Boroux vs. Rorra vs. Culligan: Water Filters, Tested Head to Head

Matthew KorfhageGearAug 1, 2026 6:30 AMA New Generation of Steel Water Filters Cuts Out the Plastic—and MicroplasticsIn a world of plastic water filter pitchers, I tested three new-generation stainless steel filter systemsCourtesy of Boroux; Culligan; RorraCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyI will admit that the popularity of those giant, stainless steel, gravity-fed water filters remained a mystery to me for some years—even as multi-gallon water filtration systems from brands like British Berkefeld and Berkey seemed to proliferate equally among lovers of doomsday prepping and holistic wellness retreats.I have been testing different breeds of water filters for more than a year, including reverse-osmosis filters and filtered water pitchers. But often, the big water filter tanks have seemed as much like status symbols as functional items. They're good-looking in an industrial stainless steel sort of way: an expression of a lifestyle and a stately point of pride. If you see a big gravity-fed filter, you know the person in question is serious about wellness, survival, or both.What changed my mind about these big stainless steel filters was microplastics.Best Stainless Steel Water Filter SystemsBest Gravity Filter for Most PeopleBoroux Legacy Water Filter SystemJump to review$399 $355 (11% off) BorouxBest Certified Filtration PerformanceCulligan MaxClear Gravity Water Filter SystemJump to review$175 AmazonMost Convenient Filter SystemRorra Countertop Water FilterJump to review$549 $449 (18% off) Rorra (With Filter Subscription)Most water filter pitchers are made of BPA-free plastic. But as new research shows that bottled-water drinkers ingest tens of thousands of excess microplastic particles, wellness lovers have begun to look askance at water filters that are themselves made of plastic. A newer generation of gravity filters has leaned into this, removing all—or nearly all—points of contact with plastic.Photograph: Matthew KorfhageAnd so since March, I have been putting these new-school stainless steel filter systems to the test. The Boroux Legacy Water Filter System ($419) is a handsome gravity-fed filter system from a former Berkey distributor whose livelihood was disrupted by Berkey's fight with federal regulators (see below).At a much lower upfront cost, the Culligan MaxClear Gravity Water Filter System ($199) is the best-certified stainless steel gravity system I've tested, at the expense of very slow filtration and expensive filter replacements over time. The Rorra Countertop System ($549) is a newer-school, celebrity-endorsed filter from a trio of serial entrepreneurs, with smart features that include sensors for both filter and water levels.In testing each, I assessed ease of setup, plastic content, total chlorine reduction, and changes to dissolved solids or pH. I also pored over each filter's NSF/ANSI certifications and independent testing results.Update July 2026: I tested and added the Culligan MaxClear Gravity Water Filter system to my comparison, and named it the best-performing and best-certified water filter overall, while keeping Boroux's water filter system as my top pick for most people.Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.Jump to SectionAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronBest Countertop Water Filter Overall: Boroux LegacyBest Countertop Water Filter for Filter Performance: Culligan MaxClearBest Countertop Water Filter for Convenience: RorraBenefits and Detriments of Gravity-Fed Water Filter SystemsGravity-fed water filter systems gained their biggest prominence in the United States with a system called the Berkey—whose makers began in 1998 as a distributor for a much older filter system called the British Berkefeld. Amid regulatory troubles for Berkey's classic black filters (see below), a newer generation of gravity-fed filters has risen to prominence. I'm also testing a brand called Phoenix Gravity Filters recently endorsed by Berke