Convenient basecamp water supply

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

This water bag works very well when you're backpacking with a group of friends. You don't end up having to constantly filter water while in camp. I bought the 4 liter size which seemed perfect for my needs. The 6 liter bag seemed much too big. The Pros: No plastic taste, stands up on its own, convenient carry handles. The Cons: The ziplock top is not easy to close. I have a fairly strong pinch grip from rock climbing and can close it without too much trouble, but can see how others might have difficulty with it. A top-folding slide lock like those on the Osprey hydration bags would be a perfect solution to the present configuration. It can be easy to lose the pour cap if one is not careful --especially filtering water at a swift moving water source. A little plastic cap retainer would be a great addition. Overall, I like the quality and convenience of this water container. It's easier to access water than the Dromedary water bag brand. I owned one of those for a while--it had a very tiny pour stream and after awhile it also started to leak from the nylon / wide-mouth fill-port connection.

Ricardo M.

The top won't seal

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

I have really high hopes for this product. I took it for a test drive on our backpacking trip. It was easy to put water in it because of the big Zip opening but closing it is a different story. It just won't shut!! We struggled for a good 30 minutes to close it and we gave up. We left it open and of course there's bugs that got into our water. Maybe i'll purchase it again if they improve the zip on top.

Gracelle Gutierrez

great water storage

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I’ve been very happy with this water storage. I was worried that my water would taste like plastic but it doesn’t! There is an ever so slightly different taste but not enough to really notice. The seal at the top can be difficult to close, but once sealed, it stays sealed. They actually even recommend tipping it over after to make sure it’s sealed properly. The pour spout works great.

jordan emery

Tricky Zipper

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I've used platypus bags in the past without any issues so I really didn't hesitate buying this bag when I needed I new water hauler. The upright bags had a cinching system on them that aided in making sure the zipper would close properly but this bag had no such thing. To put it plainly the zipper is very tricky and frankly cannot be trusted to stay shut...as others stated I wouldn't use this to pack water into camp but it may make a good table top storage vessel. In the end I ended up returning this and will order a MSR dromedary bag that I know is bomb/leak-proof.

Flumanchu

Great product

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I bought this to have extra filtered water easily at the ready while in camp. I really wanted the 4L but it wasn't available at the time so I got the 2L. I am pleased with it although it takes some finagling to get the water in initially. I use my pump filter and it doesn't want to stand up to filter into it until you get a little water in the bottom to support it standing up. The bag seems durable and well made while still being light weight and easily packable. Still wish I'd held out for the 4L but am happy with my purchase.

sgb105814950-0

Great, but $$$

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I was upset when I lost my 2L version of this bag, that I had for several years and used over 11 months in the woods. I replaced it with the 4L, and enjoy the extra capacity, and the zipping mechanism has been improved and zips closed much easier now. It packs small, is light, and they hold up well. But DANG it is expensive for what it is.

Ember Manfred

all around great

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

We use the water tank as the clean end of a gravity powered water filtering configuration. The tank is easy to carry and is very light weight considering the quality of the construction and the capacity. The only complaint I have is the clear plastic yellows quickly. It does not affect the taste of the water but it's very unpleasant looking. After 4-5 trips out I simply replaced it so I don't have to live with a yellow water tank.

Joseph S.

Drinking tube attachment

Familiarity:

I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

http://www.backcountry.com/platypus-drinking-tube-kit

johngchrist

Great for kayaking trips

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

I have used the water tank on multiple-day kayak trips. Since packing water along on longer trips isn't very feasible, I would filter water each evening from the river to replenish water bottles and use for evening cooking and morning coffee. It folds flat and easily packs into storage compartments.

Cassie W

Zipper is tricky, don't use to transport

I would have it open in my pack 50% of the time, I use it more for car camping now. Always had a hard time getting the ziplock to close properly.

mr_p450454

Sweet

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

I like this better than my dromlite bags. Easy to pour water in, zip up is working so far. Spout pour is fast. Great for the table. Folds flat Just hope I don't lose the cap..

Peter P.

Awesome bag

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Perfect for backpacking. Folds up nicely and doesnt take much room and adds practically no weight. The ziplock top works wonderfully as long as you make sure to seal it properly. I filled it completely up and flipped it upside down with no leaks. Stands up on its own nicely at camp with water in it and the top opening is great for many different uses.

Michael Lancianese

Great bag

We bought 2 bags, a 4 L and 6 L for the AT trail in GA last month. The ziplock type closure is a little tricky but it was easy to work with but once closed it was leak proof. Loved the wide opening which allowed for east filling and the handle made it easy to pour out of the spout. Highly recommend.

KATHY R.

Good choice

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

After dealing with some awful cheap collapsible water jugs (the clear red capped type) for kayaking and car camping, I had it. I was sick of their poor performance, inability to stand up on its own, and plastic-tasting water. I decided to upgrade and spend a few bucks. After much research, I decided to give a 4L Platy a try. This has now gone through a full summer season of kayaking and car camping, being thrown in boats, packs, on picnic tables and the ground and it handled it all beautifully. I read some reviews saying the zip-top didn't stay sealed and was unreliable. It was pretty easy to run my fingers along the top sealing it, with a quick inverting of the bottle when done as a test, and off I went. I never had one catastrophic sealing failure.I love this water tank and don't hesitate to recommend it.

WockaWockaWocka

not just for H2O anymore

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

once the boating party found out i was carrying one of these on my boat - there was a request to cook up specialty cocktails in it every night! great for mixing up big batches of whatever concoction you can dream up. While great for carrying water - the wide-mouth opening, and gussetted bottom for stand-alone ability, makes it ideal for mixing up drinks for large parties too!

Di Colby

party in a bag

the 6L platy made a whole mess-load of mojitos

Di Colby

Platy Win

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

This bag combined with a Sawyer screw on filter is a match made in heaven. Especially if your collecting water from a lake rather than a flowing river or creek. With my 4L platy tank, I filled 7 liters of nalgene a day for 6 days. The seal blew open on me only once, thus learning the pressure limit of the bag. Durability showed well too. I rested it on twig covered dirt, rocky shore etc. No issues. Easy to clean too with the big opening and all. A +

Michael Machnicki

Excellent water source

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

I've been hiking with a through hiker for a couple of years now who carries a couple of these on every hike. His are labeled for clean and unsanitized water (cooking, washing, etc.). I've been watching him utilize these effectively to manage his camp duties and efficiently fill drinking and cooking vessels. His behavior is illustrative of someone who's got his system dialed in (after half a year on trail, I guess one would). I decided to take his lead and picked up an MSR Dromlite bag. Not the best choice. The dromlite is nice and light, has a few options for disseminating the water, but they fall short in a number of ways: * carrying - the platypus has two carry handles, reinforced by plastic for easy transportation * freestanding - The platy will stand while the zip top is open and water doesn't spill out. The dromlite can't stand and if you open it up, water will gush out. * big opening for scooping - scoop a bowl or nalgene full of water right out of the vessel if you like * pouring - they both have a small opening, pouring feature, but the playpus handle and shape makes it pour just like a pitcher. * durability - this is TBD. Will the Platypus crystalize? Will the Dromlite last longer? remains to be seen. I picked up the platy and couldn't be happier. I have an loder platy 1L bottle with a squirt top that can be added to this for even more versatility. I'll probably keep the MSR for now, but if I need to buy another high volume vessel I am going for another water tank.

Courtney Dean

Great water reservoir, no issues with the zip-lock top

I bought two 6-liter tanks for a backpacking trip on the Channel Islands three years ago now. A hell to carry but really worth it, not much water there. Anyway, I've used them a lot since then just for car camping mostly, and have never had an issue. The zip-lock style top closes easily for me, and as the recommend I flip it upside down to make sure it's properly closed, and I usually don't see a drop. Finally, as some users have mentioned, it is compatible with the rest of the platypus line which means you can screw a platypus hose on it, or probably their filter although I haven't tried.

Thomas Blum

Works well, but doesn't seal easily (if ever)

This little tank is pretty useful, and has been fairly durable. I've had some Platypus products leak after some use, but this thing is going strong, probably because it never spends time full in a pack getting beaten up. It does its job well, but sealing the top is an exercise in frustration. I'm not sure I've ever gotten the top of it to seal. The little zip lock top has become the butt of jokes for us, and is essentially just aesthetic.

Banning Lyon

Where are these made?

Adam Saucedo

Can you use this with a quick disconnect...

Can you use this with a quick disconnect hose or has anyone tried to attach a quick disconnect hose? My thought would be to filter water straight into the tank, Thank You.

Matthew T.

Write your question here...If carrying...

Write your question here...If carrying less than 2liters of liquid can the platy watertank be used as a hydration bladder? I have an old 4liter big zip that i used that way for years but it is beginning to crystalize.

Brad David Orndorff