Used this system for a four day hiking trip at Zion National park. I chosen the six liter version which is probably not the lightest choice of water filtration for hiking. Initially, I thought it’s a great system for a group. Having said that, this is an amazing product and I think that it’s going to be a permanent part of my kit even if I am hiking or camping by myself. I was lucky to have a water source that was flowing and cascading so the dirty water bag was extremely easy to fill, the strap that comes with it, made it very easy to carry back to camp and hang from a tree. If the water source was more difficult, I think I could have used a cup to fill it, so I have no concerns about that. It took something like 7 minutes to filter 6 liters of water which I think is very reasonable. Absolutely no effort needed on my part. The fittings of the included hoses worked with no problems. Followed the instructions that came with it and filtered water at home a couple of times before using it and the taste when using the first time was ok. I was skeptical about the clamp but it worked fine with no issues. My only gripe at this point is that the clean water bag takes forever to dry out so I can store it without concern about getting mildew. Other than that I love it. Read more
The media could not be loaded. The media could not be loaded. A very simple and efficient way to create a basecamp spigot and hydration bag refilling station (see image for details). Just add a few inexpensive hydration tube quick-connect adapters to the clean filter line and to your backpack's hydration bag line and you're in good shape even for trekking/expeditions. But I would not bring this setup to a place where I did not know moderately clean water existed unless you a) want to clog your hallow-fiber filter and b) have a way of accessing very low or no-flow water sources (ultra-thin creeks or pooled water down below boulders/crags). For those applications, a hose and a pump are more reliable (I use Katadyn). But I always bring the GravityWorks when I know there's a reasonable water source. Tips: at twice the cost you can get quick-connect adapters that auto shut-off when disconnected. I wish I had purchased those but have learned to live with raising the tube above the bag's water height when necessary. I purchased two sets of the cheap one's made by Katadyn: Quickfill Hydration Pack Adaptor . Camelbak has one with a shutoff valve (decent work-around) and also sells the more expensive auto-shutoff variety. Also, I always backflush both before I begin filtering (per the instructional video by letting a little water filter into the clean bag then backflushing into the dirty while simultaneously removing air bubbles), but more importantly, I stop filtering before the last few ounces have left the dirty bag (always the dirtiest water) and backflush briefly onto the ground before disconnecting tubes and transporting everything back to camp. This second backflush takes seconds (just push down on the clean back after you disconnect the line from the dirty bag) and it visibly removes material that will would otherwise clog the filter. It sounds like a lot of work, but it's very easy once you get a routine down. About the complaints: 1) The first few liters are going to taste like plastic. To solve this, fill both bags with clean water at home when you first purchase them and let them hang for a day or two. Rinse them both, then filter at least one full bag through the system. Shake the remaining water out of the filter, dry everything, and store. 2) complaints about drying the "clean" bag are valid -- it takes a while, but I just blow up the bag, pull on it from the center of the flat part thereby forcing the bag into an open shape, and put it in a window for a few days. 3) I too am not a fan of the dirty bag having no zip seal like the regular platypus hydration bags, but it's a trade off (weight savings). You can buy another bag with a seal if you really need that functionality, but who wants to spend unnecessary money. I recommend Platypus add a zip seal to future versions. It's just too often you don't have a tree handy so you're setting the dirty bag on top of a boulder, in which case an imperfect seal can cause water to start leaking (has happened to me many times). If you're religious about zipping the dirty bag very well, it will generally hold, but weakly, and if it's very cold outside (plus wet hands from filling the dirty bag), it can be hard to press that thick seal down along every inch of it (I play guitar and have strong hands, but freezing-cold water at 6:00am with wet fingers and wind-chill will weaken anyone's grip). A year ago I bought and promptly returned their larger reservoir bag (unrelated item to this system) because it had no zip seal mechanism and was worthless when setting a full bag on a counter top or boulder (one touch and that big zip would open up and dump water); another reviewer reported that reservoir dumping on his car seat, so it's clearly a valid concern. But overall these are minor complaints and I wouldn't change my setup over it. Most of the time you are hanging the dirty bag, or hiking with it empty and stored in your backpack. With a full clean bag, and a full backpack hydration bag, I could theoretically hike with 7 liters of water if necessary, and I even have another lightweight bag from MSR that could bring that total up to 13 liters if absolutely needed, so not using the dirty bag while filled when hiking is a non-issue for me. Read more
I have had this filter for 7 years now and let me start by saying, it’s absolutely worth it. Backpacking is a lot of work and there is a lot of things to do, especially once you make camp. The only work this requires is to fill the bag and hang it on a tree. Water is filtering while you are completing other tasks, like setting up your sleep system. I bought this when I started taking my young children backpacking with me. I didn’t want to be tied up pumping or squeezing water through a filter. This was the perfect solution. Works great for my guys trips and when I guide trips as well. Perfect for a group. The only con I have is the dirty bag can be especially difficult to get closed in colder temperatures, however, the system still works even if the bag is not closed all the way. Don’t hesitate to purchase and enjoy the time you will get back by not having to pump or squeeze to filter water! Read more
I originally learned of the Platypus system from a friend whom I rode motorcycles with and camped of the bikes. This is the best filter system I've seen as it's so easy to use and doesn't plug up like the cheaper ones do. Just fill the bag with creek water and you'll have clean, drinkable water in minutes. It's VERY fast and efficient. It's well made and all the hardware pieces are durable. This system kept us in clean water for a 3.5 week long trip through the Canadian Yukon/Northwest Territories. Just buy it. The cheap ones are worthless imitations of this great system. Read more
