Squeeze a liter of creek water into a drink in about 20 seconds
Is this the right fit?
- Best for
- day hikes and travel where carrying 3 liters of water is worse than filtering as you go
- Skip if
- Soft flasks are more puncture-prone than hard bottles, so it wants to live inside the pack rather than clipped to the outside on brushy trails
- Check before ordering
- Confirm the dimensions, exact model, included parts and return terms on the Amazon listing before ordering.
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The Katadyn BeFree is a 1 liter collapsible soft flask with a filter built into the cap: you fill it from a stream, screw the cap on, and squeeze to drink filtered water straight from the bottle. Two-stage filtration removes sediment, fine particles, and microplastics, and a removable activated carbon stage reduces chlorine, odors, and bad taste. That carbon stage is modular on purpose, so you leave it in for tap or treated water and pull it out for faster flow from clear backcountry sources. Cleaning is shaking or swishing it in water, with no backflushing, tools, or disassembly. It collapses flat with a carabiner handle. Best fit: day hikes and travel where carrying 3 liters of water is worse than filtering as you go.
Pros
- Squeeze-to-drink means no pumping, no waiting, and no separate dirty and clean bottles
- Cleaning is a shake or swish in water, with no backflush syringe or disassembly
- Carbon stage is removable, so you trade taste filtering for flow rate depending on the source
- Collapses flat with a carabiner, so an empty bottle takes almost no pack space
Cons
- Soft flasks are more puncture-prone than hard bottles, so it wants to live inside the pack rather than clipped to the outside on brushy trails
Frequently asked questions
Does it remove viruses?
No. It filters protozoa, bacteria, sediment, and microplastics. Viruses require chemical treatment or UV, which matters in some international travel but not in North American backcountry.
How long does a filter last?
Katadyn rates the filter for roughly 1,000 liters, which is a full season of regular use for most hikers. Flow slowing down is the sign it is time to replace.
Can you use it with tap water?
Yes. Leave the activated carbon stage in for tap or treated water, since that is the stage that reduces chlorine taste and odor.
How do you clean it in the field?
Fill it partway and shake, or swish the filter in the water source. There is no backflushing, no syringe, and nothing to take apart.
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