Platypus Platypus SoftBottle Review

Platypus SoftBottle Overview

The Platypus SoftBottle is about as lightweight as a water bottle can get, it attaches to popular ultralight water filters, and is as reliable as a soft bottle can be.

There is an endless array of water-carrying devices on the market, everything from old-fashioned canteens to high-tech hydration packs. As the ultralight mindset has become more mainstream among today’s modern backpackers, these products have had to slim down to meet the needs of the lightweight adventurer.

Platypus has been making water bottles for over 20 years, and in that time the company has refined its designs to be leaner, stronger, and more versatile.

For these reasons and more we’re awarding the Platypus SoftBottle as our Classic Pick for the Ultralight Backpacker.

Read the full Platypus SoftBottle review below.

Platypus SoftBottle Specifications

Gear Review of the Platypus SoftBottle

Revelation: The Moment I Knew

My appreciation for the Platypus SoftBottle has culminated over many adventures. I’ve used Platypus’ collapsible water bottles for years, rarely sparing a thought for them because they’ve simply done what they were supposed to do.

The Platypus SoftBottle chilling, with water.

On long backpacking trips I’ve carried several, cramming them deep within the darkest corners of my backpack, filling the spaces between my food bag and dirty socks. They’d always fit in somewhere, whether full or empty. The most I’ve ever hauled was seven liters of water across a dry 45 mile stretch of the Mojave Desert, and those SoftBottles sure were easier to pack than a bunch of hard plastic bottles would have been.

On my latest venture I filled my SoftBottles and took them into the Panamint Mountain Range of Eastern California where I had the opportunity to compare the classic 1L Platypus SoftBottle to the new 1L DuoLock SoftBottle.

The regular Platypus SoftBottle and the DuoLock in the Panamint Mountain Range.

A quick note on the DuoLock: it’s more useful than I had expected it to be, especially the attached carabiner clip that doubles as a handle. It made the bottle much easier to use as an actual bottle rather than just like a water storage bladder, which I tend to use the original SoftBottles for.

The DuoLock functions better as a true water bottle than the original SoftBottle due to the carabiner clip and double lid. However, it weighs more and doesn’t thread with water filters.

Ultimately the original Platypus SoftBottle won me over because of its simplicity and lighter weight. I’d recommend the DuoLock for an average day hiker, but if you’re going ultralight there’s no beating the Platypus SoftBottle, especially if you’re already using the Sawyer MINI or Squeeze, as the DuoLock doesn’t have threads for those filters. The original SoftBottles are better than any other bottle I’ve ever used for lightweight water storage and drinking.

Digging Deeper

Lid

Twist on, twist off. The lid is sturdy, tight, and the universally common threading will fit with small-mouthed water filtration systems. Its mouth is wide enough to pour liquid into and is comfortable for drinking, but not large enough for ice.

Durability

The Platypus SoftBottle’s plastic is capable of withstanding the typical drops and scrapes that every water bottle on a backpacking trip tends to go through. That means no plastic surgery required! I haven’t tested this specific bottle’s durability extensively, but my larger 2L SoftBottles have lasted me for literally thousands of miles and dozens of spills.

That said, it’s called “Soft” Bottle for a reason. This is not a Nalgene or stainless steel bottle, and won’t stand up to a skewering.

Form Factor

The Platypus SoftBottle rolls up like a little taquito when empty. You can stuff that baby anywhere. As for when it’s filled with water? Well, that’s the beauty of a collapsible bottle. It’ll slide into any nook or cranny large enough to hold the water within.

The “soft” in SoftBottle means it’s collapsible.

Drinkability

My favorite part of the Platypus SoftBottle is what I like to call the “chug factor” (trademark pending). The bottle’s mouth is wide enough for a good flow, and since it’s collapsible it’ll shrink as you swig, allowing you to down the whole bottle in one go. Pro-tip: if you have decent access to water and feel dehydrated, chug it all in one go. You won’t have to carry that weight!

Grievances

This is less of a grievance with the product (which I think works perfectly well for what it is) and more of a reminder to use it as intended. I’ve busted open a couple of these bottles on the seam below the threading when squeezing the life out of them to filter water through my Sawyer Squeeze. Using a Sawyer filter with a Platypus SoftBottle is common for thru-hikers, so be forewarned.

The SoftBottle was not technically designed to be used for this purpose, so it’s not at fault, but I wanted to let you know before you popped a Platypus.

Final Word

The Platypus SoftBottle is a lightweight and flexible water bottle that will fit just about anywhere you can shove it, and it connects to standard small thread water filters. What are you waiting for?

Where to Buy Platypus SoftBottle

We tested the Platypus SoftBottle 1L, which is the largest size they make in this form factor. It’s also offered in a .5L — we like the larger one because the weight is not that much more, and you can haul a lot more water.

Platypus has also recently released the DuoLock SoftBottle. We tested this as well, and while it’s a great bottle, we still like the original SoftBottle for ultralight backpacking. The DuoLock has a carabiner clip for hanging, a locking opening to drink from, and a screw-off opening for easy filling. All of these are good features, and work surprisingly well. If you don’t plan to use the SoftBottle with a water filter or want a more feature-filled water bottle that weighs a bit more, consider the DuoLock.

Compare Platypus SoftBottle and DuoLock prices below.

Arthur McMahon

Arthur loves to walk. It's as simple as that. He believes walking is the best way to experience the world. Thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail was his first backpacking foray, and he hasn't stopped since. Follow his adventures and stories on Instagram.