The Platypus taints water with that familiar polythene taste.

The benefit of simple,cheap PET pop bottles is that it really doesn't taint at all. Not sure about the effects of any unpolymerised terephlates and thier oestrogenic effects, though...

Neither my platy or camelbak made the water taste bad.

John Croteens camelback had a rank taste however. Really nasty. From new as well!

Si

I love my platypus.... perhaps a little too much!
But it doesn`t make water taste bad, as long as you only ever use it with water.

I`m thinking of getting one especially for red wine, when I see them in a sale. It`ll save on carrying heavy bottles.

Having re-read my posting, I realise that it might have sounded like I`m an alcky. I don`t get drunk on my own and would only have heavy bottleS if we were in a group. I hope that clears things up!

I was probably a little defensive in my explanation. This is not because I have had any contact with such problems in the past, but know how things can be mistaken.

It feels like I have talked a divot into a big hole. I`ll get out while I still can.

Hold on, I'll go get a ladder. Thats one deep hole there...

Si

Christopher -Here's a tip to be more discrete: Fill the Platy with vodka instead. Make sure to eat a lot of Mentos too. Bonus: Kills all germs in the bladder, no need to wash it afterwards.

..I suppose that would be to "Convert Standard Bottles Into A Dehydration System", to stay topical..

I did NOT mean that I was a covert alcofrolic. (note to self: buy more vodka!)

My all time favourite lads hiking expedition was a 9 day hike from Wasdale to buttermere to langdale and around (camping and hostelling) and then pitched and canoeing at Coniston Hall Farm. Classic. Needed to take 2 full Platypi each day, each, to rehydrate.

I used to have a cheap US pack (Camp Trails) which had handy sleeves on either side especially for 1.5 lt plastic water bottles. They were very easy to get in and out when moving along, which is the greatest plus of a hydration system. On Offa's Dyke Path, I had a full Platy explode right in front of my eyes as I gently laid it on the ground. They're hardly bomb proof.

Jarl: If you do put vodka in it, you will never, ever get the taste out of it. A friend of mine thought using whiskey to clean his was a good idea..it still tastes of whiskey....3 years later. even after cleaning it with milton etc...


heh.

I have to agree, my platty still tastes of whisky............ Mind it's still got half a litre of Glenmorangie in it!

Whisky and vodka give a great alchohol to weight ratio for back packing.

try cleaning hydration bladders with dispersable denture tablets to remove unwanted after-tastes