InPraiseOf Platypie

“HPM: I will take that as good advice. Thanks!

(It's kinda what I figured, but wanted to get some field responses from 'those in the know'.)”

“I know someone who has two bladders - one for water, one for alcohol.”

“Sass, a vinegar rinse and then a flush with baking soda and water works pretty well.”

“Last hike I had some boys get new cells and caught them before they filled them up with Mountain Dew.

One of my older guys made that mistake early on and said his camel back brand unit didn't last 3 hikes (with being washed out afterwards each time) before the acid had weakened all of the seams and the sucker leaked badly. Any of the guys who put flavored stuff in the unit tasted it afterwardds for a long time. We aviod anything with an acidic content or flavoring and the cells last significantly longer.

I think one of the best things about being a Scoutmaster is I get to see a lot of gear get thrashed, used and abused. With a troop that fluctuates between 20 and 40 kids (all gearheads) we learn what lasts and what doesn't.”

“Don't put anything in yer water bags that could grow gnarly stuff, cause eventually it will. Frankly, use it for whatever while you can because it doesn't matter what you put in it...the Platy will leak sooner than you'd expect. Get an MSR DramaLite if you want longevity.”

“jerbear has some soft nalgene water bags. They're guarenteed for life and you can boil them. MSR is 8.75”

“Is MSR reeeeaaaalllyy 8.75?”

“Manufacturer's Suggested Retail. Stand down Mr. Buddur!”

“I've found with platic that retains flavors, you can fill it with pain water and let it sit for a day or two. It absorbs a lot of the flavor back out of the polyethelene.”

“that's ok, rosey, I have a lisp too sometimes.”

“field use?

in the field, i've filled mine with:

water
skanky water
gatorade
kool-aid
cuba libra
margarita
rum and koolaid
lemonade
jack daniels and lemonade.

this was all in my first one, and it's still alive.

if it dies, buy another, ya cheap bastards!”

“LOL! Thop that!”

“ya, but look at RAD.. we all know he ain't right!!”

“Yeah. But you ain't a man until you've rigged up a bong with that puppy.”

“Or a hooka.”

“Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a "hooka" simply a type of bong?”

“"I saw one in a creek 30km away..."

Bunyip

Man, you've got good vision!!!”

“It's all that clean Aussie air.

What I meant to say was,
"While I was walking past a creek,
30km from where I'm currently writing these posts, I saw a platypus. It was floating on the surface and dived under water. I was able to ascertain that it was a Platypus as I was able to see through the water with the use of Polarised sunglass lenses.

Happy now.”

“Yep..."Don't Worry, Be Happy..."

Bunyip, I knew 2 guys whose family names were Bun and the other was Yip. I don't think there's a relation.”

“Hmmm.
I think you are correct switchbak, I don't have any experience with bongs.”

“The platypus is one of my favorite animals, although I haven't ever been to Australia or seen one.

I have had good luck hiking with my platypuses so far, but only using water. I now have two drinking tubes and three bladders. I was thinking of dedicating one of them to gatorade, but now am reconsidering. I don't mind replacing one, I just don't like the idea of a failure in the field.”

“So, HPM, your experience is entirely with hookas?”

“I've been using my Platy for a couple of years now, and haven't had any problems yet. I still carry a backup bottle though, just in case.”

“Ditto Tahoe. My Platy is at least 4 yrs. old. I still trust it full, in my pack, if necessary.”