diff --git a/tracing-subscriber/src/reload.rs b/tracing-subscriber/src/reload.rs
index bab7767c59..f34fc80445 100644
--- a/tracing-subscriber/src/reload.rs
+++ b/tracing-subscriber/src/reload.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,25 @@
 //! Wrapper for a `Collect` or `Subscribe` to allow it to be dynamically reloaded.
 //!
-//! This module provides a type implementing [`Subscribe`] which wraps another type implementing
-//! the [`Subscribe`] trait, allowing the wrapped type to be replaced with another
+//! This module provides a type implementing [`Subscribe`] and [`Filter`]
+//! which wraps another type implementing the corresponding trait. This
+//! allows the wrapped type to be replaced with another
 //! instance of that type at runtime.
 //!
-//! This can be used in cases where a subset of `Collect` functionality
+//! This can be used in cases where a subset of `Collect` or `Filter` functionality
 //! should be dynamically reconfigured, such as when filtering directives may
 //! change at runtime. Note that this subscriber introduces a (relatively small)
 //! amount of overhead, and should thus only be used as needed.
 //!
+//! ## Note
+//! The [`Subscriber`] implementation is unable to implement downcasting functionality,
+//! so you may find certain `Subscriber`s fail to function properly if wrapped in a
+//! `reload::Subscriber`.
+//!
+//! If you only want to be able to dynamically change the
+//! `Filter` on your layer, prefer wrapping that `Filter` in the `reload::Subscriber`.
+//!
 //! [`Subscribe`]: crate::Subscribe
+//! [`Filter`]: crate::subscribe::Filter
 use crate::subscribe;
 use crate::sync::RwLock;
 
@@ -119,25 +129,6 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<S> Subscriber<S> {
-    /// Wraps the given `Subscribe`, returning a subscriber and a `Handle` that allows
-    /// the inner type to be modified at runtime.
-    pub fn new(inner: S) -> (Self, Handle<S>) {
-        let this = Self {
-            inner: Arc::new(RwLock::new(inner)),
-        };
-        let handle = this.handle();
-        (this, handle)
-    }
-
-    /// Returns a `Handle` that can be used to reload the wrapped `Subscribe`.
-    pub fn handle(&self) -> Handle<S> {
-        Handle {
-            inner: Arc::downgrade(&self.inner),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(all(feature = "registry", feature = "std"))]
 #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(all(feature = "registry", feature = "std"))))]
 impl<S, C> crate::subscribe::Filter<C> for Subscriber<S>
@@ -191,24 +182,47 @@ where
     }
 }
 
+impl<O> Subscriber<O> {
+    /// Wraps the given `Subscribe` or `Filter`,
+    /// returning a subscriber or filter and a `Handle` that allows
+    /// the inner type to be modified at runtime.
+    pub fn new(inner: O) -> (Self, Handle<O>) {
+        let this = Self {
+            inner: Arc::new(RwLock::new(inner)),
+        };
+        let handle = this.handle();
+        (this, handle)
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a `Handle` that can be used to reload the wrapped `Subscribe`.
+    pub fn handle(&self) -> Handle<O> {
+        Handle {
+            inner: Arc::downgrade(&self.inner),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // ===== impl Handle =====
 
-impl<S> Handle<S> {
-    /// Replace the current subscriber with the provided `new_subscriber`.
+impl<O> Handle<O> {
+    /// Replace the current subscriber or filter with the provided `new_object`.
     ///
-    /// **Warning:** The [`Filtered`](crate::filter::Filtered) type currently can't be changed
+    /// **Warning:** If this `Handle` is being used with the [`Filtered`](crate::filter::Filtered)
+    /// subscriber, it currently can't be changed
     /// at runtime via the [`Handle::reload`] method.
     /// Use the [`Handle::modify`] method to change the filter instead.
-    /// (see <https://github.com/tokio-rs/tracing/issues/1629>)
-    pub fn reload(&self, new_subscriber: impl Into<S>) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        self.modify(|subscriber| {
-            *subscriber = new_subscriber.into();
+    /// (see <https://github.com/tokio-rs/tracing/issues/1629>) However, if you only want to change
+    /// the underlying [`Filter`](crate::subscribe::Filter), then use the `reload::Subscriber` to
+    /// wrap the `Filter` itself.
+    pub fn reload(&self, new_object: impl Into<O>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        self.modify(|object| {
+            *object = new_object.into();
         })
     }
 
     /// Invokes a closure with a mutable reference to the current subscriber,
     /// allowing it to be modified in place.
-    pub fn modify(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut S)) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    pub fn modify(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&mut O)) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let inner = self.inner.upgrade().ok_or(Error {
             kind: ErrorKind::CollectorGone,
         })?;
@@ -235,16 +249,16 @@ impl<S> Handle<S> {
 
     /// Returns a clone of the subscriber's current value if it still exists.
     /// Otherwise, if the collector has been dropped, returns `None`.
-    pub fn clone_current(&self) -> Option<S>
+    pub fn clone_current(&self) -> Option<O>
     where
-        S: Clone,
+        O: Clone,
     {
-        self.with_current(S::clone).ok()
+        self.with_current(O::clone).ok()
     }
 
     /// Invokes a closure with a borrowed reference to the current subscriber,
     /// returning the result (or an error if the collector no longer exists).
-    pub fn with_current<T>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&S) -> T) -> Result<T, Error> {
+    pub fn with_current<T>(&self, f: impl FnOnce(&O) -> T) -> Result<T, Error> {
         let inner = self.inner.upgrade().ok_or(Error {
             kind: ErrorKind::CollectorGone,
         })?;
@@ -253,7 +267,7 @@ impl<S> Handle<S> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<S> Clone for Handle<S> {
+impl<O> Clone for Handle<O> {
     fn clone(&self) -> Self {
         Handle {
             inner: self.inner.clone(),