Platypus 2+ Water Bottle

The main reason I bought this product was so that I could squeeze the air out to make it quieter when stalking animals during archery season.
I works great, is quiet and conforms well to anything in your day pack.

I had one of these for a long trip on that "Good ol' AT" and I rolled it up during the day and used it for water trips at camp. Well anyways I rolled it up almost every single day. Maybe after three months of this the top finally wore through. Right in the middle (not at the two side seams) there was just a hole there.

My buddy bought one of these years ago. I thought there was no way it would last. It seemed too light. After 5 years, I got rid of my heavy, insulated water bags and went exclusively to Platypus. Nothing is lighter. They come in all sizes. I even carry my alcoholic beverages in them. No taste problem, and soooo light. The drinking tube is a must have accessory. These bags do not leak.

Have used it for years. The first one I had peeled off a layer then leaked. Platypus replaced it for no charge. Some filters (First Need) don't provide an exact fit to the small head.If pressed by large, hard objects in your pack, you can't draw water out. But this is easily fixed. [@]

I have been using Platties for a few seasons now and can say with absolute certainty that if you want to go light, this is the way to do it. Here are my thoughts on this product.
Good:Q. The weight is unbeatable. In my opinion this should get to count for two pros! I have one .5L, two 1L and one 2L bottles plus the hose, and it all weighs less than one plastic 1L bottle that I used to swear by.R. Space saver. They collapse when empty which is invaluable. If you're going through a stretch with lots of water you can carry as little as you want to lighten the load and just fold up the ones you're not using. Or just fill them 1/2 way to make more room in your pack. I love the flexibility.S. Warmer. If you're very cold, you can heat up some water, add it to a Platty and use it as a hot pack to warm you up quickly.T. They sit flat. I like this because I can easily cram two 1L bottles into the very tight pockets of my Granite Gear VT without the huge bulge that occurs with normal round bottles. It makes it a lot easier to pack my stuff. I like the way the 2L bottle sits on my back in the hydration pouch because it is mostly flat when filled to proper size. Other hydration systems I have encountered were a little uncomfortable to me because they stuck out. If you're using a pack with a hard frame I doubt this will be of any issue to you.U. Taste. No icky bad plastic taste.
Not so good:Q. Durability. No, they're not as durable as a Nalgene. When you're going for ultralight you have to make sacrifices in durability and you compensate by not being rough on your gear. I had one leak on me -- my first one -- because I did not know how to treat it. I crumpled it up and stuffed it in the bottom of my bag. Know what you're getting into if you're going for a light solution.R. Drying. I've never heard others complain of this, but I cannot get these things to dry out. After use they just get little beads of water that lasts for days. I always rinse them out before using because I don't want any funky water going on, but not that I've ever really noticed that to be the case. I just found it odd. Perhaps it is just because I live in the humidity haven that is the southern US.
All in all, this is my favorite way to tote water. Light as a breeze and gets the job done provided you don't kick it around. Like all things it's not perfect, but as an UL hiker it was an easy choice for me.

I can't find anything bad to say about this container. I own the 2+ and the 1 liter versions along with the Camelback type mouthpiece and they perform admirably. I typically wear a backpack full of camera gear so the usual backpack style Camelback isn't an option. For hydration, this was the answer.

Great for taking your favorite libation out of the country. Fits well in a suitcase and never leaks. Perfect for happy hour. Many years and many trips on present one.

I have used platys for more than 5 years now; mostly backpacking. I put them either in my top pouch or, if on a day hike, I'll put it in a hydration backpack. I've had at least 3 leak on me. Duct tape works only so well in sealing the leaks. I would recommend not creasing them when packing them empty, and not filling them super full. I've had leaks at creases and near the neck via over-filling-induced creases. Also, the non-locking bite valve (on the hoser) is NOT the way to go. If it's accidentally pressed on, you will have a mess. I just took the locking hose from my Camelbak and used that. I've also used medical-grade snap-on valves (that I got a free samples from a website), but they leave permanent kinks in the tube. The only plus is it's neutral taste. If Camelbak has this feature, it would be the ideal hydration bladder.

I use my platy all the time and wouldn't use anything else. The pros outweigh the few cons of this hydration system.

People might make fun of you for carrying this IV bag looking pouch around, but you will have plenty of water all day with this big platypus.