I have a platypus bottle and a couple of Evernew bottles (just got them) as well as a platypus Big Zip II (3 liter size).

As far as I can tell there is no significant difference between the bottles. The Evernew bottles come with a cap keeper which is handy and a shock cord for keeping an empty bottle rolled up. But other than that they seem equivalent.

But there is a big difference between the two approaches to hands-free hydration. Evernew offers a drink tube to attach to the bottle and the drink tube extends down into the bottle. The platypus Big Zip II has the tube attached to the bottom of the bladder. At first glance the platypus system seems superior since it's easier to get the last drops of water out of the bladder. However I have discovered that this has a serious drawback.

I've used the Big Zip II on about 10 hiking trips. Last week when I went to fill it up for a new trip I found that there was a leak, not in the bladder per se but in the hard plastic piece between the bladder and the drinking tube. In thinking about it I realized that since this piece is on the bottom of the bladder while in the pack's hydration sleeve it is subjected to a fair amount of force due to the weight of the water (3 liters) and the up and down bouncing that happens as I walk.

Now my model is not the newest one so this issue may have been addressed. However I have also decided that something like a Big Zip is not that convenient for backpacking. I had this idea that the large volume would mean I could carry all the water I might need in the Big Zip. But I found that it is ridiculously hard to get the 1 or 2 cups out that I need to rehydrate my food at for dinner (when not camped near a site with water). I tried pinching the bite valve but that is so slow that it's frustrating. And of course opening the zip closure and pouring out is problematic when you only need a cup or two of water.

So now I've switched over to the Evernew bottles and drink tube. Not that I have anything against the platypus company or anything. I think a playtpus bottle with the drink tube kit attached would work just as well. But I'm through with the specialized "hands-free" systems like the Big Zip.

Perhaps others have different perspectives or experiences.

I'm throwing my vote in for the Evernew bottles. I have had both Evernew and Platypus bladders and i like the well thought out design of the Evernew bottles better. I do think they need to re-think their caps and make them a push-pull top for drinking on the go, and also add some kind of carabiner clip to the necks in order to clip onto a pack strap. Here are some pictures of my last trip using the Evernew bottles (i am still working on the site, so bear in mind it's not finished yet) :

http://www.freewebs.com/bigfoot2pictures/threesisterswilderness.htm


I have not had to deal with Platypus'(?) customer service, but Evernew's customer service is just about the best i have ever seen. I had a question about one of their items, and they sent me two brand new water bottles to try out...entirely un-solicited. That clinches the deal for me and made them a life-long customer!

BF <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I haven't tried the Evernew bottles.

But - I recently changed from using a 2L Camelback inside the pack to using a 1L Platypus Hoser in one of the outside pouches on my pack. I also keep the filter handy (yes - I carry a filter).
So - if getting low on water, I stop for a break (yeah!) and pump some more water.
I've found that taking a break like this actually helps as it forces me to stop and take a break, which gives the rest needed so I can make more mileage.

Anyway - the Platy has pop-tops you can buy, and I haven't had a problem with the hard plastic hose connector, but then it's just 1L of water and it's in an outer pouch.

Doesn't the straw in the Evernew bottle pull up from the bottom of the bottle? That would be my concern with that design...

I had a Flexi Flask, with the straw at the top. I found that the straw would come loose and float around inside the bladder. Also, pressure inside the pack would force water out of the top after the cap came loose from the tube/cap not being able to move freely with movement. You would have to be sure any pull on the tube was in the direction to make it tighter not looser. Sounded good at the time with the cap at the top of the bladder. I have found that my Platy has a better designed cap with a "o" ring in the cap and designed to let the tube move a little withour unscrewing the cap. Worked great this summer on my trip.

Are you sure that isn't a Everclear bladder?:)

I think the Platypus hoser design is probably better than the Platypus Big Zip that I had. In the hoser the drinking tube goes into a screw-on cap. That seems a lot stronger than the Big Zip in which the drinking tube is attached to some clear plastic thing that is welded to the side of the bladder.

I'm not describing this very well. You might want to look at Platypus' web site and compare the picture of the Hoser and the Big Zip. At the bottom of the big zip you see this clear plastic oval. That's the problem. It's not very flexible but because it is on the side of the bladder near the bottom it is put under a lot of stress. Being forced to flex eventually caused mine to crack.

I also think a 1-liter or 2-liter version would have worked better than my 3-liter. I think you are doing the right thing with the 1-liter hosers.

I wanted to update my comments based on some recent experience.

I used the Evernew system on my recent trip to the Ozarks and I wanted to add something to the Platypus vs Evernew comparison. While I dislike the Big Zip I used to have I think the bite valve from Platypus is much superior to the Evernew bite valve. That was a surprise to me. The Evernew bite valve seemed better designed because it had a cover to protect it from the dirt when you put the pack down. It also has an inline valve that shuts off water flow completely. I expected that to eliminate leaks. In fact the opposite was true. The valve itself leaks! Maybe I got a bad one. At any rate the leak was bad enough that while I hiked I had a continual dribble down my shoulder. And during transit to the trail a puddle formed in my car from the continual dripping out the bite valve. Eventually I just unscrewed the drink tube and stowed it and put the lid back on the bottle.

So my new strategy is to take the bite valve from my Platypus system (didn't throw that part away yet) and use it to replace my leaky Evernew bite valve.