Hey friends! I TOTALLY forgot to include an important factor of choosing a type of water treatment: quantity of water! Chemical purification, bottle or squeeze filters and UV purification only allow you to treat what you can fit in a bottle. Gravity filters are great when you need a large quantity of water (say, for a group) or when your water source isn’t close to camp. Pump filters kind of fit in between, allowing you to filter as much as you can carry! What’s most important to you when choosing a water filter?
Why didn't you review the Sawyer Squeeze? It looks like you had it right there? It's a lifetime filter and you can add it to a smartwater bottle and drink right from it or buy a Cnoc 2L bag for your "dirty" water and make a gravity filter for big batches of water. I don't like the bags it comes with but other than that, it's way better.
Bissilife and Odie I think it’s more of a comparison of methods, not brands. But I agree, sawyer should have been included. The be free only filters 1000 liters! ONLY 1000 LITERS. THATS 250 ish gallons. Sounds like a lot but it’s not. Sawyer for personal/solo hikes. MSR pump for families or scout troops etc (often have nalgene anyway, chemical or sawyer mini for ultralight.
I used pump filters for a long time but after finding gravity filters, I won't go back. And don't forget to always have a back up plan. Bring a light weight chem treatment if you can.
Another good point to include is how long you can use each water treatment method. I know some filters are good for hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, while the chemical treatments only work for however many tabs/drops you have. Would end up changing the price point the longer you use each method.
Definitely love the Sawyer. I love that it fits on most bottles so I've got a CNOC dirty bag and I carry a couple of smart water bottles and some sports caps to help with the backflushing. All very light, easy and durable.
WOW!! I've never seen so many water treatment things in one video! Including products that I've never seen/considered (probably because of cost)! And I enjoy Miranda's presentation of these things! Miranda keeps it simple and to the point while being very entertaining!
Miranda is the best thing ever to happen to the REI channel. Relevant to the topic, I just bought a BeFree and couldn't be happier it came out on top in this comparison!
@@rei Much better than the Lifestraw as you showed. I too, had to use too much effort to even use their gravity filters. Grabbed and MSR Trail base instead.
Ummm. Cost? Freeze dryers aren’t cheap and operating them is costly not only in the electricity bull but also in carbon footprint. This product should be reserved for emergency use only. I mean come on. Save the lightest water for its most essential users.
Used the platypus gravity system 3 weeks ago, did 6.5 liters in about 5 minutes. It is about 3 years old and have done maybe 60 liters through it. My son uses the sawyers and likes them, both beat a pump. Nothing worse than standing over a mud puddle trying to pump out water. through a filter. Love the quality of the video.
I agree Jenny. Grayl is the best purifier. Great to use for traveling to third world countries where everyone says “don’t drink the water!” Also, I recently discovered a non-toxic water purifier called Purinize! I haven’t used it yet but this sure beats all of the chemical options on the market. Purinize and Grayl will be my go-to options when SHTF! www.amazon.com/Purification-Solution-Effective-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B07QT9XVXX/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=purinize+water+purification+drops&qid=1601009187&sprefix=purinize&sr=8-4
This was actually really useful. I've seen the befree filters rated as a top choice with many backpackers, but to see it tested against other filters is much more effective! Thanks again Miranda!
I've got a 4L gravity filter (Platypus GravityWorks) and it's far faster than the gravity filter demoed in this video, but the key thing with gravity filters is that you have to do a minor backflush once you start filtering to purge the air, after which you can filter the rest of the water. This makes the filtering much *much* faster. Also do note that you've usually gotta protect filters from drops/freezing, since that can damage them. So if you plan to be in a very cold environment, you might want to bring chemical options instead, or make sure the filter stays warm. Gravity filters are great for filling up a couple hydration bladders, as well. Great video!
I guess we gave the Sawyer Squeeze the cold shoulder on this one. The BeFree starts off with incredible flow, but even with backflushing maintenance, most users report that flow decreases after 100-200 liters filtered and levels out somewhere around that of the Sawyer Squeeze. But both are much better with flow than the lifestraw. IMO, the Lifestraw is good for one thing: get one without a bottle to toss in your day pack. That way if you get stranded, or run into any other emergency, you have a super small filter and can drink directly from any stream or muddy puddle using the Lifestraw as it was originally intended, as a straw with a filter built into it.
See, I’d always use both filtration and purification. The very last thing one needs on the trail is to wrestle with the runs. I usually use some pump filter and a SteriPen and keep some form of chemical purification method as a backup. It’s something where redundancy is worth the weight to me.
Great video! I live in Australia and water is a massive issue here when hiking. A lot of multi-day campsites have water tanks because it's not guaranteed you will find a water source and it's not possible to carry enough water. Because of that I've only used chemical treatments so far. But I'm eyeing off some hikes where I know there are water sources so there are no tanks provided and it's been hard to figure out what to get. Another issue I face is that it can be hard to source the gear here. I was super impressed by the Katadyn BeFree (currently use their tablets as treatment) and it's making me reconsider the gravity filter options I've been looking at. I would have liked to see the Grayl in use as well. Thanks Miranda! (p.s. I just found you and I am now binge watching all of your episodes while I am unwell so thanks for making me feel better!)
For long-distance hikers, field serviceability becomes an issue as the non-chemical filters start to have their flow rate degraded. My personal experience is that the SteriPen is neat but you won’t find the batteries you need for it in some small town off the trail, if you accidentally drop it chances are a LOT greater that the device will be irreparably damaged, it has issues in cold temps under 40 F, and being electronic it can just stop working for no apparent reason. The Be Free is awesome until it’s not (flow rate impacted) and there’s no great way to clean it in the field. Once the flow rate is impacted the filter quickly becomes useless. I went on a 180 mile hike of the Superior Hiking Trail and had zero issues with the filter, but I chose water sources carefully (very clean sources). I went on another hiker where I had to filter from just one source that had some floating algae in it and the filter was dead for the rest of the trip. Also, if the Be Free bag ruptures you can’t just walk into a gas station and buy a water bottle to screw it on to. You didn’t mention the Sawyer filters, probably because they’re similar to the Be Free with a poorer flow rate. However, the Sawyer comes with a syringe to backflush it, making it totally field serviceable so that filter, the one you didn’t mention, is the winner for me (treatment time, ease of use, size/weight, cost, taste, and field serviceability). I see you did have the Sawyer on the table when you grabbed the Be Free. It is NOT just “more of the same.” And if your bottle breaks, just find a replacement at the nearest gas station.
If you are going to get a gravity filter, DO NOT get the MSR filter used in this video (MSR Trail Base). This summer I worked for the YMCA taking youth on one-week backpacking trips and I used this filter on one of the trips. On the trip I used this, we spent a week out on the Washington coast, where you cannot use chemical treatments because the bacteria and viruses there have become resistant to chemicals. To clean the Trail Base you have to fill the filter with water, vigorously shake it, and then squirt the water back out. The water at our first campsite was pretty dirty and it really mucked up the filter. The filter started to slow down and by our fourth day on the trail, the filter had stopped working altogether. Filters I do Like: Sawyer and Katadyn filters. I have used Sawyer filters before and they are a good value, super simple to clean, and very versatile. You can use them with the bag they come with or use them with a hose and a bag in a gravity filter system. Katadyn filters are awesome as well. I have the Katadyn Hiker Pro and I love it. It's not too bulky, filters rather quickly, and is rather easy to maintain and clean.
I have the Starépen and it's prefiter for Nalgene bottles, pretty stistied with it. For more levicces filtration, eying with the MSR Guardian. With the 0.02 micron filter and 10000 liter of lifespan, it's a no brainer.
Steri-peen by far is the easiest I've used in backpacking for over 6 years. Yes, you have to carry something to charge it with but I'm usually carrying something to charge my phone anyway. Mine has not failed but I have had a friend's fail so we always carry a filter for each person - important anyway in case someone gets lost/ separated. Pretty rare but just in case. I've had the other filters fail or get clogged. Love the Sawyer as an ultra-light option though too.
I met someone on the trail using the steri-peen? Hers was so light I couldn't believe it, an excellent choice for the minimalist. I'm just not real keen on drinking CLEAN dirt.
I keep a Millbank Bag wrapped around a LifeStraw in my rucksack - I haven't needed to backwash my LifeStraw once in two years of regular trekking through the Australian wilderness... The Millbank bag removes 99.99% of dirt particles that would clog up a filter, and the Millbank bag and LifeStraw combo costs less than $50 USD.
my prefer method is heat, i have tables too but that's only when i am in a rush, if i have time i will stop to heat up the water, that's why i love my jetboil
I use a hydration bladder with a built in water filter called the geigerrig. i think the company has been purchased by another water filter company called aquamira but its nice because you can litteraly just open the bladder and fill it with river water then pump it up and pour clean water out. super easy and only costs around $60 w/ the filter thats good for 1000 gallons
gravity filter (platypus) all day for me......big difference in filtering time if you lift clean bag over dirty once some has collected to purge air bubbles, takes a loooooong time if you skip that step
REI: One thing that didn’t come through clearly, is that even though you clearly said that one type filters out impurities and the other type sterilizes, is that filtered water does nothing to help microbiological contaminants. So it might be important to consider what the contaminant is that you’re concerned about in the environment in which you’re going to be. If there’s a chance that there’s something viral, then you’ll definitely want to be able to purify. Or you want to filter that filters to .02 µm at least. When it comes to filtered water, that can still be pretty contaminated,That water still needs to be boiled or otherwise treated. That whole pool water thing that you get when you drink chlorinated water, that’s preventable. You can either leave the water out uncovered for a while, and let the chlorine evaporate out of the water, or you can put it on the stove and accelerate the process. The beauty of chlorine is that you’re not obligated to drink it just because it’s in the water. Of course that means planning ahead a little bit if you really want it gone. Nice little video. You know, it’s also possible to make a natural one out of an empty container, such as an old pop bottle, and some sticks and a little biomass. But I’m sure you know about that. It just wouldn’t take up much space, since you could pretty much use what you find on hand. It’s a rare circumstance where a person doesn’t find discarded pop bottles around. Thank you for the nice video.
She said “Poop”! I used steripen for a month in Honduras, never got sick. I have also used chemical with a cheapo Brita squeeze bottl to fix the taste. ALWAYS prefilter even if you have to run it through your hat or shirt. It makes the filtration faster and extends filter life.
One step I think Miranda forgot to do when setting up the MSR gravity system was priming the bulb. Filtering goes much faster once this is done. I really like my MSR trail shot base camp. When I am hiking with multiple people I will bring the dirty bag and the filter (I'm not a fan of the clean water receptacle. It's all sorts of awful. Why MSR? Why?) and my friends and I fill up what ever bladder or water bottle we have. It fills my 1L Nalgene in about 2-3 min. When I am hiking solo (or with people who have their own filter systems) I just bring the filter bulb with attached prefilter, dip the prefilter in the water source, prime the bulb, plug the tip of the filter bulb into my osprey bladder and pump away. It's relatively compact, light, and I like that I don't have to remove my bladder from my pack to fill it.
Wow. I'm not sure whats going on with the gravity filter but I've used those a lot and even when dirty we don't get 7 minutes. We get all 3 liters in less than that. Gravity filters can sometimes get air bubbles that block the line so you need to make sure those are handled or you can encounter this situation. That being said I think the gravity comparison needs to be re-tested in order to get a more accurate result.
The collapsible bottle that you use with the befree always gets holes! Ive seen it multiple times personally and it even happened in one of her videos on the channel
I’m in a complicated relationship with my Sawyer gravity filter (which is a nice budget option). I like to filter upwards of 3 quarts of water when I get to camp so it’s great for large quantities. However I’m not a fan of the constant back-flushing that’s required as it’s not conducive to stopping and picking up water on the go.
Nice thorough review, has the MSR guardian been improved since over the past couple years a lot of negative blogs on weak parts and leaks, how long have you had yours in operation and have you suffered any of the previous conditions? That was one of my major turn off’s and gone with the katadyn pocket filter, and if I suspected virus could be present treat with a secondary treatment
Odd. I have the MSR Trail Base gravity filter did not get that length of time to make 1L of water. I have the 4L bags variant and when set up, it was done at around 4 minutes (with a full dirty bag). I tried another gravity filter at the time (Lifestraw which you had a tough time even in its bottle version) since it took too much effort to filter. Reason I liked the MSR was because it was modular compared to other (which are ONLY gravity filters). I could take the filter out, go on a trail, then refill my hydration bladder if I didn't need the gravity filters. Only downside is that if you do take the portable filter with you, it can take some time and effort to fill since it's a small hand pump. Edit: Formatting and such.
I have a question, can you first put chemical purification in the water, and then filter it, with the bottle filters? Does this method have any benefits? or improvement in the taste of the water?, and miranda thanks
One item not covered is if I filter the water only using all of the filters except the Guardian, I am not protected against viruses. Does that matter? It would seem that I need to filter to remove everything but the viruses and then chemically treat after the filtration. What is the risk and potential consequences of viruses?
Great review! I have 2x MSR mini water worx and love them. I’ve used them around the world and always been safe. I’ve recently also started using them when I travel to other cities just because it improves the taste of the water and then I don’t need to buy bottled water.
you left out the most important ones. berkey go, lifestraw, sawyers, either way retry this and use what most peeps use :P also smart people have P&G with them like what Mark Rober showed. on a side note slow is mostlikely cleaner from bad stuff ;)
🤗♥️ I love the Katadyn Pocket, if you search on EBay sometimes you can get a awesome deal on one, bad thing is they are very pricey but parts are easy to find tho!! 😎 💦
I ended up buying the Sawyer filters so I wish those were reviewed! I did see them on your table with the BeFree one :) I have a video request: we want to take our kids backpacking and I want to make sure 1) we dont overload them, and 2) we have the right footwear for them. Is this something you can make a video about, or if you have can you point me to it? Should also mention we are newbies ourselves too! Thank you so much Miranda and REI!
I've gone out hiking with the Sawyer and I like it a lot. I use it like a mini squeeze pump: When I'm at a water source, I fill up a dirty water bag, squeeze water into "clean" bottles so i can just carry clean and drink ready water on me and refill when I get to water sources. I paired it with some bags from Cnoc. Hope you have a good time on the trail!
Hey there! I would recommend doing some car camping with a one or two day overnight close to your base camp. That way you can work out the kinks and find out any limitations you might run into. Have fun, Peace!
Shocked the sawyer squeeze was not featured. Just hiked about 500 miles of the Appalachian trail. Over 90% of the people I came across were using the sawyer squeeze. These are fancy filters, but not the main ones being used.
Microbiologist here. One thing to note is that chemical treatments don't sterilize the water, at least not with anything you'd take backpacking. They don't tend to be as effective at protozoan parasites like cryptosporidium and giardia, which are major issues in many areas.
00:28 - You had a Sawyer Squeeze (most often chosen by PCT / CDT / AT thru-hikers) on your test bench, but didn't test it. Otherwise, a very good, well-produced, and informative video; well done, Miranda (and REI).
Yeah, this is baffling they didn't test it since between long distance hikers, the BeFree and the Squeeze/Mini/Micro are the most popular water filters. For anyone coming to this a year later curious about the Squeeze, the Squeeze is typically the gold standard for reliability on hikes, but the BeFree does filter faster even if it clogs easier. The Squeeze can be backflushed to restore flow rate, the BeFree's "shake to clean" system doesn't work quite as well. Which is why it's strange they didn't talk about the Squeeze. Yeah it's not flashy, it's boring, but it's so consistent that it makes it so so popular year after year.
Sawyer squeeze all the way. I can use in on a bottle, in a gravity feed system and it can filter a lifetime's worth of water. You can service it in the field too, just don't let it freeze. I don't recommend the mini or micro, go for the full on squeeze. I use a cnoc 2l dirty bag for the gravity system! Sad you didn't test it.
One issue with pump filters: Most of them use a ceramic filter element. This is fragile. If you drop the filter, or if the filter freezes when wet, you will need to test it before you use it again (filter water with food coloring to test). The ceramic filter elements can be replaced if they crack, but that's expensive. Also, ceramic is less effective than the more modern micropore filters like the BeFree and the Squeeze. The pores in the ceramic are larger.
Katadyn only produces the filter part of their filters. The "bottle" is made by Hydrapak which makes it really easy to find bigger storage tubes like their Seeker or Expedition series, varying from 2 to 8 litres. They allow for the use as a gravity filter aswell.
@Conrad Lox How can you turn the BeFree into a gravity system? I’ve always used a Hydrapak but I’m going backpacking with a group of newbies and I’d like to be able to filter all their water without buying a new system
hi there! once the gravity filter starts to flow you have to lift the clean water bag up to purge the air out and then it flows super fast! (1.5L per minute)
Or you could start nearly devoided of air and once theres enough filtered water weighing the bag it will create suction from the top of the system. But then again the dirty bag will need a valve if some type
That MSR system actually gets primed by squeezing the housing around the filter. It also detaches so you can take it as a separate filter on the trail. Usually takes about a minute per liter depending on how mucky your water source is of course.
Umm, I saw the sawyer squeeze, why didn't you cover it? My fav, you can attach it to a plethora of bottles, or, attach inline on a bag hose, or in a gravity feed system. I just have a dirty bag and a bottle and gravity feed into the bottle, don't need the second bag but it is handy to have a clean bag too, depending on how much water you need...
K P you can’t use the beefree as a gravity feed or a straw but you can with the Sawyer. Just buy a bladder and hook the hose to the Sawyer and away you go. Much more versatile!
As a water treatment engineer, water purification alone will not make water 100% safe to drink, protazoa like cryptosporidium are usually unaffected by chemical disinfectants at drinkable doses. The UV light will also be effected by water with a high turbidity due to particles shielding the bacteria from the radiation. I would definitely not recommend going into the backcountry using one of these methods alone without a large amount of toilet roll on hand.
She was demonstrating types of filters, not reviewing specific brands. Sawyer is the first brand most people think of-I see no problem giving some love to other brands out there. Since you are familiar with the Sawyer, her basic demonstration of it would be superfluous to you anyway.
@@LWilli5 I'd agree except she basically tested 2/3. Didn't like squeezing the first, loved the BeFree then seems to have forgotten the Sawyer she had there 🤷♀️
@Lisa Williams - a review of the Sawyer would not superfluous as they could have mentioned the syringe that comes with it for backflushing. I’ve had a Be Free lock up on me in the field and, let me tell you, “swishing it around in clean water” doesn’t really do the trick. The Sawyer has the advantage of really being field serviceable with that syringe. You can’t backflush the Be Free - you would disrupt the filter’s integrity.
Love these videos! There’s an error in this video - the liquid aquamira is chlorine dioxide just like the tablets and as such also takes four hours to kill crypto (not fifteen minutes as started in the video). Similarly, the tablets will kill viruses/bacteria in 15 minutes. Why the discrepancy? Because of government regulations. The tablets are EPA registered, and the EPA decided that having two treatment times was too complicated for the average consumer. The liquid aquamira is not epa registered for water purification (the epa decided there’s too much variability involved with mixing and waiting as well as measuring dosages) which is why the packing makes no mention of water treatment. The packaging only mentions that the product “improves water taste”. But if you’re worried about crypto then you do need to wait the four hours with the liquid aquamira (or additionally use a filter)
I love my BeFree filter! I got the 3L too which has a handle. For those asking, sawyers do work in a similar way, but if you get the micro expect to do a lot of backflushing.
"Still drinking dirt. Drinking CLEAN dirt!" Hahahahahaha Yes! OMG!! Your taste test notes are hilarious. I've always been a fan of the Sawyer Squeeze, but now I want to check out the BeFree water filter. Holy great flow Batman!
I just returned from a week and a half in the Idaho mountains and used the life straw and Sawyer. Sawyer was used primarily in a gravity feed and if you squeeze the dirty bag, we were getting 4 liters in less than two minutes. With the life straw I found the flow increased if you filed the bag entirely with water so there was no air pocket, this seemed to create a vacuum and increased water flow. I did have to back flush the filter 3-4 times and that also increases water flow through the straw. Both of these have my vote for lightweight, inexpensive and effective filtration devices.
I know that the second water bottle filter had a faster flow than the first one but how good is it at filtering out particles? I feel if it was allowing a lot of water to pass through it that quickly, it probably wasn’t filtering the best. I would like to see a follow up video where you test the effectiveness of the filtration systems.
Perhaps it isn't THAT fast - one wonders after dropping it 3 feet to smack on a hard floor if it might have fractured the filter, allowing it to pass water super fast!!!
If you look in other videos, you can see that the Katadyn BeFree (the filter in question) really is that fast which is why it is such a popular choice for backpackers.
I've used iodine - never again - chlorine - not that bad actually, boiling - it's a pain. My go to was MSR pump filter then a touch of chlorine depending on the water source. Now I use my Grayl (I LOVE MY GRAYL!) and an MSR guardian if I need large quantity or the water source is so bad that a double filter is in order.
That BeFree flow is fantastic! But I'm wondering if it is as versatile as the Sawyer. I have my sawyer connected to a cnoc vecto bag for dirty water and use it as a gravity filter. I think the BeFree connects to the cnoc as well. A side by side between BeFree and Sawyer would be amazing.
It looks like cnoc sells their vecto bag WITH a BeFree filter, so I'd say it fits! I used my BeFree filter on a trip where my brother used a sawyer mini; his required more backflushing, but he also has the mini which is known for that. I can't really speak for speed, his is inline in a gravity system.
The only thing "amazing" about the Befree is how quickly it clogs & is almost impossible to use. However, this is something you'll have to find out for yourself. Numerous reviews on the internet will tell you the same thing, the water flow is fast when new then quickly becomes almost impossible to use.
@tyvek05 Numerous others all over the internet have commented/review the BeFree as clogging & near impossible to use after filtering just a few liters of water; they are all over the internet; the overwhelming consensus is UNFAVORABLE.
@@rhyoliterick I've only used my Grayl a few times, the water source was clear, however, I've made a mental note to filter dirty water through a sock/headgear, something/anything to try to remove contaminants B4 pushing water through the Grayl filter. Yes, I have a spare Grayl filter, however, it's kept at home for me to replace when the original becomes clogged.
Actually, it's not chlorine treatment, it's chlorine dioxide treatment thus the reason for the two parts. Chlorine Dioxide is much more effective than chlorine.
Most reviewers of the Befree tell us the Befree quickly clogs up after as few as 5-6 liters & becomes almost impossible to use. However, I'm absolutely certain you will find this out for yourself, shortly.
@AZ Claimjumper I got 60+ liters out of my Be Free on the Superior Hiking Trail. But you’re right... when it starts to have its flow rate impacted, it quickly goes to useless and there’s not a good way to maintain the filter on the trail. The Sawyer comes with the syringe, making it field serviceable. You can’t use that syringe on the Be Free - you’d break its integrity.
I have used the Sawyer Filter for years now, really light weight, easy to use, quick, back flushable, very reasonably priced, and compact, can carry in a fanny pack with room to spare. And the water taste great. What do you think?
Sawyer squeeze filter is good, easy, fast and inexpensive, but in doubt, better to use a chemical treatment too, the best is use and combine both, to be sure
I live in Canada so no REI stores, but watching informative videos such as this one with Miranda are a highlight of my RU-vid subscriptions. I rang the bell too. I wish that Mountain Equipment Co-Op here in Canada had an online presence like this that entertained and informed as well as REI and Miranda do.
As the people at REI certainly know "Vancouver, BC - September 14, 2020 - MEC’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) announced its unanimous support for an agreement with Kingswood Capital Management, LP (“Kingswood”), whereby Kingswood will acquire substantially all of MEC’s assets through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”) and ensure a thriving future for the Canadian retailer."
I've used pump style filters for years, now have the Guardian. Yeah it's heavy, omg it was expensive but is the fastest way to produce great water with almost no maintenance.
I just got back from a 3 day backpacking trip and the squeeze didn’t let me down. Def gonna check out the be free tho. The flow may be my deciding factor. carving wooden utensils makes me parched. @miranda 😉
@@razmiddle9410 you shouldn't use any of these methods with dirty water. Filtration is intended to remove dangers smaller than the eye can see. For any of these, if your water is filled with dirt, silt, or other debris, you should prefilter or find a different source. Often if my water is bad while canoeing, I'll paddle to the middle of the lake, for example. Otherwise, I've seen people use pantyhose or other fine mesh types. Definitely do something, though. Because it will save your time and equipment in the long run.
