Platypus 2 Liter+ bottles > going extinct?

Both of my 8 year old Platypus 2 liter bottles sprang small leaks on my last trip.

I just got back from my local REI, where I had the unpleasant experience of asking for what I thought was a standard near-universal item, the Platypus 2 Liter collapsible bottle with a plain cap on it (as opposed to a push/pull for drinking type of cap) and discovering that, not only were they out of stock, they were not planning on getting any more. All they had were 1 liter and 0.5 liter bottles.

So, I came home and did some searching on the internet. What I found was a very spotty supply of these at a couple of sellers, and it was not even listed any more at most of the major sellers, such as REI and Campmor.

It looks very much like Platypus has discontinued the 2L+ sized bottle, which is a shame, since it is precisely what I use, what I want and what I need. My water system is built around this bottle.

Phooey!

(BTW, I ordered three an hour ago, through Amazon.)

Could you find Platy Patches anywhere? I still get the occasional pinhole, and I'm down to my last patch. Can't find them anywhere. Seems like I have to buy a new Platy bottle when I get a hole. Not happy with that.

I checked the Cascade Designs site and found a 2L bottle listed here. It is a 2 L bottle rather than the old 2.5L bottle, and instead of being straight up and down, it has a wave in the middle like the new 1L bottles, making it harder to stuff into a long outside mesh pack pocket.

I couldn't find anything about patches or the filter connector, so those are evidently extinct. The filter connector has been gone for a couple of years now, and I have only one left. I guess Cascade Designs wants to make sure you can only use their own filter with their bottles.

Unfortunately Evernew bottles (the only comparable bottles) also have the wave in the middle. They do have the advantage of a cap connector so you can't lose the cap without losing the whole bottle. Evernew doesn't have a 1L bottle; it's 0.9L, which seems a rather odd size, especially for those wanting to use Katadyn or Aquamira chlorine dioxide tablets. No patches or filter connectors listed on the Evernew site, either. When my 2L Platys give out, I'll switch to the 2L Evernew. I was told by Glenn at Gossamer Gear that Evernew and Platypus caps match, so I'll still be able to use my precious filter connector. I already switched to a seltzer water bottle as a 1L container.

You can still make the Filter Link, though it's not as cheap. Just buy a Platypus Drink Tube kit - it's a Link with a long hose attached to it. Remove the hose (or cut it to the size you need to attach to your water filter outlet nib) and voila! - Platy Filter Link.

I'd say OM's link to Cascade Designs shows they haven't abandoned the product. Thanks, OM!

However, my recent observations on availability seem to indicate that many retailers are backing off from stocking it, instead of the less-useful-to-me products, like 1 liter (or smaller) bottles and the larger (but more expensive) "hydration reservoirs" and such stuff.

I agree--every time I go into REI looking for useful odds and ends, I walk out an hour later without having found anything, except maybe an isobutane canister. It's sad! Between traffic and $3+ per gallon gas, it's cheaper to mail order!

I used to be able to find this sort of miscellaneous stuff (like Platy bottles and accessories) at the now-defunct GI Joe's. I don't know if Sportsman's Warehouse or Dick's Sporting Goods (the latter moved into the former Gresham GI Joe's) carry that kind of thing. Now that we have a new natural foods store in Gresham, I no longer need to go to Clackamas to grocery-shop, so I'd better look into what's at the local Dick's Sporting Goods.

Because I was at my local Tualatin REI, and a Dick's Sporting Goods store has occupied a defunct GI Joe's just a short distance away from it, I checked that Dick's on my way home. It, too, carried only the 1 liter bottles and a few of the more expensive Platypus items.

Well, there's another good idea down the tube. Looks like mail order or nothing!

Maybe I'm confused, so excuse me if this isn't helpful, but I buy my "2 liter" platypus bottles from campmor online. Not the exact one I have, but close enough

Hope that helps... It's got a small size top - which isn't connected, so I guess beware if you're prone to losing parts of your equipment that aren't bolted down :-)

aimless:

I'm still not sure what we're talking about. Are we talking about a Nalgene-type (or Bpa free) hard-plastic Platypus bottle, or are we talking about the 2-liter reservoir with hose, such as this:

Platypus 2-liter soft reservoir

My 2-liter water pouch like the one pictured above sprung a leak last trip, and I had bought my wife a new one at REI back in July. It says "Lifetime Warranty" right on the bottle and I took it back to REI and they found a record of the one I'd bought in July, but nothing on the one with the leak I had bought a good 8 years ago or so from them, before I even had an REI member number. So I was SOL on them replacing it and was told to go to Platypus if I wanted an exchange. Forget that! So I got the last new 2L reservoir they had, with the sales person telling me they were being back-ordered on most Platypus stuff. What's up with that?

I did get a 20-per-cent discount after I moaned and told them I could have said that the POS with the leak was the one from July "with a whole lot of use", but couldn't because of my Catholic upbringing and a fear of lightning on the trail.

I left happy, proud of myself for not lying, but $16 poorer.

I found the 2 liter old style straight sided Platy at the Down Works in Santa Cruz for thirteen bucks. Grabbed one to replace my slowly-yellowing, brittle two plus year old one... had I seen this thread I would have grabbed several.

kevonionia,

I am referring to the Platy 2 liter bottle, not the Platy reservoir. The major distinction between these items is that the reservoir is designed to live inside a pocket in your pack and be accessed at all times through a drinking tube, but the bottle is designed to stand up on its own and if you want a drinking tube you must purchase it as an accessory.

The simpler, more verstaile 2L bottle is cheaper than the more specialized 2L reservoir, because you aren't required to buy a new drinking tube each time you buy one.

I have had Cascade Designs replace gear long after its' useful life with their life time warranty. Mail it to them and they will replace it.

I found the Platypus 2 liter collapsable bags(screw on cap)at Sport Chalet. I got mine from the store in Visalia, CA. They are normal price $10. They have store in UT, NV, CA and AZ. Unfortunately thy dont show them on their web site so you will have to go to a store.
www.sportchalet.com

I looked on online and here is the link for the 2L Platy Bottle.

http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/handheld-hydration/platy-bottle/product

It only comes with the push/pull cap, but you can buy the closure cap.

http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/platy-accessories/closure-cap/product

I dont know anyone who carries it in store. Hopes this helps.

I found some 2+ Platys here:

http://www.mountainsports.com/msmain.asp?Option=Detail&Detail=087103

If you order $50 the shipping is free. Since my water system is based on the 2+ I ordered 4 to get the free shipping. We'll see if the order gets completed or if they're out.

Looks like i found a good source at $5.00 each:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/spo/1981556268.html

The seller says:
"We bought a large number of these Platypus waterbottles at a wholesale price for our club for an expedition that didn’t occur. We’re hoping to find good homes for them. They’re brand new and have never been used, so this is your chance to get a brand new Platypus collapsible folding water bottle for less than a third the price found in stores. "

I'm not affiliated with the seller, just stumbled on it by chance. Hope this helps.

BF

It was a nice thought Bigfoot - but I just checked and the listing has been removed.

Also the 2+ liter platys that I purchased from Mountain Sports (link in my last post) showed up today - only they are not 2+, but only the standard 2 liter platys. Thay will, sadly, be returned.

The description in BF2's linked listing sounded exactly like regular Platys, but with one suspicious detail. It claimed that "wholesale" Platys came without the brand printed on them.

The idea that Cascade Designs would alter their factory line in order to deliberately produce bottles without their brand displayed on them seems quite farfetched to me. Companies LOVE their brands and stick them on everything.

No big surprise the listing is gone.