Platypus 1.0L/34oz. Collapsible Water Bottle
When I first started seeing friends bring their Platypus bottles along on hikes, I thought they were just expensive pieces of plastic. But I soon came to realize how wonderful they are after I bought one for myself. What I really like about Platypus bottles is that when you’re done drinking the contents, you can simply flatten it and roll it up and put it in your back. When it is empty, it hardly takes up any space.
More importantly, these bottles are extremely durable – I’ve taken mine in the snow and even when the water inside freezes, the plastic doesn’t crack. I typically bring my Platypus along filled with a sports drink, because I would not want the sugars to clog up my CamelBak bladder. I’ve never poured boiling liquids into mine, but they are supposed to be able to withstand boiling too. A small animal did chew through the bottom corner of one of my friend’s Platypus bottles last month, so you should always have at least one Nalgene bottle with you as a backup.
They’re great for backpacking trips when you want to have extra containers along to fill up on drinking water, plus the weight of the bottle is just a fraction of a Nalgene bottle.
The only drawback is that they are a little difficult to clean, but that is no reason not to get one.
Platypus collapsible bottle, 1.0L/34oz., BPA free
Excellent info, Snowbird. I think the pouring tip is a great one!
When I’m traveling or hiking, I put boiled, partially cooled water into my Platypus. I don’t put in anything that has sugars. That way, nothing grows in them. If I’m away or out for a LONG time (even months), I only have to wash them occasionally with a little bit of soapy water followed by a clear rinse, and keep the mouthpiece clean. I also use the mouthpiece for pouring only – including into my mouth – nothing and nobody gets contaminated that way. Then, no problems at all. This works in Mexico, India, the backcountry, and everywhere else!
Thanks for the tip, Ian! I have used the CamelBak tablets before which are like denture cleaners, but they are pricey. I’m going to have to look for some denture cleaning tablets next time I’m at the drugstore. 🙂 Thank you!
Hi Hiking Lady,
Just thought i`d add to your comments by letting you know that any collapsable water bottle – or sigg bottles, even camelbak bladders, are very easily cleaned. All you need to do is drop in a couple of flavour free denture cleaning tablets and leave for 20 minutes then rinse out. voi-la!! easy as that. 🙂