ProOne Gravity Water Filter Review: New Name, Same Propur Quality (2023)

I'll admit it. I'm partial to Berkey water filters. I've owned one for years, and I've been happy with it. It's the only brand of gravity water filter that I knew about when I bought it.

But then I came across Propur - recently renamed ProOne - a water filter similar to Berkey and every bit as good. In fact, if you're looking for a great Berkey alternative, this is the one I'd recommend.

Just so there's no confusion - ProOne is the new name of Propur as of January 2021. They've done a slight revision in size and design of some of the models, but the filtration technology is the same superior quality it's always been.

If you've been around preparedness websites or discussion forums, you've probably heard the name ProOne (or Propur). That's how I first learned about it.

In a rush? Check the current price of the ProOne Big+ at ProOneUSA by clicking here.

There are several different sizes of ProOne gravity filters, but for this review we'll focus on the most popular one, the ProOne Big+. You'll learn about its effectiveness, how it works, and where you can get it at a great price.

Since it's very similar to the Berkey and Alexapure filters, we'll also cover some of the differences between them.

You can click on a question in the quick navigation below or just go on and read the whole review.

The ProOne Big+ is a gravity water filter. It consists of two containers that stack together. You start by pouring water into the top part, where the filters are.

Gravity pulls the water downward through the filters into the bottom container. There's a spigot near the bottom for dispensing the purified water.

There's no plumbing involved. You can set it on your countertop or on a table.

What is the ProOne Big+ made of?

The container and the spigot are stainless steel. It comes in a polished or brushed finish. The filter element is granular activated carbon in a container of silver infused ceramic.

In case you're wondering about the silver, it's used because silver inhibits the growth of bacteria. You don't want bacteria growing on your filters!

Where are ProOne water filters made?

The filter element is made in England. I was not able to find out exactly where the other components are made. I emailed the manufacturer to find out. They told me that the system is "made from imported and domestic components and assembled in the US".

What contaminants does the ProOne G2.0 filter element remove?

This is what impressed me the most about ProOne. An independent lab tested the ProOne G2.0 filter element for all kinds of contaminants. The results show that the filter eliminates all or almost all of the following:

• volatile and semi-volatile organic contaminants
• heavy metals
• pesticides
• disinfectants and inorganic non-metallic contaminants (including chlorine, chloramine and fluoride)
• herbicides
• microcystins
• bacteria and viruses
• radiological contaminants
• microplastics
• blue-green algae (parasites)

ProOne is one of the best filters for lead removal. The lab data shows that it removes 100% of lead. That's impressive!

As far as"good" minerals go, the filter reduces calcium somewhat (about 81%), but it does not remove any magnesium and only 2.5% of potassium.

Of course, it also takes out bad tastes and odors, leaving you with delicious fresh-tasting water.

If you'd like to check out the third party lab test results for the ProOne G2.0 filter yourself, you can find them here.

Yes, it does. Lab test results show that the ProOne filter blocks 99.99% of microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic debris, 2.5 to 10 microns in size. It's considered an "emerging contaminant", meaning it's been detected in drinking water, but the health risk isn't fully known yet.

But there's no doubt that it's not a good thing to ingest plastic!

That's one less thing you'll have to worry about if you filter your water with ProOne.

Is the ProOne water filter NSF certified?

Yes.It iscertifiedto NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for aesthetic impurities,according to the NSF website.

Although the ProOne G2.0 filter has not been officially certified toNSF/ANSI Standard 53, it does meet or exceed this standardfor healthy drinking water. That'saccording to the independent lab tests mentioned above.

So you know your water is clean and safe.

What's the size of the ProOne Big+ and how much does it hold?

When assembled, it stands 22.75" high and has a diameter of 9.25". For storage, the chamber nest together, and it's just 11.75" high.

It has a capacity of 3 gallons. This makes it a good size filter for a family or group of 4 or more.

What other sizes of the ProOne water filter system are available?

The stainless steel gravity filter comes in two sizes to accommodate different size groups - the ProOne Big+ and the slightly smaller ProOne Traveler+.

What does the ProOne Big+ filter system include?

It comes with:

• 2 stainless steel chambers in your choice of brushed or polished finish
• stainless steel lid
  
• ProOne G2.0 filters in the configuration of your choice: one 7-inch filter, two 7-inch filters, or three 9-inch (the more filters, the faster it works)
• stainless steel spigot
  
• non-slip pad
  
• 6-inch high stainless steel stand

The video below was made using the older version of the Propur water filter. The new ProOne Big+ is slightly larger, but it works the same way, and the filter elements haven't changed.

In addition, the new design makes it easier to lift the upper chamber so you can see how much water is in the lower chamber.

It takes 6 to 7 hours to filter 3 gallons with two 7-inch filters. But you can add a third filter to speed it up if you like.

That's going to take some planning ahead on your part to make sure you have a steady supply. But after you've had it for a little while you'll figure out a routine that works for you.

Some people just fill it up at night and then in the morning they have a full container of water ready

I asked a representative at ProOne USA how many gallons of water a ProOne G2.0 can filter before it needs to be replaced. The answer was anywhere between 700 and 1,200 gallons per filter.

That means that a pair of ProOne G2.0 filters is good for 1,400 to 2,800 gallons.

Using the lowest price that I found for a pair of filters ($139), the cost per gallon works out to 5¢ to 9¢ per gallon.

This is for the cost of the filters, and doesn't include the initial expense of buying the complete system.

ProOne vs Berkey: What's the difference?

Here are the differences that stand out to me:

1. 1

   The ProOne doesn't require additional fluoride filters like Berkey does. The ProOne G2.0 filter does it all. If your water isn't fluoridated then this doesn't really matter. If you want fluoride in your water, then you won't want to use ProOne.

2. 2

   You don't have to prime the filters. You just put the ProOne filters in and you're ready to go. To me this is a big advantage. Priming the Berkey filters is not fun. I usually end up spraying water everywhere and soaking my clothes when I prime them.

3. 3

   The top chamber doesn't have to be filled to the top to achieve the maximum flow rate. Berkey does.
   

4. 4

   ProOne comes with a stainless steel spigot. Berkey comes with a plastic one.
   

5. 5

   The life of the filters is different. ProOne filters last about a year. The black Berkey filters can last anywhere from 3-5 years, but the fluoride filters only last 6 months. Berkey filters can be scrubbed and reused for several years, but ProOne filters must be discarded after one year.

I compared the test results with similar tests done on the black Berkey filter. There was little variation between the two. Berkey has a slight edge here, but to me the difference was negligible.

In most cases, we're talking less than 1% difference in total reduction of certain contaminants.

Note: If you would like more information on Berkey water filters, you can read my full review The Berkey Water Filter Ultimate Buyer's Guide.

Also see my infographic comparing the Big Berkey and ProOne Big here.

ProOne vs Alexapure: Which is better?

Alexapure and ProOne are more alike than they are different.

They look almost identical on the outside, except that Alexapure has a plastic spigot, and the ProOne has a stainless steel spigot.

The Alexapure filter is carbon block encased in a shell made of a hybrid ceramic material. So, it's similar to the ProOne G2.0 filter.

As far as effectiveness goes, they are almost equal, except in lead reduction. ProOne reduces lead by 100%, but Alexapure only reduces it 96.4%. This is significant, because there is no safe level of lead in drinking water, according to the EPA.

Because of Alexapure's weakness in lead reduction, I would say that ProOne is the better of the two.

Alexapure is a little less expensive than ProOne, but it doesn't have a warranty - only a 45-day return policy on unopened products. That seems a bit risky to me.

For more details on Alexapure and how it compares to ProOne, Berkey and other similar filters, please see my review, Best Countertop Gravity Water Filters

How much does ProOne cost? Where can I buy it?

The prices at Amazon can change without notice, so I don't include prices in my reviews. It's easy enough to find out the current price, though.

You can click here to check the current price of the ProOne Big at Amazon.com.

Or you might like to buy directly from the manufacturer, ProOne USA. Shipping is free, and there are other payment options available, including PayPal.

To check the price at the ProOne website, click here.

Does ProOne have a warranty?

Yes. It comes with a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel parts. The filters have a 1 year warranty.

What do buyers say about ProOne?

I think the ProOne water filter is worth considering if you're looking for a countertop water filter that removes every conceivable kind of contaminant.

It's great for everyday use at home or work.

And it's good to have on hand for emergencies.

It's also handy to have if you want a water purifier to take along when you travel. You could even take it on your next camping trip if you wanted to. You can dip water right out of a lake or stream and put it through the filter.

I think that's pretty cool!

If I didn't already have a water filter system, I think I would probably lean toward buying a ProOne. It does a great job of purifying water and it's easy to use. Those no-prime all-in-one filters are a big plus in my book!

If the ProOne Big+ sounds like the right filter for you,go check the availability and price at Amazonorat ProOne USA today!

You can also find the complete line of ProOne products at the manufacturer's website.

If you'd like to check out some other brands of gravity filters, click here to go to Best Countertop Gravity Water Filters.