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BearVault BV500 vs Katadyn BeFree AC Filter

Weight and specs compared for 2026 — and which one to choose.

Katadyn BeFree AC Filter is the lighter option — 842 g lighter than the BearVault BV500 (93% less weight). If grams matter to you, that is the one to beat.
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Spec BearVault BV500 Katadyn BeFree AC Filter
Weight 907 g · 0.907 kg · 2.00 lb 65 g · 0.065 kg · 0.14 lb
Brand BearVault Katadyn
Category Miscellaneous Miscellaneous
BearVault BV500
907 g

Bear canister for 5-7 days of food. Required in many areas.

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Katadyn BeFree AC Filter
65 g

Hollow-fiber filter in a collapsible soft flask with optional activated carbon for taste improvement. Fast 2L/min flow rate and ultralight for on-the-go hydrati...

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BearVault BV500 vs Katadyn BeFree AC Filter: which should you buy?

If saving weight is your priority, the Katadyn BeFree AC Filter wins — at 65 g it is 842 g (93%) lighter than the BearVault BV500 (907 g). That said, the heavier option may justify the extra grams with more capacity, durability or comfort, so weigh the trade-off against how you'll use it.

See where both rank against everything else in this category on the lightest miscellaneous page, or browse the full gear weight database.

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