Platypus SoftBottle Collapsible Backpacking Water Bottle with Closure Cap

This is a great bottle for hiking & backpacking. Love that it's collapsible which makes it very convenient and functional. No smells or taste in water. Quality is excellent; did not burst when dropped on hard ground. Screw-on lid is nice and does not leak. Only recommendation would be to have the lid attached so that it could not be lost, but that is a very small matter, especially since everything else about it is great. Highly recommend.

This upgraded my travel experience more than items I’ve spent 5X as much on. Unlike a structured water bottle, this travels compact and flat, and takes up almost zero luggage space. This is so much better than metal in your luggage or a bottle on a carabiner. TSA also has zero interest in a flat plastic bladder, so it’s not at all something you need to keep in mind at security. Once you’re at your destination, it fills up easily because the neck can bend. There are faucets that would have been impossible to use with other containers that were no problem for my Platypus. Also, the bottle seals completely and weighs barely more than the water within, so it can do things like fit sideways on top of cans in a mini-bar (especially useful for hotel rooms where a stocked mini-bar is the only fridge). It travels well, fills and holds water well (including standing upright when expanded), and is economically priced. I drink enough water that I bought a second Platypus so one can cool while I drink the other. Highly recommended!

[Price] Currently $13/per 1L bag. The 1L water bottle in the photos was $5 from the airport (overpriced), which I have used many times after my trip and could continue using (presumably less off-gassing/plastic leaching the more you use). In the future, I would also look at some Smartwater 1L "tall" bottles for $1/ea. However, the price differences are probably negligible given the frequency of use and product lifetime. [Space-efficiency] The bag is not particularly space-efficient, as you can see in the photos. Although I can appreciate the design on the bottom which allows the bag to stand upright, it wastes a lot of space. Given how large the bag appears relative to the bottle, I assumed it actually held more than the stated 1L, but was surprised to find it doesn't when emptying its contents into the bottle shown. It seems the designer(s) primarily prioritized "empty-state flatness", but I think they should have compromised on the empty state geometry a bit and optimized more for the "full-state", even if it meant the empty-state was not 100% flat. [Packability] While I appreciate that the bag has a rounded perimeter, the edges still catch on (and potentially would wear over time) the water bottle pockets and nearby seams of my backpacks. I have never had this issue with a water bottle, as it's always just smoothly slid straight in. I also took a photo of both types of water bottles in the side pockets of one of my backpacks (canvas/non-stretchy pockets), but can't tell which one encroaches more on the interior space. The bag may actually be superior here, given that it has a more flattened as opposed to circular top-down profile, and so doesn't waste space in a bottle pocket like a typical water bottle does. [Durability] Of the two bags I bought, each inflated with slightly different creases/pinch points on the bottom fold (where other reviewers said it eventually leaked from). It does seem to catch a bit on each bags unique pinch points when filling/emptying, and doesn't inspire confidence in terms of longevity. There's a bit of that on the top and sides as well, but I'm less concerned about it there. Again, something I have never worried about with a typical water bottle. I think they need to rework the design to avoid these sharp catch points, and ensure things expand/compress smoothly. [Conclusion] Quite expensive (at current price of $13) for what it is, given space-efficiency and packability issues (and especially durability issues). I feel just reusing a typical plastic water bottle may be preferable and less of a hassle. If they could rework the design and how the bag inflates/deflates (avoiding pinches, and providing a more rounded form when fully inflated), it could go from questionable/annoying to being a clear winner. I may update this review after traveling with 2 of them for 3 months. ---- Edit after traveling with them for 3 months in Japan with 28L backpack + small suitcase (updating from 3->4 stars): + Really nice that they can pack down to be flat when empty, such that it reduces volume in a day pack, or allows you to pack a backpack to the gills during transit (like when you bought too many things). Use cases include starting the day with them empty, and then filling/storing once depleting other pack contents (e.g. food); or the inverse of starting the day with them full in a packed daypack, and being able to store a jacket/clothing/souvenirs/etc in the daypack (or maybe just not pack your things as space-efficiently) as you deplete them. + They hold their shape surprisingly well such that you can one-handedly drink from them, and they can support themselves standing upright on plane/train tray tables. + It's nice that they are somewhat deformable when filled (even more so when, e.g., 75-80% full), such that they can accomodate being shoved with other things into a small daypack. - Still concerned about longevity. Some wearing at certain pinch points, and even some de-lamination of an outer plastic layer (though I don't think that in itself is a leak risk). - Still annoying trying to slide down into backpack pockets with the sharp edges, especially when in a hurry or when the backpack is already full. - A bit cumbersome to fill up at water fountains/bottle re-fillers. Easiest just to fill up under a bathtub faucet. - A bit difficult to dry compared to a rigid plastic bottle, but it helps to expand the bottom and let them stand upright. Ultimately, not too concerned about things growing inside, as I just occasionally rinsed some dish detergent around inside. So while I "came around" to the slightly space-inefficient design of the bottom that allows it to stand up on its own, I am still conflicted about trading off durability and quickness of slipping into bottle pockets for occasional space-saving when these are emptied/flattened. I think these are something I would use if I am traveling really compact, but otherwise would prefer to just stick with a plastic water bottle (like Smart Water 1L) for its simplicity. If they made these with a smooth/rounded bottom (giving up ability to stand upright on its own), I may feel differently.

Recently purchased these for our trip to Europe for my sons and me. These were perfect! They folded up to fit into your pocket or backpack and were easy to fill. Holds 32 oz, which was great for the hot weather and long walks. They did not leak and were easy to fill, wash, and use. So glad I purchased these. People asked us about them when they saw how much water they held and how compact the bottles are. Great product

We took two of these hiking to refill our water bottles. They held up well in our backpacks. The plastic is thick and the caps seal fully, without leaking. They are very light and conveniently flatten when empty so there's less to carry back. It was great to not have to ration water so much on the longer hikes/hotter days.

We are always looking to travel light & efficient. We bought these for a three week trip to Japan. One down side is the cap isn't a flip type and has to be removed from the bottle in order to have a drink making it easy to lose. After washing out, the bottle flattens keeping the moisture inside and does not dry out completely. The positive is it does travel flat but with the negatives outlined, it just doesn't work for us.

It is compact and carries lots of water. The only concern I have is that it’s not easy to wash and throughly dry. But it was helpful in my trip.

I have carpal tunnel and joint problems so I try to seek out ergonomic products. What's the healthiest vessel to drink water out of was also a concern of mine because I drink about a gallon (3.75 L) of water per day. The answer to that is glass, and I was in the market for a glass water bottle initially, but came to the conclusion that glass is just inconvenient. Mason jar styles with handles are fairly durable, but they're damn heavy, and you also look like an obnoxious hipster carrying one around. Then there's the glass water bottles with neoprene sleeves, but they still break very easily, and are still too heavy and too small. I wanted a bottle that's close to 32 oz or 1L, and I'm so glad I stumbled across Platypus products! This review is getting long so I'll just list the pros and cons: PROS: -Most lightweight reusable water bottle EVER! Doesn't make my hand tired from drinking or carrying it. -BPA free, but still plastic, that's good enough for me because I'm not a paranoid little snowflake about everything (I mean come on people, "lighten up" (ha) a little) It's just the most practical, honestly. -Anti microbial lining!!!! I didn't eve realize this until later, but had been noticing the water never got that nasty stale water bottle taste, even if forgotten for a few days. -Perfect for airports. Chug all your water before security, tuck it neatly in your bag, fill it up after security. -Easy to clean. -Seems quite durable as long as you don't puncture it with something sharp or something. You can fill it with water and throw it in a backpack and it never leaks. CONS: -Small mouth opening makes it annoying to fill up with a Brita pitcher; you have to be patient. -I'm scared I'm going to lose the cap and then I'll be screwed as far as portability goes -Sometimes slightly awkward to drink out of, might look a little funny. That's it! The pros far outweigh the cons! Get this bottle now!

山小屋泊で1リットル用を2つ持っていきました。いろはすのペットボトルでもいいかなと思いましたが、全然違う！バックの中での収納がしやすい、使い終わったらたためるのが便利！アウトドアにも大活躍！ほんとっお気に入りです☆

Good bottle, light weight easy carry. Would be great if they did smaller sizes as well.

We saw some people using these while at a sports game, what a fantastic idea! We've used ours few times now and they are awesome, most stadiums etc. have water fountains and they just roll up and fit in your bag or pocket. No questions while going through security.......... perfect! Especially for the hot summer days.

These bottles are great. Not much to say it's as advertised a 500ml bottle that collapses down quite small. Doesn't leak and holds up well even to accidental freezing. I use it for snowboarding, golfing, or any other time you don't want to carry a clumsy empty water bottle after you drink it.

Légère, pas de goût de plastique, en y faisant attention dure 3 ou 4 ans d'utilisation intensive avant de finir par fuir.