Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre
Rating
Rating: 8.8 / 10
Value for Money 1.7 / 2.0
Ease of use 2.0 / 2.0
Weight 1.7 / 2.0
Speed 2.0 / 2.0
Durability 1.4 / 2.0
Katadyn BeFree 0.6litre Review
Carrying water on the trail is only half the equation. In many places we hike, at least in western countries, we take for granted we will have access to good quality supplies of clean water right? While the answer is usually yes but this is not a guarantee and what we see is not necessarily all that we get.
I travelled through India a few years ago and managed to pick up a case of Giardia that took me six weeks on a fairly strong course of antibiotics to get rid of; an experience that I never, never, ever, want to repeat. Don’t be fooled here, Giardia exists in Australia and there have even been outbreaks in town water sources in the past. As a result of this I am extremely cautious when collecting water on the trail and no matter how clear the water may appear, I will always use some form of water treatment just to be on the safe side.
The Katadyn BeFree performs two tasks. It’s a soft flexible water bottle (600 ml) as well as being a filter that will remove all impurities aside from viruses. Due to it’s size the Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre is ideal for day hikes when you are guaranteed of finding water along the trail and the weather is reasonably mild. Earlier this year I hiked the Canberra Centenary Trail (145 km) over three days in temperatures around 35°+ celsius and was drinking on average about 7 litres of water a day. For this hike I used a hydration bladder and was taking small sips of water about very ten minutes. I personally find that I don’t drink as much with any type of water bottle as it becomes a chore to get the bottle out to have a drink and in excessive heat this can be a problem even when there is plenty of water around. This may not be an issue for you if you are conscientious with drinking water.
For milder days when the water consumption is not as high, the Katadyn BeFree is a good option limiting the water weight that you will carry.
Something to be mindful of with this product is if you are doing hikes that require you to carry two days of water, you are going to have to carry a storage bladder and top up the BeFree as you need to which means that your are using the Katadyn BeFree as a water filter. Given that empty it weights under 60 grams this is not a big impost and when rolled up takes up almost no space.
The other quirk with this unit is that it is a soft water bottle so while its not a deal breaker I alway have to think about where I am going to store this, particularly when its half full and becomes floppy. It it sits in the pack then you are less likely to get it out and drink.
As a relatively new product on the Australian market I am finding the Katadyn BeFree is going well so far. My main concern is durability which you will understand when you handle this product as it feels almost too light. With careful handling this product should last but whether it survives the 1650 refills will be interesting to see, particularly if you are rough with your gear. Currently the filtration option that Gill uses is a Sawyer Mini with attached small bladder to top up larger hydration bladders and bottles so in this sense the Katadyn BeFree is fulfilling the same function but in a more compact sleeker version. To be fair the Sawyer Mini does filter 100,000 gallons (378,000 litres) at a similar purchase price. The flexible water container on this unit means that you can fill up from tanks and provided there is at least a small depth of water you can fill up from steams or even puddles if you need to.
From a personal perspective this is unlikely to find its way into my hiking kit as my main form of water filtration but I am seriously considering carrying this for when I dump my main pack and go off trail for short periods and to act as a back up just in case.
Katadyn BeFree filled with water
Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre with cap unclipped
Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre with filter/cap unit unscrewed. This filtration unit is good for 1000 litres which for this unit means approximately 1650 refills. The filter unit/cap can be replaced at a cost of just under $30 AUD
Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre rolled up to save space and only 59 grams in weight
This combined water bottle and filtration unit is about as quick as it gets. If the water is dirty the speed of the water availability will be slower. Pre filter dirty water using a commercial available filter or a cloth buff
We Like
- This water container/treatment option is very lightweight and great for when there is abundant water along the length of the trail
- This is one of the easiest water treatment products around. Just fill the container, screw the cap on a drink
- Filters out the solids in the water – pre filter if possible (use a buff) to get a quick filter
- Relatively inexpensive when used long term. One litre only costs around two cents to treat
- Instant drinking quality water. No waiting
We Don't Like
- Not really effective if you don’t have regular water sources on the trail. You do have the option of carting dirty water and refilling the Katadyn BeFree as you go
- Doesn’t filter out viruses. You can always put a Katadyn purification table in the water if viruses are a concern
- Care is needed when handling the ‘soft bottle’ to minimise the change of damage
- A personal bug bear levelled at all water bottles. I don’t drink as much when using this or any other water bottle as I do when I’m using a hydration bladder
Buy One
You can purchase the Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre collapsible bottle online from Wild Earth or Amazon
Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our gear reviews
If you have used the Katadyn BeFree 0.6 Litre or if you have questions, we’d like to hear from you. Post your comment or question below
Best Uses
This is a great option for solo hikers when there is regular water on the trail, ideally in mild weather. I use a similar system to this as a means to filter water into my three litre bladder
Investment
$69.95 AUD
Other Versions
- Katadyn also produces a 1litre bottle which doesn’t appear to be available in Australia as yet
- A three litre version is due next year
Disclaimer
This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by the reviewer
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