Thanks for the very detailed instructions JJ, I awill be off to Tescos tomorrow. I assume their miltons is with the baby stuff? Is it called miltons?
Sorry to be so dense, honestly I am not winding you up.

JJ, I've often banged on about this, but the platy beats the camelbak hands down every time.
The new version platy is a different shape to stop seam failures and has a closeable angled bite valve.
I never go anywhere without one :o)
In saying that, the source ones look nice...

Richard - it's in the babycare section and it's called 'MILTON' or else '"steralising fluid" - the same stuff. Navy blue bottles made from high density polyethylene...Too much information??
lol


Pete - you changed your pic! Awww, you looked really cute in the last one....

WHY is the platy better than a camel if most peeps like the Camel best?

I thought the new one was less in your, and indeed my, face.
The platy doesn't taste, the camelbak does, it's a simple as that for me.
Pushy camelbak marketing? Availability? The nice wee rucksacks they make too?
Stupid dull platy packaging certainly hasn't helped the cause.
If you're going to try another platy JJ, make sure you get one in the new white and blue box, it's the better version.

PS, if you look closely you can see the new valve in my wee photo :o)

Platy every time for me.

I've got three in varying sizes and my wife has two. Oldest is a few years old now.

We don't look after them very well but they have never leaked and appear to have loads of life left in them - pretty cheap too apart from the bite valve.

Never had a bite valve problem apart from one getting 'dragged off' the tube about half a dozen feet from the top of a c50ft gully that I was scrambling up. It landed several feet below me on a small ledge.

Stupidly I finished the gully, took my pack off, and descended to retrieve it. It was hairy descending and probably not worth the risk - I did recover it though.

Reminds me of the time when it was snowing at Cockly Beck and I dropped a full Sigg Bottle into a 4 foot deep pool. It was Feb and I stripped naked, clambered in, and retrieved it! Wife thought that I had lost my marbles!

Cheers

Nick

JJ- I used camelbak for a couple of years and had got through 3 resevoirs all have leaked around the rim.
I have used platy for some time now and i find them so much better, and would not go back to the camelbak for all the t in china.
The camel bak used to go mouldy quite quickly i dont have that problem with platy however as soon as ive used it i clean it out and put the whole platy and tube into the freezer. When you need it, it thaws out in minutes and you have no rancid taste that makes you heave.................
Platy 100% recommendation from me.

Ptc, your piccy does indeed show the new valve I was trying to describe earlier, why didn't you post earlier ;) it would have made my life easier

I have used the platy for bout 3 years now, and has never let me down. Threat of leakage is alsways prevalent though, and the valve is prone to coming off. Tuther problem is the mould in the tube, (though adds taste to the water!). However, have frozen it for the last 3 years with no obvious damage. having read this thread though, i think a new one could be necessary........

As an alternative to Milton (which is fab for cleaning bladders etc, as directed by JJ), an alternative is the stuff homebrewers use for sterilising/cleaning brewing eqpt. There are various types readily available at homebrew shops (or Boots?).

This same stuff is also great for cleaning stubborn stains from inside decanters, particularly Port stains!

oot'naboot-sounds as tho you have the Big Zip platy rather than the Hoser.After a time the zip can be hard to seal.

I also have a Platypus which came with my Lowe Alpine Wadi 15 rucksack. I've only used it once but didn't get on with it very well. I couldn't seem to suck much water out of the tube and was wondering if someone could tell me what I'm doing wrong?

As a newbie to all things walking, I'm enjoying reading the forums and getting lots of hints and tips. Thank you to JJ Ninja Starfish for the tip on using Miltons to clean the Platypus. And I didn't realise what a good idea it is to freeze the bladder as well! All excellent tips for a newbie.

Does the screw lid with the tube attached go at the bottom of the rucksack? I know this is probably a stupid question but I didn't seem to be able to get much water out either way!

Anyway, I hope someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong with my Platypus so that I can try to use it successfully this weekend.

> This same stuff is also great for cleaning stubborn stains from inside decanters, particularly Port stains!

LOL at Peter! How posh are you? ;-)

Good platypus experiences here too. Never had one leak. Milton cleans it out OK. I've never tried any other type of hydrations sysmtem though so can't offer the comparison you seek, JJ.

Guffy, the lid goes at the bottom, so carry your plat upsidedown, it makes it easier to drink from especially when its nearly empty.

A cheap alternative to milton is bread soda.

My bottle of Milton-substitute is years old so I reckon it's pretty good value so far ;o)

Guffy - upside down, and squeeze any air out of the bladder before you seal it - think of it like bleedin a radiator - push till a bit leaks out. Then screw up.

The question came about because:
I'm thinking of getting the new bite valves/tubes as well seeing as the valve isn't great and all our tubes are years old. That would cost plenty. Slush and Rubble had some complete Camel systems in their sale which would have ended up a bargain. Unfort, they sold out while we were discussing this thread :o(

New valves, it is, then

I've had the same 2L Hoser for about 3 or 4 years and have had no problems at all. It doesnt leak (yet) or taste. When im done with it I just rinse it in clean water and leave ito to dry out then I sterilise it before I take it away again, havent tried freezing before. The hose has white mould in but I just take a risk once ive sterilised it, looks crap but doesnt seem to hurt. I tape the bite valve onto the hose after losing one when the platy froze on a trip.

Cath,

Not very. I have some posh tastes like good port (never touch spirits) and a real love of using a proper fountain pen with proper ink from a bottle.

Mmmmm port.

mmmm Port and stilton

That's it. Work stops now. The evening has started. Resistance is futile. Nice things will be removed from the fridge.

I did not intend to hijack the thread. Sorry.