This obviously isn't the video that I intended to put up today but the Tent Tip video had a RUclips glitch so I deleted and reuploaded....coming next week! - Luke
I just wanted to make sure you know that CNOC makes a bladder that fits this filter. cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
Pretty sure that the pronounciation of Katadyn is Kah-tah-din (accent on the first syllable) like the mountain in Maine at the trail head of the Appalachian trail.
Hi Luke and Susie! Great review. I've been a proponent for the Sawyer systems for several years until this past winter. I also used the Vapur bottles, one of them having a filter. Recently I found the Grayl Ultralight Purifier which can process 500ml of water in 15 seconds just with downward pressure; no squeezing or fumbling with multiple containers is involved. Using it I saved almost three pounds of pack weight. I used to carry two one liter Smart water bottles (5 pounds) plus the Sawyer Squeeze or Mini in a kit with syringe, straw,, a plastic scooper cut from a generic water bottle and the Sawyer 1L container empty in a small canvas pouch. Now I carry one liter of water (2.5lbs) and the empty Grayl which weighs 3.52oz (saving me almost 3lbs of pack weight). Another cool factor is that the Grayl somehow eliminates the funky taste associated with most purification methods. Corporals Corner has a video on the Grayl's larger version. The 500ml version comes in four colors: black, blue, orange and green which I bought from Amazon for $59.95. I ordered a second one to add to my car kit. BTW the larger version is $85 and processes 550ml.
@@WilliamSchwartz No they don't. It's common soda bottle threads. Unless they came out with a new one that has the gallon Gatorade threads. With the back opening completely, they just don't need the threaded adaptor to be bigger.
@@MrWillyp00 Yes, CNOC does make a BeFree thread-compatible 42mm opening bag. Here's are links to: (a) the Katadyn BeFree Water Filter fact sheet. Note the 42mm opening label on the diagram: www.katadyn.com/downloads/katadyn/factsheets/filters/factsheet_befree_en.pdf (b) the CNOC 2019 Vecto BeFree threaded container: cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345 Yes, CNOC also makes a 28mm threaded container compatible with the Sawyers.
@@KimberlyGreen You are correct, i have one of this new CNOC BeFree threaded, and it works (no leaking). One tip to not juggling with the bottle, the water blater and the filter is to screw the output of the BeFree filter to a water bottle : remove the sport cap of the filter, and replace it with the Sawyer SP150 coupling (the blue "ring"). And finish the hard time to fill the bottle :)
When I started watching gear videos to renew all my stuff with actually good gear, there was 3 clear winners everyone seem to use and rave about: silky saws, fjallraven pants, and the katadyn filters. The reviews didn’t disappoint, this filter is clearly in its own league :)
I don't know - lots of people have jumped to the Katadyn, but there's some people that are sticking with Sawyer filters due to the sheer volume that they can filter over their life (100x the Katadyn). The backflushing has put some people off, but the tradeoff for the non-proprietary threaded setups and the lifespan of the overall filter has kept me with the Sawyers over these. But Silky and Fjallraven look awesome - saving up for those pants (which feels weird to put in writing).
@@jasonkraus2831 ahah, it does :) Check ebay, I have 3 pairs of fjall pants, 2 brand new and one secondhand, and I'm never buying them new again. Fun fact about product that'll outlast you: not a lot of people go hard enough to even start making them show usage :) and some people will discount the everloving crap out of them. When I discovered that, I checked ebay everyday and got so much cool gear for very little money. The top win being a winter jacket I got for less than 100€, from 400€ new. It didn't look like it was even used, it was just badly waxed and it seemed like the patina threw the owner off or smth ? idk, score for me :) As to the filters, I'd rather buy 10 kata ones than having to deal with the sawyer system. To each his own, but yeah, the kata is good for a year worth of water for one. That's good enough for me. Plus even if it's "ok", I'd have trust issues with a 5 yr old filter anyways, so I'd still cycle it, just because I don't trust a plasticky product that says it'll be good for 100 years of my needs.
I bought one after you showed it the first time. I like, and agree with you both regarding the proprietary threading. Man, if they just offered a 1L or 32oz plastic or metal bottle or changed the threats to fit a majority of bottles, they'd have one if not the best system. Awesome review as usual. Clint
I agree...the bag needs major improvement and would love for BeFree to come out with a hard bottle companion. BUT....It is my favorite water filter. I have never had any issues with it and I love he water flow and how easy it is to clean.
I know this isn't the most recent review, but for anyone watching, I think the gravity filter kit they put out with this filter and the 3l bag solves a fair amount of problems. It gives you a nylon webbing strap for hanging and carrying that adjusts long enough to sling over a shoulder, as well as an output hose that makes filling things much easier. It adds weight, but I'm someone who hikes to camp instead of vice versa, so it's worth it IMO.
The Membrane Solutions blue gravity water filter system is a superior system. It can be used used as the bag gravity system, soft drink bottle squeeze system, soft drink bottle gravity system if you cut bottle in half, or with a Sawyer bucket adapter kit. The Membrane Solutions also has charcoal to improve taste and flavor.
Thanks for another great objective review. I have the 1L version, and (as seen on another reviewer's video) I clip it to my front pack strap and fill on the run. In that mode the silicone bag is perfect. I also carry two one liter bottles on the sides, and still carry a Sawyer as a backup, as well as aquatabs. There may be more practical filters than the current BeFree, but none are more convenient for fill and go than Aquaclip method I use with the BeFree, that I have experienced.
I thought this was the best thing on the market so I purchased it a couple years ago. I've used it maybe 5 times on backpacking trips and it broke on our last trip. The grey handle near the mouth broke and then it stopped filtering completely, no amount of swishing or backwashing made it work any better. I'm going to be purchasing a Platypus Gravityworks 2.0L filter for my next trip. I don't think the BeFree is a durable product.
You can take the sport cap off the Katadyn, screw on the blue ring adapter that came with the Sawyer Squeeze, then on the opposite side of the blue ring, you can screw on a 1 liter smart water bottle or if your using a CNOC Vecto as a "clean" water bladder you can screw that into the blue ring adapter. Check it out.
BeFree are okay, but they're rated for 1000 liters versus a Sawyer mini at 100k gallons. The Sawyer also has better options for attachment with the standard 28 mm vs the BeFree.
@@positiivi_teme Perhaps not, but the rated lifespans are markedly different, and no one has challenged the claim. I have a mini and a regular. For the price, they're hard to top. With the standard screw size, they're easy to top.
@@wisenber well challenged in what way? No other filter offers the same amount or is the claim legit in anyway? 1000l filter use for a year means 2,7l per day. Sawyer's 100k gallons is roughly 378k litres. So if it takes 2min to filter a litre of water, youd have to do 1,44 years of nonstop filtering to achieve that amount, with pure water so the time doesn't change. And they both are hollow fibre. I call utter bollocks on Sawyer.
@@positiivi_teme "@wisenber well challenged in what way" Did you read the comments? "And they both are hollow fibre. " They don't have the same amount of fibers. Not all hollow fiber filters are equal nor the same. The varying failure times attest to that. " I call utter bollocks on Sawyer." Or you could ask their rating method. The amount of fiber they have may well be able to accomplish the rating in a lab. In the field, few last more than a few seasons due to freezing, clogging, mold...
i use the adjustable strap to hang 3L bag in camp and filter tube into my water bladder and can walk away. it works great for this but The tube needs an adaptor that fits a smart water bottle. I do love this filter and though the 3L bag is everything you said it can collect water really fast due to the wide mouth opening. Thanks for your reviews, so helpful to me.
I agree that the bottle can be a pain, but on the other hand, if you use a stiffer bottle, you lose the ability to compress it down to fit a smaller space in your pack.
I had an issue with mine not filtering any water. I spoke to customer service and they informed me I needed to soak the nozzle in water. Seems to work well now.
The lack of bottle/hydration support with this is huge to me. I know it requires backflushing and isn't quite as high of a flow rate, but Sawyer's products filter much more over their lifespan and can be adapted to bottles and inline on hydration systems. If they can figure out the steps to get this plumbed up to those systems, it'll run the show regardless of a smaller lifetime filtering capacity. Until then, there's still a very big spot in this game for Sawyer and other filtration systems. Personally, I'm not buying the Katadyn and sticking with my tried-and-tested Sawyer setup for now.
Great video as always! Here's a tip for dealing with the water transfer issue. Try holding the spout of the filter with one hand and position the water bag between your body and arm, while using your other hand to hold your water bottle to the spout. Then squeeze the water bag using your arm and your body, kind of like a bag pipe player. Hope it helps!
Why wouldn’t you gravity filter with this bag? It seems that it perfectly designed for gravity filter. As for the bail, you can use a carabiner or other cordage. Also you can’t have a hard bottle, it has to be soft flask. A hard bottle would create a vacuum and the water would stop flowing.
Membrane Solutions Gravity Filter 6L is a superior product. The straw filter can be used with the bag or standard water bottles. Greater longevity and replaceable filter components.
Agree, the filter is great but it's not flexible, ie it can't be used with Nalgene or disposable water bottles (like if the bag gets torn or punctured). Nor can it be used inline with a bladder. Second, 3L is only useful for basecamp/car camping . 3L weighs almost 7 pounds. Better to get the 1L version.
A agree. Great system, but something has to give with the proprietary threading. That’s one of Sawyer’s BIGGEST selling points is their ability to be used with the readily available Smart Water bottles. KATADYN... Please take note!! 😫😉😂
The proprietary bags is a deal breaker for me. Hope you are paying attention Katadyn. At least issue a hard bottle that is puncture resistant. Not taking chances in the field with that bag.
What a coincidence, I was just sat here playing with my new Sawyer Mini filter and building my own carbon filter to go with it, then I check my email and find a new TOGR video all about... water filters. Great minds think alike :-)
You can use CNOC bags if you buy 42mm bags directly from CNOC website. The end of befree filter screws off and can attach to standard 28mm thread adapters used with Sawyer products.
I like this but you're right about the thread size, can't fit on ANY bottle! This i why i thnk i prefer the CNOC 3 L foldable bag that fits straight onto a Sawyer filter which can then be fit onto a standard bottle.
Just a side note. The 3 liter fits behind the trampoline mesh of the zpacks arc haul hooked up to 2 carabiners. Making transport to camp way easier. Oooh Yeaah!
I've been using the Sawyer Mini for years now and it just plain works. Fill the Bag and hang it while letting Gravity do the work. Clean it by Back Flushing. (Yes it's a pain but it works.) Now if this could be used by Gravity and they beefed up the end handles then I would consider it. (I like the Filter.) Oh, how small down does it filter?
I believe about two years ago you had a filter fail. Is there any filter you have found that you could not recommend? I like it when you both are on the video you make such a great pair. The videos with your kids were great also hopefully they can stop by and take trips every once in a while now that they are older. Thanks for all the great adventures you bring us on.
Thanks guys. I have been waiting for your review and recommendation of this product before purchasing. Now off to purchase one. Hopefully a review of Luke’s backpacking concealed carry pouch is coming soon 😁. Once again guys great job and great team keep it up. 👍
I used to use a Sawyer mini and a Sawyer squeeze, great filters but so frustratingly slow flow rate. Here In the UK we have a lot of moorland with peaty soils where the filters clog so quickly. However I have been using the Katadyn 1 litre bottle filter for the last two years. At first I found it hard to get used to the soft bottle but now I love it. I hike and camp with two dogs sometimes for 3-4 days at a time. I need to carry extra water for the dogs, the Katadyn being so easy to use means i can filter 6 litres of water easily in 10-15 minutes where as a Sawyer would take close to 30 minutes. I filter straight into two 1 litre smart water bottles and a couple of Platypus 2 litre pouches at the source. Better still the soft bottle when full can easily be squeezed In a Osprey/Gregory netting side pocket due to its flexibility. Never had any issues with it at all.... so far. When you are tired after a long days hiking speed and ease of use mean the world when all you want to do is relax.
I decided NOT to buy a BeFree due to numerous other youtube videos & comments proclaiming the water flow becomes quite slow AFTER limited water filtration. Instead I bought a Sawyer Mini, which I doubt I'll ever use after realizing the problem of water collection from a shallow source + the real possibility of cross-contamination when using clean water bags & dirty water bags. Instead, I'm going to continue to use my MSR Trailshot; no possible cross-contamination, no problem collecting water from shallow sources like a trickle of water from melting snowpack & I can suck water through the inlet tube, into the pump & out the outlet nozzle instead of working my forearms to death by pumping that bulb to prime the pump. I DON'T CARRY WATER BOTTLES (smart or dumb), only my 3L Hydrapak bladder.
At first I really thought it was the best filter by far. But I used that filter for about two years and I found a couple things about it that makes me not trust it fully. I'll still use it on shorter hikes, but definitely not on my JMT hike this year. The first issue is, if the filter dries the flow pretty much stops until it soaks for a bit and gets saturated again. Not a big deal but annoying. Also in a place like Dolly Sods where the water is a red tint or dirty is slows down quickly. But the biggest issue are the threads and the bag leaking at the threads. After about two years of use mine leaks where the bag connects to the filter when filtering. Also If something happens to the bag your screwed. As with a sawyer they will fit right on a smart water bottle of numerous other bags and bottles.
The bags are nice because they fold up as you use them. Bring some bottles and just use that to fill them but you us as a gravity fed system instead of trying to hold it. Proprietarty stuff does suck though.
I've had the one liter leak, dropped it on a rock, lol. It fixes up easily; empty the bottle, put a piece of paper on the inside, opposite to the puncture, dab a bit of super glue, wait for it to dry. Now it looks like there's a wart on it, but still very functional.
Hydrapak makes several bladders in different sizes that are much more robust that screw right on to the filter. Actually if you look on the Katadyn BeFree bladder it should say manufactured by Hydrapak. For someone who was looking to purchase a water filtration system they could purchase a Katadyn BeFree replacement cartridge and a Hydrapak bladder and save some money.
I own two of these the 1 liter and the 3 liter and I'm with you they are absolutely great as far as filtering and flow goes but the bags are very floppy and just a pain. Love the filter katadyn not your bag. Keep it up Luke and Susie love the channel.
I have the 1litre bottle Haven't had the chance to check it out yet. Mind you I own multiple Sawyers and HydroBlu's and Aquamira's I have this thing for potable water Thanks for the video you folks enjoy your weekend
CNOC and a Sawyer or Hydro Blu all day long. Can always screw those filters on soda bottles if need be. Got the BeFree and it's just too proprietary. You are stuck without options but to spend a lot of money and it doesn't work with common gravity feed tubes.
I thought I'd hear a shout out for a Sawyer : -) A friend of mine recently bought one (He's wild camping with it in the Lake District, UK this weekend) and the thing that sold it to him was the standard thread.
CNOC Sells a bladder that fits the BeFree . Here is the link cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
Couldn't agree more! I've been a Katahdyn fan since being sent to central Brazil in 2001. Carried the Exstream XR purifier, and still do. Disgusted that I can't get the filters anymore. I have also used it at disaster locations for water. I miss not being able to depend on it anymore.
It's their way to ensure you have to buy more bags. It really does lock you into forced purchaes. They know if you could use another bottle to filter out water. They couldn't sell the bags after they are ripped or punchered.
great video Luke. How much does the replacement filters cost ? Just a thought on the thread deal, 3 D print a adaptor to fit regular bottles. Thanks for sharing.
Your observations are correct its very close to being the best system out there. May be they will have a rethink after hearing your comments regarding the bag and the filter housing.
I hate proprietary anything. Standardization is the way to go. Which is why I'm not trying the BeFree. I'm switching from the Sawyer Mini to a Sawyer Micro with a CNOC Vector 2L bag. Thanks for the review and your insights.
Just let it hang upside down, force the cap closed when you're done. It's a little messy in the sense that you're gonna get some back spray every time, but it's way easier than trying to squeeze the pouch to fill a container. The flow is fast enough on these filters that I don't mind the small difference in time.
Thanks for the review! As always great job! use a Sawyer filter with a Vecto 2L bag and that solves for the compatibility with other bottles. I bought a 1/4 inch diameter tube that I can convert the system into a gravity filter as well.
Interesting. I use the Katadyn Pocket with active carbon because it’s durable and does 50,000 litres, plus it works well with Nalgene bottles. I also use a 3 litre bag from Klim that came with my daypack
I use a pantyhose over a Pepsi bottle. Works great. I have great weight loss results after a few days of backpacking because of the explosive diarrhea I get after each trip for some reason. Thinking I'm getting some creek water on the threads of the bottle. Still....lost 20 pounds in the last few weeks.
To combat the floppyness with mine I attached some cordage and would hang it on a branch to squeeze water through. Works pretty well that way. Just my 2 pennies. Maybe give it a shot and see what ya think
Wmart has tubes you can use, generic. I don't know what they fit, but they are a generic replacement filter for one of the trail filtration systems out there. Depends on if you hike, camp, or bugout. How much water you may need.
I used one during my thru hike because it seemed to work so great but found after a month it was painfully slow and no swishing in water or shaking the bag would help. I switched to a Squeeze for the remaining 2.5 months and it worked as well at the end as it did the beginning. The BeFree is great for short trips but I wouldn't recommend one for long ones unless you have extra in resupply boxes.
i use both the katadyn and the sawyer mini. As much as I love the possibility of the sawyer.... I use them to fill my bottles. So, for speed Katadyn wins by far. But, since they are both so light, in the best possible world...Bring both ;)
Leave BOTH at home. Carry & use the MSR Trailshot & suck air out of the outlet nozzle, pump, & tube instead of working your forearms to death trying to prime the trailshot pump.
Do you still like and use this filter today? I see lots of comments where people suggest the flow rate eventually slows right down and can't be corrected. I have the 1L version and haven't experienced this problem yet but it hasn't seen a ton of use yet either. I'm curious if you had this problem with yours?
Luke, great and fair review. My question is; will the maker listen and make a more user friendly product. I love the outdoors and follow your channel. Since I'm a tad older than you kids my body doesn't give me the option of using two hands to hold the bag up to get a drink. I'd love to have this product in my home if it were more user friendly.
Based on this, it definitely sounds like it is much better as a base camp water filter to hang on a tree and use gravity to filter it into bottles as u need it. I wouldn't walk around with this in my pack for the reasons u noted.
I guess you have to settle on something you need vs want. I filter on source with a pump using a Nalgene 1 liter bottle. no matter what i collect; i boil before i use. NO FILTER IS ABSOLUTE. all hiking trails water have animal use nearby. deep woods use do the best you can!
I’ve got the 1liter and the 3liter... and I’ve only got about 50liters thru them... and the flow rate is 2.5minutes per liter... bogus. I have tried everything to get the flow rate better... to no avail. I’m going to Sawyer Squeeze.
So what is holding them back? 😬 Bag you say? Did that system work as a gravity feed when you had it hung? The old Katadyn Basecamp folters that used Hiker cartridges were awesome as a gravity system.
This obviously isn't the video that I intended to put up today but the Tent Tip video had a RUclips glitch so I deleted and reuploaded....coming next week!
- Luke
I just wanted to make sure you know that CNOC makes a bladder that fits this filter. cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
Pretty sure that the pronounciation of Katadyn is Kah-tah-din (accent on the first syllable) like the mountain in Maine at the trail head of the Appalachian trail.
Chris i use these hydrapak.com/featured/seeker-3-liter
Honest review, and very honest and helpful criticism of its shortfalls, well done
Hi Luke and Susie! Great review. I've been a proponent for the Sawyer systems for several years until this past winter. I also used the Vapur bottles, one of them having a filter. Recently I found the Grayl Ultralight Purifier which can process 500ml of water in 15 seconds just with downward pressure; no squeezing or fumbling with multiple containers is involved. Using it I saved almost three pounds of pack weight. I used to carry two one liter Smart water bottles (5 pounds) plus the Sawyer Squeeze or Mini in a kit with syringe, straw,, a plastic scooper cut from a generic water bottle and the Sawyer 1L container empty in a small canvas pouch. Now I carry one liter of water (2.5lbs) and the empty Grayl which weighs 3.52oz (saving me almost 3lbs of pack weight). Another cool factor is that the Grayl somehow eliminates the funky taste associated with most purification methods. Corporals Corner has a video on the Grayl's larger version. The 500ml version comes in four colors: black, blue, orange and green which I bought from Amazon for $59.95. I ordered a second one to add to my car kit. BTW the larger version is $85 and processes 550ml.
I took my Grayl on a 3 week trip to Africa and Tanzania. Used it continuously without a problem.
The Sawyer squeeze filter is more versatile and cheaper. If you want, you can add a CNOC bag for the same price.
yup, cnoc makes a bag compatible with the befree threads.
@@WilliamSchwartz No they don't. It's common soda bottle threads. Unless they came out with a new one that has the gallon Gatorade threads. With the back opening completely, they just don't need the threaded adaptor to be bigger.
willy p00 CNOC makes both. cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
@@MrWillyp00 Yes, CNOC does make a BeFree thread-compatible 42mm opening bag. Here's are links to:
(a) the Katadyn BeFree Water Filter fact sheet. Note the 42mm opening label on the diagram: www.katadyn.com/downloads/katadyn/factsheets/filters/factsheet_befree_en.pdf
(b) the CNOC 2019 Vecto BeFree threaded container: cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
Yes, CNOC also makes a 28mm threaded container compatible with the Sawyers.
@@KimberlyGreen You are correct, i have one of this new CNOC BeFree threaded, and it works (no leaking). One tip to not juggling with the bottle, the water blater and the filter is to screw the output of the BeFree filter to a water bottle : remove the sport cap of the filter, and replace it with the Sawyer SP150 coupling (the blue "ring"). And finish the hard time to fill the bottle :)
When I started watching gear videos to renew all my stuff with actually good gear, there was 3 clear winners everyone seem to use and rave about: silky saws, fjallraven pants, and the katadyn filters.
The reviews didn’t disappoint, this filter is clearly in its own league :)
I don't know - lots of people have jumped to the Katadyn, but there's some people that are sticking with Sawyer filters due to the sheer volume that they can filter over their life (100x the Katadyn). The backflushing has put some people off, but the tradeoff for the non-proprietary threaded setups and the lifespan of the overall filter has kept me with the Sawyers over these.
But Silky and Fjallraven look awesome - saving up for those pants (which feels weird to put in writing).
@@jasonkraus2831 ahah, it does :)
Check ebay, I have 3 pairs of fjall pants, 2 brand new and one secondhand, and I'm never buying them new again.
Fun fact about product that'll outlast you: not a lot of people go hard enough to even start making them show usage :)
and some people will discount the everloving crap out of them. When I discovered that, I checked ebay everyday and got so much cool gear for very little money. The top win being a winter jacket I got for less than 100€, from 400€ new. It didn't look like it was even used, it was just badly waxed and it seemed like the patina threw the owner off or smth ? idk, score for me :)
As to the filters, I'd rather buy 10 kata ones than having to deal with the sawyer system.
To each his own, but yeah, the kata is good for a year worth of water for one. That's good enough for me. Plus even if it's "ok", I'd have trust issues with a 5 yr old filter anyways, so I'd still cycle it, just because I don't trust a plasticky product that says it'll be good for 100 years of my needs.
I use the pump version from Katadyn, it works fantastic and fits the Nalgene bottle.
Great vid guys.
I bought one after you showed it the first time. I like, and agree with you both regarding the proprietary threading. Man, if they just offered a 1L or 32oz plastic or metal bottle or changed the threats to fit a majority of bottles, they'd have one if not the best system. Awesome review as usual. Clint
Great video you two, there is nothing wrong with this video at all. You struck the right balance.
Purchased mine due to seeing you use yours in multiple vids Luke. Thanks for the tips and heads up on this filtration system.
I agree...the bag needs major improvement and would love for BeFree to come out with a hard bottle companion. BUT....It is my favorite water filter. I have never had any issues with it and I love he water flow and how easy it is to clean.
CKHall Adventures that would be the Öko bottle.
Susie has an increasing role on the channel. Very nice especially when compared to other outdoor channels!
I know this isn't the most recent review, but for anyone watching, I think the gravity filter kit they put out with this filter and the 3l bag solves a fair amount of problems. It gives you a nylon webbing strap for hanging and carrying that adjusts long enough to sling over a shoulder, as well as an output hose that makes filling things much easier. It adds weight, but I'm someone who hikes to camp instead of vice versa, so it's worth it IMO.
The Membrane Solutions blue gravity water filter system is a superior system. It can be used used as the bag gravity system, soft drink bottle squeeze system, soft drink bottle gravity system if you cut bottle in half, or with a Sawyer bucket adapter kit. The Membrane Solutions also has charcoal to improve taste and flavor.
Thanks for another great objective review. I have the 1L version, and (as seen on another reviewer's video) I clip it to my front pack strap and fill on the run. In that mode the silicone bag is perfect. I also carry two one liter bottles on the sides, and still carry a Sawyer as a backup, as well as aquatabs. There may be more practical filters than the current BeFree, but none are more convenient for fill and go than Aquaclip method I use with the BeFree, that I have experienced.
I have been using this same system for almost two years now... and I agree entirely on every point you made.
I thought this was the best thing on the market so I purchased it a couple years ago. I've used it maybe 5 times on backpacking trips and it broke on our last trip. The grey handle near the mouth broke and then it stopped filtering completely, no amount of swishing or backwashing made it work any better. I'm going to be purchasing a Platypus Gravityworks 2.0L filter for my next trip. I don't think the BeFree is a durable product.
Been using this for a year or so and it is brilliant
You can take the sport cap off the Katadyn, screw on the blue ring adapter that came with the Sawyer Squeeze, then on the opposite side of the blue ring, you can screw on a 1 liter smart water bottle or if your using a CNOC Vecto as a "clean" water bladder you can screw that into the blue ring adapter. Check it out.
Hello Luke and Suzie, great review. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely check it out. 🤗
BeFree are okay, but they're rated for 1000 liters versus a Sawyer mini at 100k gallons. The Sawyer also has better options for attachment with the standard 28 mm vs the BeFree.
I don't think anyone has time to spent filtering 100k gallons with the sawyer. ;)
@@positiivi_teme Perhaps not, but the rated lifespans are markedly different, and no one has challenged the claim. I have a mini and a regular. For the price, they're hard to top. With the standard screw size, they're easy to top.
@@wisenber well challenged in what way? No other filter offers the same amount or is the claim legit in anyway?
1000l filter use for a year means 2,7l per day.
Sawyer's 100k gallons is roughly 378k litres. So if it takes 2min to filter a litre of water, youd have to do 1,44 years of nonstop filtering to achieve that amount, with pure water so the time doesn't change.
And they both are hollow fibre. I call utter bollocks on Sawyer.
@@positiivi_teme "@wisenber well challenged in what way"
Did you read the comments?
"And they both are hollow fibre. "
They don't have the same amount of fibers. Not all hollow fiber filters are equal nor the same. The varying failure times attest to that.
" I call utter bollocks on Sawyer."
Or you could ask their rating method.
The amount of fiber they have may well be able to accomplish the rating in a lab.
In the field, few last more than a few seasons due to freezing, clogging, mold...
omg 100k gallons, i will byu 10 pcs for my town for central filtration station ^:)))
i use the adjustable strap to hang 3L bag in camp and filter tube into my water bladder and can walk away. it works great for this but The tube needs an adaptor that fits a smart water bottle. I do love this filter and though the 3L bag is everything you said it can collect water really fast due to the wide mouth opening. Thanks for your reviews, so helpful to me.
I like the Sawyer Squeeze and Steripen. The Aquamira Frontier Max looks good and I may give it a try.
I like the grayl filter I filters out viruses and chemicals which other filters don't. You never know what is in water.
I agree that the bottle can be a pain, but on the other hand, if you use a stiffer bottle, you lose the ability to compress it down to fit a smaller space in your pack.
True, but most people don't use those floppy bags anyway. SmartWater owes a tremendous debt to Hiking RUclipsrs.
excellent review Luke and Susan
I had an issue with mine not filtering any water. I spoke to customer service and they informed me I needed to soak the nozzle in water. Seems to work well now.
The lack of bottle/hydration support with this is huge to me. I know it requires backflushing and isn't quite as high of a flow rate, but Sawyer's products filter much more over their lifespan and can be adapted to bottles and inline on hydration systems.
If they can figure out the steps to get this plumbed up to those systems, it'll run the show regardless of a smaller lifetime filtering capacity. Until then, there's still a very big spot in this game for Sawyer and other filtration systems. Personally, I'm not buying the Katadyn and sticking with my tried-and-tested Sawyer setup for now.
Hydropack Seeker 3 liter works very well with this filter.
Great video as always! Here's a tip for dealing with the water transfer issue. Try holding the spout of the filter with one hand and position the water bag between your body and arm, while using your other hand to hold your water bottle to the spout. Then squeeze the water bag using your arm and your body, kind of like a bag pipe player. Hope it helps!
Why wouldn’t you gravity filter with this bag? It seems that it perfectly designed for gravity filter. As for the bail, you can use a carabiner or other cordage.
Also you can’t have a hard bottle, it has to be soft flask. A hard bottle would create a vacuum and the water would stop flowing.
Membrane Solutions Gravity Filter 6L is a superior product. The straw filter can be used with the bag or standard water bottles. Greater longevity and replaceable filter components.
Pronounced: Kah -Tah - din, like the mountain it’s named after here at home. Other than that Great Review!!! Love you two!
Agree, the filter is great but it's not flexible, ie it can't be used with Nalgene or disposable water bottles (like if the bag gets torn or punctured). Nor can it be used inline with a bladder. Second, 3L is only useful for basecamp/car camping . 3L weighs almost 7 pounds. Better to get the 1L version.
A agree. Great system, but something has to give with the proprietary threading. That’s one of Sawyer’s BIGGEST selling points is their ability to be used with the readily available Smart Water bottles. KATADYN... Please take note!! 😫😉😂
The proprietary bags is a deal breaker for me. Hope you are paying attention Katadyn. At least issue a hard bottle that is puncture resistant. Not taking chances in the field with that bag.
THAT IS ONLY ONE OF THE MAJOR DESIGN DEFICIENCIES WITH BEFREE.
What a coincidence, I was just sat here playing with my new Sawyer Mini filter and building my own carbon filter to go with it, then I check my email and find a new TOGR video all about... water filters. Great minds think alike :-)
You can use CNOC bags if you buy 42mm bags directly from CNOC website.
The end of befree filter screws off and can attach to standard 28mm thread adapters used with Sawyer products.
I like this but you're right about the thread size, can't fit on ANY bottle! This i why i thnk i prefer the CNOC 3 L foldable bag that fits straight onto a Sawyer filter which can then be fit onto a standard bottle.
I absolutely love this katadyn system. I carry both the 1 liter bag and the 3 liter. 1L to camel up on trail, 3L for camp. Ooooh Yeaaah!
Just a side note. The 3 liter fits behind the trampoline mesh of the zpacks arc haul hooked up to 2 carabiners. Making transport to camp way easier. Oooh Yeaah!
Hmm i think an newer product demo may be in order, The Grayl
The small top handle is for filling/scooping from the source
I've been using the Sawyer Mini for years now and it just plain works. Fill the Bag and hang it while letting Gravity do the work. Clean it by Back Flushing. (Yes it's a pain but it works.)
Now if this could be used by Gravity and they beefed up the end handles then I would consider it. (I like the Filter.)
Oh, how small down does it filter?
I believe about two years ago you had a filter fail. Is there any filter you have found that you could not recommend? I like it when you both are on the video you make such a great pair. The videos with your kids were great also hopefully they can stop by and take trips every once in a while now that they are older. Thanks for all the great adventures you bring us on.
Thanks guys. I have been waiting for your review and recommendation of this product before purchasing. Now off to purchase one. Hopefully a review of Luke’s backpacking concealed carry pouch is coming soon 😁. Once again guys great job and great team keep it up. 👍
I'm actually uploading that video now!
- Luke
I used to use a Sawyer mini and a Sawyer squeeze, great filters but so frustratingly slow flow rate. Here In the UK we have a lot of moorland with peaty soils where the filters clog so quickly. However I have been using the Katadyn 1 litre bottle filter for the last two years. At first I found it hard to get used to the soft bottle but now I love it. I hike and camp with two dogs sometimes for 3-4 days at a time. I need to carry extra water for the dogs, the Katadyn being so easy to use means i can filter 6 litres of water easily in 10-15 minutes where as a Sawyer would take close to 30 minutes. I filter straight into two 1 litre smart water bottles and a couple of Platypus 2 litre pouches at the source. Better still the soft bottle when full can easily be squeezed In a Osprey/Gregory netting side pocket due to its flexibility. Never had any issues with it at all.... so far. When you are tired after a long days hiking speed and ease of use mean the world when all you want to do is relax.
I decided NOT to buy a BeFree due to numerous other youtube videos & comments proclaiming the water flow becomes quite slow AFTER limited water filtration. Instead I bought a Sawyer Mini, which I doubt I'll ever use after realizing the problem of water collection from a shallow source + the real possibility of cross-contamination when using clean water bags & dirty water bags. Instead, I'm going to continue to use my MSR Trailshot; no possible cross-contamination, no problem collecting water from shallow sources like a trickle of water from melting snowpack & I can suck water through the inlet tube, into the pump & out the outlet nozzle instead of working my forearms to death by pumping that bulb to prime the pump. I DON'T CARRY WATER BOTTLES (smart or dumb), only my 3L Hydrapak bladder.
At first I really thought it was the best filter by far. But I used that filter for about two years and I found a couple things about it that makes me not trust it fully. I'll still use it on shorter hikes, but definitely not on my JMT hike this year. The first issue is, if the filter dries the flow pretty much stops until it soaks for a bit and gets saturated again. Not a big deal but annoying. Also in a place like Dolly Sods where the water is a red tint or dirty is slows down quickly. But the biggest issue are the threads and the bag leaking at the threads. After about two years of use mine leaks where the bag connects to the filter when filtering. Also If something happens to the bag your screwed. As with a sawyer they will fit right on a smart water bottle of numerous other bags and bottles.
The bags are nice because they fold up as you use them. Bring some bottles and just use that to fill them but you us as a gravity fed system instead of trying to hold it.
Proprietarty stuff does suck though.
I've had the one liter leak, dropped it on a rock, lol. It fixes up easily; empty the bottle, put a piece of paper on the inside, opposite to the puncture, dab a bit of super glue, wait for it to dry. Now it looks like there's a wart on it, but still very functional.
Hydrapak makes several bladders in different sizes that are much more robust that screw right on to the filter. Actually if you look on the Katadyn BeFree bladder it should say manufactured by Hydrapak. For someone who was looking to purchase a water filtration system they could purchase a Katadyn BeFree replacement cartridge and a Hydrapak bladder and save some money.
I own two of these the 1 liter and the 3 liter and I'm with you they are absolutely great as far as filtering and flow goes but the bags are very floppy and just a pain. Love the filter katadyn not your bag. Keep it up Luke and Susie love the channel.
It needs a line tube to feel other containers. Good honest review
I hope this isn't the filter system that failed you and gave you the stomach problems.
The company should add an adapter ring to connect the spout to the Nalgene type threading.
I love my Katadyn filter, with an aftermarket bladder. I highly recommend it to everyone. However, I also recommend a backup of purification tablets.
I have the 1litre bottle Haven't had the chance to check it out yet. Mind you I own multiple Sawyers and HydroBlu's and Aquamira's I have this thing for potable water Thanks for the video you folks enjoy your weekend
CNOC and a Sawyer or Hydro Blu all day long. Can always screw those filters on soda bottles if need be. Got the BeFree and it's just too proprietary. You are stuck without options but to spend a lot of money and it doesn't work with common gravity feed tubes.
I thought I'd hear a shout out for a Sawyer : -) A friend of mine recently bought one (He's wild camping with it in the Lake District, UK this weekend) and the thing that sold it to him was the standard thread.
CNOC Sells a bladder that fits the BeFree . Here is the link cnocoutdoors.com/collections/2019-vectos/products/2019-vecto-42mm-orange?variant=20550088032345
@@cfeller2 Who cares if it fits the BeFree. It should fit everything else. The BeFree needs to change to common standards, not the other way around
@@engineeredlifeform Look into Hydro Blu, better flow surface area for the price. Same bacteria specs.
Couldn't agree more! I've been a Katahdyn fan since being sent to central Brazil in 2001. Carried the Exstream XR purifier, and still do. Disgusted that I can't get the filters anymore. I have also used it at disaster locations for water. I miss not being able to depend on it anymore.
It's their way to ensure you have to buy more bags. It really does lock you into forced purchaes. They know if you could use another bottle to filter out water. They couldn't sell the bags after they are ripped or punchered.
great video Luke.
How much does the replacement filters cost ?
Just a thought on the thread deal, 3 D print a adaptor to fit regular bottles.
Thanks for sharing.
$25
I've been using the Sawyer mini water filtration system. I like it alot :-) It can be used on smart bottles
I used it for years but its so slow. The Sawyer Squeeze is a much faster flow rate.
I just brought a sawyer, hopefully they are they are adequate
I think the small loop is for a carabiner to carry it
They call it a bail handle that is used for filling the bottle.
I'm pretty sure Hydrapak makes compatible water bags for this filter.
I don't buy from companies who do proprietary. Big oversight.
Your observations are correct its very close to being the best system out there. May be they will have a rethink after hearing your comments regarding the bag and the filter housing.
I hate proprietary anything. Standardization is the way to go. Which is why I'm not trying the BeFree. I'm switching from the Sawyer Mini to a Sawyer Micro with a CNOC Vector 2L bag. Thanks for the review and your insights.
cnoc 3 liter with sawyer squeeze with adapter to smart bottle gravity filtering
Just let it hang upside down, force the cap closed when you're done. It's a little messy in the sense that you're gonna get some back spray every time, but it's way easier than trying to squeeze the pouch to fill a container. The flow is fast enough on these filters that I don't mind the small difference in time.
Thanks for the review! As always great job! use a Sawyer filter with a Vecto 2L bag and that solves for the compatibility with other bottles. I bought a 1/4 inch diameter tube that I can convert the system into a gravity filter as well.
Interesting. I use the Katadyn Pocket with active carbon because it’s durable and does 50,000 litres, plus it works well with Nalgene bottles. I also use a 3 litre bag from Klim that came with my daypack
I 3D printed an adapter to go to regular bottle. If you want one yell.
I use a pantyhose over a Pepsi bottle. Works great. I have great weight loss results after a few days of backpacking because of the explosive diarrhea I get after each trip for some reason. Thinking I'm getting some creek water on the threads of the bottle. Still....lost 20 pounds in the last few weeks.
The smaller handle is for pouring in conjunction with the other handle
Thanks for the review! I bought IKEAs hard plastic water bottle (365+) and the filter is a snug fit on that one.
To combat the floppyness with mine I attached some cordage and would hang it on a branch to squeeze water through. Works pretty well that way. Just my 2 pennies. Maybe give it a shot and see what ya think
I think if there was a universal thread version of this filter it could be a game changer :)
Thanks for the review. Cheers from ALASKA 🏔
Wmart has tubes you can use, generic. I don't know what they fit, but they are a generic replacement filter for one of the trail filtration systems out there. Depends on if you hike, camp, or bugout. How much water you may need.
The gardian is the best filter ever!!!
these fit on Hydrapak Seekers
yea it's great when the bags don't fall apart and leak.
I imagine that cleaning out the bag must be hard... too bad the end of it didnt open up so you could reach in the clean it properly
Cnoc and hydrapak both make a bag for this filter. I just bought a replacement filter alone with cnoc vecto 2L for $45.
I used one during my thru hike because it seemed to work so great but found after a month it was painfully slow and no swishing in water or shaking the bag would help. I switched to a Squeeze for the remaining 2.5 months and it worked as well at the end as it did the beginning. The BeFree is great for short trips but I wouldn't recommend one for long ones unless you have extra in resupply boxes.
Did you happen to contact the company to see what they had to say about the slow rate?
Thanks for sharing your experiences Jay.
- Luke
i use both the katadyn and the sawyer mini. As much as I love the possibility of the sawyer.... I use them to fill my bottles. So, for speed Katadyn wins by far. But, since they are both so light, in the best possible world...Bring both ;)
Leave BOTH at home. Carry & use the MSR Trailshot & suck air out of the outlet nozzle, pump, & tube instead of working your forearms to death trying to prime the trailshot pump.
Do you still like and use this filter today? I see lots of comments where people suggest the flow rate eventually slows right down and can't be corrected. I have the 1L version and haven't experienced this problem yet but it hasn't seen a ton of use yet either. I'm curious if you had this problem with yours?
Great video. I use a Grayl and I love it. If you never checked it out you should. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks for the review. Will be keeping this product off of my purchase list. I already have a good system.
Fritz Fritz which is what system?
Luke, great and fair review. My question is; will the maker listen and make a more user friendly product. I love the outdoors and follow your channel. Since I'm a tad older than you kids my body doesn't give me the option of using two hands to hold the bag up to get a drink. I'd love to have this product in my home if it were more user friendly.
It would be perfect if the bag gas an wide opening on the wider part, easier to fill and easier to clean too.
Based on this, it definitely sounds like it is much better as a base camp water filter to hang on a tree and use gravity to filter it into bottles as u need it. I wouldn't walk around with this in my pack for the reasons u noted.
3l CNOC bag and sawyer micro has the other options for using the filter alone and with bottles etc
This wouldn't filtee any pñastic chemicals? I was hoping it would allow me to drink from a water storage container that gets refilled daily.
I guess you have to settle on something you need vs want. I filter on source with a pump using a Nalgene 1 liter bottle. no matter what i collect; i boil before i use. NO FILTER IS ABSOLUTE. all hiking trails water have animal use nearby. deep woods use do the best you can!
I’ve got the 1liter and the 3liter... and I’ve only got about 50liters thru them... and the flow rate is 2.5minutes per liter... bogus. I have tried everything to get the flow rate better... to no avail. I’m going to Sawyer Squeeze.
SLOW FLOW RATE after limited filtration is THE REASON I'LL NEVER BUY BEFREE.
Good review, thanks. Take care.
So what is holding them back? 😬 Bag you say? Did that system work as a gravity feed when you had it hung? The old Katadyn Basecamp folters that used Hiker cartridges were awesome as a gravity system.
If you mount the filter on a hard bottle, you won't be able to drink or filter because air can't go in to replace the water.
Did rolling the bag down vs squeezing the bag help push the water out?
Hi , used one of these 3ltr ones , great product , and the empty bag takes up very little space .