Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter & Reservoir System

Product Information

Platypus has developed a solution to this conundrum. A few simple steps are all it takes to do a filter integrity test. Remove the clean-side cap. Put half a liter of water in the reservoir and squeeze some through to wet out the fibers. Next, flip the filter up and squeeze air through. A steady stream of bubbles indicates a compromised filter, in which case it should be trashed. If you’re looking at lightweight, robust and non-plastic tasting water carriers then I’d certainly recommend Platypus. They design their products with a double layer film which means you don’t have that plasticy taste and they are also durable and they have a lifetime warranty on all their products. Hollow Fibre Advantage: Hundreds of tiny hollow fibres enable the micro-filter to filter water faster than traditional filter media.

There is really only one bad thing about the filter. For some reason, Platypus decided to use 2 protruding plastic pieces instead of a traditional thread on the filter bag. The filter bag uses a proprietary design instead of traditional threads. The filter system is so easy to use and I loved how it was versatile so you could switch to how you wanted/needed to use it at a particular time. A cap for the bottom so you can store it without getting everything wet (like in your sleeping bag when it’s code) A note on flow rate: Platypus claims it can filter up to 3 L per minute. I don’t have a 3L reservoir (I have several 1L reservoirs and a 2L version). So I performed the flow rate test based on 1 L of water. In the field, I noticed the water I retrieved from a mountain stream at 12,000 feet tasted a bit purer than the dirtier creek water (which also had a slight color before filtering), but other than that, no difference.

Cons

You can buy the filter part separately so you’d be able to replace that and keep your reservoir. Do you still use filter water bottles or is this a better option? The water filters at a good speed! No waiting around for your water, you can fill, filter and drink! Over the last few years I’ve increased my amount of hiking and wild camping trips. In 2019, I tried out my first filter water bottle for my E2W Challenge, hiking 950-miles across Britain and it was a total game-changer! It has a shake-to-clean mechanism that allows it to keep working throughout its lifetime with no need to take it to pieces or wash it out. The fill and squeeze method considerably reduces the weight and complexity of the filter.

You can use this filter as a straw directly at the water source or attach it to a bottle of water to drink easily. The filter can be combined with a range of Platypus hydration options or other branded bottles with a 28mm screw top opening. It safely removes 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella and Cholera. A steady stream of bubbles indicates the hollow fibers are compromised and the filter is not safe to use. The loop by the lid makes it easy to fill without a fear of letting go and losing your reservoir downstream and it’s handy to use to hold it too. As a solo hiker it was great that I could hike with less water and then filter on the go.But I was also able to help a few fellow hikers who were low on water during the hike, especially when the weather was insanely hot.That little filter chugged along for four months, keeping me hydrated and safe from microscopic boogymen. However, at hike’s conclusion, I hid my Squeeze away, vowing, “never again.” I was fed up with the leaking pouches, slow flow rate, and Herculean grip required to produce each drop. At the cost of half a pound, I moved to a gravity filter system and looked forward to living the good life.

Aside from a doomed return to squeezing with the Micro Squeeze for part of the CDT, after which I again vowed, “never again,” I’ve been gravity all the way. That is, until this summer—when Platypus introduced a new contender in the squeeze filter category. litre dirty water reservoir is made with tri-layer film which uses a durable outer layer and taste-free inner layer. For thru-hikers, especially solo hikers, the gold standard seems to be the Sawyer Squeeze. But possibly not for long.Hollow Fiber Advantage: Hundreds of tiny hollow fibers enable the microfilter to filter water faster than traditional filter media. During those 20 seconds, look for a steady stream of bubbles in the spout emerging from the hollow fibers on the clean side. But either way, it’s fast enough for what I want! Does the water taste funny or is it just off colour because of the peat? Does it make peaty water clean? Each day I would find the nearest water sources on the map, maybe a stream, spring or brook and few treat stops (pubs and cafes) where I could get tap water!

Yes, there’s not really much you need to do other than fill the reservoir, screw the filter on and turn upside-down, gravity does the rest for you! The wide-mouth bag has a handle which made it easy to scoop up water from lakes and streams. The bad The filter has a grey screw lid at both ends, one covering the filter (known as the dirty end) and one that you pour or drink the water from (the clean end). Effective: Each microfilter is individually tested to ensure it meets all EPA & NSF guidelines for the removal of 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa*.As someone that hikes in the Peak District this is something I’ve got used to! But I appreciate it’s not for everyone. In the instance of being dehydrated or drinking peaty water I know which option I’d choose! While the filter itself is better than the Sawyer Squeeze or BeFree, the design problem with the dirty water reservoir makes it hard to recommend buying the kit that comes with the bag. If you’ve drank filtered peaty water depending on the colour of the water you can notice a slight soil taste, but it’s not something I’ve ever been bothered about, the darker the colour the stronger the taste of peat you’ll notice.