I’ve used quite a few water filters over the years, from pitcher cartridges to bulky under-sink reverse osmosis (RO) setups. Actually I’m still using the GLACIER FRESH RO system and have been quite satisfied with its performance. Therefore, I was excited to test another GLACIER FRESH product, the 2.25G Stainless Steel Countertop Water Filtration System.
Disclosure: We received the product as a courtesy for review purposes. However, the review is intended to provide honest, unbiased insights about the product, based on personal experiences and observations.
Unlike RO systems, this product requires almost no setup. I pulled it out of the box, rinsed the chambers, dropped in the filter, filled the upper tank, and started using it immediately. No hoses, no adapters, no measuring cabinet clearance, and no worrying about landlord rules. Those are huge advantages when you can’t install an RO system.
I’m also quite impressed with the design of the GLACIER FRESH. It feels like an appliance, not a plastic container. The food-grade 304 stainless steel body has weight and rigidity, and it looks clean enough to leave permanently on the counter instead of hiding it in a corner. If you used a plastic pitcher, you might notice that it slowly stained or absorbed odors over time. After a few weeks of daily use, the system still looks essentially new after a quick wipe. And since there is no power cord or tubing, I can place the system anywhere.
Another benefit of the portable design is that I can use the system for my guests when I have parties at my home. I used to keep bottled water around for convenience. Since using this, I’ve basically stopped buying single-use bottles entirely and guests still love the clean look and taste of the water.
The two-chamber layout is simple but effective. Unfiltered water sits on top and slowly passes through the filter into the lower chamber. There’s also a filter life indicator on top showing the remaining percentage, it will remind you to replace the filter after 90 days.
In terms of capacity, the roughly 2-gallon total volume between upper and lower chambers is enough for my family. I refill just once or twice per day for normal household drinking. It’s far less frequent than filling a pitcher every few hours.
What matters most, of course, is the water itself. The system uses Elarisey nanofiber filtration, which works differently than purely mechanical filters. The media carries a natural positive charge designed to attract contaminants rather than only physically blocking them. In daily use, that translates to water that tastes neutral rather than over-filtered. Tap water in my area tends to have a slight metallic edge and faint chlorine presence. After filtration, both disappeared without making the water flat.
The claim about removing bacteria, heavy metals, PFAS-type chemicals, and microplastics is ambitious, but from a user standpoint the noticeable part is consistency. The flow rate stays steady and I can fill a bottle in a reasonable time instead of waiting around. As compared to RO, the difference is clear but intentional. RO water is extremely pure, almost laboratory-like, and sometimes tastes empty because minerals are stripped out. This system keeps minerals in the water, and I personally prefer the taste. Coffee and tea also come out better and I no longer have to add minerals. It tastes less harsh than tap, but not as flat as RO.
Of course, it doesn’t replace a high-end RO system if someone needs maximum dissolved solid removal. RO still wins in total purification range. But it’s dramatically easier to live with. No wastewater, no drilling, no pressure tank, no power supply. For many households, the practicality advantage outweighs the filtration performance.
After several weeks of everyday use, my impression is that this system removes the friction that stops people from upgrading beyond a basic pitcher while still delivering meaningfully better filtration. The stainless steel build makes it feel permanent and the plug-and-play nature makes it usable anywhere. For me, I didn’t need to redesign my kitchen or plan an installation day. I just filled it and started drinking.
