PLATYPUS HOSER RESERVOIR
BY NANCY GRIFFITH
OWNER REVIEW June 15, 2012
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME:
|
Nancy
Griffith |
EMAIL:
|
bkpkrgirlATyahooDOTcom |
AGE:
|
46
|
LOCATION:
|
Northern
California, USA |
GENDER:
|
F
|
HEIGHT:
|
5' 6" (1.68
m) |
WEIGHT:
|
130 lb (59.00
kg) |
My outdoor experience began in
high school with involvement in a local canoeing/camping group called Canoe
Trails. The culmination was a 10-day canoe voyage through the Quebec wilds.
I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I have completed
all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. My
typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from a few days to
a week long. I carry a light to mid-weight load, use a tent, stove and trekking
poles.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
|
Photo courtesy of
Platypus | Manufacturer: Cascade Designs,
Inc. Year of Manufacture: 2010 Manufacturer's Website: http://cascadedesigns.com/ MSRP:
N/A Listed Weight: 3.6 oz (102 g) for 2L Measured Weight: 3.5 oz (99
g)
Listed Size: 6 in x 16 in (15 cm x 41 cm) Measured Size: Tapers
from 6 to 6-3/4 in x16 in (15.2 to 17.2 cm x 40.6 cm)
Sizes Available: 1
L (34 fl oz), 1.8 L (60 fl oz), 2 L (70 fl oz), 3 L (100 fl oz) Size Owned: 2
L (70 fl oz)
Made in U.S.A.
The Platypus Hoser
hydration system is a polyurethane/polyethylene film reservoir which is welded
along the edges to form a seam between the top and bottom layers. On the
outside of the reservoir there are graduated marks printed at every 0.5 L (17
oz) up to the stated volume. The reservoir holds even more than the size
stated. At the top center is an opening to allow for hanging in a pack. At
the lower corner is a threaded polyethylene spout which attaches to a
polyurethane drink tube. The drink tube has a silicone bite valve attached.
There is also a detachable clip which snaps around the tube and can clip to a
pack strap to keep the drink tube in an easy-to-access location.
FIELD USE
We
purchased two of these a few years ago to replace our existing hydration
systems. Because the ones that we were using are common brands, I was really
surprised that the Hoser is about half the weight of either of them. In all I
have four different brands of hydration systems and the Hoser is lighter than
any of them. This is significant as I try to lighten our pack weights.
I have used the Hoser on multiple backpacking trips and day hikes for a
total of approximately 45 days. Trips ranged in length from overnight to
ten-nights.
Some examples of backpacking uses include:
Desolation Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California; 3 days; 19.5 mi (31.4
km); 6,560 to 8,220 ft (2,000 to 2,505 m) elevation; 40 to 80 F (4 to 27
C).
Bucktail Path, Elk State Forest, Pennsylvania: 2 days, 15 mi (24 km);
2,100 to 2,700 ft elevation; 55 to 70 F (13 to 21 C).
Wonderland Trail,
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: 10 nights; 100 mi (161 km); 2,600 to
7,200 ft (792 to 2,195 m) elevation; 32 to 62 F (0 to 17 C).
Point Reyes
National Seashore, California: 2 nights; 21 mi (34 km); 0 to 1,407 ft (429 m)
elevation; 40 to 55 F (4 to 13 C).
My husband immediately installed his
favorite 'other brand' locking valve between the drink tube and the bite valve.
I used mine as-supplied for some time until I set my pack on top of the bite
valve and had water leak everywhere. After that my husband installed a locking
valve on mine too. Now I just have to remember to close it. The drink tube and
bite valve allow for a nice flow of water. I can easily suck in enough water to
rehydrate quickly. The bite valve is easy to use and comfortable in my mouth.
It is easier to use and has a higher flow rate than some other reservoirs that I
own.
The
spout opening is a little small but is easy to fill from my home refrigerator
filter and from my gravity filter tube. It is too small to add ice cubes which
I like to do on hot days. This has caused me to not use it as frequently for
day hiking when I have ice available in the morning. I still use it for
backpacking trips when I'm not adding ice anyway and when I'm more concerned
about pack weight. I sometimes add an electrolyte mix to my water and can
usually get most of it into the spout without spilling it, but a larger spout
would help this also.
The threaded spout is compatible with my gravity
filter which makes it really convenient to fill the reservoir. I can filter
directly into it and use it as my clean bag for in-camp use. I can also filter
into the drink tube without removing the reservoir from my pack. This is
especially convenient when the reservoir is buried in a full backpack making it
very difficult to re-insert when full of water.
I have used the Hoser in
multiple backpacks of varying brands and have found them to fit in the hydration
sleeves and/or on the hydration hooks without any issue. The opening at the top
makes it easy to hang it from the top.
I have found the Hoser to be
fairly easy to clean but I can't get inside the reservoir as easily as with
others that open completely. I usually just shake water in the reservoir to
clean it and occasionally add some bleach to the mixture. I never use the
reservoir for sugary drinks and primarily use it for water with the occasional
addition of electrolytes. Despite not being able to really scrub the reservoir,
I haven't had any issues with anything growing inside or of it not seeming to be
completely clean. I use a narrow flexible brush for cleaning the drink tube
which is designed for this task. The bite valve occasionally gets some black
moldy gunk on it when I've left it for too long with water inside but is easy to
clean by pulling it off of the drink tube.
The durability has not been an
issue despite quite a bit of the use. I haven't tried to be gentle on it but
have been no signs of any leaking, damage or wear. The printing on the outside
is wearing slightly and doesn't look as crisp as when it was new, but everything
is still legible.
SUMMARY
The Platypus Hoser is a
high-quality hydration system with a nice bite valve and convenient pack clip.
THINGS I LIKE
Lighter than our other
reservoirs Pack clip No leaks Fits into my packs
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Spout is small Bite valve
doesn't lock
SIGNATURE
Nancy Griffith This
report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org
Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
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|