Platypus GravityWorks High-Capacity Water Filter System for Group Camping and Emergency Preparedness

Product Information

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. Group-ready: 8 liter (4.0L filtered + 4.0L unfiltered) total capacity easily supplies water for groups. 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! Effective: Every 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*. *This includes Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella and Cholera.

Filters like the Sawyer Squeezeand Katadyn BeFreeare popular because the actual filter unit is so small, and the weight is close to nothing. The Sawyer Squeeze weighs just a couple of ounces, while the Katadyn weighs 6.8 ounces (but remember, it can filter up to 3 L of water at a time). The personal Peak Series filter worked extremely well and had a good flow rate. After 20+ years of LifeStraw being on market, it was nice to finally see a big upgrade in materials and design. 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! Its 0.1-micron microfilter allows you to confidently gulp down any water you encounter on a long trail (though the murky cow troughs in New Mexico on the CDT did have our tester filtering twice), and the high flow rate means you’re not wasting a bunch of energy just to get a sip in. The wide mouth of the flexible flask allows it to fill up in just a couple of scoops, and you can clean the filter by simply swishing water around in the flask.

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There are a couple of versions of the Gravityworks now, the original had two hanging reservoirs, this one has one to hang somewhere with the clean side reservoir being a bottle - this format is easier to use once its full of clean water. Both the dirty resrvoir and the bottle receptacle are 2.0L. Hollow Fiber Advantage: Hundreds of tiny hollow fibers enable the microfilter to filter water faster than traditional filter media. Sleek, lightweight, and thoughtfully designed, the newly minted LifeStraw Go Series filter bottle is ready for a rowdy road trip across Mexico, or a casual day on the river. Its streamlined, stylish design joins forces with a 0.2-micron filter and 4,000 L lifespan to deliver a hard-working portable filter that’s equally at home on trail, or around town.

Then depending on where the next water source was I’d fill the 1-litre reservoir and maybe my 500 ml one too, if it was a distance to hike. The Katadyn BeFree system can filter smaller particles down to 0.1 microns. The majority of reviewers love that it’s both easy to use and clean. Filters also come in different styles: straw-style, pump filters, gravity filters, and UV or tablet treatments. They all make water safe to drink but differ slightly in size, durability, and price. They work great for larger groups or when you want to filter a lot of water all at once. They’re also quite light, given their speed and ease of use.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.

To justify taking anything on an extended thru-hike it needs to be dependable, lightweight, and durable enough to last for months of torture. Today, you usually see one of two popular filters being used by long-distance hikers going the length of trails like the PCT and AT: the Sawyer Squeeze or the Katadyn BeFree. 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*. *This includes Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella and Cholera. We’ve tested this filter abroad and love it for international travel . It’s ideal for when you want to filter all tap water before drinking, and it works wonderfully as a constant companion to keep you hydrated on the go. MSR’s setup is simple, even if you do need ample space to get the dirty reservoir at least 6 feet above the clean water receptacle (fairly common for gravity water filters). The speedy flow rate is ideal, and the bottle adapter fits a range of sizes to allow the filling of separate water bottles or a larger container with the entire 10 liters. The kit also includes a universal bottle adaptor. If you prefer to use a rigid bottle for your drinking water then the adaptor allows you to filter straight into it rather than the platy bottle that comes with the kit.

Performance Comparison

We like Katadyn’s Micropur M1 tablets for chemical treatment, as they tend to leave a more subtle aftertaste compared to other brands. The SteriPEN Adventurer has been our go-to UV filter for its long lifespan and light weight. If I’d have taken traditional water bottles, firstly, it would have been harder to fit them in due to their shape and secondly, they would have been heavier. For example, my 1-litre water bottle weighs 142 grams so three of those would have been 426 grams, with 40 grams for the soft flask my total weight with the same water would have been 3.9 kg. It’s not flawless, though. First, it isn’t as versatile as the Squeeze in that it won’t fit over standard water bottle mouths (this isn’t an issue if you plan to just use the included flask). Second, it tends to clog a little faster in filthy water than other filters, including the Squeeze. 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. Complete Kit: Easily configure the system to your needs with the included 2.0L flexible water bottle and adapters* for maximum versatility and adaptability.

Group-ready: 8 or 12 liter (4.0L/6.0L filtered + 4.0L/6.0L unfiltered) total capacity easily supplies water for groups. I’ve been using water filters since May 2019, when I did a 2-month hike using one, since then I’ve tried and tested a few different filter systems and bottles and I can 100% say I’ve not been ill from drinking filtered water. These filters use gravity to pull water from a dirty bag, through a filter, and into a clean bag or directly into your mouth. These are often the easiest filters to use as you simply hook it up to a tree branch or tent and wait. These are usually heavier and take some time to set up, so aren’t the best options for fast and light missions. They tend to work best for large groups or to keep around a base camp. Pure Platy experience: The Platy 2.0L Bottle is taste-free, as well as BPA-free, BPS-free, and phthalate-free.

Delivering four liters of filtered water is just 2.5 minutes with no pumping, there’s simply no easier or faster way to get safe water away from home. Ideal for bigger groups, the system’s eight-liter capacity eliminates both the worry and hassle of keeping plenty of water around for anything you need.