Maybe a good tip, always bring around 3 coffee filters, they weigh next to nothing. If you somehow need to drink really dirty water you can pre-filter your water before actually filtering it. That stops the clogging, just adding options for when you are out in the open!
Here's my longer term review on the Katadyn BeFree: Went on 6 or 7, 3-day trips last summer in locations with glacier-fed or snow melt lakes and rivers (PNW water sources). Sloshed it after every few uses while in the field. Diligently and thoroughly cleaned it after every trip by vigorously shaking it as per instructions to knock out large debris, soaking it in vinegar and distilled water to dissolve organisms and minerals, then using distilled water to rinse it out, and then leaving it to dry before storage. Noticed the filter began the require a "restart" around the 5th time, which usually involved pre-soaking and trying to get the water flowing through the filter. It never took so long that it became impractical, though it was inconvenient. Filter was then stored dry, unused from early Sept to mid-June this year. Flowrate was barely a trickle. Pre-soaked it with distilled water for 20mins, then a couple hours, then overnight and into the next day where I was going on an overnighter. Flowrate was still barely better than a trickle, especially using river water. I became dehydrated because the filter was just not practical anymore. Luckily my buddy had a spare I could borrow. This is my 3rd attempt at trying to use the Katadyn BeFree, with the previous 2 suffering the same fate and with less thorough cleaning. I REALLY don't understand how anybody has managed to use it long term, no matter how well taken care of.
Good review. I have exactly the same issues with BeFree. Initially, it works well, after a couple of times using it (and correctly cleaning), the flow rate reduces dramatically!?!
I'm in the same boat, I was very impressed with the good flow of the Katadyn initially, then after a few days on the trail the filter would slow significantly. This first trip this season it was extremely slow, I could only fill a 500ml bottle in 15 minutes by sitting on the cnoc filter bag with the Befree. I shook the bag with clean water, I swished in a stream, absolutely nothing. Back home I soaked in 1 tsp of bleach with water overnight, ran water, soaked in 1 cup of vinegar and water overnight, it improved barely. Each time using tap water filtered with my home Pur filter. It's useless. Totally unacceptable. After trying my best with 3 Befree filters, I'm done with them. I got a Hydroblu Versa Filter, and might try the Platypus too.
I would like to see more on why the filters clog and also cleaning and care of filters. I purchase a sawyer squeeze haven’t used yet. Good video and info.
I heard an interview with Sawyer ceo where he explained why the Micro clogs easier. It is a shorter version of the squeeze that was designed to be used with a pre-filter on their special bottles. The first filter removes sediment and additional contaminants, like heavy metals, etc. They never intended to sell it as a stand alone, but when customers bought the special bottles and started using the micro on it’s own, (and making youtube videos about them), people were requesting them. He claimed that if you use the plunger that comes with it, and forcefully backflush regularly, the micro will continue to work as well as a regular squeeze. But because of the way it was designed it does require more maintenance He said most people don’t don’t backflush frequently enough, or as forcefully as the filters can handle. Claimed it’s literally not possible to backflush too forcefully by hand, and he can get most filters people say are clogged back to like new in 10 minutes. I’m not sure I buy that 100%, but it makes sense.
No way the Micro can ever be as fast as the Squeeze. It just doesn't have the design requirements. But with maintenance (more required than the Squeeze), it can maintain a flow close to like-new - I agree with that.
I'm a BeFree fan because it's also easy to scoop up water w/ the Hydrapak it comes with and can be squished down in my pack. I also have the 2L Hydrapak Seekers because they're compatible AND can roll up compact when I'm not using them, but need them in my pack for any extra long water carries. The Hydrapak Seekers are also great for me in the winter when I need to heat up water and put in a bottle to heat up my sleeping bag. Much lighter than carrying along a Nalgene bottle.
@Mark Newman I usually do their recommended shake method several times but then a lot of the crud just ends up falling back into the Hydrapak. So if I have a nice flowing stream or creek, I like to do the rinse there. Really I think I end up cleaning it before I filter so it might be overkill but doesn’t take much more time. For super dirty/muddy water, I actually use my HikerPro. I carry both.
Befree with 0.6L bag and hydrapak seeker 3L bag is my new filtration set up for this year. I’ve had zero issues so far. Love the simplicity and options they give me.
I wanted to switch to the Be Free from the Squeeze because of its flow rate and light weight. Seemed like a no brainer. I took it to Philmont for 10 days 2 years ago with my troop (10 guys total) while the other leader had a Squeeze. As you would expect the leaders often ended up doing most of the filtering (only a 2-3 of Scouts had a filter with them, our pack inspection should have been better) every day. I really didn't mind since it gave everyone else a bit more of a break when we stopped for water (some of the Scouts needed that more than others). For the first 5-6 days I could often produce more filtered water than the other leader in the same amount of time and thought the "swishing" of the Be Free filter to keep it clean and maintained was working really well. Typically I would do 12-15 liters of water or more every stop (2-3 times a day) and it was all from fairly clean mountain streams with flowing water (only one stagnant tank on the 2nd day). Then, on the 7th day the flow rate dropped buy at least 70% and got worse and worse throughout the day. No amount of "Swishing" it (even in clean filtered water from the Squeeze) would improve the flow. Finally the last 2 days I was only getting 1-2 liters of water while the other leader filtered for everyone else. He did back flush his filter a few times but that is not unexpected. That convinced me to go back to the old reliable Squeeze. But, maybe the Be Free has improved in the last 2 years. I would love to see a side by side volume test of these 2 filters (and the Quick Draw perhaps) out to perhaps 500 liters comparing the flow rate every 50-100 liters with the same water that is not flowing clean so that there is some real filtering action going on. Of course, you would do the clean-up maintenance on the filters as needed to keep them flowing and it would be nice to know how often that was necessary and how well it worked. If you could show the Be Free had even half the flow rate of the Squeeze after that kind of volume that I would be convinced to go back. The Be free and the CNOC bag would be a fantastic way to cut the base weight down a bit (that is getting harder and harder for me to do).
Great info! A volume test is definitely something I want to do. I do the swish with the BeFree and then a vinegar soak every 100 or so litres. Has slowed down a bit but is still the fastest filter I have.
Thanks so much for this. I have a condition that makes it hard to squeeze things at times and knowing which filters flow the fastest tells me which filters are easiest to squeeze water through with less strength.
I think the purpose of these filters is to filter the water so how good are they at filtering not how fast they do it. Maybe a .01 vs a .02 with a couple of different water sources would be a good test
I think the Sawyer microfilters (Micro, Mini and Squeeze, 0.1 filters) are claimed to be better at filtering out protozoal cysts than the BeFree 1.0L (also 0.1 filter) but neither filters out viruses particularly well, esp the smaller viruses and norovirus would be my most likely concern if near other humans. Besides pathogen removal, published service life is a reasonable criterion for choice and Sawyer products win here too. Speed of filtering comes further down my list, even below cost, of specifications that determine my choice.
Great review! However, as has been stated in some other comments I think one very important factor to consider is how the flow rate holds up over time. It would be interesting to see the flow rate after filtering 2-4 liters of water for 10-20 days consecutively. Harder to compare but also testing the flow rate after 6 months, 1 year, 2 years of regular use I think would be relevant.
Thank you for this comparison! I’d love to see a video about the water taste quality from different filters - is there a difference in taste and clarity?
Great video as usual Justin! I like the fact that the lifestraw has the carbon filter. I dont think waiting an extra 20s to filter is a nuisance if you are going to come out with Brita quality water in the end!
Yours is the best information channel. I learn a lot from your channel ! I like how your no nonsense and just put out good information. Is there any safety concerns using a .02 over the .01 size with regard to any of the bacteria or protozoa getting through?
Physicist here. No, 0.3 microns is the hardest size to filter, anything under that generally moves so speedy you don’t need the filter “holes” to be smaller than the particle to filter it out due to Brownian motion (liquids and gases).
I use the CNOC and a Squeeze. It's just so damn simple.....until winter. Haha. I know some folks do FKTs and such but I never had a need for extreme speed with filtering personally.
The BeFree has a lot going for it, but for whatever the reason, when you don’t use it for a short while, it acts like it gets clogged. To remedy, it must be re-saturated and I found that you have to suck through it to get the water flowing again as trying to bear down on the bag is insufficient.
I have several kits for my different sized trek pax. Each pak houses redundant gear like tinder kits & water filters... I have the MSR Trailshot or Life Straw in 1 night packs. My 3-7 days gear I carry the Sawyer filters. I like the Intrepid hand pump MSR the best.
I reached for the exit button when you said one of the most important aspects is flow rate. If 20 seconds longer to filter water is a big factor, you've forgotten where you are and why you are there (discounting FKT's). But just in time you showed a lot of filters and mentioned ripping them apart. I had to hang with you. I gave up on the Be Free but just bought a pre filter for it on Amazon so I'm going to try again. A couple of other filters I've never seen caught my attention. I may try the one with charcoal. I've had some nasty tasting water so I now carry flavor drops. Maybe I can leave that at home if I use charcoal. Great theories and technical postulating.
I have been camping with folks that used the BeFree while I prefer the Sawyer. I believe both are are very good water filters and can help immensely. The flow rate of the Sawyer is not always attributed to being clogged. It is the natural flow rate to filter out correctly. In fact, I often doubt the ability of a filter to correctly screen microbes at the level required for human consumption while we quest a water flow that is exponentially expected to be faster and faster through a device. I'll take the Sawyer! The Sawyer attachment access is much more compatible in a survival with items you can scavenge and is much more adaptable. The Sawyer is more self-contained and is a less exposed filter also. Capacity? Hands down Sawyer. Don't believe it. Your call. Two great filters. My choice......Sawyer every time.
Great video! I'd love a revised version with a more specific test. I would use a pump, so the pressure is equal as well as a test as gravity filter. After both tests, you could test the flow again, to see which clogged up the most. Then you could collab with a biologist to check the cleaned water under a microscope :D I feel more comfortable with 0.1 microns. I decided to get the Versa Flow out of the remaining four, because it is the most versatile and almost the fastest. It's the only one that has female threads and male tube connectors on both ends. So many modes: In-line use, bottle-to bottle, CNOC-to-bottle, CNOC-to-hydration bladder (while leaving the bladder inside the backpack), back flushing with a regular water bottle (no extra weight), leave-on-bottle. And all that for 55g. Even comes with two bags, a tank outlet and a tube and a clip to stop the water flow.
Here in Australia, most wild water has a degree of algae to it. The Befree seems to clog right up in this situation. I have been through 2 x filters now, and both have slowed to a barely usable dribble after very minimal use in clear water. I washed and cleaned them both fastidiously but it didn't help. I was seduced by the "Initial" flow of the Befree, but I have switched back to the flushable and reliable Sqeeze.
Great vid. Thanks. Mini/micro mix up notwithstanding. Nice job. One of the main reasons any of these have a reputation of clogging is what you alluded to. User error. Prefiltering is simply the most important and, unfortunately, most unreported by manufacturers, thing that should he done when collecting water from any natural source. It extends the life, flow rate and health of any hollow fiber filter or purifier. It seems most users simply do not know or care to take the 10 seconds it takes to throw a bandana or nut milk strainer bag over the opening of whatever they are collecting water in. Have a mini I've used for 6 years or more and flow rate is great because of pre-filtering and regular prescribed maintenance. Thanks for the vid.
I think it's important to note the manufacturer lifespan of these products. If I am only saving 10 seconds but replacing my be free every 1000L, I am going to choose trusty sawyer every time! It not only saves money but it also is less wasteful. That coupled with the general common knowledge that the Be Free slows down faster than a squeeze just makes the advantages not all that great to me personally. But of course there are many factors to consider. The safety/quality check on the new Quick Draw is a fantastic feature as well!
Do you honestly believe that the sawyer can filter that amount of water as they claim? Befreevs limit of 1k liter still means ~2,7 liter per day in a year.
@@positiivi_teme not necessarily but I do believe with proper care, it can last longer than 1000L. Unless I start to get sick, or damage it, I have no reason to believe I should ditch it at that time.
Excellent video. In my area(prepping) lots of people dont care about speed but they dont realize that extra 30 seconds adds up when your filling a lot of bottles or running a gravity style system
I have the Katadyn love it, its FAST I don't like being all red in the face squeezing the "other" filters, never understood the following some of these have. I think its cost as a smart bottle is so cheap....so as a system, it may be some folks only option.
I have a sawyer mini for a go bag, but just ordered the katadyn befree 1 liter filter bag for ease of use, and am planning to get a brita bottle to use as my drinking bottle, which should take any bad tastes out, which another hiker said the katadyn didn't do. Thanks for the review! Going to look at the platypus too. I thought the katadyn befree 1 liter would be great as a prefilter for a brita water bottle to drink out of. It's a great idea to have 2 different systems as a redundancy in case something goes wrong with one of them, just like fire starting. Btw, the lowest price I found the katadyn befree 1 liter was $40 USD. Happy trails all! 🌿🐦🌳🐾🐿🌲🌾🐝
I really loved the Katydyn befree in the Sierras, cause the water was so clean anyways. But as soon as I got into burn areas in NorCal, the ash in the water started clogging it up really fast and the flow rate went waaaaaay down. Great comparison video!
Hey, brand new Sawyer here. How are you registering 36 seconds? Im clocking a 1:14 with full gusto, and speed is important. Some of us have jobs with limited amounts of time we can spend outdoors so every minute is crucial.
Hey thanks for including us! We would be more than happy to connect to answer any/all questions you have! Also shout out to Jon Sanford for knowing the backstory on the Micro! I think that was an interview with me that he referenced - Travis (though i am not the CEO :) )
My man Justin coming out with bangers after bangers. This should be pinned on r/ultralight. Outstanding video. How does Dan Becker have nearly 100k subs while Justin has 25k?!
Thank you for the really detailed video Justin! I currently have the Sawyer Mini which I purchased from survival and outdoors a few months back, I think it is really great and I take it with me on all of my camping trips however from this review and the comments I think it may be time to try something else!
Oh boy, this is always a tough topic. I keep trying to love these smaller filters, specifically the befree, but I always go back to my behemoth MSR Guardian. It's just so easy to get water from anywhere, which is important here on the US east coast in the summer when the water table drop dries up many small streams. It comes with a great weight penalty though. Its biggest downfall. However, even carrying it and my helinox chair zero, my other luxury item, my 3 day 3 season pack is still under 25 pounds.
Definitely agree with you here! I carry the BeFree but also once it hits July, I bring along the Katadyn Hiker Pro. I've been in several situations where I needed to "extract" water from silt or very tiny streams and it has been such a life saver. Worth the wait penalty for me. Now they make the quick connect cords too for these filters and I just connect it right to my water bladder hose and don't even need to take the bladder out of my pack.
@@JustinOutdoors I hear ya. When I hold my Guardian and BeFree in my hands, I really want to pack that BeFree. And I still do when I'm going to known good water areas. I keep hoping MSR makes a "mini" version of the Guardian and cuts the weight in half.
Really like the BeFree, but I noticed on the last tripp it was clogging fast when I was filtering lake water. My previous BeFree filter lasted a really long time, but I always had really clean water sources on those hikes and the bottle developed a small leak after several weeks of use. This time the filter had probably half flow or less after 4 days on mainly lake water. I dident know about this before, so I will be more careful in the future. Maybe I got to much gunk from the lakes edge in to the bottle.
Based on what I have seen, it seems QA/QC may be an issue with the BeFrees. Some clog up after a few days while others will last the full 1000L with good flow. It seems to be luck of the draw.
Im a hydroblu versa flow user. Considering its a 0.1 micron (a micron can make a difference) I think its up there with the 0.2 micron ones. ;). Esp. with price point.
If one were to collect water from just below the surface, to avoid floating and sedimentary solids, that's a great start. Secondly, if the water has a high contaminate or particulate ratio (e.g., cloudy, discolored, or odorous), it is good to pre-filter/strain the water through a fine cloth. A buff/neck gator or bandana to reduce the chance of prematurely clogging your expensive water filter system. Peace
One of the concerns I have when using any of these filters and bags/bottles is the cross contamination on the outside of the filters and the mouth piece. If you are filling up any bag or bottle there is contamination on the outside. If this contamination from the outside of the bag/bottle comes in contact with the mouth piece that you are sipping from it defeats the purpose of removing contaminants (giardia etc.). Simply wiping the outside of the bag/bottle leaves your rag and possibly your hands now cross contaminated. Would you please demonstrate how you are preventing this contamination? Love all your vids and appreciate the tremendous work you do in the editing process. I would love to see your workflow in your editing process. The software can be a bit intimidating for those of us looking to vlog. Sincerely, The Meltdownman
Justin, I found your video and had a question or two about storing and do you have to clean them. I was looking that the "LifeStraw" as they are easy to get at most stores that sell products like this, but I don't find a lot of information on how to store them after using as some of the filters can filter a lot of liters of water. Do you have to clean them with like a salt water solution and then store them dry? I have read a little on using salt water, but was wondering if you had any insight. Thanks so much and great video.
I think the befree is better for places where water sources are pretty good to begin with (think Canada, Sweden, Norway). Sure some places you need to be careful especially come the ice melt period, but I'll admit, ive never once filtered water here in Sweden. But I live in the north. I just drink directly from any moving water source. Never been sick. In places where water sources have much more sediment and mud and gunk inside, I would prefer something than can be backflushedn
I still have my befree but switched to a Regular Sawyer Squeeze last year, i'm not a huge fan of the bag type containers for the befree, and if it fails in one way or another it would be a harder thing to replace when out and about. The Sawyer just bolts on to most bottles and works like a charm that way. Guess they all have strenghts & weaknesses :) bringing a filter on long hikes/walks or multiple day trips has made life easy getting water from natural sources :)
I haven't had any problems with the BeFree but also have thought about the issues you identified and am really intrigued by the QuickDraw for that reason.
@@joshuahernandez3165 As long as you have backup 42mm bags with you in case your primary fails. Think that it the big draw to Sawyers and others with 28mm threads- they work with many standard bottles and bags so you can easily repurpose a clean bottle/bag to a dirty one.
I bought the "Easiestsuck" water filter off Amazon for 12 bucks. Looks exactly like the Sawyer Mini, had good reviews. Yes, it's a poorly named China copy, but I bought it as an emergency filter since I do day hikes. Haven't had a chance to test it out. May end up with the Be Free one of these days.
I've wondered if some clog issues we hear about are related to presoak. The second time I took my micro out I freaked out because I was getting no flow through it at first. An while later, hanging on the cnoc at camp, it started flowing, and a couple days later it was back to normal. I later read that many people pre-soak their filters a day or two before the trip. I imagine this has something to do with some sort of very fine sediment or mineral buildup clogging the filter pores. This just needs exposure to water to dissolve and get foe through those pores again. Haven't dug into this any further, but it's an interesting thing to consider, especially in the context of doing this type of comparison testing.
Justin, I watched one of your videos where you explained how to test the Katadyn BeFree Filter to see if it is still filtering properly. Can you or anyone in the comments please refer me to that video? I've searched Google and watched several videos but none explain how to test it. Thanks in advance!
I see what you've done, compare 7 almost identical filters. I was going to suggest the Grayl Geopress again but it wouldn't be a fair contest. I will eventually buy a Sawyer mini to keep as a back up option to my Grayl.
@@baileymoto It's a tank I would trust my life with. It's expensive and bulky compared to sawyer or Befree, but it will last forever if looked after properly. You would only need to replace the filter, very rarely, less expensive than when it's time to replace the others. I'll take my Osprey bladder as well for camping, and pour water from that into the Grayl. I see videos of people setting up gravity filters with sawyers and it seems like a lot of hard work compared. 10second job, fill and push the filter down, done. I would say don't let the price put you off, there's nothing better out there. Also a perfect fit for the Pathfinder bottle pouch.
@@marko9912 Awesome, thanks for the feedback! Trying to decide between the Grayl and the Befree. Not a backpacker, but want something for camping (we do dispersed/non established camping) and for our ‘get home’ packs.
@@baileymoto Heard lots of youtubers saying the Befree filter clogs up after a while, I'd go for a Sawyer before that one. The Grayl fits well enough into the side mesh pocket of my Osprey day pack, and attach it to straps with a carabiner. For a bug out scenario that would be my main filter and I'd have a Sawyer or something similar as backup.
Awesome review dude really detailed. Love it!. Have you had any issues with the befree bags breaking? I’d like to get one but more swayed to the platypus QuickDraw just for versatility if a bag break you can just get a bottle for it. Cheers mike
No befree bags breaking for me, but the befree did clog up on the GDT for me. The platypus bag broke for me, but was warrantied right away. And like you said, the platy filter is a lot more versatile.
I've seen numerous posts that the BeFree slows down significantly after... Extended use... Some of the filters can more easily be back flushed...does that influence flow rate?? I would like to see this video again after each dinner has 250 gallons fingered
Great review, testing, and analysis! Very much appreciated. I couldn't help with all the "tube" talk think about the ol "internet is a series of tubes" meme. 😂 But I work in tech, so that's engrained in the mind I think.
I use the mostly ignored Survivor FIlter ... 0.05 microns of filtration. I wouldn't mess with any of these 0.x filters, sure it's slow, it will also do the best at mitigating contamination.
I'm interested in a more in-depth video! I use the Sawyer squeeze, because it appears to be easier to clean. I back flush it after every trip. How do you clean the Katadyn? Now that I know it can be connected to a CNOC bag, you've peaked my interests!😂
To clean the Katadyn, you fill the bottle up about 1/2 full with clean water then give it a good shake. The water should clean off any silt that has accumulated.
Really depends on what filter you're using, the source of contamination of water, and what's the metal content of the water. High contamination water with high metal levels will clogs faster. Just remember to back wash the filter and it'll always run like a champ Life straw is the "safest", filtering the most bacteria, protozoa and particles. (Proven via magnification and water tests). However it's one of the slowest on the market just simply due to how it's designed and engineered.
I’m not sure that forcing the water through as fast as possible is the best approach. I mean I am only guessing here, but I think that may force whatever filtration media more open than it’s intended to be.
what do people recommend when having to filter sediment filled water like we have here in many places in the desert southwest. We are going to backpack the Paria canyon and that water can be very silty.
I have the MSR MiniWorks EX and recently picked up the Platypus Quickdraw with the bag. The 7 filters use the same hollow fiber technology in either .1 or .2 microns, yet have different rated lifespans/capacities from 1,000 L all the way to 300,000 L. Any idea why?
I'm not sure on the 0.1 vs 0.2 micron effects, especially on filter speed and capacity. I am curious to find out more though!
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Hi! Maybe you have a mistake in the table, Katadyn is 0.1 microns as well, afaik ;) From their page and specification: “Hollow fiber filter 0.1 micron”. But nvm, thanks for the video! :)
i ended up going with a platypus quick draw and had a bad experience, it arrived the week of hike1 with black mould in it so ended up having to send it back missing the hike. next hike the bag had a hole form and was unusable. the next hike the filter clogged even tho id used it in a clear river and after trying to backflush it when i got home i had no luck, but the shop was happy to refund so now im looking at getting a beefree or a squeez instead.
Backflush, backflush, backflush. You may need to use diluted vinegar if there is calcium buildup. And sanitize occasionally to keep those bugs from growing, which will slow down filtration.
BeFree for me most of the time. I have added another that's a purifier for questionable water. Especially water that might have Chemical , Pesticides and Heavy metals in it the Sawyer S3 Purifier. Not a fast filter but one to save my hide from questionable , contaminated , run off in agriculture and construction areas.
The carbon filter is good to have in areas with farming and fertilizers getting into your water source. The carbon filter helps filter out these chemicals. Not sure how much it gets out.
9:45 those two scared the crap outta me! Next vid Justin: involve one of your even more nerdy friend of you, and test the cleanliness of that filtered water. A good vid, thanks
I think this is a great point. We all just assume that these all produce the same water quality. Producing a filter that had a very high flow rate would be pretty simple if all we care about is speed. I just have to assume that there is some relationship between filter speed and water quality in a given size and weight package.
@@JustinOutdoors I’m looking forward to seeing this data. To be honest I’m not sure I completely trust the claims of these filter companies, especially after some use. I usually use tablets + filter when water is particularly suspect.
@@JustinOutdoors if, per chance, you are interested in seeing if any particulate matter gets through these, I would be happy to run some dynamic light scattering experiments on filtered samples. I suspect that these experiments would be overkill, but it would be neat to see if 1) any natural particles get through any of the filters in the first place (I suspect iron oxide nanoparticles such as hematite and geothite still do), 2) there is a difference in the particle size distributions between different samples, and 3) samples with the same micron filter produce comparable results
Who wants to volunteer to go to a river and put 200 L through each of these filters to see how fast each ones slows down?
I'll meet you at the river but if I'm not there when you arrive you go ahead and get started.
If you send me the filters I’ll do this test and I can send them back. If this what you have in mind message me.
I would but can't cross the border
I'd do it it just to spend the day BS'ing with you about life in general in the beautiful Canadian outdoors. Thanks Justin! Dave J (Sawyer Mini user)
I'm in! What river?
Maybe a good tip, always bring around 3 coffee filters, they weigh next to nothing. If you somehow need to drink really dirty water you can pre-filter your water before actually filtering it. That stops the clogging, just adding options for when you are out in the open!
or bandanas for a more easily reusable option!
Here's my longer term review on the Katadyn BeFree:
Went on 6 or 7, 3-day trips last summer in locations with glacier-fed or snow melt lakes and rivers (PNW water sources). Sloshed it after every few uses while in the field. Diligently and thoroughly cleaned it after every trip by vigorously shaking it as per instructions to knock out large debris, soaking it in vinegar and distilled water to dissolve organisms and minerals, then using distilled water to rinse it out, and then leaving it to dry before storage. Noticed the filter began the require a "restart" around the 5th time, which usually involved pre-soaking and trying to get the water flowing through the filter. It never took so long that it became impractical, though it was inconvenient.
Filter was then stored dry, unused from early Sept to mid-June this year. Flowrate was barely a trickle. Pre-soaked it with distilled water for 20mins, then a couple hours, then overnight and into the next day where I was going on an overnighter. Flowrate was still barely better than a trickle, especially using river water. I became dehydrated because the filter was just not practical anymore. Luckily my buddy had a spare I could borrow.
This is my 3rd attempt at trying to use the Katadyn BeFree, with the previous 2 suffering the same fate and with less thorough cleaning. I REALLY don't understand how anybody has managed to use it long term, no matter how well taken care of.
Good review. I have exactly the same issues with BeFree. Initially, it works well, after a couple of times using it (and correctly cleaning), the flow rate reduces dramatically!?!
I'm in the same boat, I was very impressed with the good flow of the Katadyn initially, then after a few days on the trail the filter would slow significantly. This first trip this season it was extremely slow, I could only fill a 500ml bottle in 15 minutes by sitting on the cnoc filter bag with the Befree. I shook the bag with clean water, I swished in a stream, absolutely nothing. Back home I soaked in 1 tsp of bleach with water overnight, ran water, soaked in 1 cup of vinegar and water overnight, it improved barely. Each time using tap water filtered with my home Pur filter. It's useless. Totally unacceptable.
After trying my best with 3 Befree filters, I'm done with them. I got a Hydroblu Versa Filter, and might try the Platypus too.
You seriously make the most detailed gear reviews 👌🏻
I would like to see more on why the filters clog and also cleaning and care of filters. I purchase a sawyer squeeze haven’t used yet. Good video and info.
I heard an interview with Sawyer ceo where he explained why the Micro clogs easier. It is a shorter version of the squeeze that was designed to be used with a pre-filter on their special bottles. The first filter removes sediment and additional contaminants, like heavy metals, etc. They never intended to sell it as a stand alone, but when customers bought the special bottles and started using the micro on it’s own, (and making youtube videos about them), people were requesting them.
He claimed that if you use the plunger that comes with it, and forcefully backflush regularly, the micro will continue to work as well as a regular squeeze. But because of the way it was designed it does require more maintenance He said most people don’t don’t backflush frequently enough, or as forcefully as the filters can handle. Claimed it’s literally not possible to backflush too forcefully by hand, and he can get most filters people say are clogged back to like new in 10 minutes.
I’m not sure I buy that 100%, but it makes sense.
No way the Micro can ever be as fast as the Squeeze. It just doesn't have the design requirements. But with maintenance (more required than the Squeeze), it can maintain a flow close to like-new - I agree with that.
I'm a BeFree fan because it's also easy to scoop up water w/ the Hydrapak it comes with and can be squished down in my pack. I also have the 2L Hydrapak Seekers because they're compatible AND can roll up compact when I'm not using them, but need them in my pack for any extra long water carries. The Hydrapak Seekers are also great for me in the winter when I need to heat up water and put in a bottle to heat up my sleeping bag. Much lighter than carrying along a Nalgene bottle.
Seeker™ 4 L
ULTRA-LIGHT WATER STORAGE
@Mark Newman I usually do their recommended shake method several times but then a lot of the crud just ends up falling back into the Hydrapak. So if I have a nice flowing stream or creek, I like to do the rinse there. Really I think I end up cleaning it before I filter so it might be overkill but doesn’t take much more time. For super dirty/muddy water, I actually use my HikerPro. I carry both.
Befree with 0.6L bag and hydrapak seeker 3L bag is my new filtration set up for this year. I’ve had zero issues so far. Love the simplicity and options they give me.
I wanted to switch to the Be Free from the Squeeze because of its flow rate and light weight. Seemed like a no brainer. I took it to Philmont for 10 days 2 years ago with my troop (10 guys total) while the other leader had a Squeeze. As you would expect the leaders often ended up doing most of the filtering (only a 2-3 of Scouts had a filter with them, our pack inspection should have been better) every day. I really didn't mind since it gave everyone else a bit more of a break when we stopped for water (some of the Scouts needed that more than others). For the first 5-6 days I could often produce more filtered water than the other leader in the same amount of time and thought the "swishing" of the Be Free filter to keep it clean and maintained was working really well. Typically I would do 12-15 liters of water or more every stop (2-3 times a day) and it was all from fairly clean mountain streams with flowing water (only one stagnant tank on the 2nd day). Then, on the 7th day the flow rate dropped buy at least 70% and got worse and worse throughout the day. No amount of "Swishing" it (even in clean filtered water from the Squeeze) would improve the flow. Finally the last 2 days I was only getting 1-2 liters of water while the other leader filtered for everyone else. He did back flush his filter a few times but that is not unexpected. That convinced me to go back to the old reliable Squeeze. But, maybe the Be Free has improved in the last 2 years.
I would love to see a side by side volume test of these 2 filters (and the Quick Draw perhaps) out to perhaps 500 liters comparing the flow rate every 50-100 liters with the same water that is not flowing clean so that there is some real filtering action going on. Of course, you would do the clean-up maintenance on the filters as needed to keep them flowing and it would be nice to know how often that was necessary and how well it worked. If you could show the Be Free had even half the flow rate of the Squeeze after that kind of volume that I would be convinced to go back. The Be free and the CNOC bag would be a fantastic way to cut the base weight down a bit (that is getting harder and harder for me to do).
Great info! A volume test is definitely something I want to do. I do the swish with the BeFree and then a vinegar soak every 100 or so litres. Has slowed down a bit but is still the fastest filter I have.
Thanks so much for this. I have a condition that makes it hard to squeeze things at times and knowing which filters flow the fastest tells me which filters are easiest to squeeze water through with less strength.
I think the purpose of these filters is to filter the water so how good are they at filtering not how fast they do it. Maybe a .01 vs a .02 with a couple of different water sources would be a good test
I think the Sawyer microfilters (Micro, Mini and Squeeze, 0.1 filters) are claimed to be better at filtering out protozoal cysts than the BeFree 1.0L (also 0.1 filter) but neither filters out viruses particularly well, esp the smaller viruses and norovirus would be my most likely concern if near other humans. Besides pathogen removal, published service life is a reasonable criterion for choice and Sawyer products win here too. Speed of filtering comes further down my list, even below cost, of specifications that determine my choice.
I love the level of depth in your analysis - thanks so much man!
Justin, thanks so much for the video and explanation! Very well spoken.
Great review! However, as has been stated in some other comments I think one very important factor to consider is how the flow rate holds up over time. It would be interesting to see the flow rate after filtering 2-4 liters of water for 10-20 days consecutively.
Harder to compare but also testing the flow rate after 6 months, 1 year, 2 years of regular use I think would be relevant.
Thank you for this comparison! I’d love to see a video about the water taste quality from different filters - is there a difference in taste and clarity?
Great video as usual Justin!
I like the fact that the lifestraw has the carbon filter. I dont think waiting an extra 20s to filter is a nuisance if you are going to come out with Brita quality water in the end!
Great point! Not many options out there for an easy system with a carbon filter.
Yours is the best information channel. I learn a lot from your channel ! I like how your no nonsense and just put out good information. Is there any safety concerns using a .02 over the .01 size with regard to any of the bacteria or protozoa getting through?
Physicist here. No, 0.3 microns is the hardest size to filter, anything under that generally moves so speedy you don’t need the filter “holes” to be smaller than the particle to filter it out due to Brownian motion (liquids and gases).
What Rose said! haha
I use the CNOC and a Squeeze. It's just so damn simple.....until winter. Haha. I know some folks do FKTs and such but I never had a need for extreme speed with filtering personally.
Everybody likes a little snuggle time with their Sawyer Squeeze.
The BeFree has a lot going for it, but for whatever the reason, when you don’t use it for a short while, it acts like it gets clogged. To remedy, it must be re-saturated and I found that you have to suck through it to get the water flowing again as trying to bear down on the bag is insufficient.
I have several kits for my different sized trek pax. Each pak houses redundant gear like tinder kits & water filters... I have the MSR Trailshot or Life Straw in 1 night packs. My 3-7 days gear I carry the Sawyer filters. I like the Intrepid hand pump MSR the best.
I reached for the exit button when you said one of the most important aspects is flow rate. If 20 seconds longer to filter water is a big factor, you've forgotten where you are and why you are there (discounting FKT's). But just in time you showed a lot of filters and mentioned ripping them apart. I had to hang with you. I gave up on the Be Free but just bought a pre filter for it on Amazon so I'm going to try again. A couple of other filters I've never seen caught my attention. I may try the one with charcoal. I've had some nasty tasting water so I now carry flavor drops. Maybe I can leave that at home if I use charcoal. Great theories and technical postulating.
Glad you stuck through Garry! Definitely only ONE of the important factors. I'll also be testing efficacy and cloggability!
Excellent! Exactly what I needed to know. (Love the 2 geese floating by with the flow of the river)
I have been camping with folks that used the BeFree while I prefer the Sawyer. I believe both are are very good water filters and can help immensely. The flow rate of the Sawyer is not always attributed to being clogged. It is the natural flow rate to filter out correctly. In fact, I often doubt the ability of a filter to correctly screen microbes at the level required for human consumption while we quest a water flow that is exponentially expected to be faster and faster through a device. I'll take the Sawyer! The Sawyer attachment access is much more compatible in a survival with items you can scavenge and is much more adaptable. The Sawyer is more self-contained and is a less exposed filter also. Capacity? Hands down Sawyer. Don't believe it. Your call. Two great filters. My choice......Sawyer every time.
Great video! I'd love a revised version with a more specific test. I would use a pump, so the pressure is equal as well as a test as gravity filter. After both tests, you could test the flow again, to see which clogged up the most. Then you could collab with a biologist to check the cleaned water under a microscope :D
I feel more comfortable with 0.1 microns. I decided to get the Versa Flow out of the remaining four, because it is the most versatile and almost the fastest. It's the only one that has female threads and male tube connectors on both ends. So many modes:
In-line use,
bottle-to bottle,
CNOC-to-bottle,
CNOC-to-hydration bladder (while leaving the bladder inside the backpack),
back flushing with a regular water bottle (no extra weight),
leave-on-bottle.
And all that for 55g. Even comes with two bags, a tank outlet and a tube and a clip to stop the water flow.
Just bought the CNOC 2L hydration reservoir on ebay, they're selling the 2pk 3L bags with an Ecoflow filter for $55.+, thanx 4 your input! Ciao :)
Here in Australia, most wild water has a degree of algae to it. The Befree seems to clog right up in this situation. I have been through 2 x filters now, and both have slowed to a barely usable dribble after very minimal use in clear water. I washed and cleaned them both fastidiously but it didn't help. I was seduced by the "Initial" flow of the Befree, but I have switched back to the flushable and reliable Sqeeze.
I'm going to be playing around with one of these BeFree pre-filters this year. Might be useful in your situation! amzn.to/3yiLAAj
I’m in Australia too and I totally agree with this comment. My Befree is useless because of filtering out the tannins in our water.
I always carry water purification tablets to use in emergency also.
I've only used the life straw and was pleased with the performance.
Awesome video! I definitely love my Katadyn BeFree. Light, effective, and fast!
Great vid. Thanks. Mini/micro mix up notwithstanding. Nice job. One of the main reasons any of these have a reputation of clogging is what you alluded to. User error. Prefiltering is simply the most important and, unfortunately, most unreported by manufacturers, thing that should he done when collecting water from any natural source. It extends the life, flow rate and health of any hollow fiber filter or purifier. It seems most users simply do not know or care to take the 10 seconds it takes to throw a bandana or nut milk strainer bag over the opening of whatever they are collecting water in. Have a mini I've used for 6 years or more and flow rate is great because of pre-filtering and regular prescribed maintenance. Thanks for the vid.
I have picked up some pre-filter tools and will be testing them out as part of this series! Great insights my friend!
I think it's important to note the manufacturer lifespan of these products. If I am only saving 10 seconds but replacing my be free every 1000L, I am going to choose trusty sawyer every time! It not only saves money but it also is less wasteful. That coupled with the general common knowledge that the Be Free slows down faster than a squeeze just makes the advantages not all that great to me personally. But of course there are many factors to consider. The safety/quality check on the new Quick Draw is a fantastic feature as well!
Do you honestly believe that the sawyer can filter that amount of water as they claim? Befreevs limit of 1k liter still means ~2,7 liter per day in a year.
@@positiivi_teme not necessarily but I do believe with proper care, it can last longer than 1000L. Unless I start to get sick, or damage it, I have no reason to believe I should ditch it at that time.
I've reached out to some manufacturers to ask what happens after 1000L. Why is that the lifespan? Is it dangerous to use after?
Videos are always thorough and on point!
Excellent video. In my area(prepping) lots of people dont care about speed but they dont realize that extra 30 seconds adds up when your filling a lot of bottles or running a gravity style system
Thank you! I am a BeFree user and I haven't had any problems.
I have the Katadyn love it, its FAST I don't like being all red in the face squeezing the "other" filters, never understood the following some of these have. I think its cost as a smart bottle is so cheap....so as a system, it may be some folks only option.
Depends on your use purpose. If out backpacking, there are many claims that the BF less reliable, clogs easier and not as durable.
Thank you for taking the time to test the filters. It was very informative.
I have a sawyer mini for a go bag, but just ordered the katadyn befree 1 liter filter bag for ease of use, and am planning to get a brita bottle to use as my drinking bottle, which should take any bad tastes out, which another hiker said the katadyn didn't do.
Thanks for the review! Going to look at the platypus too. I thought the katadyn befree 1 liter would be great as a prefilter for a brita water bottle to drink out of.
It's a great idea to have 2 different systems as a redundancy in case something goes wrong with one of them, just like fire starting.
Btw, the lowest price I found the katadyn befree 1 liter was $40 USD. Happy trails all! 🌿🐦🌳🐾🐿🌲🌾🐝
I am super intrigued by the QuickDraw. The BeFree is great but the QuickDraw may be a bit more versatile.
I really loved the Katydyn befree in the Sierras, cause the water was so clean anyways. But as soon as I got into burn areas in NorCal, the ash in the water started clogging it up really fast and the flow rate went waaaaaay down. Great comparison video!
Excellent video, Justin. Thank you so much for this test. This is so helpful and informative.
Hey, brand new Sawyer here. How are you registering 36 seconds? Im clocking a 1:14 with full gusto, and speed is important. Some of us have jobs with limited amounts of time we can spend outdoors so every minute is crucial.
Another great gear review. Great timing as usual, as I'm ready to buy a filter, so this has helped me heaps. Thanks Justin.
Hey thanks for including us! We would be more than happy to connect to answer any/all questions you have!
Also shout out to Jon Sanford for knowing the backstory on the Micro! I think that was an interview with me that he referenced - Travis (though i am not the CEO :) )
Will definitely be reaching out with some questions Travis!
Thanks for this very interesting experiment and your comments, that also reveal your scientific background !
My man Justin coming out with bangers after bangers. This should be pinned on r/ultralight. Outstanding video. How does Dan Becker have nearly 100k subs while Justin has 25k?!
It all amounts to who's got the biggest gob,I'll put my money on Justin anytime. Keep it up Justin
Thank you for the really detailed video Justin! I currently have the Sawyer Mini which I purchased from survival and outdoors a few months back, I think it is really great and I take it with me on all of my camping trips however from this review and the comments I think it may be time to try something else!
Oh boy, this is always a tough topic. I keep trying to love these smaller filters, specifically the befree, but I always go back to my behemoth MSR Guardian. It's just so easy to get water from anywhere, which is important here on the US east coast in the summer when the water table drop dries up many small streams.
It comes with a great weight penalty though. Its biggest downfall. However, even carrying it and my helinox chair zero, my other luxury item, my 3 day 3 season pack is still under 25 pounds.
Definitely agree with you here! I carry the BeFree but also once it hits July, I bring along the Katadyn Hiker Pro. I've been in several situations where I needed to "extract" water from silt or very tiny streams and it has been such a life saver. Worth the wait penalty for me. Now they make the quick connect cords too for these filters and I just connect it right to my water bladder hose and don't even need to take the bladder out of my pack.
I can't handle the pump filters backpacking anymore. But get that they may be the only option for some spots!
@@JustinOutdoors I hear ya. When I hold my Guardian and BeFree in my hands, I really want to pack that BeFree. And I still do when I'm going to known good water areas. I keep hoping MSR makes a "mini" version of the Guardian and cuts the weight in half.
@@JustinHEMI05 check out the guardian gravity filter! I think it could be a good option!
Great review! Good comparison of the top sellers. You got a sub!
I use the BeFree for all my drinking water.
Really like the BeFree, but I noticed on the last tripp it was clogging fast when I was filtering lake water. My previous BeFree filter lasted a really long time, but I always had really clean water sources on those hikes and the bottle developed a small leak after several weeks of use. This time the filter had probably half flow or less after 4 days on mainly lake water. I dident know about this before, so I will be more careful in the future. Maybe I got to much gunk from the lakes edge in to the bottle.
Based on what I have seen, it seems QA/QC may be an issue with the BeFrees. Some clog up after a few days while others will last the full 1000L with good flow. It seems to be luck of the draw.
Im a hydroblu versa flow user. Considering its a 0.1 micron (a micron can make a difference) I think its up there with the 0.2 micron ones. ;). Esp. with price point.
Gotta support a fellow Canuck
If one were to collect water from just below the surface, to avoid floating and sedimentary solids, that's a great start. Secondly, if the water has a high contaminate or particulate ratio (e.g., cloudy, discolored, or odorous), it is good to pre-filter/strain the water through a fine cloth. A buff/neck gator or bandana to reduce the chance of prematurely clogging your expensive water filter system. Peace
Always good to pre-filter water that has a lot of silt or sediment, for sure!
Dude. Great content with real useful information. Subbedz
One of the concerns I have when using any of these filters and bags/bottles is the cross contamination on the outside of the filters and the mouth piece. If you are filling up any bag or bottle there is contamination on the outside. If this contamination from the outside of the bag/bottle comes in contact with the mouth piece that you are sipping from it defeats the purpose of removing contaminants (giardia etc.). Simply wiping the outside of the bag/bottle leaves your rag and possibly your hands now cross contaminated. Would you please demonstrate how you are preventing this contamination? Love all your vids and appreciate the tremendous work you do in the editing process.
I would love to see your workflow in your editing process. The software can be a bit intimidating for those of us looking to vlog.
Sincerely,
The Meltdownman
The water I am treating is generally pretty safe. If I was filtering poo-water, I'd be much more careful about contamination.
I was thinking about this exact thought process when I was filtering water last week!
Justin, I found your video and had a question or two about storing and do you have to clean them. I was looking that the "LifeStraw" as they are easy to get at most stores that sell products like this, but I don't find a lot of information on how to store them after using as some of the filters can filter a lot of liters of water. Do you have to clean them with like a salt water solution and then store them dry? I have read a little on using salt water, but was wondering if you had any insight. Thanks so much and great video.
I think the befree is better for places where water sources are pretty good to begin with (think Canada, Sweden, Norway). Sure some places you need to be careful especially come the ice melt period, but I'll admit, ive never once filtered water here in Sweden. But I live in the north. I just drink directly from any moving water source. Never been sick. In places where water sources have much more sediment and mud and gunk inside, I would prefer something than can be backflushedn
Hey Justin, another great video. Just commenting to help with the algorithm.
Great stuff. Is there a filter that produces the purest water or they all roughly the same in that regard?
Could you do a taste test of these filters?
The Bird in the Water at 5:22-5:44 is just a meme and vibe xD First trying to swin against the current and then stoping and spinning xD
I still have my befree but switched to a Regular Sawyer Squeeze last year, i'm not a huge fan of the bag type containers for the befree, and if it fails in one way or another it would be a harder thing to replace when out and about. The Sawyer just bolts on to most bottles and works like a charm that way.
Guess they all have strenghts & weaknesses :) bringing a filter on long hikes/walks or multiple day trips has made life easy getting water from natural sources :)
Recently bought the befree filter and and a hydra pack water bottle so it basically fixes the one weakness of the befree
I haven't had any problems with the BeFree but also have thought about the issues you identified and am really intrigued by the QuickDraw for that reason.
@@joshuahernandez3165 As long as you have backup 42mm bags with you in case your primary fails. Think that it the big draw to Sawyers and others with 28mm threads- they work with many standard bottles and bags so you can easily repurpose a clean bottle/bag to a dirty one.
I bought the "Easiestsuck" water filter off Amazon for 12 bucks. Looks exactly like the Sawyer Mini, had good reviews. Yes, it's a poorly named China copy, but I bought it as an emergency filter since I do day hikes. Haven't had a chance to test it out. May end up with the Be Free one of these days.
Hilarious name for a product
I use sawyer mini, and aquamira for reduce mud taste or chlorine taste from water for better taste
i dont care which one is more quickly.i do care which one is more clean and drinkable. can you tell me which one is more clean to drink?
Be free is now my go-to when I'm solo or with 1 other person. I would be interested to see what you have to say about gravity filters.
With how fast the faster squeeze options are, I can't be bothered setting up and using a gravity filter.
@@JustinOutdoors I find it nice when you’re a group of 4-5 and you want to be doing something else at the same time :)
@@OutdoorTherapy2020 Absolutely. But I set up my squeeze as a gravity filter using my cnoc so there's that.
When hiking with a family, we feel the gravity system is great. It’s set up and ready for anyone to go get water at any time.
Well done!👏🏼
I've wondered if some clog issues we hear about are related to presoak. The second time I took my micro out I freaked out because I was getting no flow through it at first. An while later, hanging on the cnoc at camp, it started flowing, and a couple days later it was back to normal. I later read that many people pre-soak their filters a day or two before the trip. I imagine this has something to do with some sort of very fine sediment or mineral buildup clogging the filter pores. This just needs exposure to water to dissolve and get foe through those pores again. Haven't dug into this any further, but it's an interesting thing to consider, especially in the context of doing this type of comparison testing.
I think there are a few potential issues for clogging and presoak is definitely one of them. Excited to test the theories out!
Justin, I watched one of your videos where you explained how to test the Katadyn BeFree Filter to see if it is still filtering properly. Can you or anyone in the comments please refer me to that video? I've searched Google and watched several videos but none explain how to test it. Thanks in advance!
th-cam.com/video/6DAvVWl8eI8/w-d-xo.html
I see what you've done, compare 7 almost identical filters. I was going to suggest the Grayl Geopress again but it wouldn't be a fair contest.
I will eventually buy a Sawyer mini to keep as a back up option to my Grayl.
A year later, how are you liking the Grayl?
@@baileymoto It's a tank I would trust my life with. It's expensive and bulky compared to sawyer or Befree, but it will last forever if looked after properly. You would only need to replace the filter, very rarely, less expensive than when it's time to replace the others. I'll take my Osprey bladder as well for camping, and pour water from that into the Grayl. I see videos of people setting up gravity filters with sawyers and it seems like a lot of hard work compared. 10second job, fill and push the filter down, done. I would say don't let the price put you off, there's nothing better out there. Also a perfect fit for the Pathfinder bottle pouch.
@@marko9912 Awesome, thanks for the feedback! Trying to decide between the Grayl and the Befree. Not a backpacker, but want something for camping (we do dispersed/non established camping) and for our ‘get home’ packs.
@@baileymoto Heard lots of youtubers saying the Befree filter clogs up after a while, I'd go for a Sawyer before that one. The Grayl fits well enough into the side mesh pocket of my Osprey day pack, and attach it to straps with a carabiner. For a bug out scenario that would be my main filter and I'd have a Sawyer or something similar as backup.
Awesome review dude really detailed. Love it!. Have you had any issues with the befree bags breaking? I’d like to get one but more swayed to the platypus QuickDraw just for versatility if a bag break you can just get a bottle for it. Cheers mike
No befree bags breaking for me, but the befree did clog up on the GDT for me. The platypus bag broke for me, but was warrantied right away. And like you said, the platy filter is a lot more versatile.
I've seen numerous posts that the BeFree slows down significantly after... Extended use...
Some of the filters can more easily be back flushed...does that influence flow rate??
I would like to see this video again after each dinner has 250 gallons fingered
Great review, testing, and analysis! Very much appreciated.
I couldn't help with all the "tube" talk think about the ol "internet is a series of tubes" meme. 😂 But I work in tech, so that's engrained in the mind I think.
I use the mostly ignored Survivor FIlter ... 0.05 microns of filtration. I wouldn't mess with any of these 0.x filters, sure it's slow, it will also do the best at mitigating contamination.
Thank you for the video, but the Sawyer Squeeze and Mini stop working after being in storage.
Have you tried soaking them before use? I have encountered a similar thing for every filter I have tried.
I'm interested in a more in-depth video! I use the Sawyer squeeze, because it appears to be easier to clean. I back flush it after every trip. How do you clean the Katadyn? Now that I know it can be connected to a CNOC bag, you've peaked my interests!😂
To clean the Katadyn, you fill the bottle up about 1/2 full with clean water then give it a good shake. The water should clean off any silt that has accumulated.
I would love for more water filter videos
Would love to see a video as to "why" these filters clog up. Thanks for the great video!
I'll work on it!
Really depends on what filter you're using, the source of contamination of water, and what's the metal content of the water. High contamination water with high metal levels will clogs faster. Just remember to back wash the filter and it'll always run like a champ
Life straw is the "safest", filtering the most bacteria, protozoa and particles. (Proven via magnification and water tests). However it's one of the slowest on the market just simply due to how it's designed and engineered.
What are your thoughts on the MSR Trailshot filter? Different setup, but it's SO easy to use.
I’m not sure that forcing the water through as fast as possible is the best approach. I mean I am only guessing here, but I think that may force whatever filtration media more open than it’s intended to be.
what do people recommend when having to filter sediment filled water like we have here in many places in the desert southwest. We are going to backpack the Paria canyon and that water can be very silty.
Did they upgrade the filter on the Katadyn BeFree? On their website it says it has a 0.1 microns filter.
I have a Hydroblu, and an MSR Trailshot. The MSR failed on me last fall while out on the trail. Which is why I now have the Hydroblu!
The Hydroblu surprised me with how well it worked! Which is was smartwater bottle compatible.
@@JustinOutdoors CNOC now makes a collapsible bottle that is ultra light and works with it
You should absolutely check the Faircap Mini water filter. It's basically a BeFree which can be used on regular water bottle !
ooooo! Definitely going to check that out!
I have the MSR MiniWorks EX and recently picked up the Platypus Quickdraw with the bag.
The 7 filters use the same hollow fiber technology in either .1 or .2 microns, yet have different rated lifespans/capacities from 1,000 L all the way to 300,000 L. Any idea why?
I'm not sure on the 0.1 vs 0.2 micron effects, especially on filter speed and capacity. I am curious to find out more though!
Hi! Maybe you have a mistake in the table, Katadyn is 0.1 microns as well, afaik ;) From their page and specification: “Hollow fiber filter 0.1 micron”. But nvm, thanks for the video! :)
Hmm, you're right. I had thought I saw it was 0.2. I am still going to look into how much of a difference that makes
So you are going on a 10 day backpacking trip in pretty cool conditions which do you take and why?
Great video! Thanks!
i ended up going with a platypus quick draw and had a bad experience,
it arrived the week of hike1 with black mould in it so ended up having to send it back missing the hike.
next hike the bag had a hole form and was unusable.
the next hike the filter clogged even tho id used it in a clear river and after trying to backflush it when i got home i had no luck,
but the shop was happy to refund so now im looking at getting a beefree or a squeez instead.
Make a video about the filters
I think the hole diameter 0.1/0.2u also influences the flow rate...
agreed
Shouldn't the post filtration water quality be tested to check how effective each filter is ?
I have some agar plates and will be doing that experiment!
Backflush, backflush, backflush. You may need to use diluted vinegar if there is calcium buildup. And sanitize occasionally to keep those bugs from growing, which will slow down filtration.
100%!
How long do they last
Problem with Katadyn if it’s bag rips you can’t use it with other standard bottles you have around.
4:30 those ducks be chillen down the lazzy river
love a good lazy river, haha
Just squeeze water through a bandana, geez. LOL! KIDDING. Great stuff Justin, thanks! (It's "K-Nock", btw. ;))
I realized in editing that I butchered the name. My girlfriend can attest that I am terrible at pronouncing names that are even remotely unique. haha
BeFree for me most of the time. I have added another that's a purifier for questionable water. Especially water that might have Chemical , Pesticides and Heavy metals in it the Sawyer S3 Purifier. Not a fast filter but one to save my hide from questionable , contaminated , run off in agriculture and construction areas.
If your Sawyer Squeeze clogs, that is user's not cleaning properly. Sawyer has a $2 cleaning coupler to backwash the Sawyer Squeeze and Micro Squeeze
The carbon filter is good to have in areas with farming and fertilizers getting into your water source. The carbon filter helps filter out these chemicals. Not sure how much it gets out.
9:45 those two scared the crap outta me! Next vid Justin: involve one of your even more nerdy friend of you, and test the cleanliness of that filtered water. A good vid, thanks
I think this is a great point. We all just assume that these all produce the same water quality. Producing a filter that had a very high flow rate would be pretty simple if all we care about is speed. I just have to assume that there is some relationship between filter speed and water quality in a given size and weight package.
I have some agar plates and bacteria that I am going to use to test filter efficacy!
@@JustinOutdoors I’m looking forward to seeing this data. To be honest I’m not sure I completely trust the claims of these filter companies, especially after some use. I usually use tablets + filter when water is particularly suspect.
@@JustinOutdoors if, per chance, you are interested in seeing if any particulate matter gets through these, I would be happy to run some dynamic light scattering experiments on filtered samples. I suspect that these experiments would be overkill, but it would be neat to see if 1) any natural particles get through any of the filters in the first place (I suspect iron oxide nanoparticles such as hematite and geothite still do), 2) there is a difference in the particle size distributions between different samples, and 3) samples with the same micron filter produce comparable results
my katadyn befree flow rate has slowed down a lot. anyone know anything that can be done about this?
Vinegar soak and then swishing it in a half-bottle of hot distilled water should work wonders.
@@JustinOutdoors Thanks man. ill give that a try