When trying to pour out the last cupful of water, we repeatedly had problems with the filter and fill housing falling out and onto our hands, the glass, or the counter. The Brita Grand pitcher fits both the Longlast+ and the Pitcher and Dispenser filters (like the Everyday does). The Grand has a thumb-flip lid for one-handed filling, which is a feature we like on the Pur Classic (and one the Everyday lacks). But the Grand also has a molded-in “pipe” inside the fill hole; this shape creates tight crannies that are harder to clean than the Everyday’s simple design. And the Grand has the same concave handle as the Everyday handle, which is harder to grasp than the Pur Classic’s.
The Aquagear pitcher holds 10 cups of water, like the other pitchers we tested, but it’s much bulkier and heavier when filled. It has the same automatic filling lever as the Waterdrop pitcher, but it doesn’t close properly, which could allow for dust and other debris to gather inside the top receptacle. Presumably, this would be filtered out, but it would be better if the lever sealed every time water was added.
Clogging has been an issue with Pur’s filters, due to fine bubbles, and potentially sediment, which may get stuck in the filter media and prevent water from passing through. The company added internal vents to both the Lead Reduction and the Pur Pitcher filters to help the bubbles escape. Unfortunately, there’s no universal answer to whether you need a water filter.
If you’re looking for more-complete filtering of organic chemicals like industrial by-products, our picks for faucet-mount water filters pass the most difficult VOC test. You can search NSF and WQA databases just in case someone has specifically tested for the compound you’re worried about, but that’s a frustrating process. The lead-removing filter pitchers are each grabbing some VOCs, but neither brand is a clear leader. The main reason to filter drinking water is that chlorine and chloramine — the disinfectants used in most civic water supplies — taste awful.
That narrow stream gets wider and more turbulent as you increase or decrease the angle and flow, so unexpected splashes are frequent until you learn just how to pour. Results have shifted over the years for the top rank within the carbon filter group, but the important choice is definitely between leaving minerals in or taking them out. Ultimately, ZeroWater is an easy-to-use option for those who want the purest water possible but can’t install a reverse-osmosis system. If you want to add back some flavor, a squeeze of lemon does the trick nicely. Mavea, maker of a former recommended pitcher and filter, no longer operates in North America. Of course, some plumbing systems develop rust or other cloudiness issues, and if you have that problem in your home, we’re confident you’ll get far more mileage out of the LifeStraw filter than Pur’s or Brita’s.
We ran 2.5 gallons of heavily rust-contaminated water through the LifeStraw Home Dispenser, and although it slowed slightly, it never stopped filtering. For anyone who has experienced clogging with another water filter—including our recommended Purs and Britas—or who is looking for a solution to known rusty or otherwise sediment-rich tap water, it’s our clear pick. The LifeStraw also has four ANSI/NSF certifications (for chlorine, taste and odor, lead, and mercury), brita filter pitcher and it’s been independently tested by certified labs against dozens of other ANSI/NSF standards. The fact that LifeStraw makes these test results public and has years of experience in supplying filtration for disaster relief, developing-world water-quality initiatives, and outdoors enthusiasts, means we trust its claims. A few design and filtration-speed quibbles, which are outlined in the main discussion below, reflect why it’s not our top pick or runner-up.