Bought the Camco TastePURE inline filter at Camping World because the box looked nice and the price was right — about $14. Figured for that kind of money, even if it only sort of worked, it was worth having in the line. Here's what actually happened over 14 months of full-time use.
Months 1-6: Genuinely Solid
Out of the box, the TastePURE did exactly what it promised. Campground water that tasted like a swimming pool came out tasting like... water. The chlorine taste was gone. Sediment was noticeably reduced. Flow rate was strong — no complaints about pressure dropping. We used it as our only inline filter for the first six months and it worked fine.
Installation is dead simple. Screw it between the spigot and your hose. Done. No tools, no hassle, no reading a manual. If you can attach a garden hose, you can install this filter.
Months 7-10: The Decline
Around month eight, the flow rate started dropping noticeably. Filling the fresh tank took longer. The shower pressure got a little sad. We chalked it up to a particularly silty campground and moved on.
But it didn't get better at the next park. Or the next one. The filter was clogging up and there's no way to clean it — it's a sealed unit. You either live with the pressure drop or replace it.
Month 14: We Cut It Open
When we finally swapped it out, curiosity got the best of us and we cut the housing open with a hacksaw. Inside was about 12 ounces of granular activated carbon and a small sediment pad. After 14 months of full-time use, the carbon was basically mud. Dark, compacted, and clearly done working. The sediment pad was brown and looked like it had been filtering chocolate milk.
For reference, Camco rates this filter for about 3 months or one camping season. We pushed it way past its intended lifespan, so in fairness, the filter didn't fail — we just used it until it had nothing left to give.
📊 What's Actually Inside
The TastePURE uses a GAC (granular activated carbon) and KDF filtration media. The KDF component is the interesting part — it inhibits bacterial growth during storage, which matters if you leave the filter sitting between trips. The filtration level is 20 microns, which catches large sediment but won't get the fine stuff. For context, a human hair is about 70 microns. One RV forum user tested it with a TDS meter and found almost no difference in dissolved solids between filtered and unfiltered water — the filter's main job is taste and smell, not purification.
What We Switched To
We moved to a Clearsource Ultra two-canister system. It's significantly more expensive (around $170) but uses standard 10-inch replacement filters that cost about $15 each and last longer. The first canister is a 5-micron sediment filter, the second is a 0.5-micron carbon block. Night and day difference in water quality.
The Clearsource also has clear housings so you can actually see when the filters are getting dirty — no guessing. When you see brown, you swap. Simple.
Should You Buy the Camco TastePURE?
Yes, if: You're a weekend warrior or seasonal camper who needs a cheap, easy, no-fuss filter. Replace it every 3-4 months and it does the job fine. At $14 a pop, it's basically disposable and that's the point.
No, if: You're full-timing or doing extended trips. The filter doesn't have the capacity for heavy daily use and you'll burn through them fast. Invest in a canister system — the per-gallon cost ends up being lower and the water quality is dramatically better.
🔗 Further Reading
- The Fit RV: What's Inside the Camco TastePURE? — great teardown video with detailed explanation of the filtration media
- Forest River Forums: Camco Filter Teardown Thread — real owners comparing alternatives
- Getaway Couple: TastePURE Review — balanced breakdown of pros and cons