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Opus Wannabe
Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 3700 | TRs | Pics Location: The big rock candy mountain |
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Opus
Wannabe
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Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:29 pm
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How do you carry your BeFree filter?
I picked one up Friday at the REI sale and used it over the past week for a 7 day backpacking trip (with Aqua Mira as a backup). I was really enjoying it for the first three days but that night it somehow got a pin-sized hole in it, near where the hard plastic meets soft material. It still worked but I had to keep my finger over the hole. Not sure how it happened, I am pretty careful with all my gear. It's going back to REI and I'm going back to my Sawyer for now.
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Canon Shooter Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 68 | TRs | Pics Location: Grays Harbor |
I use a Sawyer with a Smart Water bottle. The Sawyer bags are a waste of time. The Smart Water bottle fits in my pack side mesh pockets and I can drink right from the filter. Pretty simple.
I replace my Sawyer each year.
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texasbb Misplaced Texan
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics Location: Tri-Cities, WA |
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texasbb
Misplaced Texan
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Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:36 am
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Dump the original hard/soft bag and get a Hydrapak Seeker.
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bkellygr Member
Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 150 | TRs | Pics
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bkellygr
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Fri Sep 08, 2017 3:37 pm
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I liked your write-up. I ended up doing more research and then bought the BeFree. I used it on a six day trip. Vary convenient and fast. The large mouth was helpful a few times when we had bad water options. I would recommend it to others.
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BarbE Member
Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics
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BarbE
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Wed Sep 13, 2017 2:41 pm
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I've used the BeFree extensively for the last 5 month and much prefer it over any other filter I've ever owned.
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hikermike Member
Joined: 24 Jun 2003 Posts: 1238 | TRs | Pics Location: Tacoma |
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contour5 Member
Joined: 16 Jul 2003 Posts: 2962 | TRs | Pics
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contour5
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Sat Sep 16, 2017 2:45 pm
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Boiling is time consuming and uses a lot of fuel. You need to boil for several minutes to kill all the microorganisms, and that really uses a lot of fuel...
Also, I like my drinking water as cold as possible.
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schifferj Member
Joined: 07 Mar 2015 Posts: 224 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
I carry mine in a side pouch of my pack. I also got a small pin hole leak but patched it temporarily on the trail with a bit of duct tape. When I returned home I put a quarter sized piece of tenacious tape over the hole and no problems since. Isn't that why they make tenacious tape?
The BeFree is the only water filter I carry and use it in conjunction with a hydrapak 2 l seeker bottle. Fills all of my needs. My sawyer squeeze, which I liked a lot, probably will never see the light of day again.
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cartman Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics Location: Fremont |
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cartman
Member
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Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:37 am
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The only very minor problem I've had with the BeFree after two months of use is the flimsy plastic hinge on the cap cover broke, but I knew that was going to happen.
Turns out that the flip top screw caps on Smartwater and Propel water bottles are exactly compatible with the BeFree filter top, so for $1.40 I have a brand new cap.
No problem with the stock bag so far, and I often carry it filled loose in my pack. I have a Hydrapak Seeker I carry as a backup just in case.
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cartman Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics Location: Fremont |
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cartman
Member
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Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:19 am
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After several months of use with the BeFree filter, I have noticed that if the filter is stored dry--I always unscrew it when I get home from a trip and allow it to air dry to prevent mold growth--it does require several minutes to saturate when re-exposed to water. This does delay the ability to filter upon first use when I go on the next trip.
The solution is simple: rewet the filter before leaving home.
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texasbb Misplaced Texan
Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 1153 | TRs | Pics Location: Tri-Cities, WA |
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texasbb
Misplaced Texan
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Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:22 pm
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cartman wrote: | ...it does require several minutes to saturate when re-exposed to water. ...
The solution is simple: rewet the filter before leaving home. |
Yep, locks up tight every time. You can barely get a dribble to go through when it's dry. Don't panic, just soak it for a while. I've learned to screw it on a bottle/bag as I drive to the trailhead...problem solved.
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wildernessed viewbagger
Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 9275 | TRs | Pics Location: Wenatchee |
cartman wrote: | The solution is simple: rewet the filter before leaving home. |
I found that out early on and I do the same at one point this summer the filter was dry and nothing filtered so I let it float in some shallow water on the lake and it filtered normally. I was very hesitant to try and squeeze the soft reservoir any harder to make it flow.
Living in the Anthropocene
Living in the Anthropocene
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SwitchbackFisher Boot buster
Joined: 24 Feb 2018 Posts: 364 | TRs | Pics Location: Wa |
Ok I am sold on this to give a shot. I have always used iodine tabs when on the move if I need to refill because I am brave and made the chore of water boiling when I make camp. But this might be a game changer.
I may not be the smartest, I may not be the strongest, but I don't want to be. I only want to be the best I can be.
I may not be the smartest, I may not be the strongest, but I don't want to be. I only want to be the best I can be.
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Bernardo Member
Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 2174 | TRs | Pics Location: out and about in the world |
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Bernardo
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Sat Dec 21, 2019 5:44 pm
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Any new thoughts on filtration systems? I used the the Sawyer with Evernew bags this year. I'd like to try the BeFree system but I don't love the idea of having to use a custom bag especially since a few folks mentioned the bags can fail.
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HitTheTrail Member
Joined: 30 Oct 2007 Posts: 5452 | TRs | Pics Location: 509 |
I am a big fan of the BeFree filter due to design, ease of use and flow rate. I combine it with a Hydrapak Seeker (which has the advantage of making sizes big enough for camp water storage). BTW, anybody but me have the problem of white foam on top of the boiled water that has been in a Seeker?
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