This is not a Product Review
I just bought a Katadyn BeFree Filter. It came with a 1.0 liter soft-sided water bottle.
Back in 2013 I wrote about water filters and how they weren’t on my radar as something to purchase. So why did I buy this thing? Am I compromising perceived convenience for more weight and more hassle? Or am I open to considering things that just make sense?
Over the years I’ve hiked with people who have filters or even electronic sterilizing devices. All are heavy. Filters clog up, the fittings break. Often my hiking partners had to carry back-flushing devices to clean their filters while in the backcountry = more weight. On more than one occasion those with the electronic devices saw them fail. Chlorine Dioxide tablets have none of these problems. But the tablets take a while to purify the water – much is dependent on the temperature of the water. Even with the time it takes for the tablets to work, on most trips I wasn’t carrying much more water between water sources than my hiking partners. Yes, the ClO2 tablets do have a taste. You can get used to it. How many people loved the taste of their first beer, first glass of wine, or first shot of whiskey? Very few.
Back in 2015 Katadyn came out with the BeFree filter. It was the second coming of Christ for many hikers. It is light and filters faster than anything on the market. Katadyn says the filter will last for 1,000 liters of water. Impressive! Some say 1,000 isn’t much… other (heavier) filters are rated at 5 or 6 times as long. But it would cost me over $400 to purchase 1,000 purification tablets. All things in life are relative.
The filter itself can be purchased alone. However it only fits one brand of water bottle on the market – HydraPak bottles with a 42mm opening. This is about the same size as a Gatorade bottle, but the thread is different. Katadyn does sell the filter with a 0.6L, 1.0L, or 3.0L bottle.
The water bottle itself is similar to a Platypus soft bottle and weighs almost the same. The bottle weighs in at 0.9 ounces (27 grams on my scale). The filter itself weighs in at 1.2 ounces (34 grams measured on my scale). Those are impressive weights.
Does it Work?
First of all, does it meet EPA standards for water filtration? Yes. I did some research and the filter has been tested by a well-known independent testing lab in Europe.
Does it clog up like other filters and if it does, can the filter be flushed? Yes, it can clog up when used with water containing a lot of particulate matter, and no, it cannot it cannot be flushed. Katadyn suggests a method of shaking and swirling the bottle to clean the filter.
After the filter had been on the market for awhile, reports of clogged filters started populating the internet, and of course there were all kinds of user-invented methods to “restore” the filter to normal operation. Well, check that filter off the list!
Over a period of time, I have done several trips with my friend Doug and he has taken the BeFree on all our trips. He seemed to be happy with it, but then we rarely talk “gear” on our trips. On our last trip, I asked him about all the “failure” reports. Being a very intelligent guy, he said that almost all of those complaints were due to people not following the directions. What a concept!! To suggest that one should read the instructions that come with a product. He also said it is important to follow the directions for storing the filter.
That makes sense to me.
So I was at the point of considering buying one. Considering meaning no purchase decision had been made and it was towards the bottom of my personal to-do list.
The Gift Card
I often get REI gift cards from my kids. I look forward to REI gift cards and wait until the holidays when REI has their big sales. Usually I stock up on Mountain House meals if they are on sale.
Right now REI is in the midst of their annual Labor Day sale. Mountain House isn’t on sale, but the BeFree filters are on sale for 25% off. So I bought one with the card I received for Father’s Day earlier this year.
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Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter, Fast Flow, 0.1 Micron EZ Clean Membrane for Endurance Sports, Camping and Backpacking, One Size, 8018006
11% Off $44.95 $39.95 (as of October 17, 2024 04:41 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Systems
So how does a new piece of gear fit into the overall day-to-day use? As I wrote in this post, I use Platypus water bottles on most trips often supplementing my Gatorade bottles. I’ll use the BeFree in the same manner, only the BeFree will be used as the primary source for obtaining water and then transfer it to the other water bottles. I discussed the limitations of the Platys compared to a Gatorade bottle, but the BeFree has the same diameter opening as a Gatorade bottle. So little will change, other than a 1.2 ounce penalty for the filter itself.
I haven’t even put water into the BeFree yet. So I can’t comment at all any further. In a year or two, if it lasts, then I can do a proper review.