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Super Speedy Summary

The Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System bottle allows you to fill up from streams or water sources when out on the trail by filtering the water through a special small blue filter just inside the bottle lid. The filter removes Bacteria and Viruses from the water and is also able to remove sediment or particles if your water source is a bit cloudy. Be aware that this will not filter out any chemical impurities that might be in a water source. With a likely number of 1000 fills before the filter needs changing and only weighing 2oz this is a superb addition to any hiker or trail runners gear who doesn’t want to carry loads of weight in water with them . Available in a 1L ( 33oz) or 0.6 L (22 oz) this has become a permanent ‘must have’ in my summer runner kit. Read the in depth review below to find out my ‘Katadyn Hack’ to half the cost if you already own a Hydraflask bottle.

Main In Depth Review

When I used to live in the UK getting water on trail was easy. Most of the time a UK trail runs through a quaint village every few miles with a Church with an outside tap or a friendly Pub.

Since I’ve moved to New England in the USA I’ve found a combination of the hot Summers and the long remote trails has meant I’ve been forced to carry more and more water with me. New England trails also have a load of spring and rain fed streams all year round so I was keen to test the Katadyn BeFree Bottles to see if they were as good as the website claims.

The Bottle

So the actual Bottle that holds the water comes in two sizes, a 20oz or 32 oz version. They are a flexi bottle type and if you look closely they are made by the guys at Hydrapak whos bottles I’ve already been using for a few years. They are comfortable against your body and incredibly strong. I’ve never punctured or damaged a hydrapak bottle.

The Lid and Filter

The filter is a small blue plastic drum that is attached to the lid. Unlike other types of water filtration membranes I’ve tried this one has no resistance at all when I drink, its actually like there is no filter at all which is fantastic. I have a small gripe with the flip lid cover that protects the spout, it feels a little bit flimsy but did not break in the 60 miles I used it on trail. The lid is also a bit sharp round the edges, and I’m a lazy drinker so I don’t remove the bottle from the front pouch on my backpack and simply suck from it as I move. I would prefer if this had a ‘bite type’ valve instead but its not a deal breaker.

The Bug Killing Bit

I took this straight out of the box on a very hardcore test. I took two of these bottles with me when I went out and set a new Fastest Known Time on the 61 mile Mattabesset Trail in Connecticut. This was an unsupported run so I was entirely relying on refilling at streams to keep myself hydrated in the 91F heat of the day.

The filter works by only allowing things that are smaller than 0.1 microns. This means all bacteria and viruses cannot squeeze through but water can. There is no time waiting for it to work, you can drink straight away from the bottle and in fact you can even unscrew the lid section and dip it straight into a water source to drink from.

Be aware that this filter does not remove chemical contaminants so you need to be common sense sure that the source you are filling from is likely to be spring or rain fed. I opt for streams running off rocky mountains that are clear and fast moving.

The first few fills will have a ‘slight’ taste to it but after about 3 fills I found this slight chemical taste went away. In return I got cool clear drinking water that tasted ‘sweet’compared to normal tap water. In fact after a day on the trail I mentioned how much I didn’t like drinking tap water anymore.

The filter is easily replaceable and should last up to 1000 fills.

Weight and Size

The bottles come in 2 size variants so you can choose the size and capacity you want, I recommend opting for the 1L version as you can always fill it less to save space. The bottles only weigh about 2oz.

A Neat Little Hack

Remember I mentioned that the main flexi bottle is made by Hydrapak? Well the screw on top ( that incorporates the filter) is the same diameter as the normal Hydrapak Bottles.

If you already own a hydrapak bottle you can simply buy a replacement Katadyn BeFree filter for half the price of the full bottle and screw it in to your existing Hydrapak bottle !

There is also a 3 Litre Version

There is also a Gravity BeFree 3 L version that holds 100 fl oz of water. I use this one as a ‘main’ holder of water and then decant the purified water into my other smaller waterbottles on the front of my pack.

This gravity version can be hung up so you can literally pour fresh pure water into other bottles easily. I also add a small water bottle bite valve to the end of the hose they give you so you can drink direct from it when its in your main pack as well.

Verdict

The Katadyn BeFree Water Filtration System bottle allows you to fill up from streams or water sources when out on the trail by filtering the water through a special small blue filter just inside the bottle lid. The filter removes Bacteria and Viruses from the water and is also able to remove sediment or particles if your water source is a bit cloudy. Be aware that this will not filter out any chemical impurities that might be in a water source. With a likely number of 1000 fills before the filter needs changing and only weighing 2oz this is a superb addition to any hiker or trail runners gear who doesn’t want to carry loads of weight in water with them . Available in a 1L ( 33oz) or 0.6 L (22 oz) this has become a permanent ‘must have’ in my summer runner kit.

Specifications

Dimensions (in)	9
Diameter (in)	3 ∅
Output (gal)	2 quart/min
Technology	Hollow fiber filter 0.1 micron
Weight (oz)	2

Features

• Effective against microorganisms
• For solo use
• Suitable for cloudy water
• Suitable for clear water only
• For more frequent use
• For daily or very frequent use
• For travels by motorhome or car
• Lightweight and portable for on-the-go adventures
• Lightweight and portable for on-the-go adventures
• Stationary use
• For travels by boat

A little bit about Katadyn

Katadyn is the Switzerland-based market leader for portable, personal water treatment systems and products for the outdoor and marine industries. 

Under the guiding principle “Making water drinking water”, Katadyn develops and manufactures its portable water filters, desalinators and chemical disinfectants for camping, trekking or global journeys.

With Katadyn products, clean drinking water is a given even in remote corners of the globe. As functionally multipurpose as a Swiss army knife, the finely tuned product portfolio offers diverse and personal solutions for water treatment. Still made in Switzerland today, the product line ranges from water filters and tried-and-true Micropur tablets to the smallest manual desalinator for marine applications. 

One thing all products have in common is our high standard of quality, reliability and easy operation. For that reason, many international aid organizations as well as the military rely on the survival aid and life-saving support from market leader Katadyn.