Good chat, mate. I have watched that GearSkeptic video-so detailed and so useful. Should be required watching for anyone working in a gear store. To anyone who is going to watch it: Bring a notepad to the video because you’ll need it.
A water filter system is useless if it isn’t dependable. You can either bring a backup, or a heavier system. By this I mean the BeFree really isn’t field serviceable - once it starts to slow down, and I’ve found that this happens quickly if you filter anything but clear water, swishing it around in clean water per manufacturer recommendations doesn’t help. With the Sawyer, you have the syringe to backfill the filter with that’s much more effective as a cleaning solution. Bladders are also important. I’ve dropped both the stock bladder from a Sawyer system as well as a SmartWater bottle when filled. The Sawyer bladder tore at the seam with the hard plastic its top, and the SmartWater bottle fell on gravel and had a hole punctured into it. I now carry a CNOC 2 liter bag with a wide bottom opening for easy filling. The CNOC bag is also easy to get a lot of pressure forcing the water through the filter so it’s fast. The other thing I like about the Sawyer is that if something happens to my dirty water bottle I can find a replacement bottle cast away by someone as trash along most trails, or at a gas station. It’s rare to find a threaded bottle to work with a BeFree outside of an outfitter or Amazon. Last in my system is the bottle I drink from. I have a 16 oz Nalgene HDPE square narrow mouth bottle. It holds closer to 20oz, which on most trails is 5-8 miles of water for me. The “narrow” opening is being compared to a tradition Nalgene bottle. The opening is large enough to pour in powdered drink mixes without issues. I like the bottle’s profile as I can fit it into the front pocket of my hiking pants and pull it in and out. HDPE means it will take boiling water without issue, so I can make a hot drink or even a hot water bottle at night if I’m cold in my sleep system. It’s also super durable. I’ve dropped it 20 feet onto rocks and it just got a few scratches and a dent. The dent popped out as soon as I put warm water into it.
HydroBlu Versa-Flow is the most convenient because it has 28mm threads on both ends, built-in caps on both ends, flows almost as fast as Sawyer-Squeeze, yet is a couple ounces lighter and smaller (especially after all the adapters and dry-bags Squeeze requires). [ps. HydroBlu has half-size carbon filter that screws onto the regular Versa-Flow filter for Florida water.]
I took a group of city folks through the Pictured Rocks. One of the gals refused to drink filtered water from the backcountry and forced her boyfriend to carry 16 oz bottles of spring water for the entire four day trip.
Good chat, mate. I have watched that GearSkeptic video-so detailed and so useful. Should be required watching for anyone working in a gear store. To anyone who is going to watch it: Bring a notepad to the video because you’ll need it.
A water filter system is useless if it isn’t dependable. You can either bring a backup, or a heavier system. By this I mean the BeFree really isn’t field serviceable - once it starts to slow down, and I’ve found that this happens quickly if you filter anything but clear water, swishing it around in clean water per manufacturer recommendations doesn’t help. With the Sawyer, you have the syringe to backfill the filter with that’s much more effective as a cleaning solution.
Bladders are also important. I’ve dropped both the stock bladder from a Sawyer system as well as a SmartWater bottle when filled. The Sawyer bladder tore at the seam with the hard plastic its top, and the SmartWater bottle fell on gravel and had a hole punctured into it.
I now carry a CNOC 2 liter bag with a wide bottom opening for easy filling. The CNOC bag is also easy to get a lot of pressure forcing the water through the filter so it’s fast.
The other thing I like about the Sawyer is that if something happens to my dirty water bottle I can find a replacement bottle cast away by someone as trash along most trails, or at a gas station. It’s rare to find a threaded bottle to work with a BeFree outside of an outfitter or Amazon.
Last in my system is the bottle I drink from. I have a 16 oz Nalgene HDPE square narrow mouth bottle. It holds closer to 20oz, which on most trails is 5-8 miles of water for me. The “narrow” opening is being compared to a tradition Nalgene bottle. The opening is large enough to pour in powdered drink mixes without issues.
I like the bottle’s profile as I can fit it into the front pocket of my hiking pants and pull it in and out. HDPE means it will take boiling water without issue, so I can make a hot drink or even a hot water bottle at night if I’m cold in my sleep system. It’s also super durable. I’ve dropped it 20 feet onto rocks and it just got a few scratches and a dent. The dent popped out as soon as I put warm water into it.
That is a big plus to be able to pour hot water into it. A smart water bottle will collapse immediately.
HydroBlu Versa-Flow is the most convenient because it has 28mm threads on both ends, built-in caps on both ends, flows almost as fast as Sawyer-Squeeze, yet is a couple ounces lighter and smaller (especially after all the adapters and dry-bags Squeeze requires).
[ps. HydroBlu has half-size carbon filter that screws onto the regular Versa-Flow filter for Florida water.]
Interesting. Not familiar with that system. Will have to do some research. Thanks. Keep Smilin'
I love my full size sawyer and a CNOC bag. The gravity feed collar is gold.
The others just don't measure up (yet)
@bkbland1626 i have the large, bottom opening CNOC bag. But now I use it to carry my protein mix. Works great and easy to fill. Keep Smilin'
I took a group of city folks through the Pictured Rocks. One of the gals refused to drink filtered water from the backcountry and forced her boyfriend to carry 16 oz bottles of spring water for the entire four day trip.
What's another 50 lbs for Glacier water from New Jersey. Funny! Keep Smilin'