So you’re considering purchasing the Aquagear water filter pitcher and just need to make sure it’s the best filter for your drinking water.
You’ve come to the right place.
In this review, we will detail everything you need to know about the Aquagear, its benefits, and how it stacks up to competing brands so you can decide if this is really the best pitcher for your home.
Table of Contents
Overview of Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher
Aquagear was founded by a few Southern California engineers with the mission to create a better water filter pitcher that removed more contaminants. They saw that most pitchers on the market didn’t really remove a lot of harmful contaminants and realized there needed to be a fresh new product that really helped people.
The company also has a mission to provide 6 months of clean water for every pitcher they sell to communities in Africa which is pretty cool.
The pitcher sells for $70 and removes more contaminants than the average pitcher. The filters have 3x the capacity of a normal pitcher at 150 gallons, they are made in the USA with BPA free materials, and all of their claims about contaminant removal are backed up by rigorous testing and NSF certifications.
Overall, the Aquagear filter pitcher is definitely one of the top models alongside Clearly Filtered and Aquasana’s clean machine. If you want pure, clean tap water without contaminants then the Aquagear is a good option.
Aquagear Technical Specifications
Here are the main technical specifications of the Aquagear pitcher.
- Triple capacity filters lasting 3x longer than average or 150 gallons
- Independently tested to meet NSF standards for contaminant removal
- Removes 2,000% more contaminants than the standard filter pitchers, including
- Fluoride, Lead, Chromium 6, Chloramines, Mercury, and Chlorine
- Made in the USA with 100% BPA free and recyclable materials
- The sales price is $70 for the pitcher and $50 for filter replacements
As you can see, the Aquagear was designed with the highest quality materials and filtration capacity in mind making it one of the top pitchers on the market.
Pros:
- Filter life is longer than average pitcher at 150 gallons
- Filtration is better than average pitcher removing 2000% more
- Made in the USA with BPA & 100 recyclable free materials
- Keeps essential minerals in the water
Cons:
- Higher priced gravity pitcher at $70
- Doesn’t show that it removes bacteria, cysts, microplastics, and PFAS/PFOA
Aquagear Filter Life & Replacement
Another critical component of any filter pitcher is determining how long the filter will actually last and how much it will cost to replace it.
With the Aquagear model, the filter lasts for 150 gallons or around 2-3 months which is definitely more than a standard filter pitcher.
You can buy replacement filters for $50 apiece or sign up for a subscription where you would pay $40 and they would deliver the number of filters needed every 6 months.
Overall, I think that this is very reasonable and the filter life and quality is one of the best on the filter pitcher market.
It seems this filter is one of the best but it may be missing a few contaminants that some other models like Clearly Filtered have shown to remove in testing.
Aquagear Contaminant Reduction Data
One of the most important features of any water filter is its filtration capability and what contaminants it removes. Let’s take a look at Aquagear’s test results to see what exactly it removes.
| Contaminant Type | % Shown to Remove in Testing |
|---|---|
| Fluoride | 89.36% |
| Chemical Disinfectants (chlorine, chloramine) | Doesn’t show |
| Microplastics | Doesn’t show |
| Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFAS, PFOA, PFOS) | Doesn’t show |
| Herbicides (Glyphosate, Acifuorfen, Bemtazon, Chloramben, dalapon) | Doesn’t show |
| Pharmaceutical Drugs (acetaminophen, caffeine, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, bpa, triclosan, nitrate, ibuprofen, progesterone) | Doesn’t show |
| Heavy Metals (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium-6, copper, iron, lead, nickel) | 99.9% |
| Semi-Volatile Compounds (½-dichlorobenzene, ⅓-dichlorobenzene) | Doesn’t show |
| Radiological Elements (plutonium, radium, uranium, gross alpha, thorium) | Doesn’t show |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (chloroform, mtbe, bromoform) | 98.7% |
| Pesticides (aldrin, atrazine, bromacil, butachlor) | Doesn’t show |
You can see the test results from Aquagear here to look at each of the specific contaminants that were tested.
Overall, the Aquagear filter does a great job removing lead, fluoride, VOCs, and other heavy metals but the test data does not show other contaminants such as bacteria, cysts, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and more.
It seems this filter is one of the best but it may be missing a few contaminants that some other models like Clearly Filtered have shown to remove in testing.
How Does Aquagear Compare to Competitors
One of the most important features of any water filter is its filtration capability and what contaminants it removes. Let’s take a look at Aquagear’s test results to see what exactly it removes.
| Aquagear | Clearly Filtered | Aquasana Clean Machine | Standard Carbon Filter | Zero Water | Invigorated Water pH Restore |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 8 cups | 10 cups | 16 cups | 10 cups | 8 cups | 8-10 cups |
| Made in | USA | USA | USA | China | Mexico | Not sure |
| Filter Life | 150 gallons | 100 gallons | 320 gallons | 40 gallons | 20 gallons | 96 gallons |
| Price | $70 | $75 | $150 | $30 | $30 | $40 |
| Fluoride Removal | 89.36% | 98% | Doesn’t say | x | x | Yes, doesn’t say how much |
| Microplastic Removal | Doesn’t say | 99.9% | 96% | x | x | x |
| Lead Removal | 99.9% | 99.5% | 96% | x | 95.9% | Yes, doesn’t say how much |
| PFAS/PFOA Removal | Doesn’t say | 99.9% | 96% | x | x | x |
| Bacteria & Cyst Removal | Doesn’t say | 99.9% | 96% | x | x | Yes, doesn’t say how much |
As you can see from the comparison chart above Aquagear has the second-best filter lifetime and does well removing fluoride and lead. It is also priced similarly to the Clearly Filtered model and more expensive than a standard pitcher.
You will also see that Clearly Filtered’s pitcher shows more effective contaminant removal in their test data and that Aquasana’s clean machine has the largest capacity, filter life, and pretty good contaminant removal as well.
Overall, we think that Aquagear is a great filter pitcher and definitely in our top 3 recommendations but we also think that Clearly Filtered and Aquasana’s models are better.
What Do Customers Say About Aquagear
I searched the internet for as much feedback as possible about the Aquagear pitcher. Here is what I found.
Aquagear.com Reviewer:
“I bought this water filter pitcher after doing extensive online research and am very pleased with my choice. I love the clean, refreshing taste of my water and I love the recycling efforts of the company. I always felt guilty disposing of filters from other sources.”
Aquagear.com Reviewer:
“If you are sensitive to the taste of tap water like I am you will love this water filter. It gets rid of any tap water taste and gives me confidence in the quality of water I am drinking! Highly recommend :).”
Aquagear.com Reviewer:
“I’ve been using the Aquagear pitcher for about seven months now and have been enjoying it very much. Not only is it convenient to refill (no need to remove the lid), the water filters quite quickly. I also like the stability that the handle has. The filter is easy to install as well, and lasts much longer than other water filter pitcher systems.”
On Amazon, the Aquagear has received 70% 5-star reviews and 10% 1-star reviews. Some of the negative reviews were complaining that it doesn’t remove as much fluoride and contaminants as what they claim but overall the reviews were very positive for filtered water pitchers.
Alternative Filter Pitcher Recommendations
Below are the two other water filter pitchers we would recommend alongside Aquagear’s model. First, if you are looking for the best gravity filter pitcher check out Clearly Filtered. If you are looking for the best-powered filter pitcher then check out Aquasana’s clean water machine.
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
Clearly Filtered is the gravity filter that we recommend #1 for pitchers. As you can see in the comparison chart above the testing data on the Clearly Filtered show’s removal of the most contaminants. Clearly Filtered also has a sleek, clean design and the filters last for 100 gallons which is a little bit less than Aquagear but still very good.
Aquasana Clean Water Machine
The Aquasana Clean water machine is another pitcher that we recommend if you are looking for the best-powered version. This is not a standard gravity filter but filters water through power much faster. This model has excellent contaminant removal and the longest filter life and capacity on the market. It’s also much more expensive at $150 so this is only for people who are willing to spend more and don’t want a gravity model.
Conclusion
After reviewing the Aquagear water filter pitcher and comparing it to other models in our water filter pitcher reviews we have concluded that this is definitely in the top 3 models of pitchers on the market. It has quality NSF & FDA approved filtration removing a ton of contaminants, the filters last up to 150 gallons, and the price is very competitive at $70.
That being said, we still have to recommend the Clearly Filtered model over the Aquagear because of its filtration test data and effectiveness at the same price although both are solid water filtering pitcher options.
