If you are a regular reader of my blog, you might remember when I bought a Katadyn BeFree water filter back in August 2018? Well, I bought it with a gift card I had lying around, not because I was in dire need of one, but because I had everything I could possibly want. I wrote about it in this post.

I’ve been using the Katadyn BeFree water filter for a while now, and I’ve finally reached the point where I can share my thoughts on it. Let’s start with the good stuff, and then we’ll move on to the not-so-great, and then the bad.

Disclosures

Honestly, I’ve never owned a water filter before. I didn’t really see the need for one. I guess I’m a bit biased regarding water filters. But hey, I bought the filter hoping it would fit my needs. I have never bought a product to review it, and I have never reviewed a product that was given or loaned to me by a manufacturer.

Bottom line: PopupBackpacker.com is not a gear review site.

The Good

Unlike many reports from users, my filter has never clogged up. 

I’ve been really careful about when I filter. I only use water from clear, flowing creeks  or rivers, or clear lakes. It seems like a lot of people who have had problems got water from lakes or ponds that didn’t look clear, but when they scooped the water into the filter bottle, it looked clear.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

The BeFree filters anything larger than 0.1 micron. We can’t visually see something as small as a micron. For example, a human hair has a diameter of 70 microns; meaning the diameter of a human hair is 700 times larger that what a BeFree can filter.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to clog such a filter. 

How to Unclog a BeFree

Unlike some other filters, the BeFree cannot be back-flushed (forcing water through the reverse side of a filter). Katadyn recommends three methods to deal with a clogged filter:

1. Fill the flask with water and shake it.
2. Remove the filter and swish in a fresh water source.
3. If the two methods above do not work replace the filter.

Katadyn also recommends the filter be shaken or swished every after 5 liters of water.

And so here we have a conundrum — should we need to filter not-so-clear water, or should the filter not respond to the recommended unclogging methods — we need to carry a backup water purification method.

Water Flow Rate & Filtering

One thing I should point out is after storage the filter can sometimes not flow or flow very slowly, which is easily solved by letting the filter sit in water for a few hours or overnight. It is best to test the filter before leaving on a trip and soak if needed.

The flow rate is fantastic. Almost a fast as if no filter is being used. At the same time the filtering is instantaneous, although it cannot filter out viruses.

The Not So Good

Filtering Limitations

The BeFree does not filter viruses, which are much smaller that 0.1 micron. Viruses are not that common in the US, but can still occur. 

Katadyn states that if there is any risk of viruses in the water, then the water should be disinfected with something like Katadyn’s own Micropur MP1 Tablets. Ah, guess what? These tablets kill everything! But . . . it takes time . . . viruses and bacteria are neutralized the quickest, then Giardia in about 30 minutes, and Cryptosporidium the longest. 

Katadyn used to have directions tied to the temperature of the water, but now the directions simply say to let the water sit for 4 hours after treatment.

The Katadyn Flask (soft bottle)

When I bought my filter it came with a one liter soft-sided flask. To drink from it, it is necessary to squeeze the water out through the filter, which takes almost no pressure at all. However,  drinking directly from the flask/filter becomes a two-handed affair.

In the picture above, the BeFree flask in half full and you can see how it has no structure to it. This makes drinking out of it cumbersome compared to a rigid bottle. So just get another bottle, right? Not so simple.

First, the bottle has to be flexible enough to squeeze water through the filter. Second the filter has oddball threads (42mm). The only company that I know of that sells a 42mm threaded  bottle is HydraPak. HydraPak also makes the soft flask that came with my BeFree filter (see below).

HydraPak makes a stiffer soft flask that is much easier to use and will probably last longer too (there have been many complaints of the BeFree softflask leaking). I like the HydraPak soft  bottle much better.

In the picture above the the BeFree bottle (left) and the HydraPak bottle (center) are both filled half-way with water (0.5 liter). Even with the filter attached, making it more top heavy, the HydraPak can stand like a normal bottle. On the right is a 1 liter Gatorade bottle for comparison.

The Bad

So, on my last trip, the filter started leaking from the threads. It leaks on both bottles, and I’m 100% sure it’s not my fault for cross-threading the filter to the bottles. From what I’ve read, leaking threads are a pretty common issue. And guess what? It’s way past the 2-year warranty.

Now, here’s the thing: they sell replacement filters (without a bottle) for around $26. That’s about the same price as 40 Katadyn MicroPur MP1 tablets. These tablets can purify a whopping 40 liters of water!

So, here’s my decision: I’m not buying a replacement filter. Not because I’m upset, but because of how I backpack. I don’t really need a filter.

Do I Need a Water Filter?

Previously I had never bought a water filter because of how and where I hike. The conditions dictate what gear I need.

Most of my trips are in deserts. Even my hikes in the local mountains and the southern Sierra Nevada often don’t have much water during the day. 

It is not unusual for me to hike all day or even a couple of days in deserts without a water source. I need to carry enough water between water sources.

My Normal Routine

I usually carry enough water to last me between water sources, which is usually around a day or two of hiking. When I reach a water source, I fill up my water bottles and add a Katadyn MicroPur MP1 Tablet for each liter of water. I let it sit overnight.

For dinner, I boil unfiltered water. In the morning, I also boil unfiltered water for breakfast. When

My Routine with the BeFree Filter

I’ve always been pretty good at managing my water while hiking, and I’ve just recently switched to using a BeFree water filter instead of chemical treatments. Instead of using a chemical treatment, I use the BeFree to filter the water directly into my 64-ounce Gatorade bottles. I use a 1-liter soft flask to filter the water into the bottles. 

Sometimes, the water isn’t clear enough, so I use MicroPur tablets to help with that. So, I’m now carrying two purification solutions.

I have three McHale backpacks, and all of them have water bottle pockets that can hold 64-ounce Gatorade bottles. If I need more water capacity, I usually use additional 2-liter Platypus soft-side water bottles that I carry inside the pack. I wrote about these in a post back in 2018.

So, the BeFree (or any other water filter) isn’t going to change how I manage my water. The filter does allow for very fast filtering, which isn’t really my thing when it comes to where and how I hike.

For other people, though, something like a BeFree is a great solution.

Another Option

HydraPak, the makers of the SoftFlask for Katadyn, recently launched their own 42mm filter. It’s quite similar to the BeFree, except for the fact that it can be back-flushed, as mentioned on their website. It looks pretty much the same as the BeFree.

If I were in the market for a filter (which I’m not), I’d definitely give the HydraPack a try. And guess what? HydraPack also has a bunch of more durable soft-side water bottles that work with either the BeFree or the HydraPack filters.

This website may be compensated for linking to other sites for sales of products. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the purchaser.

Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter, Fast Flow, 0.1 Micron EZ Clean Membrane for Endurance Sports, Camping and Backpacking, One Size, 8018006

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11% Off $44.95 $39.95 (as of March 21, 2025 14:32 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.)

HIGH-PERFORMANCE FILTER: The BeFree's 0.1 micron hollow fiber microfilter is tested to protect against harmful organisms, removing bacteria (99.9999% … read more

Katadyn Micropur Purification 30 Tablets

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Purifying Element: chlorine dioxide Eliminates: virus, bacteria, cysts, Giardia Treatment Dosage: 1 packet per liter Treatment Time: (virus and bacter… read more

HydraPak Flux+ 1.5L Filter Kit – Collapsible Backpacking Water Bottle – BPA Free, Ultra Light, Spill-Proof Twist Cap, Clear

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LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPRESSIBLE 50% lighter than a hard bottle and compresses down to pocket size when empty. HIGH FLOW NOZZLE High flow drink nozzle inclu… read more

HydraPak Seeker+ – Collapsible Water Filtration & Storage (3L) – BPA & PVC Free, Hydration Reservoir Bag, Leak Proof, Lightweight

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13% Off $60.00 $52.49 (as of March 21, 2025 14:26 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.)

SAFE, BUILT-IN FILTRATION: The Seeker is equipped with our 42mm water filter that effectively removes common waterborne bacteria (99.9999%), and paras… read more