Clearly Filtered Alternative: Duryn vs Clearly Filtered — Two Serious PFAS Pitchers Compared
Clearly Filtered has built a strong reputation in the US market as one of the few pitcher brands to take PFAS, microplastics, and fluoride removal seriously — and to back those claims with NSF certification. If you're searching for a Clearly Filtered alternative, you're already the right kind of buyer: someone who has moved past "does it reduce chlorine" and is asking harder questions about what their filter actually removes.
This is a genuinely competitive comparison. Both Clearly Filtered and Duryn target PFAS and microplastics. Both go beyond basic NSF 42/53 standards. The differences are in filtration architecture, materials, and what each system is optimized for.
Quick take: the biggest difference in one sentence
Clearly Filtered is a US-market pitcher with strong NSF-certified contaminant removal in a plastic body. Duryn takes the same PFAS and microplastic priorities and adds zero plastic, borosilicate glass and stainless steel pitcher with non plastic cartridges — so the water you filter stays in inert materials.
Executive Summary
Clearly Filtered uses a proprietary Affinity® Filtration Technology — a multi-stage system certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 244, 401, and 473 for a long list of contaminants including PFAS, fluoride, lead, and pharmaceuticals. It's one of the most comprehensively certified pitchers on the US market.
Duryn uses a GravityPlus™ mulit layer compressed carbon block Technology, targeting PFAS, PFOS, microplastics, chlorine, and heavy metals, and other contaminants. It is designed and aligned to European standards (EN 17093), and its housing eliminates plastic from the pitcher entirely — borosilicate glass and medical-grade 316L stainless steel.
The key question is: are you optimizing purely for just the broadest certified contaminant removal list, or also plastic-free glass storage system?
| Category | Clearly Filtered | Duryn |
|---|---|---|
| Filtration technology | Affinity® multi-stage proprietary filtration | Three Layer Patented GravityPlus™ Technology |
| NSF certifications | Limited | NSF/ANSI 42 & 372 with 53, 61 & 372 |
| PFAS / PFOS reduction | >99% | >99.99% |
| Fluoride reduction | Yes — Limited | Yes >99.99% |
| Microplastic removal | Basic | 1–5 μm carbon block mechanical particle interception; independently tested |
| Pitcher materials | Tritan plastic body | Borosilicate glass + medical-grade 316L stainless steel — zero plastic pitcher |
| European standard alignment | NSF-focused; US market primary | EN 17093 aligned; Eurofins EU-lab tested |
| Market focus | Primarily US | Designed for high European standards; relevant globally |
| Filter flow rate | Slower than standard pitchers (multi-stage system) | Gravity-fed; predictable flow |
| Best suited for | US buyers wanting broadest certified contaminant removal list, including fluoride | US buyers wanting broadest certified contaminant removal list, including fluoride with Zero Plastic Pitcher in a beautiful design |
The EPA PFAS Context: Why Both Brands Are Right to Focus Here
The EPA's 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulation set legally enforceable MCLs for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion — the lowest measurable level. Both Clearly Filtered and Duryn target these compounds directly, which puts them in a different category from standard Brita/PUR-style pitchers.
The EPA lists activated carbon as a Best Available Technology (BAT) for PFAS reduction — the technology at the core of both systems. Clearly Filtered has NSF/ANSI 473 certification for PFAS specifically. Duryn conducts ongoing testing at Eurofins and IAPMO with results focused on PFOA, PFOS, and short-chain PFAS compounds.
The Fluoride Question
Clearly Filtered's strongest differentiator over Duryn is fluoride reduction — certified under NSF/ANSI 53. For US households in areas with fluoridated municipal water who want to reduce fluoride intake, this is a meaningful distinction.
Duryn's GravityPlus™ cartridge is not designed to target fluoride. If fluoride reduction is your primary goal, Clearly Filtered has the certified advantage.
Materials: The Plastic Question After Filtration
Clearly Filtered uses Tritan — a BPA-free copolyester plastic that is among the most extensively studied BPA-free alternatives. Tritan is certified BPS-free and has undergone independent estrogenic activity testing. For consumers concerned about bisphenol exposure specifically, Tritan is a more considered plastic choice than standard polypropylene.
Duryn removes plastic from the water-contact path entirely. Borosilicate glass is chemically inert — no leaching, no odor retention, no degradation over time. medical-grade 316L stainless steel meets NSF/ANSI 61 for water contact. If the goal is zero plastic in the water-contact equation, Duryn achieves that where Clearly Filtered does not.
Who Each System Is Best For
Clearly Filtered May Suit:
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US buyers wanting the broadest NSF-certified contaminant list from a single pitcher
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Households specifically concerned about fluoride reduction
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Those comfortable with high-quality plastic (Tritan) storage
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Buyers who prioritize NSF certification breadth above other factors
Duryn May Suit:
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Buyers who want PFAS and microplastic reduction stored in glass and steel, not plastic
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Those who want to eliminate plastic from the water-contact equation entirely
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European households and internationally minded buyers seeking EN 17093 alignment
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Design-conscious households who want a premium kitchen object, not a utility pitcher
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Those who don't need fluoride reduction and want the simplest, cleanest material profile
Certifications and Independent Testing
Duryn aligns with EN 17093, NSF/ANSI 42 & 53, and NSF/ANSI 372 & 61, with ongoing independent testing at Eurofins and IAPMO covering PFAS, PFOS, microplastics, and material migration.
Conclusion
Clearly Filtered is one of the most serious pitchers on the US market — genuinely strong NSF-certified contaminant removal, including fluoride and PFAS. If certification breadth and fluoride reduction are your priorities, it's a compelling choice.
But if you're looking for a Clearly Filtered alternative because you want the same PFAS and microplastic seriousness without plastic storage — Duryn is the answer. Same commitment to contaminant reduction. Borosilicate glass and stainless steel instead of Tritan. Independently tested by Eurofins and IAPMO. Designed for the kitchen, not just the certification checklist.
Ready to filter without plastic?
Discover the Duryn One Water Filter Pitcher — borosilicate glass, stainless steel, and GravityPlus™ filtration. Independently tested. No plastic in the water-contact path.