Carrying Extra Water, What Container Do You Use

I carry a large Platypus bag for collecting and treating water, so I would just fill that and clip it to my pack. I'm carrying it anyway. It has a very wide zipper opening and handles for ease of use.

I use a 1 gallon recycled bottle that I got from Safeway (had water in it.)

It has a cap a little bigger than a gator aid bottle.

I don't worry about folding it up. When empty I carry it outside my pack. When full I carry it inside my pack.

Mine has a handy nylon carrying loop. Designs for these things change all the time so I don't know if this exact model is still available. I've used it for several years. A gallon size doesn't weigh much more than a half gallon size.

I have both the 1L Nalgene Cantene and the 2L Platy. I have found that I usually grab the Platy when heading out. The Platy is larger in volume as well as lighter than the Nalgene. But like you mentioned, the one downfall of the Platy is the tiny opening. Up to this point I have always filled my Gatorade bottle from the stream and then poured it into my Platy where I would treat it, and then return it to my Gatorade bottle. However, just to be sure that I don't cross contaminate I will try bringing a 1 qt size Ziploc bag to use to dip water from the stream and pour into the Platy. not sure how well it will work, but I think it should work out pretty well.

Anyway, here is a video that I did just talking about the two bottles:

http://sticksblog.com/2011/01/16/nalgene-platy-collapsible-soft-bottles/

I normally carry a 2 liter Platy for my normal drinking needs and then I also carry another 2 liter rolled up that I fill up for camp use. When I get to camp (or close) I fill up both of the Platys that way in the morning I will have my main supply full already ( I hate getting water in the morning), and at camp I use the other Platy for drinking/cooking/cleaning etc.. Its a great system and if you know you will have a long stretch in between water sources you are set.

The only thing I don't like about the platypus containers is that if you set it down it usually falls over especially if it's not completely full. Then you end up with a cap full of dirt, especially if it is wet.
Minor hassle- I work around it but it took me awhile to change habits.

Newton, which pack are you to use?

in my hauler pack, the OHM, the side pockets are large as you know. im going to revert back to the free 2L soda bottle since i'm no longer fond of the collapsable bottle. i cant seem to keep a platy for over 6 months w/o a crack developing in the seam. for $13, that is unacceptable. the other thing, i dont like that the platy collapses when not completely full (and even then its still flimsy) when carried in the side of my OHM.
the failure rate of the top zip platy carried inside pack is too high for me – and nalgene is fairly heavy due to that large cap.

soda bot's stand up easier w/o the balancing act of the other 2.
soda bot's are FREE! basically..
and if you lose the cap, you dont have to pay $3 for a new one.
did i mention FREE? ;)

when is your dry stretch in the trip if in the begining a two liter soda bottle would not be bad as it could be flattened after you are done with it. Other wise Id go with the plattys that can be folded up and stored I have never had a platty fail Iguess im just lucky as ive used the same one for years I bought a spare along time ago to stay with the old style its never been used. I also carry one gaterade or power aid bottle so filling the platty is easy. If you only have one dry stretch I would go with light and compact. But how long is one dry stretch?

I usually carry a 2L platypus empty inside the pack (for camp) and two 1L water bottles from any store, although I like the Smartwater ones that are narrow and tall and seem to fit in side mesh pockets a little better than some others. The most water in the NW I think I'd be carrying would be 2L but most of the time just 1 to 1.5 L.

I use a Platypus collapsable 1 Liter "bottle".

A trick I was taught if you hook your hydration hose to your platy…. blow air back into it after drinking to keep it firm….works for me!

> even the lowly reclaimed 2 liter soda bottle.
Only the 1.25 L versions. Leakproof, tough and very light.

cheers

Depending on the activity, I may use a 1L Platy, 2L Platy, and a 1L HDPE Nalgene (the lighter weight translucent model with blue top) to be Steripen and group filter friendly.

I am becoming a fan of the Smartwater tall and narrow 1L bottles. $1 for some "enhanced" water and a very good bottle. They fit nicely in the pack side pockets.

I use a Source 2L collapsible when I need to carry extra water beyond my two 20 oz bottles I carry on my shoulder straps. The Source collapsible is a tad heavier than the the Platy's, but seems more durable and stands much better, even when not full.

The 3L platy hoser bag and cap only weighs about 2 oz.
The hose and mouthpiece is also about 2 oz.