Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter & Reservoir System

Product Information

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 It has a shake-to-clean mechanism that allows it to keep working throughout its lifetime with no need to take it to pieces or wash it out. The fill and squeeze method considerably reduces the weight and complexity of the filter. Platypus has developed a solution to this conundrum. A few simple steps are all it takes to do a filter integrity test. Remove the clean-side cap. Put half a liter of water in the reservoir and squeeze some through to wet out the fibers. Next, flip the filter up and squeeze air through. A steady stream of bubbles indicates a compromised filter, in which case it should be trashed.

The filter has a grey screw lid at both ends, one covering the filter (known as the dirty end) and one that you pour or drink the water from (the clean end). 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! While the filter itself is better than the Sawyer Squeeze or BeFree, the design problem with the dirty water reservoir makes it hard to recommend buying the kit that comes with the bag. I’ve used quite a lot of filtering methods in my fairly short lifetime. Chemical and UV treatments, tablets, pumps, and my favorite method as someone who travels as efficiently as possible — a hollow fiber or activated carbon membrane filter (there are a few in this category — like a LifeStraw or Grayl Geopress).You can use this filter as a straw directly at the water source or attach it to a bottle of water to drink easily. The filter can be combined with a range of Platypus hydration options or other branded bottles with a 28mm screw top opening. It safely removes 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella and Cholera.

A cap for the bottom so you can store it without getting everything wet (like in your sleeping bag when it’s code) In testing, I filtered from several clear and fast-running alpine streams, and then one not-so-ideal creek source. This dirtier source made for the best (most brutal) time flow rate test. In the field, I noticed the water I retrieved from a mountain stream at 12,000 feet tasted a bit purer than the dirtier creek water (which also had a slight color before filtering), but other than that, no difference.A note on flow rate: Platypus claims it can filter up to 3 L per minute. I don’t have a 3L reservoir (I have several 1L reservoirs and a 2L version). So I performed the flow rate test based on 1 L of water. The wide-mouth bag has a handle which made it easy to scoop up water from lakes and streams. The bad 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. As someone that hikes in the Peak District this is something I’ve got used to! But I appreciate it’s not for everyone. In the instance of being dehydrated or drinking peaty water I know which option I’d choose!