Katadyn

BeFree AC 0.5L Microfilter

Super Fast and Light

great product with a good price point. as fast as you would expect from katadyn and hollow fiber technology. feels durable as well.

Great filter from a great company

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Small, lightweight and easy to use. If you don’t want complicated filters requiring a bunch steps to use the this is the filter for you. Pens and drops always have you worried if you added enough or held it in there long enough to clean your water. Easy to use and clean for all users beginners or experts. I like the ability to roll it up so it’s not taking up a bunch of space. It doesn’t feel cheaply made either. Quality parts and construction. Worked amazing in Alaska just scoop and drink! no big bottles or containers, just roll it up and put it in your pocket.

Really well thought out all-in-one piece

My partner and I take this on longer hikes and trail runs when we might need a refill on the trail. I love how small and compact this flask-filter combo can get, and how it can disappear into a pack/vest. The filter also has a great flow rate, even when I just squeeze it out to refill a bottle. If you don't close the nozzle cap, the flow rate is so good it'll leak out. The filer is also really easy to clean and the filter has the added benefit of removing the plastic-y taste of the soft flask. I wish that Katadyn would make this product modular so the filter could be swapped out into a bigger, gravity reservoir. It would also be great if the hard plastic could be cut down a bit as it can get uncomfortable when I stash it empty in a tighter pocket on my vest. These are minor issues overall! This would be a great product for someone who wants a filter-flask combo and wants to be able to refill on the trail with a no-frills, no-hastle system.

Easy simple clean water

This is so easy to operate. It makes getting water a breeze and it flows well. Easily clip to your backpack with a caribiner. I’m hoping the actual “bottle” holds up as it’s soft. So far so good.

About as good as it gets for on-the-go filtration!

I've primarily used the Katadyn BeFree as my water filter of choice for the last two years. When Katadyn gave me the opportunity to review the new BeFree AC, I jumped at the opportunity, and I found it's an ideal filter for my use case. The BeFree AC is called that because you have the option to add a little AC (activated carbon) filter on top of the hollow fiber filtration membrane system. In other words, it's a two-stage filter, in a compact and lightweight form factor. The thing that originally won me over to the BeFree from other small filters is the ease of cleaning. The filter is open to the environment, allowing for very easy cleaning without the need for a backwash routine. This carries through to the AC. For testing, I primarily used the AC on bike trips, and so far on an initial backpacking and peak bagging trip, climbing Longs Peak. The flow rate is high, the size is perfect - it even fits perfectly into a trail running vest if you buy the 0.5L version. The shape is fantastic for trail running, and worked in several different trail running packs I tried it in. What about the AC part of the filter? Well, initially I wasn't sure what the point of this really is. Activated carbon is the same thing you'll find in a Brita filter: it's less about filtering out pathogens, and more focused on taste and odor compounds. Most prominently, AC filters can reduce the taste of chlorine in drinking water. I found that this works pretty well when I tested drinking some tap water with and without the AC filter insert; but most of the time when I'm on the move, I'm drinking from mountain streams, so I'll leave the AC cartridge at home. Katadyn Group gave me this free product to try.

Great filter

The filter does an incredible job of eliminating not only the contaminants in the water but it really does make it taste much better than my other filters. I got the .5L for backcountry camping and hunting to pair with the 3L gravity filter. I probably will get the 1L and use it more than the .5 just because it enables me to go longer between fill ups. The filters last a pretty decent amount of time in my experience as well, I only change them each about once every 5/6 weeklong trips.

Best filter out there.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Simple and to the point this filter is for anyone who needs a reliable filter they can depend on. Fill and go system is light and ready to go when you’re on the trail. Whether it’s a trail run and you don’t want to carry extra water or you’re on a multi day trip this is my go to. This filter is easy to clean and ready for the next adventure without any extra stress.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Katadyn Group BeFree AC is an exceptional lightweight water filter that truly shines in its portability and ease of use, making it an indispensable part of my hiking gear. Its compact design allows it to be rolled up and stored almost invisibly in my pack, yet it’s surprisingly effective and reliable when needed, providing clean, great-tasting water at a fast flow rate of up to 2 liters per minute. I especially appreciate the versatility offered by the option to add or omit activated carbon for taste preferences, and the rugged handle makes it easy to hang or carry. The innovative EZ-Clean Membrane simplifies maintenance, ensuring consistent performance without fuss. Overall, I highly recommend this product for outdoor enthusiasts who value convenience, space-saving design, and dependable water filtration.

Small but mighty

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Love the packability. Not quite as durable as a hard Elgin bottle, but seems to be pretty sturdy drank dirty river water and didn’t get sick so it must’ve worked! For the minimalist hunting or hiking trip this is a great water filter and bottle.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Katadyn Group gave me this product free to try and I’ve found it very useful! Upon receiving it I figured I would use it at water sources while hiking and climbing. And while I have used it for those purposes where it really came in handy was while I was staying at a hotel in San Fran. I prefer to drink filtered water > tap water and being able to filter water from my hotel bathroom sink was insanely convenient for me. I also really like the flexibility of the bottle. I’ve used other bottles that were made in the same style and they’ve felt flimsy or have torn very quickly. So far this bottle seems very durable and has survived being shoved into corners of my crowded backpacks and carry ons.