Katadyn BeFree 500 Mile Review

** Stuff/Gear I Mention in this Video **

DISCLOSURE:
Katadyn gave me (for free) the BeFree Filter featured in this video. I have no contractual agreement with this company and only give reviews on gear I myself would use or feel would benefit my viewers to know more about. This is NOT a Paid Review, nor did I receive the product in TRADE for a review. I am self-employed and do not receive further compensation from Katadyn for this gear review.

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------Intro By: Kat Pendergast------

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[bmcquiston]

1000 liters is more than sufficient for a thru-hike. Sawyer claiming 1 million liters is so ridiculous it's hardly worth mentioning. That would amount to filtering 7 gallons of water every single day for 100 years whereas the reality is you'll be lucky to have the same Sawyer filter you started with at the end of your thru-hike.

[jonmorgan]

What I really like about your gear reviews. 1. You call a spade a spade, no punches are held. 2. Your research on the gear, you take what the manufacturer states and use your field experience and overall gear knowledge to rate it. Keep’em coming.

[TJackSurvival]

Just did a 50 mile 4 day run with one of these through the canyons of Escalante. Heald up to serious abuse, I drank out of nasty nasy NASTY pools of water and feel great at the moment. It has been long enough that I would be sick had it not done its job. I'm impressed.

[gtz]

cnoc makes a bag for this, so does hydrapak.

[michaelsantiago]

Great review. I love mine. I did buy a HydraPak Seeker that has the same thread size as the filter itself. Good back up or upgrade for the bag. Keep them coming Darwin

[gingerthetrailpup]

I used the sawyer mini for 2017 & 2018. I have switched to the katadine befree and really like it. The ease to get water and go as well as flow rate sold me. The filter should last me a year before buying a replacement. My REI dividends should easily cover the cost of buying a replacement filter!

[BWorldadventure]

Heard so much about this filter... Brought it with me to use in Nepal for Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and Annapurna Base Camp 2019. It filtered & flowed well during my first 500km journey thru the Hymalayias. Crystal clear mountain water no problem...

However, it didn't hold up during my journey thru Southeast Asia, especially in the jungles of Cambodia. When I needed it most to filter murky water, it struggled to trickled and dropped even after repeated washing of the filter.

Wasn't expecting this foresure from such a hype Katadyn award winning Befree water filter.

[philwestmoreland]

This system has been the best for foreign travel since it is a complete system. I am cautious about the bag breaking on a hike, but it seems pretty strong and leaks at the seams sounds like they are pretty rare. Thanks for giving us your thoughts on this filter. The flow rate is the BOMB!

[JasonHelmandollar]

I’ve had the befree for about 6-7 months and I really love this filter. I also own the sawyers but prefer the katadyn. I purchased the 2l seeker bag also for this filter and got a hole in it and hydrapak replaced it for free.

[taylorbrawner]

I also found that this filter fits on the ultimate direction soft flasks (also made by hydrapak) and works great. 1k Liters isn’t what the sawyer can do, but that’s still a lot of filtered water. 2 liters of water a day for nearly a year and a half. That’s a long hike.

[doctorfeelgood]

The Katadyn Befree also fits any of the Hydrapak Seeker bladders 1, 2, 3, &4 liters. Another note, if the befree stops pushing water its typically because the minerals that have accumulated in the filter dried out in storage. Soak the filter for a few hours in a glass of water and you're back in business.

[doctorfeelgood]

I talked with Katadyn about the 1000 gallons. The filter is good for far longer especially with care. Katadyn just claims 1000liters for liability purposes. Sawyer, Katadyn, and MSR buy the filter element from the same manufacturer.

[nathanc]

Replacement filters are $25 which works out to around 10 cents a gallon. Not bad, especially if you pick them up during a 20%-25% off sale like nearly every outdoor retailer has multiple times a year. Also Hydrapak makes the bladders for Katadyn and you can use various Hydrapak containers instead. I brought mine with me on a 4 night rim to rim this summer and lo and behold a water pipe broke leaving a bunch of hikers without water and it ended up being a lifesaver.

[brianaddonizio]

BIG HELPER to get rid of plastic taste out of any collapse-able bottle/bladder i.e. hydrapack or Befree bladder--- Baking Soda and Lemon or Lime Juice
Combine several tablespoons of baking soda in some cups of water and pour it into the hydration bladder. Next, add the same amount of lime juice or lemon juice. You will notice some bubbling. Let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight and then thoroughly rinse with warm water.

[rumidude]

The Hydrapak Seeker has the same size and thread to work with the BeFree filter. I just bout the filter and bag separately and love it.

[OneclickOutside]

I tried two already with fairly clean, clear water. I feel like I babied it and did everything the instructions said. After both clogged up completely (couldn't squeeze a single drop!) I soaked them, hot water, bleach, oxyclean, vinegar, you name it. Nothing. But it's such a great convenient system I may try a third. I wouldn't care if it was rated to 200L, I'd still buy one. The the fact they stop working completely for no apparent reason worries me.

[CaliKid]

To reiterate a previous comment, the Hydrapak Seeker series of soft bottles is designed to work with this filter cap. They come in a variety of sizes up to 4L. I personally use the .6L Katadyn and a 2L Seeker with the filter cap attached. They both work incredibly well.

[heathersorko]

Have used mine for a full season of multi day wilderness canoeing. On my third system so far, but determined to give it chances and not give up. First one the flip cap broke, second got a hole puncture in the bag. Hoping third times a keeper. Hole puncture may have been my fault since it gets carelessly shoved into pockets and bags due to its great compactness. I always bring back up purification in case the bag breaks. As you mentioned wish it would have universal threads, just in case.

[tsgetty]

I was looking for a review on this for backpacking, and I knew you'd have one! Thanks @Darwin !!

[iamrachelolsen]

Thank you for this. I bought a Katadyn a few years ago after my local outdoor shop suggested this to me. Way before I got interested in backpacking. Just wanted something to filter water while camping if I got into a pinch. After watching a ton of backpacking videos over the past year or so, I felt like you basically had to have a Sawyer Squeeze to be legit. Glad to see it on trail. I’m definitely using it until I get to that 1000 L but may switch to the Sawyer Squeeze after for $$ savings.