Customer Reviews

Platypus Sport Bottle

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I used to own CamelBak's hydration system before the bad news about BPA came out. Owing to a lack of information from CamelBack as to whether they had BPA in their products or not, I sent all of it to the recycler and did without for over a year.

Recently (within the last 3 weeks) I bought the Platypus - platy, for short and yes, the lower case 'p' is correct - 1 Liter sport bottle. It came well-reviewed on the Web, so I bit the bullet and purchased one initial item as a way of deciding for myself.

Each item is minimally packaged with their "Fresh Taste Guarantee" prominently displayed, so I tested that right off, filling my new platy right to the top until it looked like a fat plastic sausage and then sticking it overnight in the fridge.

I pulled my thoroughly chilled platy out of the fridge first thing the next morning, promptly slamming it as hard as possible against the kitchen floor. I'm well over 6 foot, so it hit pretty damn hard. I wasn't surprised when nothing happened. Beginner's luck, right? Nine minutes and 70 splats later nothing had changed - platy 70, me 0. Nothing! Nada, zip, zero! It wasn't even scratched despite hitting the linoleum repeatedly. It wasn't even HINTING at being scratched.

Just for a little variety, I poured a glass from it - not even the suggestion of that plastic odor/taste that I had with my CamelBak stuff (no matter how much it was cleaned). The Clean Taste guarantee was true. I've filled it and drained it dry many times of the past weeks and my water tastes like...water.

I further abused my platy with a string of drop-kicks across the living room, thinking the half-empty platy would succumb to the water sloshing around in it (well, that and gravity). platy 11, me zilch. I was sold.

These bottles are absolutely first-class! Aside from them being tough as hell, each item is made with perfection in mind. The caps seat, thread and seal perfectly and easily, the seams of each piece are joined without even the smallest visible defect. I've had one bouncing around in my car trunk with my tools for two weeks now, and the cap is a bit worn. You can draw your own conclusions.

Collapses down flat.
It's lightweight.
Has no odor.
Holds boiling water.
Don't have to worry about purchasing expensive cleaning supplies.

I'd recommend Platypus bladders over Camelbacks for budget, weight and hassle-free reasons.

Only problem we discovered was the water in the Platypus bladder froze and the Camelbacks didn't when we left both bags out at night.

I like this bottle because it is one of the few re-usable bottles you can freeze. I put it in my lunch box so I have cold water at work without buying a new bottle of water. However, it is hard to drink out of since the bag is floppy, so I keep a cup by my desk.

Just got it yesterday and it seemed to work nicely. I called their customer service about the temperature tolerance of these bottles, and they said it would withstand hot boiling water, which makes this bottle even more useful for me!

The .5L is the perfect size for plane trips. I keep it empty in my carry-on until I pass security then fill it up at the water fountain. No more paying for bottled water at the airport and environmentally friendly too. When empty, the bottle takes up no room - you can't say that for any other water bottle on the market!

I bought 2 of these about 10 yrs ago and they have received periods of intensive use and long periods in the cabinet and they have held up great! I have gone through a lot of hard water bottles over the years but can't think of one that I have had for 10 years! The only issues I have had is the caps have had to be replaced (which is cheap and easy!) because I bite them to open the bottle leaving teeth marks on it and so they are hard to get clean. This is not unexpected and the caps have so far been easy to find. The other 'issue' is that I left one in a cooler with some nasty stuff and forgot about it over a weekend and after I cleaned it up the bottom (outside) was stained. I almost threw it out but that was two years ago and it has been fine (just looks dirty on the outside).
I read one of the reviews saying they are hard to clean and to that I suggest 1. they sell a cleaning kit, 2. if you never put anything but water in it you should be fine cleaning it with hot water. I never use soap b/c it is too hard to get out and I always think I can taste soap. I bought cheap effervescent denture cleaning tablets and fill with hot water and break a tablet in half and drop it in and leave it for a bit and it always tastes fresh and clean!
Another thing I love about them is that I can fill 3/4 with water and freeze them, then use them as icepacks in my soft cooler. I go out on a boat everyday and take a soft cooler and ice packs take up half the space, but if I use frozen platypus then I get the same cooling plus cold clean drinking water all day and extra space in the cooler! Simply awesome.
The only 'down side' is that it is kinda floppy and awkward to drink out of when it is half full. This is better if you get one of the neoprene sleeves (which also cuts down the condensation and keeps the water cool). When I am out on the boat I mostly use it to replenish my hard water bottle which works out great. It is a minor thing when you consider the trade offs of it being collapsible and freezeable!
I also think the fact that I freeze them everyday and they have held up really speaks to their durability. I read one review that said they fell apart after a few years and hope this is not b/c the quality has gone down in the past 10 years since I bought mine... I am getting more so guess I will find out!

The l liter version is larger than I thought. I thought it would be more wide for some reason. If you want it for every day use, the .5 liter version would probably be better.

After you finish off the water, folding it up is super easy so it is good to carry around and refill when needed.

I wouldn't recommend the 1 liter version if you plan on carrying it around, but if you can set it somewhere then it is just as convenient. You do need two hands to drink this, unless you are very talented or don't mind spilling.

I used my Platy (as I lovingly call it) every day last summer as a camp counselor. It was used and abused in rough, dirty situations but never failed me. I've only used my Platy to carry water so I don't know how it holds up to other beverages, however, these are some notes I have compiled about it:

- Unlike hard plastic bottles, an empty Platy can fold up into your pocket or backpack for anytime when you need to wait until you get into your destination to fill it (for instance, going through security at an airport or getting into a theme park that doesn't allow outside drinks).

- This bottle is definitely a conversation piece; all of the kids thought it was the coolest thing ever and the other counselors were jealous that I always seemed to have a water bottle at a moments notice.

- The Platy is much easier to fill from a faucet than a babbling brook but with some practice you can figure it out. One of my friends, a avid backpacker and hiker, regularly fills her Platy bottle while out in the wildness so I know it can be done.

- I accidentally left my Platy half full of water for a few months but, miraculously, with only a little soap and water swished around, it is back to new! The plastic doesn't retain any scents or flavors.

- Platy bottles can be used with warm or cold beverages. They are not insulated at all but I have found that they hold in the cold or heat for a reasonable amount of time. Some have suggested using them as a heat pack on cold nights. I can also attest that they make a fine cold pack if you get a little overheated.

- The 1.0 liter Platy is big and does take some getting use to. It is perfect for outdoor activities where you want a lot of water handy but maybe not so good for a jog down the block. Keep in mind, however, that it is a bag and therefore more squishy and flexible to pack in a backpack or hold in your hand.

I love my 1.0 liter Platy so much that I am going to buy the smaller, more conveniently sized .5 liter to be my everyday bottle.

These things are pretty cool. The first time someone sees it they make some remark like, "wtf, why are you drinking from a bag?!" but after a short explanation of its merits they're asking where they can buy one.

The thing stands upright even when almost totally empty. The water is tasteless. No bisphenol a. If you need to clean it then just pour some boiling water in it and let it sit. You can freeze it (I would leave the cap open to make sure it doesn't rupture). This thing will double as an icepack to keep things cold in you lunch box and provide you with a cool drink. You can use it as a hot bag for sore muscles. You can drink out of the 1 liter bag with one hand although it will take two hands to open the push/pull cap. When empty the bag will fit in your pocket, it's not super comfy but it will go. It will definitely fit in a tight space in a backpack or purse. My wife loves it because when full it is still flexible and can be stuffed in her purse where a hard water bottle just won't go. I think the only criticism I can levy against it is that it won't fit in a cup holder but if the cap is on securely then it doesn't need to.

I have yet to experience a leak. Make sure the snap cap is *all the way closed* and twisted on securely. A review at slate.com said it looked like a colostomy bag - funny and probably true. Nonetheless, this bag is very 'neato'.

I have several of these and they are great for storing (non-carbonated) liquids in the refrigerator.

QUESTION. Are they safe to carry liquids inside suitcases on airplanes? Mouthwash, shower soap, wine, etc.