RedDoug
Trail Wise!
Trail active, stand back.....
Posts: 634
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Post by RedDoug on Jan 27, 2019 20:29:16 GMT -8
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jan 27, 2019 20:47:41 GMT -8
I thought it was. I thought it was the most amazing filter ever spring of 2017. By my week-long trip in August the flow had dropped to the level of the Sawyer mini I couldn't stand. Nothing I could think of doing could get the amazing flow back, so I threw it away.
Been using the trusty big old Sawyer Squeeze ever since. Was just getting ready to post a thread asking about the Micro Squeeze.
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texasbb
Trail Wise!
Hates chicken
Posts: 1,221
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Post by texasbb on Jan 28, 2019 18:39:52 GMT -8
I too find the BeFree to be a disposable filter. But I seem to get two seasons out of one, and for $25 and muuuuuuuuch better flow than the alternatives during that time, I'm still Being Free.
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swmtnbackpacker
Trail Wise!
Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
Posts: 4,886
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Jan 28, 2019 19:16:24 GMT -8
The BeFree works well as it was great to quickly tank up at a water source. You just fill the soft pouch and screw on the cap (with a little care not to let any dirty around the cap) .. then drink, but heard dirtier water can clog them up fast. Maybe some sort of prefilter but can’t vouch for that.
One thing about the Sawyer Squeeze is the ability to backflush...
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Post by trinity on Jan 29, 2019 3:37:59 GMT -8
I love mine. I have read quite a few reports echoing toejam 's experience, but hasn't happened to mine yet. I have probably only used it for several week's worth of trips, almost all with very clear water sources. I like it enough that, like texasbb , I am likely to buy another when the flow rate slows, unless something better comes along.
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Jan 29, 2019 18:47:45 GMT -8
Reviews on the BeFree run very hot and cold -- some people say it doesn't clog for them any faster than any other filter and they can restore flow fully with the "swish" method that Katadyn recommends. Others say the flow rate diminished from the start then it clogged within a couple of days and couldn't be unclogged. Feels pretty even 50/50 from what I've read, that's too high a failure rate for me to gamble with.
The weight and initial flow rate are great -- I've been very tempted. But the inability to backflush is what really holds this filter back (Katadyn says it can rupture the membranes). When the pores get clogged I can't see how swishing water, no matter how vigorously, that's on the same side of the membrane as the clog is going to remove the clogs very well. What's needed is a push from the other side -- backflushing.
So I'm too nervous to trust this filter. If your filter clogs and you can't unclog it when you're on the trail, that's more than an annoyance. My 2¢.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2019 19:53:18 GMT -8
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BigLoad
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Pancakes!
Posts: 12,911
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Post by BigLoad on Jan 29, 2019 19:57:40 GMT -8
I've used five of those and currently own four of them. My favorite (MSR Autoflow) isn't on that list, but it's practically identical to the Platypus Gravity Works with some more useful adapters and an easier-to-clean bag.
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toejam
Trail Wise!
Hiking to raise awareness
Posts: 1,795
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Post by toejam on Jan 30, 2019 5:44:32 GMT -8
If your filter clogs and you can't unclog it when you're on the trail, that's more than an annoyance. To be clear, this didn't happen to me. My BeFree just slowed way down and required a lot more effort. For the first several months it flowed more than the big Sawyer squeeze with less effort. During the entire week-long trip before I threw it away it flowed about like the Sawyer Mini but required more effort. I found this unacceptable but still was able to filter water.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,666
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 30, 2019 12:43:09 GMT -8
I am enjoying hiking in New Zealand, where we have adopted the local standard, i.e., drinking straight from most streams, as well as the water in huts, which is largely collected from the roofs. So far, so good .
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schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452
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Post by schlanky on Sept 14, 2020 16:50:30 GMT -8
I recently bought a BeFree and some CNOC bags fitted for it. I'm doing my first trip with the BeFree in next week or two. This is my first time using any filter other than FirstNeed. I think I got logistics of using the BeFree all worked out, but thought I'd make a post in case I'm missing something obvious.
The directions talked about the filter membrane being delicate, so the plan while walking is to pack the filter in a cutoff water bottle. The container will be used for a scoop if needed.
At source, I'll fill CNOC bags without filter on. At camp, I'll put on filter and attach the hose etc and hang the dirty bladder and filter into clean bladders.
My biggest question is what do you do with these when you get back home? I read about gently swishing to clean (no back flush). The directions addressed long term storage, but if I'm going every couple of weeks for a few months, what do you do for short term storage? Do you just set it out on a plate to let it dry out from day or so before putting it away for the next trip?
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Post by dayhiker on Sept 14, 2020 19:53:38 GMT -8
I thought it was delicate the way you describe, and not sure you will be able to tell if you broke it. But rereading it I the warning about holding it while unscrew is not the damage under the cage, but from twist the filter in tow directions at once: www.katadyn.com/downloads/katadyn/manuals/filters/manual_befree_usa_en.pdfI tried it a few times (I have the very small one) easy to throw in. Good for a quick drink if needed. I just got the largest one for in camp as a gravity filter . If it slows down after not being used for a long while I would try soaking it before y9ur trip that is something Sawyer told me to do with their filter. I have their squeeze but like their water bottle filter , which I convert to a gravity filter in camp, just a bit more weight than be free. Not sure which I will continue to use. I don't know for sure, but if I don't go out for a couple of weeks I treat it as for long tern storage. (ie bleach)
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almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Sept 15, 2020 5:56:41 GMT -8
Nothing's free if you pay too much. I'll stick with the same old filters that work over the latest thing that sort of does once in a while.
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schlanky
Trail Wise!
Lead singer, driver of the Winnebago
Posts: 452
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Post by schlanky on Sept 15, 2020 15:56:32 GMT -8
Thanks dayhiker . I'll plan on soaking filter and doing integrity test the night before trips, then after trips will use Micropur/bleach before storing since I usually don't hike back to back weekends. I wanted something cheaper than my go-to FirstNeed to use on single nighters close to home where I know my water sources. I'll be using the BeFree exclusively as a gravity filter at camp---I didn't buy the small bottle. I love the FirstNeed despite its weight and bulk, and I have complete trust in it after some of the nasty sources I had to use over the years. But the price has gone through the roof on FirstNeed and it's likely overkill for most places I hike, so I wanted something cheaper to reduce use on my FirstNeed.
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biffnix
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I'm just some guy, you know?
Posts: 49
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Post by biffnix on Sept 26, 2020 7:32:03 GMT -8
I like the flow of the BeFree, but the darned 1L bag that came with it came unglued at the seam where the bag is bonded to the top plastic bit with the threads. As in, it literally came unglued during a trip! Luckily, I had purchased the CNOC BeFree bag, so I was still able to use it, and didn't have to bail out. I bought it from REI, so getting a replacement was trivial, but still, it could have ruined my trip. Since the BeFree doesn't thread into any standard water bottles, you probably should make sure you've got a replacement bag, just in case. CNOC makes them, so I'd highly recommend getting one before counting on the BeFree.
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