The Katadyn BeFree has a following for a reason. This collapsible soft bottle filtration system quickly became notable amongst long-distance bike riders, trail runners, thru-hikers, climbers, really anyone seeking on-the-go filtration that works for one or two people without taking up a ton of room in your pack. The fast flow rate, packable design, and easy maintenance are just a few details, and we think you’ll love using it on your next fast and light mission.
Kobe demonstrates how easy it is to hydrate with the Katadyn BeFree AC, no matter what is contaminating your water source. Credit: Trish Matheny
The BeFree removes odd tastes and does a great job of producing fresh, clear water in a variety of water sources. It protects against bacteria and protozoa but does not remove viruses. This was confirmed by our third-party testing from SGS Labs, which revealed the filter eliminated 99.9% of bacteria and micro-beads that represented protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Katadyn does not claim virus removal, but we tested it anyway, and the results revealed it removed only 44.4% of the virus in the test sample.
That said, bacteria and protozoa are your two biggest concerns when hiking within the U.S. and Canada, and it should be adequate for most water sources in those locales. It features a hollow filter design with 0.1-micron pore size. The filter is short, with big open spaces and spindled tubes latticed over one another. This design makes for quick guzzling on the go. It does well for a range of water sources, whether turbid and murky or crystal clear.
The short filter and spindled tubes allow water to easily pass through the filter and help you guzzle your hydration.
The BeFree is one of the easiest filters that you’ll use. It ships ready to go, simply remove the filter cap, fill the bottle, screw the lid back on, and bottoms up. Of all the squeeze bottle designs, this is definitely one of the easiest to use thanks to a larger opening on the flip-top cap that offers a better flow rate and requires less energy to sip your hydration for the day.
After years of testing, we prefer to fill the soft bottle from “mini waterfall” streams rather than shallow pools; this is the best way we have found to eliminate sediment that could easily clog the filter, and it’s also the easiest way to fill the bag. If you find yourself desperate for hydration and your only option is a puddle or shallow water source, hydrating with the BeFree is going to be a frustrating process, as it’s pretty difficult to fill the bag in shallow water. Aside from that, we found the design very easy to use and maintain, and we love that the latest iteration includes a small charcoal insert that’s easy to include if you find yourself filtering from particularly stagnant and murky water sources.
The Befree is so easy to use, simply fill the bottle, attach the lid and filter, and compress the bottle into your mouth or another water bottle. Credit: Trish Matheny
Although we’ve experienced durability issues during previous testing periods with the BeFree, we recently retested this model and found the updated design includes a way more durable Hydrapak soft bottle. We love this. While the filter is designed to be one of the lightest options on the market, it performed excellently during our testing period, which included rugged High Sierra mountain adventures, canyoning in Yosemite National Park, and lots of training runs on the trails in between. It is designed to last up to 1,000 liters before replacement, and you can choose from a variety of bladder sizes (.5L, .6L, .7L, .9L, 1L) to accommodate personal or small group use.
The maintenance is rather easy as well. You simply remove the filter from the collapsible soft bottle before shaking or swishing it in fresh water. This is designed to remove any debris or sediment that could be clogging your filter and decreasing the rate of flow. Overall, we love the improved durability and are confident recommending the user-friendly BeFree for personal use during light and fast missions where you’re counting every ounce of gear in your kit.
The latest iteration features a much more durable soft bottle along with a thick plastic cap and lid to cover the mouthpiece.
Of all the soft bottle filters we’ve tested, the BeFree features one of the fastest flow rates. The bottle is easy to squeeze, and the clean water comes out fast; on average, we were filtering one liter in around 20-25 seconds, at a rate of two liters per minute once you remove the filter and refill the bag to squeeze again. Whether you’re sipping direct from the flip cap or squeezing the bag into a separate water bottle, the BeFree can easily keep you and a few of your friends hydrated during your day hike or trail run without slowing you down.
Collapsible soft bottles that have an external filter (like the Sawyer Squeeze, rather than an internal filter (like the BeFree), typically filter out more easily. However,the BeFree breaks this trend with a larger opening in the durable flip cap that allows more water to pass through the lid and speeds up the time required to treat your water.
The wider opening in the flip cap lid allows for an awesome flow rate and fast treatment time. Credit: Trish Matheny
The BeFree is one of the lightest filters in our review. Anything lighter or smaller doesn’t come with a bottle, so you’d have to factor that in separately. We love that we can easily clip the Katadyn to a harness, run with it in one hand, or toss into a backpack without a second thought. It doesn’t take up much space and at only 3 ounces, we barely felt it in our pack or running vest.
The updated iteration includes a more durable bottle and a beefier handle on the cap that allows you to clip the bottle to a convenient location on your pack or climbing harness for easy access during activity. The soft bottle and smaller filter profile make the BeFree easy to pack in your hand, pocket, or backpack, saving space so you can stay hydrated without weighing you down on your run, bike, hike, or climbing mission. If you’re after a reliable soft bottle design for fast and light missions, look no further than the BeFree.
The BeFree is one of the lightest water filters that we’ve tested, making it an excellent choice for ultralight adventures.
Should You Buy the Katadyn BeFree?
If you’re a party of 1 and you like to move fast, the Katadyn BeFree features performance that’s tough to beat during day missions like trail running, mountain biking, and rock climbing. The updated design features a more durable Hydrapak soft bottle while maintaining a fast flow rate that effectively removes bacteria and protozoa, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, from the fresh water source. We love the option to include the charcoal to improve flavor for particularly murky water sources. Since it is only available in sizes between .5L and 1l, the BeFree is not the best option for keeping more than 2 people hydrated, which limits its versatility if you like to get out with friends. You’ll either have to pack multiple filters or be prepared to spend more time filling everyone’s bottle.
If you’re after an ultralight filter design that’s perfect for adventures where every ounce is accounted for, the BeFree features an even more durable design that’s easy to use, and features an excellent flow rate. Credit: Trish Matheny
What Other Backpacking Water Filters Should You Consider?
While we love the BeFree for shorter day missions, we still think the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze is the best all-around option when it comes to reliable filtration for one or two people. It’s a bit heavier, but has a more durable bladder, has a longer filter life, and costs less, making it a better deal if you can spare the extra ounce.
For an even more durable option, check out the Hydrapak Flux 1.5L. While it features a heavier design, the thicker bottle and flexible handle are durable enough to clip to your harness while you climb or attach to raft while you float the canyon. On the other hand, if you want something even lighter, check out the LifeStraw Peak Straw. It’s perfect for those who consider themselves ultralight adventurers; however, sipping on your belly out of every stream can get old during extended trips in the backcountry.
Although a little more expensive than other collapsible soft bottles, we think the BeFree offers excellent performance, especially for ultralight adventures. Credit: Trish Matheny