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Katadyn BeFree water filter

Katadyn BeFree water filter


Postby KC Pendragon » Tue Aug 09, 2022 2:54 pm

Does anyone use this? Looking for something reliable, lightweight and simple to use. Thanks
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby WalkWithWallace » Tue Aug 09, 2022 3:07 pm

Yeah, had mine well over a year now and the bottle has gone a bit discoloured but still going well flow wise. 8)
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby KC Pendragon » Tue Aug 09, 2022 3:41 pm

WalkWithWallace wrote:Yeah, had mine well over a year now and the bottle has gone a bit discoloured but still going well flow wise. 8)

Thanks Robin! Does it give the water a taste?
Also have to replace my sleeping mat, any recommendations for lightweight mats (for short trips mainly but also thinking ahead to Cape Wrath trail). Thanks so much :thumbup:
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby AllyRdr » Tue Aug 09, 2022 3:51 pm

I've never noticed any additional taste using mine, beyond that of any "local flavour" from the water itself.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby WalkWithWallace » Wed Aug 10, 2022 7:47 am

KC Pendragon wrote:Thanks Robin! Does it give the water a taste?
Also have to replace my sleeping mat, any recommendations for lightweight mats


No not really to be honest, tastes fine.

I like my Exped Synmat HL M mat for 3 season stuff. I prefer when the baffles run from head to toe rather than across the mat, more support for my dodgy back. 8)
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby DavidShepherd » Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:18 pm

KC Pendragon wrote:
WalkWithWallace wrote:Yeah, had mine well over a year now and the bottle has gone a bit discoloured but still going well flow wise. 8)

Thanks Robin! Does it give the water a taste?
Also have to replace my sleeping mat, any recommendations for lightweight mats (for short trips mainly but also thinking ahead to Cape Wrath trail). Thanks so much :thumbup:


I use a sea to summit etherlight xt insulated matt pretty much year round: https://www.seatosummit.co.uk/products/sleep/sleeping-mats/ether-light-xt-insulated-mat/
Yeah, wee bit pricey but it is an investment and I am a side sleeper so its great for that also. And that 425g weight for the regular is fantastic.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby cruachan06 » Wed Aug 10, 2022 3:17 pm

I've got a Berghaus Peak Pro mat, only used it in summer so far so can't talk about insulation but it's certainly light and comfortable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DLW8Z5L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Can't comment on the water filter, I've got a Sawyer Mini and also just bought a Forest Fundamentals millbank bag, going to try using it for water collection as it's a lot cheaper than a bladder and use a cut off drinks bottle to funnel it in to the Sawyer.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby LobeyD » Wed Aug 10, 2022 9:33 pm

An excellent bit of kit. Difficult to tell how well it filters as I've never been sick before or after using it.

There is definitely a taste to it, slightly chemically but it is barely noticeable and much less than most UK tap water (although in Glasgow we're a bit spoiled with good Trossachs water :D). The only time it was very noticeable was when I accidently made coffee with water I'd decanted via the BeFree and it had a very noticeable impact on the taste.

Seems pretty robust, although I have heard you need to be careful with the cap hinge.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby Chris from Bingley » Thu Aug 11, 2022 7:51 pm

Love the filter - easy to use, good flow - but I’ve had x2 and both have pretty strong plastic taste - not sure if it really varies between the filters or it’s just that some of us notice it more! Taste hasn’t decreased despite lots of litres filtered.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby WalkWithWallace » Thu Aug 11, 2022 8:09 pm

Try a Milton tablet to refresh the bottle a bit. Will help clean the filter too, as I've heard some people soak them in diluted bleach to prolong the life of the filter.
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Re: Katadyn BeFree water filter

Postby steveo73 » Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:35 am

I steep my filter now and again in distilled white vinegar in a wine glass for 30mins. You can notice the difference after it does the job nicely.
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