Grant Researched 11 Water Filters So You Don't Have To
11 filters evaluated over three months. Linda picked the winner after a 5-minute YouTube video. Grant agrees with her choice.
The 11-Filter Evaluation
Grant evaluated: Katadyn BeFree, Sawyer Squeeze, Sawyer Mini, MSR TrailShot, LifeStraw Peak Series, Platypus GravityWorks, MSR Guardian, SteriPen, iodine tablets, Aquamira drops, and boiling. His evaluation criteria: weight, flow rate, filter life, field ease of use, and viral protection (the last only relevant for international travel). He ranked them by category and created a weighted composite score.
The Research Conclusion
The Katadyn BeFree scored highest on Grant's composite for backpacking in US freshwater sources — best combination of weight (2.3 oz), flow rate (2L/minute), and field simplicity. The MSR Guardian scored highest on reliability and viral protection — relevant for international travel or high-risk water sources. Both are correct for their use case. Grant was going to the Olympic Peninsula.
What Linda Did
Linda asked Grant which filter was easiest to use in the field. Grant said the BeFree — fill the flask, squeeze, drink. Linda watched a 4-minute YouTube video of someone using the BeFree. She said to get that one. Grant's composite score had reached the same conclusion via 40 hours of research. This comparison is noted without judgment on either methodology.
Field Performance
The BeFree filtered drinking water for two adults over two days from three water sources. Flow rate was fast enough that neither Grant nor Linda waited more than 30 seconds at a water source. Linda used it correctly without instruction at all three sources. Grant considers this the most important performance data: a filter that Linda uses without help is a filter that will not become a problem in the field.