Sintax77, I wanted to bring some technical information to your review but want to be clear as to who I am. I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system and we are filtering water you wouldn’t step in and making it drinkable. Technology Comparison - Main difference in the products is that while both are “.1 Micron” what you may not know is that Sawyer is ABSOLUTE and all others are AVERAGE. This means that each and every Sawyer hole in their tubes are all exactly .1 micron and nothing larger gets through whereas Katadyne holes are only average, so their holes could be half that size or double that size. This variance may allow some bacteria through that the Sawyer would not. Since we use filters to block bacteria, THIS is the biggest concern and where Sawyer stands above all other hollow-fiber membrane filters. Sawyer filter Dying - Because of the technology that Sawyer has, unless it bursts, any Sawyer filter can be restored to full flow rate with back-flushing and cleaning. It may take soaking in warm water (not hotter than your hand can stand) or soaking in vinegar to help remove calcium buildup, but these efforts, combined with back-flushing will restore any filter to original flow rate. We have seen filters completely blocked from dirt and bacteria brought back to life in the field in Liberia and other places around the world. Flow Rates - While this is a great test, with the Katadyne having no way to completely clean the filter and it will slowly lose flow vs the Sawyer and it’s ability to be completely cleaned means that flow rate will be better with the Katadyne at first but lose effectiveness over time. For life of the Sawyer. Not only has Sawyer performed their own real world testing, but we have been testing in Liberia for the past few years. We have families using the filters and cleaning horribly turbid water at 5-15 gallons a day, everyday, for over a year with no performance issues. The Sawyer Squeeze is actually guaranteed for 1 Million gallons and we are counting on this being a generational solution for families using it everyday. So Sawyer’s claims for life usage is legit.
Thank you for real life real actual experiences on filters . And I personally would like to say thank you for helping other people who are in need of help. Thank you.
Finally a reviewer who astutely and efficiently gets right to the point and covers virtually all the bases. Glad I stumbled over your review via the recommendations. Will now check out your channel...
GREAT VIDEO! I have used both... My recommendation... use an MSR gravity bag for the "dirty" water. Either the early red 4l or newer 4l or 2l clear bags because they have a small particulate screen built into the bag that helps with filter life. Another "hack' for sawyer squeeze (the large ones) Go to a hardware store and get a garden hose rubber o-ring that has a screen in it. Place it in the inlet side of the sawyer after removing the stock one and then you have a particulate screen inline.
The biggest problem with the BeFree I've spotted without even having used it is that when the water bag breaks, you don't have anything else to use as a substitute container, like standard drink bottles. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm still on the Sawyer mini with CNOC 3L bag, 15cm silicone tube, 30cm velcro strap, smart bottle cap, bandana. I don't know of any lighter system than this. Flow rate has never been an issue for me, and I run this as a gravity system off my bicycle handlebar. Clean water goes into bicycle bottles and plastic bottles I re-use when I do buy drinks. Don't need the syringe because standard drink bottles can do backflushing with a smart bottle cap. I make very sure that the dirty water that goes through the filter is already as clean as possible by pre-filtering with the bandana, which keeps the filter alive for far longer.
@Patrick Lyons , yes I'm aware that he did mention Hydrapak, but my point is that when the BeFree bag punctures, you won't have an immediate substitute available, unless you're already carrying an extra bag, which technically means you're carrying extra weight, which translates into a negative for the Katadyn BeFree. A used soda bottle lying around anywhere is a substitute for the Sawyer, even if the threads don't match perfectly, which is a plus for its versatility. Hope this clarifies what I meant.
After watching a lot of reviews and comparisons, i went with the micro, just because i can use it with any regular plastic bottle. The flow and weight is close enough that i don't care about the difference. Finding a bag for the BeFree can be a problem for me if the original one gets broken or lost.
Doing these types of tests is difficult due to the many variances involved. Thanks for a great attempt at it! It's too bad that caps and connectors are different. It would be awesome to test both systems with perhaps the CNOC bags... something to reduce the variance a bit more. Thanks... I'm actually getting ready to rock out on the CNOC bags and Sawyer micro on my first outing in the Spring.
The BeFree is the way to go. Great flow rate, easy to clean (backflush), and I like to pair it with the Hydrapak 2 liter bag. It’s much more durable than the sawyer bags and not much of a weight penalty. Nice testing! Always great info! Nick
Befree - Filter up to 1,000L Micro - Filter up to 100,000 gallons Befree flow rate decreases dramatically with usage. Those hydropak bags are heavy and will eventually develop pinholes. A lighter platypus bag will last years longer at less weight and less room in your pack. Most important of all, befree has an uncommon thread, won't fit any plastic bottles or bags besides hydropak. Sawyer thread will fit practically anything, if my filter bag breaks, I have water bottles to use a backup. If you're befree bag breaks you're not gonna be filtering anything. Both are good filters but It's really not a competition, I have both and I'll take the sawyer any day. Put around 50L through each filter and the befree has a pretty pathetic flow rate, back-flushing is more effective with the sawyer as well.
Toadvine42 I’ve tended to see more of a common thread with the sawyer bags, or their like, failing (especially at the neck). I’ve not really read of any reports of the hydrapak bags developing pinholes but if they do then that is definitely something worth noting. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with either system.
Triple Nickel Outdoors Agreed, they're both great filters. The katadyn bags that come with the befree are made by hydropak, which are the ones I'm referencing with pinholes. Maybe the self branded hydropak bags are a little bit stronger? Wouldn't surprise me at all. The old sawyer bags are junk without question, from my experience platypus bags are bombproof though. Sawyer has a new generation of bags selling with the micro, mine is quite a bit lighter and feels like higher quality, can't attest to it's strength though as now I just prefer to attach my sawyer directly to a smart bottle.
Toadvine42 yeah the hydrapak bags are more robust than the BeFree bag. That’s why I’m a fan of them. Definitely heavier than the platypus bags but, for me, worth the added weight. Your setup is the way to go! Less parts to break!! 😂👍
I’ve heard that people had problems with the flow rate with Sawyer micro than Katadyn BeFree, but you should your water first filter through some bandana or other cloth, and then filter it through the filter, and after each filtration you should flush out the Sawyer, than should be the sawyer filter O.K. I have the Katadyn Mini, which is pumping filter, but wanna try the Sawyer micro.
I've noticed a lot of the ppl in the comments are highly biased to the Sawyer. When implementing the Befree, it's much more meant for say long trail runs. Sawyer is more versatile, but overall, the maintenance and speed are high enough of a hinderance. Now if your water is nasty or you're on a long hike, yeah, use the Sawyer. Been using the Sawyer and Befree for years now. I prefer the Befree for my purposes.
Sawyer all the way for me. I like how I can use it with any normal bottle, from any gas station on the way to the trail. Great video though. I like seeing other options
Last week I picked up a sobo AT hiker at Springer Mountain and he told me to stay away from the Micro. Apparently it just doesn't hold up and said the Mini is way better. Thru hikers are good at gear reviews! :)
I personally can't stand the flow rate on the mini which seems to be the average conclusion regarding that filter, not to mention the clogging and need to back-flush more. If the micro isn't reliable the original sawyer is still king among the wide majority of thru hikers.
I find you have to keep a high pressure on the sawyer personally. So I actually attach the cap and tube to the bag and put the filter after 4ft of tubing then a quick connect into my bag. The extra water pressure really helps the sawyer and mine can filter so fast it's crazy. maybe 3 liters in under 3 minutes. But that's with the extra pressure of the 2 gallon bag filled to the top.
Great breakdown of the two setups. I recently went from the mini to the squeeze. The squeeze came with the new style bag that you have shown here so it looks like they are going across the board with that design.
Good comparison test! The Sawyer Micro Squeeze did good, but my next water filter would most likely be Katadyn BeFree. My regular Sawyer Squeeze did slow down some this year and it could have been from backflushing at home with our hard water. I cleaned it and did gravity flow with distilled water. It helped with the flow rate a lot. Jason from Outdoor Adventures told me about giving this a try.
Just to let you know! Last night I wanted to watch your Mount Washington solo backpacking video again since it has been a few years when I last watched it. Going through your playlist the video about #33 was a jeep video mixed in with the backpacking videos. I can see how that could happen and it made me take a look at my playlist. lol Have fun winter backpacking this year!
One unmentioned factor that might be important for people who camp in freezing or near-freezing temperatures: As with any such filter, you need to take it into your sleeping bag at night, else it might freeze up and be ruined. With the BeFree, you either need to sleep with the filter screwed into the bag (scrunching up the bag) so as not to get your sleeping bag wet, or you need to put the filter into a Ziplock baggie. The BeFree has no protective casing around it, so you need to be careful not to kneel or sit on it or else it can be damaged. The same applies when jamming the BeFree into your pack or side pocket of your pack. There is a risk of it getting damaged there. Once I had mine in the outside mesh pocket and tripped and feel hard against a boulder, sidewise - right against the area where the filter was stored. Fortunately it was only a near miss, but potentially the filter could have cracked. The Sawyers (also Squeeze, for example) are obviously better protected from breakage, so you don‘t need to be really careful when sleeping with them in your bag or even accidentally bashing up against them. You also don‘t necessarily need a Ziplock for keeping them warm in your sleeping bag, though it‘s a good idea to use one anyhow. For peace of mind, the Sawyers are therefore better for cold-weather camping. Otherwise, I much prefer the handling of the BeFree, especially with a 1l Hydrapak bag.
Ya, on the flip side its much easier to clean out the be -free filter. I was originally a sawyer user and have happily jumped ship for the exact reason you perceive as a negative. I frequently sleep in freezing conditions and haven't had any problem bringing this into a sleeping bag with me as it is really easy to get the water out of it with a couple of hard shakes.
I bought a new Sawyer Micro for my Superior Hiking Trail 213 miles in 13 days hike. After about day 5 it clogged bad and back flushing didn't help. I did test the new Sawyer Micro 2 weeks before my SHT hike on an overnight trip with no problems. Since then after my long hike I did switch back to my Sawyer Squeeze. Other backpackers have had similar problems like I had using the Micro. Someday I may give the BeFree a try.
Thanks for sharing the update, bob. Seems like the Micro may be susceptible to the same issues and the mini. I typically grab my BeFree as a first choice now days, so I probably haven't put enough gallons through the micro to have it slow down yet. I was afraid of that, though.
@@sintax77 How did your hunting season go or will I have to wait for your dad's video? lol I've been watching his channel now for at least 5 years and your channel since 2013.
Sintax, how has your Befree held up over time in terms of flow rate? I've owned two Befrees and both slowed considerably after being used for a week or so. The Befree is much more convenient to use with the large opening and is more compact overall as a system. But the diminishing flow rate over time is a concern for a longer, thru hike.
So, with the BeFree you may have to replace on a through hike. And, I'd be curious about how long it will go with "normal" backflushing (ie swishing it around). Plus, if your squeeze bag broke you'd be screwed as the BeFree won't screw onto other stuff. So, to be safe you'd need to carry a second bag. The Sawyer lasts soooooo much longer that you don't have to worry about it over a through hike and it does seem to have a better backflushing methodology. Plus, if your dirty water bag breaks, you can easily use a smartwater bottle as your dirty water bottle and squeeze through that. So, the Sawyer seems to score a point (or however many you wish to attribute to it) for "less worry". But ultimately, as you've questioned, I'd REALLY like to know what would make the Sawyer last THAT much longer as they are using virtually identical technology.
I usually use both depending on what I'm doing.. Overall I guess I like the Sawyer better both the squeeze and the mini. I know the life expectancy is much higher especially on my 10+ day hikes and the ability to attach to nearly any bottle is big for me.. Although I HATE cleaning the Sawyer in the field...
I know the sawyer fits on smart bottles and has a longer life span compared to the befree, but I also had my sawyer mini totally seize on me out in the backcountry... luckily I had some aqua tabs with me... the befree is around 60 bucks here in Canada though....
After using the Sawyer mini for several trips and watching it slowly lose all flow despite consistent efforts to backflush and clean, I'm switching to the katadyn befree.
Tested the mini this past weekend on a day hike. Extremely disappointing with the flow rate. Def invest in the squeeze or micro if in the market. Looks like lots of options coming out, thank you for this informative video!!!
The real question though is, as you say, how these perform when the water is tough out in nature. As a user of both of these, I can conclude that the BeFree is great - for a little while - however it clogs up much easier than the Sawyer. So, in a real nature situation, away from the couch, the sawyer is much more reliable and better performing when the water is more affected by stuff that is usually in it in nature as opposed to running from a faucet. That's my experience at least.
I used the Be Free on a thru hike of the River to River Trail in Illinois. It did great, but I did notice it slowing down near the end. Never quit or anything, but definitely slowed down. Still love it though.
Flow rates, durability, weight and cost comparisons are fine but I’ve yet to see a functionality comparison. Is the filter really doing what it claims and for how long. Would love for someone to pull samples from a wild water source, put them under a microscope or whatever and see what is in the water. Then use the different filters and recheck to see how effective they actually were in removing what was initially found. For all we know the water is just passing through and we’re naively supporting a very lucrative business. Trust me, I treat, but I would just like to know. Actually I would like to see a survey of samples along the AT just to know what is really in the water. Thanks.
I agree. I've used a Sawyer filter for the last 3 years and never been sick. Prior to that, I used no filter at all for 30 years, and also never got sick. Who knows how effective these filters are, or indeed if they do anything at all? I suppose the only real benefit in my case has been to make me more confident about taking water from sources I would not have previously (e.g. standing water), thus reducing the average weight of water carried in my pack by a significant margin.
David S I wanted to bring some clarity and information that I am not seeing when people do reviews of the Sawyer filters. And to be clear, I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system. Now for the clarity. Sawyer filter must be back-flushed to maintain flow rate. You can use the syringe provided or use the coupler with a bottle, but it must be done. Also, and most important is the technology of the Sawyer. While the Katodyne and the life straw and other hollow-fiber membrane use the same basic technology, the Sawyer is ABSOLUTE .1 micron while all others are just AVERAGE .1 micron. This is a HUGE difference and can make the difference between health and sickness. The final point is the quality control Sawyer uses. They test all filters before shipping. We at The Last Well, along with other NGOs, use the Sawyer around the globe to save lives with clean water. I know some that are still using the Sawyer for 10 years and it works as well as it did on day 1 and it is used every day. When my health is on the line I will use NOTHING but Sawyer.
@@randyletourneau3430 - Yes, all very interesting I'm sure, and I don't disagree with any of that, although it's hardly relevant to the point I was making, or the setting I was describing. Lots of 'clarity' to be sure, but nothing to do with what @George Douglas or I were discussing. By the way, I presume you are aware that the Sawyer Squeeze filter does not remove waterborne human viruses from water (in fairness, Sawyer consistently warn that it doesn't). These viruses include hepatitis, gastroenteritis, polio, meningitis, SARS, etc - all of them potential and actual killers of humans, viruses which thrive in locations where untreated human waste is in contact with water sources. While this is of little or no direct concern to wilderness hikers in the West, it is relevant in regions such as those you describe.
Randy LeTourneau I commend the work that you and your organizations are doing and you may be in a better position to field my question. My concern is that all of the info I receive is anecdotal (“I’ve used this filter for years and never got sick”) or what’s on the packaging. Simply put, as a lot of the technical/scientific jargon is beyond me, do you or anyone look to confirm the actual removal of “bugs” from known bad water microscopically when the filter is both new and again after being in use for a while? I appreciate the time you took to reply and again I admire your efforts to provide safe drinking water to those in greater need.
David S Sorry if I replied to you rather than George as I was trying to bring more to his question. Most of the conversations about filters are all about flow rate and actual rate and comments about how their flow rate decreases. None of that has much to do with why a filter is used. For hollow-fiber membranes, it is all about bacteria. Yes, I am aware that none of these remove viruses, but viruses are not what people are concerned with usually. Bacteria from animal and human waste and other bacteria are the major concerns for backpackers or travelers abroad.
my original sawyer filter is 4 years old and many hundreds or thousands of liters of water through it and had 0 problems. i havent tried the befree mainly due to thru hikers bitching about them clogging quickly. when a thru hiker starts at kahtadin and needs a new filter by the end of the 100 mile winderness something is wrong. it could be user or not but i dont want to risk reliability. i sweat more than most and go through a lot of water per day and dont want to be in the situation of a filter not flowing water. as far as speed goes. my only rest breaks during the day are at water sources so thats my lunch break :P
Great video, newbie backpacker and looking for my first filter for my son and I. As a Dad I want the best possibility of safe water for my son. I like the gravity method from what I've seen. I don't really care about weight, I'm more of having fun and the nice comforts of things for backpacking. If my pack is 40lbs I don't care as long as I have the things that make me comfortable while at camp. That all being said you never said which system out of the 2 you like the most. I value your opinion as I have learned a lot from your videos. Even got my son and I first packs because of a review you did on one. Great starter pack for sure. So if you could please tell us which water system you prefer that would be a great help. Thank you.
Curious why nobody has talked about the difference of feed, in line vs open, meaning all the water on the Sawyer has to pass through the entire filter, and the water on the other passes through wherever it enters, water that feeds through the bottom is filtered more than the water that passed through the sides at the top
One thing to note between these 2 filters is durability. Sawyer clearly taking the lead in that department. I love the BeFree but I had it in the lid of my old Osprey Exos pack and somewhere along the trail the filter was actually crooked from top part when I pulled it out. In addition to an o-ring there is some type of silicone sealant they put around the actual filter when they attach it to the top portion. I contacted Katadyn and they said it was completely safe to just pop the filter back in without any concern but I purchased a replacement BeFree just to be safe. Now I just make sure it's packed loosely in my backpack, like the mesh pocket on the back of my ULA Circuit. Great review! I was really curious how the flow rate was on the micro.
The only thing I care about is if that new sawyer ends up behaving like my sawyer mini - awful for me much similar outcome as you syntax - I’ve been using the squeeze and happy - use evernew 2l bags one clean one dirty and screw them both direct to the squeeze and hang (or squeeze) - no fiddling with tubing. I use a tornado tube adapter thingie - thanks for the video dude - the beFree intrigues me.
Lisa had a BeFree filter/bottle. She used it most of the summer here in the Smokies until she found that some clear looking debris had passed through the filter. needless to say that BeFree went back to REI. We both use Sawyers now. We have a video of that incident on my yt channel.
You can find Sawyers for less than 10 dollars when they're on sale. For one person, the Sawyer has sufficient flow rate. If you're trying to max out a Sawyer that is meant to be for just one person, slow flow is kind of to be expected.
I purchased the 3L Katahdin be free system. I use it on the Long Trail and some local backpacking trips. Mine is now very slow at filtering. I think initially I didn't clean it enough and now that I do I just can't get the particles out. I would recommend that every single time you use it you shake it in water after to dislodge particles that are inside of the filter. Overall I would say it first it will do about a liter a minute and then it will slow down after a bit. I'm not sure if that's my use or just the filter does about couple hundred liters of water and then it's dead then you got to buy a new one. I am currently looking for a new one now because of the reduced flow rate. Also the new filter head is like $27 and I don't feel like buying a new one 2-3 times a year 😔
I love my BeFree. I dont know that even in a large group, I dont think that I would use gravity feed just cause the flow is so good. I did by the hydropak seeker (before they had the larger bags) for filtering larger quantities. As always enjoy your flix! :-)
I think Santa is gonna be dropping off the BeFree system to me this Christmas. Glad to see if was the better option. However, 6 seconds isnt a deal breaker for the squeeze option.
I see the black forest and west rim maps in the background!! Did both of theses last year. Doing tge sts 85 miler in the spring. On the filters, my buddy has the befree i have the squeeze. The be free saved us. My squeeze failed. And would not flow. I backflushed prior to our trip. However, i could only get a trickle put of the squeeze.
ANDREW OLIVER this happened to me with my squeeze on the west rim. I broke the bag sitting on it to try and get water through the filter. When I got home I back flushed the hell out of it and still only could get a trickle. So I took my hiker pro pump on my next hike which was the sts great trail loved it. So do you recommend the be free I've been thinking of getting one and it's made by the same company that makes the hiker pro I've had for 9 years
BeFree is less lifespan, proprietary bag, and no backflushing? I don't think this is the one to replace the Sawyer yet. Still, thanks for a detailed review.
For higher level filtration and even purification, is there any reason you'd use an s3 over a Grayl purifier? Im not a weight wenie so that wouldn't be an incentive. Thanks for the review :)
The Sawyer filters are good for the price but they wouldn't last that 7yrs you might need them. It's one that starts with a k (can't remember the name) that's like $1,500 dollars but it's good for 1,000s of gallons then you just wash or replace the filter. The sawyers I dont think have removable filters but they're good to have. I seen a dude drink out of a dirty rain puddle with one and the water came out super clear/clean.
I have similar experiences with Sawyer Mini. I still own it but I have completely replaced it with Katadyn Hiker Pro. I've heard I might still get some use of it if I'd buy a Katadyn gravity bag and attach Sawyer to it.
Thank you for a really detailed and entertaining review (as always)! Have you followed the Crawford family and their 2018 AT Thru-hike? Their channel is Fight for Together and its really great. But get this - they are a family of eight and used NO water purification system at all. Georgia to Maine, 6 months, 8 people, zero filtration and not a single instance of water born sickness. It really blew my mind as I'm in New England and have never drank water directly from a water source. But their experience has really made me rethink some of this....
General question: What are your tips on keeping these hollow fiber filters from freezing? I have gathered most people put them in the foot box of the sleeping bag at night; and stored them on an inside jacket pocket while hiking... Do you ever use the disposable hand warmers to keep them warm? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
For hollow fiber filters, I find that simply keeping them in a sandwich bag and in the pocket of one of my mid-layers during the day works fine. At night I'll transfer it to my sleeping bag or top quilt, just as you said. Body heat alone typically does the trick, even in extreme temps. I've never found the need to supplement with hand warmers etc, although I'm sure it would add an even more robust layer of security against freezing.
How do you store your befree or I guess sawyer too when not backpacking? I have had a sawyer totally stop working after only one trip. I have read that this happens when you store them dry and that you can store wet. After this happened to my sawyer I decided to get a befree and would like to prevent this from happening again. Have you tried this or had any problems with the befree after not using for a period of time?
Matthew Teeter If you‘re still wondering about this one year later: Maybe read the long and helpful comment by Randy a bit above yours. He speaks of long-term, widespread field use for families in Liberia, and about soaking in vinegar and hand-warm water to remove calcium buildup. Perhaps that would help you, too. As for storage, I always soak my filters in water with chlorine and pump about bit of that water through the filters, then - just to remove any possible taste the chlorine might leave behind before storage - pump some fresh water through, shake and set out to dry for a few days (depending on ambient temperature).
The filter life estimates were most likely done with tap or distilled water. As such, our real life experience will be much less than the 1,000 liters (Katadyn) or 100,000 gallons (Sawyer). The choice for me was simple = Sawyer. Much greater filter life and the ability to backflush in the field. The main problem facing Sawyer is their terrible bags. Throw them in the trash and get a CNOC bag.
100,000 gallons is practically an infinite amount..... so how do you actually know when either of these filters is done? When its no longer doing to job its intended for and removing all contaminats.
First off you put out awesome content! I really enjoy your vids. I am preparing to possibly do the A T in March 2020. I have gotten the big 4 gear and working on my filter system. I have the Sawyer mini already but want a 3L bag to use with it while setting up camp. I saw you mentioned the HydraPak Seeker. However it has a wider mouth on it than the Sawyer Mini. Is there an adapter or maybe a hose that will work with it? Please give me your input. Thanks and keep the great content coming. Dave
I haven't personally seen an adapter that would neck the wider Seeker bag down to fit the Sawyer threading, unfortunately. I have a CNOC Vecto bladder that works great with my Sawyer's though. Here's a 3L version amzn.to/2JNFyiH Threads match and the opposite end opens up completely for fast filling.
The Sawyer Micro's gravity system can be much lighter and simpler. Just cut two holes in the water bag it comes with, and put a cord through those holes. Attached directly to a water bottle Don't turn it tight or seal it completely on the smart water bottle - air relief is required. Like this: i.imgur.com/YwBGJEOl.png 2.7 oz for the entire gravity system!
I'm moving to befree. Cnoc 3 liter 42mm threaded and planning to mainly use gravity. keeping my platypus hoser as a hydration bladder. I'd like to find an attachement that I can hook into my platypus hoser line by taking off the bite valve and filtering water right into without having to take hoser out of my pack. Does anyone have any ideas where to find an attachment? My platypus gravity bottle adapter works but leaks really bad.
With lower temps, do you still have to keep the b free filter on your person like the Sawyer's? I found out the hard way on that. I do a lot of winter hiking.
The weight difference between a regular sawyer filter that actually works at a reasonable rate and the micro version is not enough to justify the piss poor performance of the smaller filter's flow rates and time between backwashings. I don't understand the folks who make that choice.
I don't know how accurate that 100,000 L or whatever is accurate for the sawyer. Also, you could probably clean the befree with hot water after a trip to dissolve any minerals and possibly find a way to backflush.
Plastic will always transfer bad taste. Tips for you all is to use these plastic stuff to filter only and transfer the water to a stainless steel or glas flask. and putaway plastic after you done with them. because it doesent mater if they are bpa free or other. plastic is plastic and plastic transfer, it will happen when the plastic hits room temperature and over. im certain i heard you get estrogen from the plastic leaks. steel and glas weights more, but it is more healty in the long run. I would hate to have to take a sip of water when tirsty and taste plastic. lets say the sawyer can filter 100 000 gallons there must be the clearest stream you ever saw, and there is. but there is also springs, maybe they filter 100k gallons at a spring. but spring water is drinkable without filtering so.. meh. I have the sawyer mini but never got around to test it. now i bought the befree because its so simple to use. looking forward to use it.
If these companies products are not applicable to your suitable needs I'm for certain they'll compromise accordingly upon your requests written emails.
Why does Sawyer miss lead people by saying it will filter hundreds of thousands of gallons of water .You said your Sawyer mini was totally clogged up , you surely didn't filter a hundred thousand gallons in one or two years . WTHeck
SINTAX77 HI! HAVE QUESTION I HAD MY NEW KATADYN BEFREE 3/4 THE WAY FULL IN MY REFRIGERATOR & FOR SOME REASON WAS THE ONLY THING THAT FROZE . THE MILK, GATORADE & THE WATER IN THE OTHER JARS DIDN'T HAVE ANY ICE IN THEM. SO I'M GUESSING THE BRAND NEW FILTER IS NO GOOD ? THE WHOLE FILTER WASN'T IN THE FROZEN WATER. I'M WAITING FOR MY NEW FILTER I JUST ORDERED THE OTHER DAY TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. DID YOUR BEFREE TASTE LIKE PLASTIC IF YOU LEFT THE WATER IN IT OVER NIGHT ? I USUALLY FILL IT UP WITH TAP WATER & PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR THE NEXT DAY ! JUST WANTED YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU! BE SAFE! HAVE FUN! GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS! HAVE A GREAT MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!
BS review Com on you start off about switching over grams and than weight all these hoses and bag. Which, I watch a good amount of your videos and even withSarah and the dog, you didn’t bring all that crap
Sintax77,
I wanted to bring some technical information to your review but want to be clear as to who I am. I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system and we are filtering water you wouldn’t step in and making it drinkable.
Technology Comparison - Main difference in the products is that while both are “.1 Micron” what you may not know is that Sawyer is ABSOLUTE and all others are AVERAGE. This means that each and every Sawyer hole in their tubes are all exactly .1 micron and nothing larger gets through whereas Katadyne holes are only average, so their holes could be half that size or double that size. This variance may allow some bacteria through that the Sawyer would not. Since we use filters to block bacteria, THIS is the biggest concern and where Sawyer stands above all other hollow-fiber membrane filters.
Sawyer filter Dying - Because of the technology that Sawyer has, unless it bursts, any Sawyer filter can be restored to full flow rate with back-flushing and cleaning. It may take soaking in warm water (not hotter than your hand can stand) or soaking in vinegar to help remove calcium buildup, but these efforts, combined with back-flushing will restore any filter to original flow rate. We have seen filters completely blocked from dirt and bacteria brought back to life in the field in Liberia and other places around the world.
Flow Rates - While this is a great test, with the Katadyne having no way to completely clean the filter and it will slowly lose flow vs the Sawyer and it’s ability to be completely cleaned means that flow rate will be better with the Katadyne at first but lose effectiveness over time.
For life of the Sawyer. Not only has Sawyer performed their own real world testing, but we have been testing in Liberia for the past few years. We have families using the filters and cleaning horribly turbid water at 5-15 gallons a day, everyday, for over a year with no performance issues. The Sawyer Squeeze is actually guaranteed for 1 Million gallons and we are counting on this being a generational solution for families using it everyday. So Sawyer’s claims for life usage is legit.
Excellent info. Thanks for sharing this, Randy!
Thank you for real life real actual experiences on filters . And I personally would like to say thank you for helping other people who are in need of help. Thank you.
Finally a reviewer who astutely and efficiently gets right to the point and covers virtually all the bases. Glad I stumbled over your review via the recommendations. Will now check out your channel...
GREAT VIDEO! I have used both... My recommendation... use an MSR gravity bag for the "dirty" water. Either the early red 4l or newer 4l or 2l clear bags because they have a small particulate screen built into the bag that helps with filter life. Another "hack' for sawyer squeeze (the large ones) Go to a hardware store and get a garden hose rubber o-ring that has a screen in it. Place it in the inlet side of the sawyer after removing the stock one and then you have a particulate screen inline.
The biggest problem with the BeFree I've spotted without even having used it is that when the water bag breaks, you don't have anything else to use as a substitute container, like standard drink bottles. Correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm still on the Sawyer mini with CNOC 3L bag, 15cm silicone tube, 30cm velcro strap, smart bottle cap, bandana. I don't know of any lighter system than this. Flow rate has never been an issue for me, and I run this as a gravity system off my bicycle handlebar. Clean water goes into bicycle bottles and plastic bottles I re-use when I do buy drinks. Don't need the syringe because standard drink bottles can do backflushing with a smart bottle cap. I make very sure that the dirty water that goes through the filter is already as clean as possible by pre-filtering with the bandana, which keeps the filter alive for far longer.
@Patrick Lyons , yes I'm aware that he did mention Hydrapak, but my point is that when the BeFree bag punctures, you won't have an immediate substitute available, unless you're already carrying an extra bag, which technically means you're carrying extra weight, which translates into a negative for the Katadyn BeFree. A used soda bottle lying around anywhere is a substitute for the Sawyer, even if the threads don't match perfectly, which is a plus for its versatility. Hope this clarifies what I meant.
After watching a lot of reviews and comparisons, i went with the micro, just because i can use it with any regular plastic bottle. The flow and weight is close enough that i don't care about the difference. Finding a bag for the BeFree can be a problem for me if the original one gets broken or lost.
Doing these types of tests is difficult due to the many variances involved. Thanks for a great attempt at it! It's too bad that caps and connectors are different. It would be awesome to test both systems with perhaps the CNOC bags... something to reduce the variance a bit more. Thanks... I'm actually getting ready to rock out on the CNOC bags and Sawyer micro on my first outing in the Spring.
The BeFree is the way to go. Great flow rate, easy to clean (backflush), and I like to pair it with the Hydrapak 2 liter bag. It’s much more durable than the sawyer bags and not much of a weight penalty.
Nice testing! Always great info!
Nick
Agreed. Love the BeFree
Befree - Filter up to 1,000L
Micro - Filter up to 100,000 gallons
Befree flow rate decreases dramatically with usage. Those hydropak bags are heavy and will eventually develop pinholes. A lighter platypus bag will last years longer at less weight and less room in your pack. Most important of all, befree has an uncommon thread, won't fit any plastic bottles or bags besides hydropak. Sawyer thread will fit practically anything, if my filter bag breaks, I have water bottles to use a backup. If you're befree bag breaks you're not gonna be filtering anything. Both are good filters but It's really not a competition, I have both and I'll take the sawyer any day. Put around 50L through each filter and the befree has a pretty pathetic flow rate, back-flushing is more effective with the sawyer as well.
Toadvine42 I’ve tended to see more of a common thread with the sawyer bags, or their like, failing (especially at the neck). I’ve not really read of any reports of the hydrapak bags developing pinholes but if they do then that is definitely something worth noting.
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with either system.
Triple Nickel Outdoors
Agreed, they're both great filters. The katadyn bags that come with the befree are made by hydropak, which are the ones I'm referencing with pinholes. Maybe the self branded hydropak bags are a little bit stronger? Wouldn't surprise me at all. The old sawyer bags are junk without question, from my experience platypus bags are bombproof though. Sawyer has a new generation of bags selling with the micro, mine is quite a bit lighter and feels like higher quality, can't attest to it's strength though as now I just prefer to attach my sawyer directly to a smart bottle.
Toadvine42 yeah the hydrapak bags are more robust than the BeFree bag. That’s why I’m a fan of them. Definitely heavier than the platypus bags but, for me, worth the added weight.
Your setup is the way to go! Less parts to break!! 😂👍
I’ve heard that people had problems with the flow rate with Sawyer micro than Katadyn BeFree, but you should your water first filter through some bandana or other cloth, and then filter it through the filter, and after each filtration you should flush out the Sawyer, than should be the sawyer filter O.K. I have the Katadyn Mini, which is pumping filter, but wanna try the Sawyer micro.
Two thumbs up as usual right now I'm at work fighting with a machine so I will watch it when I get home
T-1000?
@@sintax77 it certainly felt like it
I've noticed a lot of the ppl in the comments are highly biased to the Sawyer. When implementing the Befree, it's much more meant for say long trail runs. Sawyer is more versatile, but overall, the maintenance and speed are high enough of a hinderance. Now if your water is nasty or you're on a long hike, yeah, use the Sawyer. Been using the Sawyer and Befree for years now. I prefer the Befree for my purposes.
Sawyer all the way for me. I like how I can use it with any normal bottle, from any gas station on the way to the trail. Great video though. I like seeing other options
Last week I picked up a sobo AT hiker at Springer Mountain and he told me to stay away from the Micro. Apparently it just doesn't hold up and said the Mini is way better. Thru hikers are good at gear reviews! :)
I personally can't stand the flow rate on the mini which seems to be the average conclusion regarding that filter, not to mention the clogging and need to back-flush more. If the micro isn't reliable the original sawyer is still king among the wide majority of thru hikers.
Hey thanks for the comparison I’m from Michigan and I can’t wait to hit the north country trail
Love love LOVE my BeFree! Great flow and easy cleaning. Empty, it fits inside my GSI mug for travel
I find you have to keep a high pressure on the sawyer personally. So I actually attach the cap and tube to the bag and put the filter after 4ft of tubing then a quick connect into my bag. The extra water pressure really helps the sawyer and mine can filter so fast it's crazy. maybe 3 liters in under 3 minutes. But that's with the extra pressure of the 2 gallon bag filled to the top.
Cost difference in Canada, Sawyer about $33, Befree $60, so Sawyer for me.
I’m happy with either when they work. When they start dripping or stop altogether, they are frustrating to get running again.
Great overview with the right amount of detail and real-world takeaways -- quality content. Thanks!
Hey Thanks appreciate the information. I've used both and will continue to. Be free short range for speed Sawyer for long range
FWIW according to camelcamelcamel, if you're patient, the Katadyn price can drop to around $20 for the 0.6 system.
Great breakdown of the two setups. I recently went from the mini to the squeeze. The squeeze came with the new style bag that you have shown here so it looks like they are going across the board with that design.
Good comparison test! The Sawyer Micro Squeeze did good, but my next water filter would most likely be Katadyn BeFree. My regular Sawyer Squeeze did slow down some this year and it could have been from backflushing at home with our hard water. I cleaned it and did gravity flow with distilled water. It helped with the flow rate a lot. Jason from Outdoor Adventures told me about giving this a try.
Just to let you know! Last night I wanted to watch your Mount Washington solo backpacking video again since it has been a few years when I last watched it. Going through your playlist the video about #33 was a jeep video mixed in with the backpacking videos. I can see how that could happen and it made me take a look at my playlist. lol Have fun winter backpacking this year!
I've been really happy with my BeFree over the Sawyer mini. Wondered about the micro, so thank you for the video.
Sean you are da man totally comprehensive test my man, after that i think its cheese burger time atvb from Scotland keep rocking
One unmentioned factor that might be important for people who camp in freezing or near-freezing temperatures: As with any such filter, you need to take it into your sleeping bag at night, else it might freeze up and be ruined. With the BeFree, you either need to sleep with the filter screwed into the bag (scrunching up the bag) so as not to get your sleeping bag wet, or you need to put the filter into a Ziplock baggie. The BeFree has no protective casing around it, so you need to be careful not to kneel or sit on it or else it can be damaged. The same applies when jamming the BeFree into your pack or side pocket of your pack. There is a risk of it getting damaged there. Once I had mine in the outside mesh pocket and tripped and feel hard against a boulder, sidewise - right against the area where the filter was stored. Fortunately it was only a near miss, but potentially the filter could have cracked. The Sawyers (also Squeeze, for example) are obviously better protected from breakage, so you don‘t need to be really careful when sleeping with them in your bag or even accidentally bashing up against them. You also don‘t necessarily need a Ziplock for keeping them warm in your sleeping bag, though it‘s a good idea to use one anyhow. For peace of mind, the Sawyers are therefore better for cold-weather camping. Otherwise, I much prefer the handling of the BeFree, especially with a 1l Hydrapak bag.
Ya, on the flip side its much easier to clean out the be -free filter. I was originally a sawyer user and have happily jumped ship for the exact reason you perceive as a negative. I frequently sleep in freezing conditions and haven't had any problem bringing this into a sleeping bag with me as it is really easy to get the water out of it with a couple of hard shakes.
I bought a new Sawyer Micro for my Superior Hiking Trail 213 miles in 13 days hike. After about day 5 it clogged bad and back flushing didn't help. I did test the new Sawyer Micro 2 weeks before my SHT hike on an overnight trip with no problems. Since then after my long hike I did switch back to my Sawyer Squeeze. Other backpackers have had similar problems like I had using the Micro. Someday I may give the BeFree a try.
Thanks for sharing the update, bob. Seems like the Micro may be susceptible to the same issues and the mini. I typically grab my BeFree as a first choice now days, so I probably haven't put enough gallons through the micro to have it slow down yet. I was afraid of that, though.
@@sintax77 How did your hunting season go or will I have to wait for your dad's video? lol I've been watching his channel now for at least 5 years and your channel since 2013.
Sintax, how has your Befree held up over time in terms of flow rate? I've owned two Befrees and both slowed considerably after being used for a week or so. The Befree is much more convenient to use with the large opening and is more compact overall as a system. But the diminishing flow rate over time is a concern for a longer, thru hike.
Sawyer is the clear winner for me. You can screw directly on to a Smartwater bottle and refill and go. Saves lots of time on the trail!
Awesome, I have been waiting for a comparison for these two. Thanks for the vid.
So, with the BeFree you may have to replace on a through hike. And, I'd be curious about how long it will go with "normal" backflushing (ie swishing it around). Plus, if your squeeze bag broke you'd be screwed as the BeFree won't screw onto other stuff. So, to be safe you'd need to carry a second bag.
The Sawyer lasts soooooo much longer that you don't have to worry about it over a through hike and it does seem to have a better backflushing methodology. Plus, if your dirty water bag breaks, you can easily use a smartwater bottle as your dirty water bottle and squeeze through that.
So, the Sawyer seems to score a point (or however many you wish to attribute to it) for "less worry".
But ultimately, as you've questioned, I'd REALLY like to know what would make the Sawyer last THAT much longer as they are using virtually identical technology.
Nice comparison, thanks for taking the time.
I usually use both depending on what I'm doing.. Overall I guess I like the Sawyer better both the squeeze and the mini. I know the life expectancy is much higher especially on my 10+ day hikes and the ability to attach to nearly any bottle is big for me.. Although I HATE cleaning the Sawyer in the field...
I know the sawyer fits on smart bottles and has a longer life span compared to the befree, but I also had my sawyer mini totally seize on me out in the backcountry... luckily I had some aqua tabs with me... the befree is around 60 bucks here in Canada though....
After using the Sawyer mini for several trips and watching it slowly lose all flow despite consistent efforts to backflush and clean, I'm switching to the katadyn befree.
Tested the mini this past weekend on a day hike. Extremely disappointing with the flow rate. Def invest in the squeeze or micro if in the market. Looks like lots of options coming out, thank you for this informative video!!!
Hey dude ? I gatta tell ya , you did an great review here. Impressed.
The real question though is, as you say, how these perform when the water is tough out in nature. As a user of both of these, I can conclude that the BeFree is great - for a little while - however it clogs up much easier than the Sawyer. So, in a real nature situation, away from the couch, the sawyer is much more reliable and better performing when the water is more affected by stuff that is usually in it in nature as opposed to running from a faucet. That's my experience at least.
I used the Be Free on a thru hike of the River to River Trail in Illinois. It did great, but I did notice it slowing down near the end. Never quit or anything, but definitely slowed down. Still love it though.
I would try to see if you can backflush when home or some hot water to dissolve minerals.
Flow rates, durability, weight and cost comparisons are fine but I’ve yet to see a functionality comparison. Is the filter really doing what it claims and for how long. Would love for someone to pull samples from a wild water source, put them under a microscope or whatever and see what is in the water. Then use the different filters and recheck to see how effective they actually were in removing what was initially found. For all we know the water is just passing through and we’re naively supporting a very lucrative business. Trust me, I treat, but I would just like to know. Actually I would like to see a survey of samples along the AT just to know what is really in the water. Thanks.
I agree. I've used a Sawyer filter for the last 3 years and never been sick. Prior to that, I used no filter at all for 30 years, and also never got sick. Who knows how effective these filters are, or indeed if they do anything at all? I suppose the only real benefit in my case has been to make me more confident about taking water from sources I would not have previously (e.g. standing water), thus reducing the average weight of water carried in my pack by a significant margin.
David S
I wanted to bring some clarity and information that I am not seeing when people do reviews of the Sawyer filters. And to be clear, I do not work for Sawyer nor am I invested in Sawyer. I do work for an NGO that provides clean water to people in Liber West Africa, and we use Sawyer filter in small villages. We have installed over 60,000 Sawyer squeeze filters there and they are an awesome generational solution for these people who are in desperate need of clean water. We use the squeeze as part of a 2-bucket system.
Now for the clarity. Sawyer filter must be back-flushed to maintain flow rate. You can use the syringe provided or use the coupler with a bottle, but it must be done. Also, and most important is the technology of the Sawyer. While the Katodyne and the life straw and other hollow-fiber membrane use the same basic technology, the Sawyer is ABSOLUTE .1 micron while all others are just AVERAGE .1 micron. This is a HUGE difference and can make the difference between health and sickness. The final point is the quality control Sawyer uses. They test all filters before shipping.
We at The Last Well, along with other NGOs, use the Sawyer around the globe to save lives with clean water. I know some that are still using the Sawyer for 10 years and it works as well as it did on day 1 and it is used every day. When my health is on the line I will use NOTHING but Sawyer.
@@randyletourneau3430 - Yes, all very interesting I'm sure, and I don't disagree with any of that, although it's hardly relevant to the point I was making, or the setting I was describing. Lots of 'clarity' to be sure, but nothing to do with what @George Douglas or I were discussing.
By the way, I presume you are aware that the Sawyer Squeeze filter does not remove waterborne human viruses from water (in fairness, Sawyer consistently warn that it doesn't). These viruses include hepatitis, gastroenteritis, polio, meningitis, SARS, etc - all of them potential and actual killers of humans, viruses which thrive in locations where untreated human waste is in contact with water sources. While this is of little or no direct concern to wilderness hikers in the West, it is relevant in regions such as those you describe.
Randy LeTourneau I commend the work that you and your organizations are doing and you may be in a better position to field my question. My concern is that all of the info I receive is anecdotal (“I’ve used this filter for years and never got sick”) or what’s on the packaging. Simply put, as a lot of the technical/scientific jargon is beyond me, do you or anyone look to confirm the actual removal of “bugs” from known bad water microscopically when the filter is both new and again after being in use for a while? I appreciate the time you took to reply and again I admire your efforts to provide safe drinking water to those in greater need.
David S Sorry if I replied to you rather than George as I was trying to bring more to his question. Most of the conversations about filters are all about flow rate and actual rate and comments about how their flow rate decreases. None of that has much to do with why a filter is used. For hollow-fiber membranes, it is all about bacteria. Yes, I am aware that none of these remove viruses, but viruses are not what people are concerned with usually. Bacteria from animal and human waste and other bacteria are the major concerns for backpackers or travelers abroad.
my original sawyer filter is 4 years old and many hundreds or thousands of liters of water through it and had 0 problems. i havent tried the befree mainly due to thru hikers bitching about them clogging quickly. when a thru hiker starts at kahtadin and needs a new filter by the end of the 100 mile winderness something is wrong. it could be user or not but i dont want to risk reliability. i sweat more than most and go through a lot of water per day and dont want to be in the situation of a filter not flowing water.
as far as speed goes. my only rest breaks during the day are at water sources so thats my lunch break :P
Great video, newbie backpacker and looking for my first filter for my son and I. As a Dad I want the best possibility of safe water for my son. I like the gravity method from what I've seen. I don't really care about weight, I'm more of having fun and the nice comforts of things for backpacking. If my pack is 40lbs I don't care as long as I have the things that make me comfortable while at camp. That all being said you never said which system out of the 2 you like the most. I value your opinion as I have learned a lot from your videos. Even got my son and I first packs because of a review you did on one. Great starter pack for sure. So if you could please tell us which water system you prefer that would be a great help. Thank you.
The same people that complain about flow times are the same ones that take $500 of gear on day hikes. Both filters are phenomenal.
Thanks for great info! You do a great job and I totally enjoy and have benefited from your channel. Many thanks!
Curious why nobody has talked about the difference of feed, in line vs open, meaning all the water on the Sawyer has to pass through the entire filter, and the water on the other passes through wherever it enters, water that feeds through the bottom is filtered more than the water that passed through the sides at the top
One thing to note between these 2 filters is durability. Sawyer clearly taking the lead in that department. I love the BeFree but I had it in the lid of my old Osprey Exos pack and somewhere along the trail the filter was actually crooked from top part when I pulled it out. In addition to an o-ring there is some type of silicone sealant they put around the actual filter when they attach it to the top portion. I contacted Katadyn and they said it was completely safe to just pop the filter back in without any concern but I purchased a replacement BeFree just to be safe. Now I just make sure it's packed loosely in my backpack, like the mesh pocket on the back of my ULA Circuit. Great review! I was really curious how the flow rate was on the micro.
The only thing I care about is if that new sawyer ends up behaving like my sawyer mini - awful for me much similar outcome as you syntax - I’ve been using the squeeze and happy - use evernew 2l bags one clean one dirty and screw them both direct to the squeeze and hang (or squeeze) - no fiddling with tubing. I use a tornado tube adapter thingie - thanks for the video dude - the beFree intrigues me.
Lisa had a BeFree filter/bottle. She used it most of the summer here in the Smokies until she found that some clear looking debris had passed through the filter. needless to say that BeFree went back to REI. We both use Sawyers now. We have a video of that incident on my yt channel.
You can find Sawyers for less than 10 dollars when they're on sale. For one person, the Sawyer has sufficient flow rate. If you're trying to max out a Sawyer that is meant to be for just one person, slow flow is kind of to be expected.
I purchased the 3L Katahdin be free system. I use it on the Long Trail and some local backpacking trips. Mine is now very slow at filtering. I think initially I didn't clean it enough and now that I do I just can't get the particles out. I would recommend that every single time you use it you shake it in water after to dislodge particles that are inside of the filter. Overall I would say it first it will do about a liter a minute and then it will slow down after a bit. I'm not sure if that's my use or just the filter does about couple hundred liters of water and then it's dead then you got to buy a new one. I am currently looking for a new one now because of the reduced flow rate. Also the new filter head is like $27 and I don't feel like buying a new one 2-3 times a year 😔
I love my BeFree. I dont know that even in a large group, I dont think that I would use gravity feed just cause the flow is so good. I did by the hydropak seeker (before they had the larger bags) for filtering larger quantities. As always enjoy your flix! :-)
I think Santa is gonna be dropping off the BeFree system to me this Christmas. Glad to see if was the better option. However, 6 seconds isnt a deal breaker for the squeeze option.
Watch the video excellently done illustrated on the two big water filtration systems definitely a lot of wins for the katadyn befree
Sawyer wins! The Kat is faster, but I'm not racing, Sawyer is more versatile.
I see the black forest and west rim maps in the background!! Did both of theses last year. Doing tge sts 85 miler in the spring. On the filters, my buddy has the befree i have the squeeze. The be free saved us. My squeeze failed. And would not flow. I backflushed prior to our trip. However, i could only get a trickle put of the squeeze.
ANDREW OLIVER this happened to me with my squeeze on the west rim. I broke the bag sitting on it to try and get water through the filter. When I got home I back flushed the hell out of it and still only could get a trickle. So I took my hiker pro pump on my next hike which was the sts great trail loved it. So do you recommend the be free I've been thinking of getting one and it's made by the same company that makes the hiker pro I've had for 9 years
The new pouches are exclusive to the Micro for now!
Well I found my sawyer mini on clearance for $5 at walmart.... so I'm waiting a little while before I upgrade
100,000 gallons later still waiting
BeFree is less lifespan, proprietary bag, and no backflushing? I don't think this is the one to replace the Sawyer yet. Still, thanks for a detailed review.
The price and different threading turned me away from the BeFree.
For higher level filtration and even purification, is there any reason you'd use an s3 over a Grayl purifier? Im not a weight wenie so that wouldn't be an incentive. Thanks for the review :)
The Sawyer filters are good for the price but they wouldn't last that 7yrs you might need them. It's one that starts with a k (can't remember the name) that's like $1,500 dollars but it's good for 1,000s of gallons then you just wash or replace the filter. The sawyers I dont think have removable filters but they're good to have. I seen a dude drink out of a dirty rain puddle with one and the water came out super clear/clean.
I have similar experiences with Sawyer Mini. I still own it but I have completely replaced it with Katadyn Hiker Pro. I've heard I might still get some use of it if I'd buy a Katadyn gravity bag and attach Sawyer to it.
What is with the voodoo doll? Great info, grabbed the BeFree system, and love it!
Thank you for a really detailed and entertaining review (as always)! Have you followed the Crawford family and their 2018 AT Thru-hike? Their channel is Fight for Together and its really great. But get this - they are a family of eight and used NO water purification system at all. Georgia to Maine, 6 months, 8 people, zero filtration and not a single instance of water born sickness. It really blew my mind as I'm in New England and have never drank water directly from a water source. But their experience has really made me rethink some of this....
No, I hadn't seen that, but it sounds interesting. I'll have to check ot out. Thanks for the heads up!
General question: What are your tips on keeping these hollow fiber filters from freezing? I have gathered most people put them in the foot box of the sleeping bag at night; and stored them on an inside jacket pocket while hiking... Do you ever use the disposable hand warmers to keep them warm? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
For hollow fiber filters, I find that simply keeping them in a sandwich bag and in the pocket of one of my mid-layers during the day works fine. At night I'll transfer it to my sleeping bag or top quilt, just as you said. Body heat alone typically does the trick, even in extreme temps. I've never found the need to supplement with hand warmers etc, although I'm sure it would add an even more robust layer of security against freezing.
thank you so much, this is the first season I am am going to use one!@@sintax77
Use a coffee filter the ones from a k cup before the 1 micron filter will make the filter last longer...And its light and cleanable...
There both good..im a Sawyer guy though...cool comparison on the brand new ones..hope you been on some cool winter trips?
So regardless of the system you need a bag to put the filtered water in or a container? I mean, if you want to save it that is. ;)
Thanks for all the great information!
I think you said 10,000 liters for the Katadyn system, but in the text above the video , it says 1,000 liters, If i read that correctly
At least he consistently lost a zero :D
Great informational video.... Thanks for sharing
I have been waiting for 3 weeks more vids plsssss
How do you store your befree or I guess sawyer too when not backpacking? I have had a sawyer totally stop working after only one trip. I have read that this happens when you store them dry and that you can store wet. After this happened to my sawyer I decided to get a befree and would like to prevent this from happening again. Have you tried this or had any problems with the befree after not using for a period of time?
Matthew Teeter If you‘re still wondering about this one year later: Maybe read the long and helpful comment by Randy a bit above yours. He speaks of long-term, widespread field use for families in Liberia, and about soaking in vinegar and hand-warm water to remove calcium buildup. Perhaps that would help you, too. As for storage, I always soak my filters in water with chlorine and pump about bit of that water through the filters, then - just to remove any possible taste the chlorine might leave behind before storage - pump some fresh water through, shake and set out to dry for a few days (depending on ambient temperature).
The filter life estimates were most likely done with tap or distilled water. As such, our real life experience will be much less than the 1,000 liters (Katadyn) or 100,000 gallons (Sawyer). The choice for me was simple = Sawyer. Much greater filter life and the ability to backflush in the field. The main problem facing Sawyer is their terrible bags. Throw them in the trash and get a CNOC bag.
Had any trouble with the gaskets on the Sawyer filters? I can't get a seal on the ANY bag or ANY bottle. Thinking of switching or something.
Cnoc has a 42mm bag now, have you tried a Gatorade bottle with the be free filter
100,000 gallons is practically an infinite amount..... so how do you actually know when either of these filters is done? When its no longer doing to job its intended for and removing all contaminats.
First off you put out awesome content! I really enjoy your vids. I am preparing to possibly do the A T in March 2020. I have gotten the big 4 gear and working on my filter system. I have the Sawyer mini already but want a 3L bag to use with it while setting up camp. I saw you mentioned the HydraPak Seeker. However it has a wider mouth on it than the Sawyer Mini. Is there an adapter or maybe a hose that will work with it? Please give me your input.
Thanks and keep the great content coming.
Dave
I haven't personally seen an adapter that would neck the wider Seeker bag down to fit the Sawyer threading, unfortunately. I have a CNOC Vecto bladder that works great with my Sawyer's though. Here's a 3L version amzn.to/2JNFyiH Threads match and the opposite end opens up completely for fast filling.
Cnoc has a 2L and 3L Vecto bags for BeFree. Way cheaper than the BeFree bag
Can the BeFree squeeze bottle be inverted for limited gravity usage too? (might be a silly question haha)
Great Review!!! Thank you.
The Sawyer Micro's gravity system can be much lighter and simpler. Just cut two holes in the water bag it comes with, and put a cord through those holes. Attached directly to a water bottle Don't turn it tight or seal it completely on the smart water bottle - air relief is required. Like this: i.imgur.com/YwBGJEOl.png 2.7 oz for the entire gravity system!
I'm moving to befree. Cnoc 3 liter 42mm threaded and planning to mainly use gravity. keeping my platypus hoser as a hydration bladder. I'd like to find an attachement that I can hook into my platypus hoser line by taking off the bite valve and filtering water right into without having to take hoser out of my pack. Does anyone have any ideas where to find an attachment? My platypus gravity bottle adapter works but leaks really bad.
Bonjour So which one is the best ?
You do anything to make the water taste better?
Adding a carbon filter as a final stage would help with that.
With lower temps, do you still have to keep the b free filter on your person like the Sawyer's? I found out the hard way on that. I do a lot of winter hiking.
Yea, they are both hollow fiber membrane filters.
Grams? Then you measure in inches! Confused are ya. Ounces and inches
I like my BeFree a lot!
The weight difference between a regular sawyer filter that actually works at a reasonable rate and the micro version is not enough to justify the piss poor performance of the smaller filter's flow rates and time between backwashings.
I don't understand the folks who make that choice.
Overall should says Katadyn is much better than Sawyer but is only 1000 liters, it cannot last thru a thru hike.
I don't know how accurate that 100,000 L or whatever is accurate for the sawyer. Also, you could probably clean the befree with hot water after a trip to dissolve any minerals and possibly find a way to backflush.
Plastic will always transfer bad taste. Tips for you all is to use these plastic stuff to filter only and transfer the water to a stainless steel or glas flask. and putaway plastic after you done with them. because it doesent mater if they are bpa free or other. plastic is plastic and plastic transfer, it will happen when the plastic hits room temperature and over. im certain i heard you get estrogen from the plastic leaks. steel and glas weights more, but it is more healty in the long run. I would hate to have to take a sip of water when tirsty and taste plastic.
lets say the sawyer can filter 100 000 gallons there must be the clearest stream you ever saw, and there is.
but there is also springs, maybe they filter 100k gallons at a spring. but spring water is drinkable without filtering so..
meh. I have the sawyer mini but never got around to test it. now i bought the befree because its so simple to use.
looking forward to use it.
If these companies products are not applicable to your suitable needs I'm for certain they'll compromise accordingly upon your requests written emails.
my wife's BeFree squeeze bag burst on the first use. She has sense left BeFree.
Why does Sawyer miss lead people by saying it will filter hundreds of thousands of gallons of water .You said your Sawyer mini was totally clogged up , you surely didn't filter a hundred thousand gallons in one or two years . WTHeck
It's probably based on how dirty the water is in the first place.
Perdon me podrías mandar la información en español gracias
Befree new = good. A bit used = bad.
SINTAX77 HI!
HAVE QUESTION I HAD MY NEW KATADYN BEFREE 3/4 THE WAY FULL IN MY REFRIGERATOR & FOR SOME REASON WAS THE ONLY THING THAT FROZE . THE MILK, GATORADE & THE WATER IN THE OTHER JARS DIDN'T HAVE ANY ICE IN THEM. SO I'M GUESSING THE BRAND NEW FILTER IS NO GOOD ? THE WHOLE FILTER WASN'T IN THE FROZEN WATER.
I'M WAITING FOR MY NEW FILTER I JUST ORDERED THE OTHER DAY TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. DID YOUR BEFREE TASTE LIKE PLASTIC IF YOU LEFT THE WATER IN IT OVER NIGHT ? I USUALLY FILL IT UP WITH TAP WATER & PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR THE NEXT DAY ! JUST WANTED YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU! BE SAFE! HAVE FUN! GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS!
HAVE A GREAT MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO!
Ok so what I gather from this is buy one of each and make twice the water! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 any excuse to buy cool gear I guess on my part.
Love the review. I like the befree filter. Super simple. I pair with the 2l bag. Put in a good word for me with whiterook for the giveaway (wink)
BS review
Com on you start off about switching over grams and than weight all these hoses and bag. Which, I watch a good amount of your videos and even withSarah and the dog, you didn’t bring all that crap
Bfree clogs
I enjoy your hiking videos, but not these commercial ones.
This was a really good test though on 2 brand new filters.