Water Works Roundup – Filtration bottles and a wearable dehumidifier?

It flows around the planet, through our bodies and even hangs in the air – as the basic ingredient for life itself, water is without a doubt the most important resource on planet earth. Athletes especially know the importance of staying hydrated, so in this roundup we’ll check out two new water filtration bottles that make that simple but significant task much easier in any setting.

Unfortunately once you’ve done your job hydrating yourself, perspiration can become a problem, especially under weatherproof jackets. To combat such clammy discomfort, Dry-Active technologies has created a wearable dehumidifier that helps keep your body and base layers dry…

Katadyn BeFree

Swiss water purification specialists Katadyn have just produced their smallest packable microfilter yet which is featured in the BeFree soft flask, the company’s new compactable water filtration bottle.

Katadyn partnered up with Hydrapak to create this 0.6L soft flask which can be squished down to fit in your pocket. The integrated 0.1 micron microfilter weighs just 58g, and removes 99.9999% of bacteria and protozoa, keeping you safe from harmful organisms like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, E-Coli and Salmonella.

Katadyn’s Free Flowing Channel filter technology allows for easy ‘no-suck’ water flow, so you don’t have to become a human vacuum to get a drink. The EZ-Clean Filter Membrane does not need to be backflushed, so the filter can be easily cleaned by simply shaking or swishing it out. Keep an eye on Katadyn’s website for updates and info on the BeFree bottle (no info is currently posted).

LifeStraw Go Bottle

Also hailing from Switzerland, LifeStraw has just released an updated version of their Go water bottle. The Go bottle uses a two-stage filtration process to eliminate bacteria and protozoa in contaminated water and the new iteration also reduces organic chemicals, chlorine and bad taste.

A hollow filter membrane acts as stage one of filtration, removing 99.9999% of E-Coli and Salmonella bacteria, and 99.9% of protozoa including Giardia and Cryptosporidium. The membrane also filters out any particulate matter larger than 0.2 microns. At stage two, an activated carbon filter reduces chlorine, organic chemicals like pesticides or herbicides, and keeps your water tasting fresh and clean.

The hollow fiber membrane has a lifespan of 264 gallons, but the carbon capsule will need more regular replacement at every 26 gallons. Replacement filters will be available as of July.

Lifestraw’s BPA and chemical-free bottle weighs less than 8 ounces, and holds 22 ounces of water. It features a flip-top bite valve and an attached carabiner. The Go bottle comes in five colors- pink, purple, grey, green or blue. The Go bottle is available now online and at Lifestraw retailers across North America. MSRP is $49.95 USD.

Dry-Active wearable dehumidifier

There is one unfortunate byproduct of staying hydrated- perspiration. Even with technical base layers and shell fabrics, it’s hard to keep dry when you’re exerting yourself. To resolve this issue, Dry-Active Technologies has created a wearable dehumidifier to regulate moisture inside a waterproof or water resistant shell.

The Dry-Active dehumidifier collects moist air through two intake hoses and exchanges it for dry air, which then flows through your jacket. The designers claim the device keeps humidity within a human’s natural comfort level during physical activity.

The unit uses an on-board rechargeable battery for power and its filter can be re-filled with common materials or replaced with single-use cartridges. The device can be paired with a smartphone to control humidity settings or enable its automatic, self-regulating mode.

The Dry-Active weighs 1.9lbs, and measures 5.9″ wide by 11.8″ tall. The unit’s lower back panel is made from ‘ergo soft support’ material… but I am certainly dubious about how comfortable you could possibly be with this thing sitting against your back.

The Dry-Active can currently be pre-ordered for $95 USD, but the Kickstarter campaign still needs significant funding if the device is to see production. If successful, delivery is expected for June 2017.