Going on hiking trips is a great way to appreciate nature. One of the most important aspects of this sports hobby is staying hydrated. In this Katadyn BeFree Review, we will look at how a water filter bottle can help you pack light and use about any water source you will see.
Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter Overview
Before they produced this water filter bottle, Katadyn produced industrial filters for cities. This bottle in particular is one of the best filtered water bottle for travel in the market today by many users.
Let’s have a look at the key features that make this water filter bottle great.
Key Features
Built for Outdoors
With its rugged and collapsible design, this will be an ideal water bottle for hikers and backpackers. When not in use, you can fold it and store it just about anywhere. The PVC and BPA-free material on the bottle is also durable and will not puncture easily.
Ultramarathoners, backpackers, trail hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who used this say that it is ideal because of its lightweight and easy-to-carry design. You can put this in your jersey pocket, fishing jacket, backpack, or running shorts.
Great Filter
The EZ-Clean Membrane has a 0.1-micron hollow-fibre water filter which can remove almost any impurity in any water source. It can remove 99.99% of protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium and removes bacteria, cysts and sediment in the water.
This filter has a wide mouth for fast water flow. This 1-litre bottle can filter water fast so you can use it to refill your other water bottles in minutes. You can also directly drink from the bottle. The mouthpiece is kept sanitary with the replaceable nozzle cap.
Easy to Clean
To clean the filter, just fill the water up to half the level of the bottle and give it a shake until sediments lodged in the filter are removed. Do this a couple of times depending on the amount of cleaning it needs. You can also use running or tap water to clean it.
If there is no clean water available, simply filter out water into another container. Then put it back in the squeeze bottle and use that to shake off the remaining debris in the filter.
Lifespan
You can use the filter for about 264 gallons of water. In litres, that will amount to almost a thousand uses. It is made from durable and food-grade material which allows it to be safe to use for long periods of time. Compared to water bottles, this is a better choice for health and environmental reasons.
You have two choices: to replace the whole bottle or just the filter. You will save a lot if you just replace the filter. But being made durable and from high-quality materials, it may take a while before you replace any part of the bottle.
Annual Maintenance
If you only use this every weekend on hiking or regular outdoor trips, one bottle will be enough for a year. It will cost you about $42 for the regular bottle and about $70 for the updated and tactical bottle.
But if you just want to replace the filter, it will run you about $30 – $35.
Annual Maintenance Cost: $42 – $70 or $30
Consideration Factors
Not Compatible with All Bottles
The 42 mm diameter cap is not compatible with wide-mouth containers so you can’t really use this for other types of sports bottles. However, it may fit screw-on caps from Hydrapak.
Squeeze Bottle Limitations
It has a more rounded shape and no place to hang it on your bag. If you want to use this as your main bottle, you will need to put it in the water-bottle pocket of your backpack.
Handling it may also be a bit awkward. The soft material may have a grip, but as water flows out, it will shrivel up, and you’ll need to really squeeze it to get all the water.
Spout Cover is Not Durable
Since the cover is flip top, mishandling it may break easily as the material is made from plastic. Once the cap breaks off, it needs to be replaced immediately.
While you can replace it with standard plastic water bottle caps, it will not look as good as the original cap.
A Bit Expensive
It is more on the premium side of water bottles. You may need to save a few more to get this.
+ Fast flow rate
+ Lightweight and portable
+ Reusable
– Squeeze bottle is awkward to handle
Technical Specs
- Dimensions: 11.3 x 3.5 x 2.8 inches
- Output: 2 quarts/minute
- Squeeze Bottle Material: 100% PVC and BPA free
- Water Filter Material: Hollow fibre filter 0.1 micron
- Weight (empty): 3.52 ounces
- Capacity: Up to 1000 litres depending on water quality
Our Verdict: Recommended!
In this Katadyn BeFree Review, we find that this portable water bottle filter is a great bottle to bring with you. It will help keep you hydrated, and you can filter 1000 litres of contaminated water with it.
With its lightweight collapsible design, you can bring it when you’re hiking, going out in the forest for a run, or just about anywhere.
It is using the 0.1-micron hollow fibre filter that can filter out bacteria and other protons in any type of water source. The filter can remove bacteria, cysts, and sediment in the water. You can make any water source drinkable with this water filter.
While you may need to pay extra dollars to get this, the investment is worth it. You will enjoy more time outdoors without worrying about the water you are drinking.