Katadyn BeFree User Manual Download Page 1

Please take a moment to register your new Katadyn product by completing the 

short product registration form online at www.katadyn.com. The information you 

provide will enable us to better serve you with products developed to meet your 

needs and interests. 

Please register your Katadyn product online at www.katadyn.com (

under 

service section

) and you will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a 

free Katadyn Group product. We will keep you informed of new products from 

Katadyn, Optimus and our dehydrated food brands (see our website for more 

details).

E) How to get service

To receive coverage under this warranty, please return your Katadyn BeFree™ 

to the retailer where you purchased the product for repair, replacement or 

refund. If you are not completely satisfied with the service you receive from 

your retailer, or if you have any questions regarding this warranty, please 

contact Katadyn Customer Service by telephone, email or in writing at:

Katadyn North America, Inc. 

Customer Service

4830 Azelia Ave North

Minneapolis, MN 55429 | USA 

Tel 800-755-6701

[email protected]

F) How state law applies

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may also have other rights 

which vary from state to state.  

2 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY on Katadyn BeFree™

A) What is covered

Your Katadyn BeFree™ is warranted to be free from defects in materials and 

workmanship.

B) How long warranty coverage lasts

This warranty lasts two years from the date of purchase of your Katadyn 

BeFree™.

C) What Katadyn will do

In the event of a defect in material or workmanship within the two-year 

warranty period, Katadyn will either repair, replace or refund the purchase 

price of your Katadyn BeFree™, at Katadyn’s sole discretion.

D) What is not covered

This warranty does not cover any damage caused by product misuse, abuse 

or failure to follow instructions provided herein for proper use, maintenance, 

cleaning or storage. This warranty also does not cover, and expressly 

excludes coverage for, any incidental or consequential damages arising out 

of the purchase, use or performance of the product.  Some state laws do not 

allow exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the 

above exclusion or limitation may not apply to you. 

Disinfect your Katadyn BeFree™ before storage to prevent microbiological

 

growth within the EZ-Clean Membrane™. 

A) Fill a container with filtered or treated water and add 1 Micropur Tablet.

 

(If not available, use 4 drops of ordinary household bleach.) 

B) Pour the solution into the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

. Close the system 

by screwing the cap (with EZ-Clean Membrane™) clockwise.

C) Squeeze the entire amount of water through the EZ Clean Membrane™.

D) Allow the components to air dry completely before reassembling the 

system. 

Note: When removing the Katadyn BeFree™ from long-term storage, flush the 

system with 2 liters of filtered or treated water to remove any stale tasting water.

The life span of the EZ-Clean Membrane™ depends on water quality. T

extend life of your EZ-Clean Membrane™, clean it regularly. For optimum filter 

perfor

mance replace the EZ-Clean Membrane™ after 1000 liters or 264 gallons 

or if water flow has slowed or stopped (review Perfor

mance Tips to ensure best 

product perfor

mance).

Replacement EZ-Clean Membrane™ Installation

Katadyn BeFree™ Replacement EZ-Clean Membranes™ are available from the 

dealer where you purchased your Katadyn BeFree™.

To replace your EZ-Clean Membrane™ twist cap in a counter-clockwise motion 

and remove the EZ-Clean Membrane™ from the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 SoftFlask™.

 Ins

tal

new EZ-Clean Membrane™ by screwing it into the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 SoftFlask™ i

n a

 

clockwise motion.

FILTER CAR

TRIDGE CAPACITY & REPLACEMENT

LONG TERM STORAGE 

(

AFTER

 

YOUR

 

TRIP

 

IS

 

OVER

)

If Shake or Swish fail to restore water flow, replace EZ-Clean Membrane™.

-> On extended trips, bring along an EZ-Clean Membrane™ Replacement.

D) Trapped air in the EZ-Clean Membrane™ may also reduce flow rates.

Fill the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

 with a small amount of fresh water, close 

the system and the cap of the drink nozzle, shake the system, open the cap 

again and squeeze the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

 until the air goes through the 

EZ-Clean Membrane™.

PERFORMANCE TIPS

 (

CONTINUED

)

PERFORMANCE TIPS

 (

CONTINUED

)

C) If water flow is slow, or the H

ydr

apa

k

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

 becomes harder to

squeeze, use ONE of the EZ Clean steps (Shake, Swish) printed on the outside 

of t

he Hydrapak

®

 SoftFlask™:

Shake

Fill the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

 with fresh water & shake to easily clean the EZ-

Clean Membrane™ in the field

-OR-

Swish

Remove the filter and swish in any fresh water source to clean in the field (Note: 

DO NOT allow the drink nozzle and top of the filter to contact contaminated 

water sources).

Shake

Swish

IMPORTANT

: Do not rinse the EZ-Clean Membrane™ horizontally under 

running water. (See W

ARNING section)

PERFORMANCE TIPS

To extend the life of your EZ-Clean Membrane™, always use the best available 

fresh water source.  Avoid still water or water in areas of heavy human or 

animal use.

Maintain your Katadyn BeFree™ to keep it operating properly. 

A) If the Katadyn BeFree™ leaks near the cap

Unscrew the filter and screw it back on. Make sure that you position the filter 

straight on the thread of the Hyd

rap

ak

®

 So

ftF

las

k™

 and tighten it firmly

.

B) If the Katadyn BeFree™ is dropped hard, check the hollow fibers visually and 

perfor

m the filter integrity test to make sure the fibers are ok. 

IMPORTANT

: Do not touch the hollow fibers with a tool or with your 

fingers. (See WARNING section)

Filter Integrity Test

If you suspect that your Katadyn BeFree™ may have been damaged in 

some way, you can per

form this quick and easy integrity test in the field.

1. Squeeze fresh water through the Katadyn BeFree™

IMPORTANT

: The integrity test only works with a wet EZ-Clean 

Membrane™.

2. Try to blow air - using your mouth - through the drink nozzle into the 

Hydrapak

®

 SoftFlask™.

-> cannot blow through filter = fiber ok

-> can blow through filter = fiber broken

Stop: DO NOT USE FILTER!  Replace EZ-Clean Membrane™

Congratulations on your purchase of the Katadyn BeFree™. When used properly 

in accordance with the instructions provided in this manual, this product is 

designed to reduce the levels of bacteria and 

protozoan cysts commonly found in 

fresh water sources to make it safer for drinking. It meets the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency’s microbiological water purifier standards for reduction of 

bacteria (99.9999% Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9% Giardia 

and Cryptosporidium). It is ideal for hiking, camping in the wilder

ness or 

traveling in areas where treated water is unavailable.

Water definitions as used in this manual

Fresh water = Untreated water (Lakes, Rivers, Streams, etc.)

Filtered fresh water = Potable drinking water

Treated water = T

reated tap water or chemically disinfected water, or boiled 

disinfected water

INTENDED USE OF THE Katadyn BeFree™

Katadyn BeFree™

Water Filtration System™

0.6L, 1.0L, 3.0L

Log on to our website to learn more about our full line of products including 

Katadyn, Optimus Stoves and AlpineAire Foods.

www.katadyn.com

www.optimusstoves.com

www.alpineaire.com

www.spectrawatermakers.com

Katadyn North America, Inc.

4830 Azelia Ave North #300 I Minneapolis, MN 55429 I USA

Tel 800-755-6701

[email protected]

Print No. 8019729/2

PRODUCT REGISTRATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Katadyn BeFree™ LIMITED WARRANTY 

(

CONTINUED

)

Katadyn BeFree™ LIMITED WARRANTY

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

Flow Rate:

Up to 2L of water per minute 

Filter Capacity:

Up to 1,000 l, depending on water quality

Weight:

Katadyn BeFree

TM

 0.6L: 59 g / 2 oz

Katadyn BeFree

TM

 1.0L: 63 g / 2.3 oz

Katadyn BeFree

TM

 3.0L: 100 g / 3.5 oz

Dimensions:

Katadyn BeFree

TM

 0.6L: 

8.0 x 6.5 x 27.5 cm / 3.1 x 2.5 x 10.8 in
Katadyn BeFree

TM

 1.0L:

8.0 x 6.5 x 26.5 cm / 3.1 x 2.5 x 10.4 in
Katadyn BeFree

TM

 3.0L:

23 x 7.5 x 44.7 cm / 9.0 x 2.9 x 17.6 in

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