Summary
None of the four removes viruses: all are mechanical filters for tap water and clear water. If weight matters most, Katadyn BeFree wins. For a cheap rigid everyday bottle, LifeStraw Go. GoPure — ours — is the heaviest, but it holds more and has a 1,500 L cartridge combining membrane and carbon pre-filter.
Disclosure:GoPure is our product. That's why we took the LifeStraw and Katadyn data from their official product pages (November 2026) and flag where no figure is published instead of filling it in. Prices change — check before you buy.
Comparison table
| GoPure | LifeStraw Go 650 ml | Katadyn BeFree AC Bottle | Katadyn BeFree 1.0 L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Rigid bottle, press filter | Rigid bottle with filter straw | Bottle with filter | Soft flask with filter |
| Capacity | 800 ml | 650 ml (also 1 L) | 0.9 L (also 0.7 L) | 1.0 L |
| Weight | 500 g | Not stated on product page | 104 g | ≈63 g (retailers) |
| Filtration | 0.2 μm hollow fibre + carbon | Membrane + carbon | Hollow fibre + carbon | 0.1 μm hollow fibre |
| Retains (per manufacturer) | Bacteria, chlorine, sediment | Bacteria, parasites, microplastics; carbon reduces chlorine and odours | Bacteria, protozoa, microplastics; carbon reduces chlorine | Bacteria, protozoa, sediment |
| Viruses | No | No | No | No |
| Filter life | 1,500 L | Membrane 4,000 L · carbon 100 L | Hollow fibre up to 1,000 L · carbon up to 200 L | ≈1,000 L |
| Reference price | €59.99 (Amazon) | €53.95 (official EU store) | Check retailer | Check retailer |
LifeStraw Go: the best-known rigid bottle
You drink through a filter straw. According to LifeStraw, the membrane lasts up to 4,000 L and retains bacteria, parasites (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and microplastics; the carbon filter reduces chlorine and odours but lasts about 100 L (the manufacturer says roughly two months), so you'll replace it often if you want to keep the better taste.
Who it's for:daily use and travel, if you like drinking through a straw and don't mind swapping the carbon.
Katadyn BeFree: the ultralight
The classic version is a 1 L soft flask with a 0.1 μm hollow-fibre filter and up to 2 L/min flow. It weighs very little and folds flat, which is why trail runners and gram-counting hikers like it. The trade-off: a soft flask is less robust than a rigid bottle.
Katadyn also makes the BeFree AC Bottle (0.7 and 0.9 L): a bottle with hollow fibre and activated carbon, 104 g, intended by the brand for tap water and clear water.
Who it's for: routes where every gram counts.
GoPure: capacity and a long-life filter
It works by pressure: fill the outer cup, press the filter down and drink like from a normal bottle. 0.2 μm hollow-fibre membrane with a carbon pre-filter, a 1,500 L cartridge (about 20 months of average use) and 800 ml capacity.
The honest part:it weighs 500 g, a lot more than the other three. It's not an ultralight bottle; it's made to carry every day, on the Camino, travelling or in the van.
What if I need to remove viruses?
Then none of these four will do. You need a purifier such as GRAYL GeoPress, or chemical/UV treatment. We explain it in Grayl GeoPress alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, LifeStraw or Katadyn?
It depends on use: Katadyn BeFree if you prioritise weight and flow; LifeStraw Go if you want a rigid bottle with carbon for everyday use. Both filter bacteria and protozoa and neither removes viruses.
Do they work with tap water?
Yes, and the carbon versions (LifeStraw Go, BeFree AC, GoPure) also reduce chlorine taste. More on that in how to remove chlorine from tap water.
How long does each filter really last?
The figures are manufacturer maximums and depend on water quality: cloudy water clogs filters sooner.