Did you know that one in three people lack access to safe drinking water? That is a staggering 2.6 billion people that lack access to a basic human necessity.
And, if you plan to travel to any developing countries in the world, you will discover that you too, will lack access to safe drinking water at times on your trip. Therefore, taking a water bottle such as the GRAYL Geopress can provide the security you need for access to safe drinking water.
Throughout the post I go into further detail on the importance of accessible drinking water and how the GRAYL Geopress can make your life that little bit easier while travelling. There’ll be plenty of information on the importance of a water filtering device and how to use this water bottle.
Why Should You Travel with a Filtering Bottle?
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
The GRAYL Geopress is the perfect addition to any long adventure as it significantly reduces plastic waste in developing countries. I strongly believe that we are simply making the issue of access to safe drinking water much worse if we continue to buy plastic water bottles.
As soon as we reduce plastic consumption, the environmental impact will be much lesser. Therefore, a reusable water bottle that safely filters bacteria, viruses and more is a great way to start.
Save Money in the Long Run
There is a bit of a hefty price to start up this water bottle but lets crunch some maths. Say you are travelling for 6 months and need to purchase a 2L water bottle daily on average. Most 2L bottled water tends to be around $1. So, $1 x 180 days = $180 AUD.
$180 AUD is the price of a brand new GRAYL Geopress and all you need access to is a fresh water source. Continue travelling for another 6 months, and all you’ll need is to purchase another cartridge which is around $60 AUD and last for roughly 250L.
Convenience
Ahh, the convenience of waking up after a big nights sleep and not having to run down to the store for a bottle of water. It’s so nice to simply wander to a tap in the bathroom to refill the bottle.
Not to mention, you won’t need to plan ahead with how much water you need for multi-day hikes; As long as there is a freshwater source nearby.
Safe Drinking Water Facts
Only 1% of the water on the Earth is freshwater and accessible and safe for drinking. This is an absolutely minuscule amount and is alarming for developing countries that lack water security.
A major portion of the world has unsafe tap water, including Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Russia. Not to mention, these are some parts of the world with the largest populations.
Sadly, unsafe drinking water results in roughly 1.2 million deaths yearly, worldwide. This is a major humanitarian issue that devastatingly impacts billions of people.
GRAYL Geopress Review
I spent about 6 months backpacking South East Asia with my GRAYL Geopress filtering bottle, and to say the least, I wouldn’t have it any other way. In short, would I recommend this water bottle? Yes, absolutely.
Nonetheless, there are a range of things that I liked and disliked about the bottle, and I’ll go into further detail about it.
Firstly, let’s talk design. I actually love the design and there are a range of colours to suit every traveller. I chose Alpine White because I liked the gradient effect with the filter on the inside. It’s a unique bottle and I wanted it to appear different from every other bottle!
Nonetheless, there are a few other lovely colours that are available, including bright oranges, basic black and deep amber. Choose your favourite design! Additionally, I must add that the design is sturdy and hard wearing. I love the handle on the side for easy lifting and it’s the perfect spot to add a carabiner clip. I do have a few scuffs on the lid of my bottle, but they are all reminders of a fantastic journey. It gives character!
I’ll be honest, it is quite a pricey product to get started with, however I believe that the convenience of easy filtration and access to safe drinking water anywhere in the world is an absolute selling point. Forget awkwardly sipping water out of a straw in a river and leave the hefty plastic wastage behind, this bottle is a serious gamechanger!
However, one downfall I have noticed with the bottle is that it can be a little tricky to get the hang of the filtration process and you may end up with a bit of water squirting on you. My recommendaton is to keep the lid open and slowly press the bottle down. Additionally, this usually reduces spilling.
The handle makes it easy to carry and great to clip to a backpack using a carabiner. And, for what its worth, I belive the design is very slim, not unecessarily bulky and didn’t add too much excess weight to my luggage. Very impressed!
Over my 6 month journey, I went through roughly 1.5 cartridges and I absolutely loved travelling with this bottle. Please note that it doesn’t necessarily make water taste great, but it filters out anything nasty so that you can stay safely hydrated! Maybe something GRAYL could consider improving next would be the water quality taste.
Tip: Do not travel to high altitudes with the GRAYL Geopress full as it will leak. Moreover, this includes plane flights and mountainous locations. There are a couple of times where my bottle leaked in my bag and almost damaged my devices. The best way to avoid this is to finish the liquids, empty it out, or store in a bag that can hold the leakage.
Pros and Cons
There are a few pros and cons I can think of when it comes to not only the GRAYL Geopress water bottle, but also other travel filter water bottles. Moreover, these are some of the things to look out for when investing in a filtering bottle as we all know they aren’t exactly cheap!
Pros
-Filter water anywhere in the world
-Saves money on bottled water
-Less plastic waste
-No need to carry days worth of water while completing long treks, filter as you go
Cons
-Expensive purchase and filters are pricey
-It can be a little bit messy
-Leaks at high altitudes
How to Use the Grayl GEOPRESS
There are a few steps you need to take when using this water bottle, and there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, this water bottle can ONLY filter fresh water, so no refilling at the beach or in any salt water!
Follow these steps for easy usage of the best travel water bottle:
- Turn the vent (mouthpiece) a couple of times to allow the air pressure for filtering
- Secondly, firmly grasp the top of the bottle around the lid and hold your other hand around the tactile logo o the side
- Do a slow pulling motion of each piece away from the other. (I found it helpful to slightly twist the cup piece to make removal easier.)
- The water bottle should now be in two pieces. Try to rest the filter section of a surface that won’t dirty it.
- Using the cup, fill to the line indicated on the side. Scoop water from a river, or refill from a sink.
- Place the cup on an even surface and pick the filtering side up.
- Place the filter into the cup and use both hands to slowly press the bottle down.
- You will notice the water slowly filling inside the bottle.
- Once you’ve reached the top, you’re ready to drink! Enjoy!
About the Water Bottle
Where to purchase: Purchase directly through grayl.com.au or check your local camping store
RRP: $180 AUD
Price of a new filter: $60 AUD
Size: 8.6cm W x 26.5 H
Weight (Empty): 450g
Capacity: 710ml
Wrapping Up
The bottom line is, yes, I think that the GRAYL Geopress is the ultimate travel water bottle. It’s highly convenient, reduces plastic waste and is a well-built and designed product.
There is no way that I would ever travel without this handy gadget to countries lacking in safe tap water. And, I strongly believe that more travellers should consider purchasing this fantastic product.
In conclusion, I love what GRAYL have done for __ and I believe they’ve set the bar really high for other companies to compete. I look forward to the future of water bottle filter technology and how it will change the world.
Do you think you’ll purchase one of these water bottles? Which countries would you take it to?
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