in India. I'm on my third filter. The Grayl has kept me safe. The locals sing praise about their water here and this filter makes it almost taste my Ozark AL home filtration system. Love the content and it was a pleasure meeting you at Kaufman's.

Thank you Blackie I'm in market for one of those great info thanks again

This is quite interesting...just wondering if the purifier is still capable of doing 100% of its job after this much use past what the manufacturer has this rated / tested for. I would be really interested in what the last few liters of water would show in testing. Is the water simply passing through the filter enough to suggest the water is completely clean?

Thanks for sharing the experience. BTW how do you prefilter the muddy water? Do you think a piece of cloth held over the opening of the bottle would be sufficient?

Hi Blackie, why not give the number for the new Grayl filter that you purchased? I have a Geopress and I will need to get a filter, but I don’t know which one to purchase.

Hey Blackie! Do you think a coffee filter around the water filter being held on with a rubber band would work as a pre-filter?

Yeah Blackie you are not kidding about how water taste in different area's. As whenever, I would go to Ballinger, Texas to see one of my great Aunt's as a kid the water at her house would have a taste like salted kerosene.

I have high-end life straws, maybe I should get a grail?

Blackie, take a picture of the filter and package with your phone so you have it for reference.

Talk about changing location for water taste. You should try Germany's water .

Blackie I will buy it from you I have the small and the large

I love the grayl, I just cant justify the weight, the thing is so heavy if you're trying to cover ground. Sawyer squeeze + CNOC bag for me, less than half the weight, much bigger life span. That said, nothing is as convenient as the grayl, plus it hits viruses and chemicals.

Like Hoku DaDog said, yours is the Geopress . Just label it Geo. 😁

The question is does the fact that it doesn't press mean the filter is done, or does it stop filtering up to par before then?

Boiling water is not good enough in my woods, too many farms, golf courses, and homeowners that use chemicals.

Is the gasket that makes the press part of the filter or the bottle? That would determine the bottles durability.

After the initial investment I wouldn't cheap out too much.😂 Replace that filter every year, whether it needs it or not. It may still filter particulates but chemical ability is gone. Ask yourself "Just why the hell did I buy this thing again?". It does what it does well. I have multiple prefilter/filter/disinfection/purifying systems plus chlorine/iodine and tablets. And thers always boiling and solar/ultrviolet (i have one of those too w/spare batterys).

Just because it "filters" the water thru doesn't mean that the water is actually being purified. The activated carbon probably stopped working in yours after 2mo-3mo, which is why you can still taste whether the water is sweet/gross. Id also guess that the electro-absorption filter stopped working in about the same time frame. With a newer filter you probably wont have any taste, or much less taste. If you really want a filter that will last for +3yr, then get a hollow fiber filter, which should last 10x as long as activated carbon or electro-absorption filters and cost a fraction of the price. Activated carbon and electro-absorption are generally more expensive and don't last as long, but they remove some smaller particles from the water and improve the taste. Hollow fiber filters can also be backwashed to clean them out, which shouldnt be done with activated carbon or electro-absorption filters.

Can you pour boiling water into the geopress outer cup as you wait for it to cool down (after boiling in a titanium kettle, for example) or will the heat damage the plastic? (Im not suggesting the filter is used with boiling water, only if the plastic can withstand the heat of boiling water)? Thanks!

Can that type of filter be back flushed? So typically the Grayl would be used for on-the-go situations for procuring a larger amount of water quicker. How would your water purification methods differ depending on where you were at and the situation at hand? At home/homestead/one-off grid to in the woods at camp or walking somewhere?

1:59 haha I love when I can afford to sit and drink til I'm full

I have that same grayl you got but I've always wondered what happens to the bacteria and viruses do they just sit in the filter and incubate and grow?

I have to label everything. I also keep a record on a computer drive of part #s

I have stored my system full of water in the car with my small get home bag. Is that not how it’s supposed to be stored? Full of water?

Having a similar situation, I took a 1-gal bag, filled it with the bad water that I filtered through a handkerchief, then added Alum (at the proper mixture), to take the mud and tannins out. After a half-hour I would then pour off the top 1/2-gal and filter that top 1/2 gal. repeat. Note: I made a charcoal filter to my line. Yes, it took me an hour and a lot of work but if i did that as soon as I made camp, even before setting my tent, by the time I was ready for cooking, the water was ready to filter. Then before bed, i would repeat and allow the Alum to settle overnight and filter the next morning.

I like the sawyer more, you can do more with it!!! You can get two gallon water bags, one gallon, quarts, and connect to badder.

Wonder what caused the sweet taste.Sugar cane,sugar beets?

Really curious how you keep bacteria from growing in the filter?

Good Ole Boy Blackie?, should listen to what the manufacturer says about their product, or the doctor about treating Dysentery!

i thought you had to keep track of how much water went through it because it is only good for so many gallons?

Sylacauga?

Why didn’t you just order it from Grayl. I got my Geopress from them in 3 days . Cheaper straight from them

I made the exact same mistake!

If you got the one wrong from Amazon just return it. As soon as you bring It in to a place you can return it, they scan it, and then your refund is issued.

Trade the smaller filter or pick up the ultralight system for the wife!

What is “whooorter” ? 😂 Just kidding. Blessings Blackie

yup those aint cheap. 89 spondooblies

3years is way more gallons filtered than what Grayle says

Just keep the place where it's got the numbers on it put it in your file and and you'll have it forever or take a piece of paper and put it put in your wallet you've always got it

I've got the ultralight. I don't think they make it anymore. Just a matter of time before they discontinue the filters.

I wouldn’t buy! Blackie approved I’ll buy one. Thanks.

Ordering the wrong part, the curse of old age and being to lazy or vain to find my glasses and put the things on.