I used this last year on 800 miles of the PCT. I really liked the set up, though the flow does tend to decrease with use even with back flushing. It never failed me in any way. I spliced the filter right into the drinking hose so I could just filter as I drank. This did get difficult after awhile but I didnt mind much. At camp if I had enough time I would string it from a tree, remove the mouth piece and use it as a gravity filter into my water bottles. I recomend you use the quick release filter instead of the one with the metal hose clamps and place the filter nearer to the bladder instead of in the middle like I did so that if fits neatly in your pack. Also of note the platypus hose screws nicely onto 2 liter soda bottles which is nice in the desert where the plants are all out to get you.