Seeking thoughts on Katadyn’s BeFree

[Russ W]

Versa Flow dry weight = 55 grams

[Rusty Beaver]

Thanks for the additional posts, everyone. I don’t mind at all the discussion on different models and methods.

That said, I’m getting more and more curious about the Versa Flow. For scale…does anyone have a photo of it next to the Sawyer Mini, by chance? I’m also curious about its weight vs the Mini.

[Russ W]

Rusty – I have an old unused Mini that weighs 39 grams… visually it looks about 60% the size of the Versa. Versa has threads on both ends and I believe a much better flow rate. Hope this helps.

[Judy R]

I’ve used the Sawyer squeeze and Platypus for several years. I switched to BeFree a couple of years ago but always carry a Sawyer mini too. I have also always carried purification tablets that I get at REI. I only had to use them once on a trip 6 years ago when I just had the Sawyer with me and it failed…the tablets took up time but saved the day. Just call me the old fashioned old lady.

[Murali C]

I had used the Steripen Ultra for 6 years with no issues at all. Then one day before a trip, the light failed to turn on. I went to a physical store to buy one – the Ultra in the store didn’t work – I made sure to test as I was flying out the next day. So, got a different model of Steripen. Katadyn customer service was awesome. They replaced the Ultra for free. Unfortunately, the replacement Ultra failed on day 2 of a trip. So, now debating if I should still try a Ultra. Katadyn customer support was saying that it should be used frequently rather than just storing it without using it between trips. I may get a new Ultra and keep testing it every month before taking it on a trip and maybe take a backup as well like the Versa.

[Bob Shuff]

I’ve had multiple Steripen fails. They were very quick to offer me a replacement, that maybe think they have such issues commonly. I paid a little to upgrade to the rechargeable version and we took it on a scout trek in the Eastern Sierra.  Failed on the 2nd day and would not recharge. We had other filters in the group so it was just useless weight and volume in the pack.  Came back to life  recharging at home a week later, but I’m just not confident with it.

I think for those who don’t consider a filter alone adequate, this is a good second stage treatment, and may serve as primary in a pinch. I will always still carry some chlorine tablets just in case.

[Paul McLaughlin]

I just got a BeFree gravity setup and used it on an 18 day trip, with no issues. Mostly fairly clear water but also a couple frog ponds. The slowest it ever got was still faster than my old Sawyer ever got, and I much prefer the swish in the creek cleaning to the syringe backflush operation. I might end up getting a CNOC bag instead of the bag it came with, just because of the easier filling with the big opening on the back end of the CNOC bag.

[Brad W]

Well I decided to test my 3 year old never frozen, dropped, damaged BeFree after a trip  and to my surprise, it did not pass the integrity test. I could blow air through the wetted filter-not easily, but air passed. I was shocked and bummed. Was it just age, heat cycles, who knows?  It had about 200L max through it.

 

[JCH]

Versa Flow dry weight = 55 grams

That compares quite favorably with the Sawyer Mini at 58g, and significantly better than the Squeeze at 85g

[bradmacmt]

This is a great conversation, and just the sort of content I come here for. I don’t treat water here in Montana. Ever. But, when I retire I’ll be doing a lot of backpacking in other places where I know, at times, I’ll want to filter. I’ve been kicking around what “system” I’d like to work with and this is definitely pushing me in the direction of the Versa Flow.

[Brad W]

I don’t trust the rating or lab testing on the Versa Blue. The ‘analysis report’ looks very janky. Not putting my trust in their claims.

[JCH]

@Brad W – Just wondering…what is it exactly that you do not trust?  Both the Versa Flow and Sawyer Squeeze are 0.1 micron filters and both are EPA and NSF certified.  On the surface they would appear to provide identical service.

Do you have data that makes you think otherwise?  Please share.

[bradmacmt]

Do you have data that makes you think otherwise? Please share.

This. I’m not seeing the problem…

[Brad W]

@JCH Their industry leading 8 log protozoa removal claim is what made me initially suspicious. Most of the trusted filters in this category have less reduction in protozoa than they do for bacteria. The Hydro Flow shows equal reduction for both.  Conversing with them about this claim and reading their test results that led them to this claim, it all seemed off. I won’t repost it as I don’t need any hassle from them, but one can request the report from them. I saw no NSF report or certification for the Hydro Flow filter.  Feel free to use whatever you like, but the low cost, suspicious claims and report are enough for me personally to not gamble with this filter.

 

*I previously called the filter Versa Blue. Versa Flow of course is the correct name.

[JCH]

@ Brad W – Fair enough.

I’ve seen numbers for the Versa in sales literature varying from three 9s all the way to six 9s, which does open the door to questions, but tend to attribute that to lax copy editing and/or the often fast and loose nature of marketing.  Sawyer claims “0.1 micron absolute”.  The Versa also claims 0.1 micron while the term “absolute” is not used, for whatever that may be worth.  I will note that the Platypus Gravity Works filter is listed as 0.2 micron and enjoys a good reputation.

Given EPA certification, the wealth of positive real world use reports on this site, and (to my knowledge) the lack of reports from anyone claiming they got sick after using the filter, I personally don’t consider it a gamble, but certainly respect your right to consider it one.  HYOH.

[Jerry Adams]

Brad, you’re saying they post the data but don’t say it was from NSF test?

I agree it’s questionable if they don’t say who did the test.  Bur, maybe they just didn’t say, but it’s actually a valud test

Jch, I don’t think you get much information from not reading about people getting sick with versa flow.  Sickness is rare with any or no treatment. You need a lot of data to get significant results. About half the time I don’t treat water and have never gotten sick.

Maybe fewer people use versa flow which would affect the results.

[Brad W]

@Jerry, yes. Not NSF tested. They do list the lab on the one page report, it’s in Fujian China.

[Dan]

I’ve done research projects with several filtration membrane manufacturers. It’s not like the consumer water filter companies are making their own hollow fiber membranes , just putting them into consumer packages. So there can be differences in usability but I really doubt there would be a significant difference in fundamental retention. The manufacturers do very thorough testing of the membranes, pharma companies are some the main customers and FDA approval relies on filter performance. The consumer water filter market is negligible

[Jerry Adams]

Do they test the actual filters, like the squeeze filter?

How?  Do they use actual bacteria, giardia, etc, or do they use particles of a particular size?

[Dan]

I am more familiar with testing of industrial filter products, not consumer products, but the membranes that are used internally are certainly made by the same manufacturers. The retention of actual pathogens is measured. For virus retention, the feed and output of the filter is measured using plaque forming units (PFU), which is a direct measure of infectious virus particles.

[JCH]

It’s not like the consumer water filter companies are making their own hollow fiber membranes , just putting them into consumer packages

This is what I assumed, but never found validated proof.  The filter element itself must be a highly technical, if not difficult, thing to produce and there must certainly be patents involved.  Seems very unlikely that a small Utah company (as they represent themselves) like HydroBlu could manufacture the internals of the filter.

Of course, a flawed packaging of the filter element that allowed unfiltered water to pass through would be a big problem.

[Jerry Adams]

Interesting Dan

I can see how testing actual microbes would be more accurate than just using particles of a particular size

[Brad W]

The Versa Flow was tested using GB 4789.3-2010 which appears to me a Chinese testing method that is obsolete.

 

Again I am not pushing any particular filter, I have no agenda. I have many filters from all different brands. I currently find this topic interesting. but This video is an interview with Sawyers president. It comes off a bit infomercially and Dan Becker is well, Dan, take him with a grain of salt,  but the stats and history intrigued me.

[Paul McLaughlin]

On of the things I like about the Befree is that Katadyn has been in the filtration business a long time – like 80 or 90 years I think.

[JCH]

Thanks for posting that Brad.  The history of Sawyer was very interesting…years of not being profitable, and then world events provide an opportunity!  And appreciate the term “absolute 0.1 micron” being explained.  Good stuff.

Still not sure that given where I hike, and the water sources I filter, that I would be safer using a Sawyer filter over another brand. Certainly there are other places/countries/water sources where it might.

And as long as we are being skeptical :) I also wonder how much of the statement that “we have exclusive rights to the technology (of the filter elements used in Sawyer filters)” is true and how much is marketing.

[Author]

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