Maier Ultra Premium Water Filter Pitcher Replacement Filters for Brita or Similar, 3 Count

The product has arrived as expected, and we had put it to good use in our 2 separate Britta pitchers., Overall, I have been generally satisfied with the product over the past 3 weeks of usage. Tap water in our area is horrible, and, with the holidays in full swing, and a family of 6 (plus all the extended family at our doorsteps benefiting from the Britta water), the pitchers are in constant heavy use, what with uncle Dana making his home-made lemonade w/ it non-stop. My only complain is the price, which, in my humble opinion, is a little steep (hence 4 stars and not 5), but for the superior quality I guess one can shell out a little extra.

Brita carafes are not the 'perfect' solution for cleaner, better testing water, but for convenience and not needing to install large and expensive equipment, they're pretty great. The sheer convenience of simply popping one of these bad boys in to renew your supply of good, clean water can't be beat.I trust Maier more than some (most, really) of the generic options for Brita filter replacements (i.e. "UP" from Target, etc.), and from what I could find they seem reputable. Cost is certainly more reasonable than the Brita brand alternatives, with the same or better technologies used in the filter.I put the first filter in two weeks ago, and so far so good. With the manufacturer claim of 40 gallons of treated water per filter, I'm expecting it to last for another 4 weeks or so. We'll see if that holds true. 4 stars until I know roughly how long these filter lasts. For comparison, a Brita brand filter lasted for about 50 gallons of filtered water before taste significantly degraded.As for taste, San Diego's harsh hard water is made palatable and free from deposits that build up in kettles and other cooking items. I'm not the most most critical consumer when it comes to water TASTE (I am with effective, safe filtration), so I wouldn't say it tastes markedly better than other filters I've used, but at least as good if not better.UPDATE- September 12, 2015:I intentionally left the first Maier filter in the carafe for longer than recommended (manufacturer states to change roughly every 4 weeks). The first filter was tested to 9 weeks, roughly 80 gallons. At that point, water taste was discernibly and unsurprisingly not great. It was still FAR better than drinking straight from the faucet (I originally mentioned that San Diego's water is notably hard), but the crispness that many filtered-water drinkers come to appreciate was long gone. No fault here, I was purposefully testing the longevity of the product and while there is no absolute point at which the water became unbearable, I can say that it outlasted the Brita-brand filters I've previously used and would put my personal 'need-to-change-filter' time to about 6 or 7 weeks (regular use by a single person), or roughly 65 gallons. For the most part, the frequency with which you change filters should be mainly based on how often you're putting it to 'work' filtering, so keep that in mind in evaluating your own situation.Still on my second Maier filter, and taste is clean, refreshing and crisp. The price is still great, my kettle is scum-free, and I'm happy.

Still trying it out but, not crazy about the fact they want you to rinse a pitcher of water through the filter the first time you use it according to the instructions on the side of the box. I'm surprise no one else mentioned this. You also still have to soak it for 5 minutes as well. The instructions also state that you should change it every 4 weeks while Brita says their filters last two months.If I had a garden where I can water my plants with the pitcher of water I'm using to rinse the filter, I wouldn't feel so wasteful. With the drought we are having here in California, not sure I would buy more of these filters.

These Maier replacement-filters work best with Britta's *Large water-dispenser! (we have kept ours in the refrigerator)I have tried, Britta/Pur/and 4 Generic Brands. Maier is "by far" the best, water filter replacement, for pitchers or larger containers....We get great (Cold-filtered Water) Using Britta'sThese are worth any extra money!*why? Quoting this products General info ~ ~ Unlike our competitors our filters are made with 100% China-free materials. All European sourced and manufactured in Austria to the highest in the world TUV LGA standards.It is the next generation of water filter technology. The Mäier filter is:1) Treated with silver to inhibit the growth of bacteria and extend filter life. 2) Certified to surpass NSF/ANSI standards 52 and 53, passing all tests to reduce chlorine taste and odor, heavy metals such as Mercury, Cadmium, Copper, agricultural chemicals, and industrial pollutants without removing Flouride.3)Steam sterilized and then vacuum sealed to maintain it’s ready to use condition. 4) No pre-soaking necessary and no carbon bits. Brita Large 18 Cup UltraMax Water Dispenser and Filter - BPA Free - Black

This was the first time that I purchased these filters. Originally I was attracted to the fact that these were made with european materials. Not really sure why that was important to me but it definitely caught my attention. When I received the filters, I noticed the product description in many different languages. Now this is a personal feeling, but whenever I come across that, I think "high quality". Now to the product review. I must compare maier to britta. The maier filters are much lighter than britta. The significance of this is that the filter doesnt fall out of its setting. Often times when I am pouring the rest of the water out of the pitcher while the britta filter is in, it will slide out. This especially sucks when im cooking and the filter falls into my food. The initial soak is also much shorter with these filters and it doesnt leave that scary looking blackish carbon water. Impressions of the water purity are good. Definitely doesnt taste like regular tap water. My overall review is that the maier filters are better than the britta ones.