For as long as I can remember, I have drank the majority of my H2O from a Nalgene plastered with an obnoxious amount of stickers and a carabiner attached to the lid loop. At school, the gym, in the backcountry, or at the dinner table. The setting never really mattered to me because the Nalgene was always with me. To this day, I still have a host of Nalgenes at my disposal. Some are newer, some are covered with a tattered array of stickers from my past. Each bottle represents a period in my life or a specific set of adventures. The take home message here is that each Nalgene has a story to tell.
While that sentimental value has always been improtant to me, it does not supersede my desire for the increased mobility and comfort of a lighter and more compact backpack while I am traveling. This brings me to the topic of this post, the Platypus water bottle. Constructed from a non-rigid, yet sturdy clear plastic, this water bottle is basically a giant, heavy-duty Ziploc bag with a mouthpiece. It weighs 1.3 ounces, which is significantly lighter than your standard issue Nalgene, weighing in at 6.2 ounces. That is quite a difference. Another benefit of the Platypus bottle is that it takes up almost no space when it is empty. Nalgenes are wonderfully solid and are nearly indestructable, but an empty Nalgene takes up just as much space as a full one. There are some sacrifices, however, when making the transition from a Nalgene to a collapsible bladder. Nalgene always has prided itself on the durability of their bottles, where Platypus makes no much claims. A Nalgene will outlast a Platypus. Another bonus of the Nalgene is that you can use it for so many other things: self-defense, storing fragile items, rolling out sore muscles, etc. Nalgene’s are truly useful, but, to me, they are not worth the added weight nor the added inconvenience.
The Platypus bottle comes in a variety of sizes at a surprisingly low price point.
Pros: Drinking tube set up, collapsible, cheap, lightweight.
Cons: Crinkle, awkward, fragile.
The Bare Bones
Name: The Platypus Platy Bottle
Materials: Food grade lined BPA-free plastic
Recommended Uses: Hydration in any lightweight, compact capacity
Weight: 1.3 oz
Price: $10.00
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