Platypus  QuickDraw Filter System - 2 Liter

Two updates to my review earlier: first, kudos to the support team for getting back to me promptly. Second, I went to the FAQs and found some suggestions, which I had tried before but had more luck on the second time. One was to put some kind of bristle-brush type thing inside and hang the reservoir right side up in the sun to evaporate dry. That worked - - and I imagine you could do this on cloudy days inside the home too. Or, I guess there are "plastic bag dryers" you can find on line that kinda do the same thing - - [who knew?] - - though they can cost up to half the price of the reservoir system, which seems a bit extravagant. However, you can probably find something like chopstick tongs around the house to do the same thing. Bottom line: tricky but do-able.

After testing nearly all available backpacking water filter systems and brands in the current market, I'm happily landed and sticking with Platypus. Easily connects to my Gregory 3D Hydro backpack bladder (with quick connector smartly located at top of bladder instead of bottom) for when I desperately need a full tank in my backpack for long dry stretches. Easily interchangeable between bladder and "smart" water bottles only having to deal with one type of filter. Easy enough backwashing cleaning procedure makes this filter system uncomplicated.

I was finally able to put the new filter system in use in Yosemite. This filter itself is lightweight and comes with a lot of options to connect to bottles, hydration bladder, etc, but the gray water bag is frustrating to use when trying to fill it. The small opening to fill the bag doesn't seem to be an issue, if you are refilling it from a running stream, but trying to do it from a lake, is painfully slow. I don't know why they couldn't have made the bag with a "Big Zip" which is they have already for faster filling. Knowing what I know now, I would never buy the entire filter/bag system. I would simply buy the filter and pair it with a CNOC VextoX 28 mm thread bag. It's too bad, this could have truly been a 5 stars filter/bag combo. Also, if they had designed the bag with a Big Zip, it would avoid all the previously stated issue of drying the bag out after use.

The opening of the platypus is very limited when it come to filling with water. There is no way to hang up the bladder. I will be returning it

Really lightweight, very easy to use. No issues filling the dirty bag as long as you have a deep enough pool or running water. I love this little filter.