Anyone Using Platypus (or other) Collapsible Bottles?

S

Scott Free

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Sep 15, 1999
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As long as they're reasonably durable, two .5 liter Platypus bottles would be perfect for carrying in jacket pockets. I'm also thinking the bigger versions for my pack. I've never used soft-sided bottles before, though. Hard to keep clean? As long as I'm reasonably careful, will they last? Disadvantages I might be missing?
 
I'm using it for about 8 years for the purpose of winter camping.
It is used to store water made from ice or snow, so it's empty when I leave home.
I think it's considerably durable.
I hope that the mouth was larger, quite hard to fill precious ;) water without mistake.
 
I've got one that I've used a lot over the years. Not one sign of wearing out. Good stuff. I've also got a Camelback model that's a different material but still great stuff.

I hate cleaning them so I don't put drink mixes in them. Just water. I rinse them out with listerine when I'm done with them and hang them to dry. No mold or funkiness so far.
 
I've got two of the liter bottles. I love em! I would add that the small caps are a trade off (easier to drink from/harder to fill and clean), but they are very tough.

I like the ideas about denture cleaning tablets, never thought of that.

Brandon
 
I've been using them for years. I freeze water in them (leave the cap off). I take 'em kayak fishing. I throw them around. Never had a problem.
 
When I got mine I figured I'd get one season out of them. I'm thinking mine are 5 or six years old now and the only failure was the plastic neck cracked on one right on the seam. The thin sides have never punctured:thumbup:
 
Platypus is all I use for hiking and they are no problem. They do make little patches if you are freaked out about them getting damaged and there's always duct tape. There's nothing lighter for regular water storage and the small ones cost less than Nalgenes.

I usually have a 2 or 3 liter bladder with a hose in my pack and I carry a one liter in my PSK with 4 MicroPur treatment tabs taped to it. That gives me a backup and gallon of treated water.

Nalgene makes some with wide openings if you prefer that. Search on Nalgene canteen.
 
Some of the Platypus bags open at the bottom like a ziplock bag, convenient for cleaning the bag or using it as a scoop to bail out your boat, etc....
 
I own more than a dozen of them and keep 2 1-liter Platypy (?) in each BOB. I think that they're the best of the bunch and I've been using them since about 1996 without problems. I don't much care for their hose system as the lids are shallow and with the leverage from the long hose I've had them pop off in my pack and soak everything. A joy in the winter. Camelbaks still rule for that, in my opinion.

I'm actually considering combining a Maxpedition Rollypolly and an empty 1 liter Platypus as a back up for my PSK.
 
I love them; I have several 2 liter ones and a .5 liter. They have for years with no leaks or other problems. I like how the pleated bottom lets you stand them up, and how you can use them with a tube or without. I poked a bunch of holes in a spare cap, and now I have a reasonably effective "shower attachment" for them as well.
 
I got my first one in 2000, and I still use it. The plastic isn't clear anymore, and there's some delamination, but it's still good to use.
They will last a long time. You won't be sorry buying a couple of these.
 
I have several, although I have gone through a couple, but then I use them for running, biking, tramping and hunting so they take a pounding, not sure of the brands name on all of them but a couple are/were platypous.
 
fujita yuji said:
I hope that the mouth was larger, quite hard to fill precious ;) water without mistake.
Click to expand...


+1, I also wish the mouths were a little wider, but the caps, though durable, are already a little awkward/bulky when packing the empty bottles away.

And, this is not a big deal, just one of those little things that are slightly annoying, but I wish they'd put the mouths on one side of the bottle instead of in the middle; that way you can rubberband two or more together nicely when packing.

But they are great collapsible bottles. Very durable and well made! :thumbup:
 
They are great! They can stand up a like a hard bottle when the have water in them, but fold flat and are nearly weightless when empty. They don't impart any plastic taste to the water in them.

My first experience with them was the hydration system that came in my old Lowe Alpine Crossbow 90 backpack. It was a 2-liter Platypus bag with a drinking hose. I thought it was wonderful and bought four Platypus bottles in .5 and 1 liter sizes and a couple of different pouches for them and use them often. I also bought the big one with the zip-lok style top and carry handles to use as a water carrier when camping. One year I gave several sets of the 1 liter bottle and padded carrier as gifts.

The only failure I ever had was with a .5 liter bag that I repeatedly half-filled and froze so I'd have cool water. I wasn't careful when I put it in the freezer and I over-stressed one seam/fold area due to the expansion.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I've used the 100 oz Camelbak for going on 10 yrs and have had no probs. Heard good things about the platypus bladders too though. I think you are good either way!
 
Easy to carry, use and clean fear not the soft sided bottle. Only thing you can't do is boil in them, but you can pour in hot water then tuck that in with you for the night. Cleaning? Drop in a half of a denture tablet into a 1 liter, 1/4 tab into a .5L and fill with water, leave for half hour drain ,rinse, good to go!

Been using them since Platys came out, and they got better!
 
1Tracker said:
Only thing you can't do is boil in them,
Click to expand...


Sure you can... you can put them in a pot of boiling water to boil the contents of the Platy. From their website: "Bottle is tough enough to be frozen or boiled." (I've never personally tried it.....)



Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
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