 This Product
Hydrapak Flux 1.5L | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Collapsible Bottle Filter |  Best Overall Filter for Personal Use |  Best Bang for the Buck | ||
| Price | $55.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $43.95 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $40 List $39.00 at Amazon | $12.97 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $7.99 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Our favorite collapsible soft bottle filter, thanks to a durable design that's consistent and easy to use | A solid option for personal filtration usage during fast and light backcountry missions | A soft bottle filtration system designed for lightweight travel | The best chemical treatment option that will kill all pathogens when given enough time | Lightweight and easy to use, these tablets can be used as an emergency backup to regular treatment |
| Rating Categories | Hydrapak Flux 1.5L | LifeStraw Peak Squeeze | Katadyn BeFree 0.6L | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... |
| Water Quality (20%) | |||||
| Durability & Maintenance (20%) | |||||
| Treatment Time (15%) | |||||
| Weight & Packability (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Set Up (15%) | |||||
| Ease of Filtration (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Hydrapak Flux 1.5L | LifeStraw Peak Squeeze | Katadyn BeFree 0.6L | Aquamira Water Trea... | Potable Aqua Purifi... |
| Measured Weight (entire kit) | 5.0 oz | 3.8 oz | 2.1 oz | 3.0 oz | 2.3 oz |
| Removes Particulates (sediment, microplastics) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Effective Against Viruses | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Effective Against Chemicals | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Heavy Metals | No | No | No | No | No |
| Effective Against Bacteria | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Effective Against Protozoa (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (Giardia = yes; Crypto = no) |
| Type of Filter/Purifier | Squeeze, in-line, on-the-go | Squeeze | Squeeze, on-the-go | Chemical treatment | Chemical treatment |
| Filter Media or Active Ingredient | Hollow fiber | Hollow-core membrane microfilter | Hollow fiber | Chlorine dioxide | Iodine and Tetraglycine Hydroperiodide |
| Filter Pore Size (Advertised) | 0.2 micron | 0.2 microns | 0.1 microns | N/A | N/A |
| Number of Liters/Gallons per Lifetime (Advertised) | 1,500 L / 396 gal | 2,000 L / 500 gal | 1,000 L / 264 gal | 114 L / 30 gal (per package) | 25 L / 6.6 gal |
Weighing only 5 ounces and rolling down into a compact size for storage, it's ideal for backcountry travel. And its competitive filtration time will keep you well-hydrated while moving on the trail. The user-friendly bottle is also easy to maintain in the field, making it perfect for those who need a durable and reliable collapsible water filter for a single user on the move.
The Flux .5L features a hollow fiber filter with 0.2-micron pore size designed to filter harmful bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics along with sediment encountered from murky water sources. When traveling in remote locations, this filter provides peace of mind, whether you're simply filtering water from an airport bathroom or thirsty on a popular trail system.
Throughout our testing period in Cochamó, Chile, our test team was impressed by the overall water quality, which remained consistent no matter the source. The Flux handled turbid waters after heavy rains better than other filters under testing, resulting in only a small quantity of sand particles sinking to the bottom of the bottle. In just over 30 seconds, our testers were hydrating with high-quality water that was clear, without scent, and tasted great.
The Flux 1.5L truly impressed our testing team with a construction built to last. The soft bottle is made of abrasion-resistant TPU using welded seams to ensure strength despite its flexibility. The dual-layer laminate also provides more structure and thickness to the bottle than any other soft bottle filter design we've tested. We put the durability of the Flux 1.5L to the test during an extended trip to Cochamó, Chile. We found that no matter if we were scraping our way up sharp chimneys or shoving our bodies into off-widths, the soft bottle remained intact, only showing cosmetic scuffs and abrasions at the end of each day.
Maintenance is an often overlooked consideration when making an initial purchase, but it can ensure you get full value from whichever filter you buy. We found the Flux 1.5L particularly easy to handle in the field when care was required, generally after processing turbid water from heavy rains or murky streams with limited flow. Simply remove the filter from the bottle before shaking and swishing it around in a clear water source. Hydrapak also warns against allowing your filter to freeze, as this could significantly damage or even ruin the hollow fiber membrane. It's also nice to know that Hydrapak offers a lifetime warranty for their products should you encounter an issue with the design.
While the manufacturers at Hydrapak advertise a flow rate of one liter per minute, our testers consistently measured a treatment time between 28 and 38 seconds. When recording the treatment time, we couldn't help but notice that the filter provided a faster flow rate when the 1.5 liter bottle was filled to capacity. We also noted that squeezing typically offered a faster flow rate than the rolling technique.
After undertaking several rounds of one-liter filtrations throughout our month-long expedition to Cochamó Valley, it was notable that we never saw a change in the flow rate, even with daily use. Luckily for our testers, the only turbid water they encountered during the trip was on the final hike out to the trailhead, where, after a couple of days of heavy rain, the rivers were filled with more silt and sediment than previously existed. This slowed their measured treatment time by 10 seconds. However, despite that final day of slower results, our team was still pleasantly surprised by the flow rate; overall, it was far faster than advertised.
While the Flux 1.5L isn't the lightest collapsible bottle we tested, its ease of filtration, durability, and dependability makes this bottle worth the couple of extra ounces. Weighing in at 5 ounces and measuring 10 by 4.5 inches when filled with water, the Flux also features a flexible design that can be rolled down and packed into a small pocket when not in use.
Although we wish the design included a separate cap so the bottle could be utilized without the hollow fiber filter installed, this absence didn't stop our testers from carrying the filter on many multi-pitch rock climbs in the remote Cochamó Valley. The flexible handle is super durable and makes this bottle easy to attach to your harness or interior backpack strap for easy access. The handle can also be folded over the rolled bottle to reduce its packed size.
The Flux 1.5L is shipped to your door already set up and ready to go. Simply filter the soft bottle with water, whether priming the filter at home or from a fresh water source once off on your adventure. There is no max fill line on this bottle, and we noticed that when the bottle is filled to capacity, some water overflows out of the top of the twist cap.
The twist-to-drink nozzle is easy to manage with one hand, and the design features a dust cap that protects your mouthpiece from dirt encountered along the trail. The setup is user-friendly and ready to go after purchase.
Unless you're used to a gravity-fed filtration system, you won't find any filter much easier to use than the Flux 1.5L. Just fill your bottle in a stream or other water source and then roll or squeeze it down to press the water through the filter. The Flux 1.5L is versatile enough to be used directly in an open water source. If you are filtering into another bottle, the high-flow nozzle is easily opened or closed, allowing you to secure the bottle in your pack should you carry water between sources.
When filtering throughout our extensive testing period, we noticed that the best flow rate was achieved when the soft bottle was entirely filled. The additional pressure helps to move the water through the filter more quickly when full. Overall, filtering with the Flux 1.5L is a breeze; it is equipped to maintain optimal flow for days on end.
The Hydrapak Flux 1.5L is a collapsible water filter that provides performance that is tough to beat. Although slightly more expensive than other collapsible designs, the durable and sturdy construction will outlast the competition. The user-friendly features combine with a fast treatment time, making this filter easy to use and maintain while on the go. The construction is also lightweight and packable, so it's ideal for backcountry use when space savings are key. If you're after a collapsible filter that won't let you down, look no further than the Flux 1.5L.
The Flux 1.5L quickly became our favorite collapsible water filter, thanks to a sturdy, durable design that's easy to use and maintain. Another stand-out collapsible filter is the LifeStraw Peak Squeeze, which includes its own durable, collapsible bottle. While it isn't as structured or easy to use as the Flux 1.5L, it boasts an even lighter weight and a filter lasting up to 500 gallons. The Katadyn BeFree 0.6L is another popular collapsible bottle that's easy to use, lightweight, and extremely packable. However, it doesn't offer nearly the same durability as the Flux or the Peak Squeeze. If you like the idea of a lightweight, collapsible design but need to filter enough water to satisfy a group, check out the LifeStraw Peak Gravity 3L and let gravity do the work.
