Katadyn recently released the BeFree, a small, soft water bottle that filters water as you drink. I took it hiking in Alaska to find out how it works.
I kneel by a deep, clear puddle surrounded by mountains. Even in late June, the air is chilly. Ice floats in a nearby lake. The mountains are white with snow.
But in the distance a marmot peeps, breaking the silence of the high Alaska wilderness. The noise is a reminder that, even though the waters here are crystal clear, the risk of fecal contamination and diseases like giardia remain very real.