Platypus Platy 2-Liter Ultralight Collapsible Backpacking Water Bottle

We carry at least two of these on every backpacking trip, sometimes even three on longer trips. We hike in groups of three or four, and most every one has one in their pack. The uses for these are MANY, here are a few:- As a large "Dirty" reservoir for our Sawyer Squeeze or Sawyer Mini filters when we want filtered water "on the go". These thread directly onto the Sawyer filter threads, and fit perfectly. Having a 2 liter source for the dirty water means less dipping and transfer operations - and these are much more durable and user-friendly than the bottles Sawyer sells.- As a "Clean" reservoir for filtered water / storage when using our gravity filter in camp. We don't hang our clean water reservoir, we only hang the dirty, and use something like this to catch the clean water. Sometimes we fill two of these when we are setting up camp to have water for cooking , washing up, etc. What makes this a decent storage reservoir is that you can put a push/pull cap on it and be able to have controlled and measured pouring...- As a reserve reservoir for extra water when we might be away from water for a couple of days - when we know we may be away from water for a day or so, we fill our 3L bladders first, then fill this as a reserve in our pack. Note these are not as thick as a bladder, so store / carry in your pack with care, and keep it protected.I have been using one of these bottles for two years now, over multiple trips, and it is still in serviceable / working condition. Thus the durability of these bottles is not bad, and they last if you care them.If I had to think of any "Cons" for these bottles, or what I don't like about them:- It takes forever for them to dry after cleaning....the small opening and large volume means you have to find a nice place to store them for 2-3 days as they dry. I live in AZ, which is very dry, I can only imagine how long it would take to dry in a humid climate! I only clean these when we get home, I don't ever attempt drying them out on the trail.- The caps are not attached, and can get lost. This is one of the big reasons I started using the Evernew soft bottles - the Evernew bottles have the cap attached to the bottle!!- You have to carry a separate rubber band or shock cord to roll them up. Again, the Evernew bottle has a pigtail attached to facilitate rolling them up, where the Playtpus does not.Note that I recently have been alternating these bottles with the Evernew soft bottles - those are a decent alternative to these, and are priced in the same ballpark. I purchased these Platypus bottles for $9.99, and the Evernew 2L for the same amount.A couple of tips and tricks:- I carry two caps for these - one closure cap, and a push / pull cap. I do this for multiple reasons, the first one being in case I lose a cap. The Platy caps are not attached to the bottle like the Evernew, and could get lost. The second reason is that if I am storing the reservoir as a backup water source in my pack, I don't want the tall push / pull cap protruding and screw on the closure cap. On the flip side, if I am using it for water storage in camp, I use the push / pull cap for easy dispensing.- I got some 1/16th inch shock cord and made a permanent pigtail attached to the bottle so you can easily rollup up the bottle for compact storage. This is copying what the Evernew bottle did with theirs, and idea which I really liked. In fact, I have other Platy soft bottles, and retrofitted this pigtail on those too!! If you are wondering what I mean, see the picture. The Platy is on the left with the added pigtail, and the Evernew is on the right with the stock pigtail.Thanks for reading.

Wish it dried out easier but I leave it drying upside down in the dishes rack then turn it right side up for a few days and occasionally blow into it, to “puff it out” a little. Lying vs on its side also helps air flow and drying the inside out sooner. Rolls up easily. I recommend it.

I find some people's reviews of products really puzzling; like taking away a star because the threading on the opening doesn't fit other brand caps (why would you expect it to?) or that you can lose the cap easily because it's small (then don't lose it?) or that it [likely] can't survive a 30' drop like a nalgene could (it weighs 1/6 of what a nalegen does and is collapsible, why would you expect it to?)Here's what you need to know, for carrying a bit over 2L of water its amazingly light, only 1.3 ounces on my scale. It is also very rugged for a collapsible light weight water container.Take it for what it is; a very lightweight and fairly durable way to transport/hold a good amount (2L+) of water.As a side note, this will stand upright when filled with water, which is pretty nice.I personally carry this as a backup water carrier, or for when I make camp and want to filter a lot of water at once before bed so I don't have to in the morning. I only keep clean/purified water in it and when I need water from it I generally pour it into another container to use/drink. Because of the way I use it I'm not overly hung up with how it's difficult to clean because of the small opening, which I'd agree with. However because I again only put clean/purified water in there I just put a couple drops of bleach in and fill it up with water, let it sit over night and then pour it out. I really like this and carry it with me as a standard piece of gear, the pro's far outweigh the con's when used under appropriate expectations in my opinion.

Whenever I ride my motorcycle I bring water. This water bottle is perfect. You don’t want to go down on a bike with a hard metal water bottle in your backpack. With this product, I can make it super thin when partially filled by squeezing the water throughout the bottle’s entire surface area, and then capping. The vacuum keeps it super slim. Surprisingly, the bladder stands on its own when full. It compresses wafer thin when empty—like a piece of thin cardboard, but very flexible. Extremely light weight.I haven’t experienced any leaks whatsoever, but will report if I do. In any event, I always wrap-up hydration bladders with Wise Owl dry bags for safety. But again, no leaks so far. I am pretty gentle with it and only store it upright in my pack.The only 2 downsides are:1) They are hard to air out2) It’s hard to take a gulp without trickle down your chin. You need to drink carefully so it doesn’t gush outI can live with these small annoyances. Highly recommend this product. All hydration gear I’ve purchased from this company in the past is top notch.