Platypus Big Zip EVO Reservoir – 2L Hydration Bladder with Fast Flow for Hiking and Biking

The quality of the material is definitely higher than the old hydration pack I was using. Having the clip that holds the zip lock shut attached is great. The bite valve is easy to use, but harder to fit inside my helmet than my old setup. The size of the unit is wider than most of the competitors, meaning it doesn't fit well into garments / bags designed for other units.

Oh, how I wish I switched out my camel back pouch sooner. That thing had to be sealed jussssssssst right so it didn't leak. Open. Close. Open. Close. Tilt it over. Does it leak? Yes. Undo it. Re-do it. Zero issues with this. Water in. No water out. Other than sipping. No bad tastes either. My only small gripe is it can be difficult to suck the water out. You do have to get the bite just so to get the flow.

Took this guy backpacking with about 11 hours of walking. I like the big opening on top, which makes it easier to refill, pour water out, and dry! The blue thing that's used to lock the top will fall if you carry it by that, so don't do that as it's not meant for that. I also like the detachable hose, makes it easy for me to get it out of my bag if I just need the bladder. There was no plastic taste for me since I first got it. Stood up to my abuse of trying to really put/squish in my pack. The first time I did put it on my backpack though, I filled it to 3L with a full backpack and a couple of minutes later I realized that it had started to leak a lot. I took it out and saw that the bottom tube connecting to the bladder had slipped out and that was a hassle. I made sure to fully insert the tube to the adapter connecting to the bladder, and while I was weary for a couple of times after that, it never came out again! So just make sure the first time you get it that the tube is all the way in.

I looked up some product reviews on other websites before buying this hydration bladder, and it got high marks in all categories. Amazon had the second best price, along with the best return policy. I wanted it to fit into the bladder pocket of a fairly small day-pack I've got that I love and use often. Reviewers described it as the most durable bladder with the quickest water flow, and no funny taste. It was also described as a little wider than most others with the same capacity, and the easiest to clean because of the wide mouth at the top (instead of a screw-on cap, like most others). I agree with all of it. I LOVE it! But just be ready - it is a little wide. Not a problem for me - with a little effort, it fits into my pack snugly and doesn't wiggle around. But measure your pack carefully (like I did) before you buy it. ;)

I have used Camelbak hydration bladders in the past and so I was hesitant to change brands. To be honest, after trying both, I much rather prefer this pack by Platypus for these reasons: 1) Absolutely NO plastic taste on the first use, not even after the water sat in it for a few hours. Hallelujah! The Camelbak has always had an off taste to me. 2) The zipper on the top (vs the circle on the front of the Camelbak) makes filling a breeze, and refilling even more of a breeze. One simply has to open the top instead of digging into the pack to find the circle twist cap! 3) I found the bite valve bigger and easier to use. 4) Since the opening is large and on the top, I found it much easier to clean and also to dry--no lip to catch water like the Camelbak (from the circle twist opening.) 5) Once again, NO PLASTIC TASTE!!! This hydration bladder exceeded every expectation that I had. I used it for an 8 hour hike, refilled it once, and had no issues. It is well made, super easy to clean, and I cannot praise the easy to use design enough. I have a Flashpack 18 from REI and it fit perfectly inside. I highly recommend!

I bought a couple of different baldders. Offbrand and name brand. They all tasted like chemicals/plastic. Disgusting. I have a Platypus water filtration set and really like it so I thought Id try this. It's fantastic. I'm not sure how people are complaining about flow rate. They probably don't have the valve open correctly. Or it's pinched. Flow rate - Fantastic Taste - Very minimal that went away after a couple of uses. Leaks - None at all Ease of filling - Very easy to fill while left in my bag. Ease of cleaning - Can't get my hand all the way down, but I can't in any other bladder either. The mouth opens wide enough that cleaning and drying is easy. Bit valve - Doesn't leak. Allows good flow. Comfortable to bite on/use. Sturdy. Overall there really isn't anything that I DONT like about it. A hose cover wouldn't have hurt my feelings, but not a big deal. I guess the one thing I don't like is the price. Plastic tube, welded plastic baldder, and a bite valve can't cost more than a few bucks to make in bulk. Almost $40 retail is a hell of a profit margin and does rub my sensibilities a bit wrong. But compared to similar options at the same price point... I'd pay it again.

I put 50 Rocky Mountain miles on over a long weekend using this Platypus Biz Zip 3 liter EVO with the Fast Flow Valve. It worked perfectly! It was easy to fill, easy to drink from, fit in my pack, came with a clip that did the job of holding the mouth piece. I could not be happier. If I was going to make suggestions: The turn switch on the mouth pc., seems wrong. But that is from a plumping point of view. The turn switch is OFF when its in line with the hose and ON when its perpendicular to the hose. And the hose coming out of the 'bag' is harder to clear when cleaning. But VERY minor. Just a great smart product!