The other primary competition, traditional pump filters, come in at a similar size and weight, but also do not perform as efficiently. At just over 11 ounces, it is heavier than some of the ultralight water filters, like the popular 2-ounce Sawyer Mini, but the squeeze system’s performance pales in comparison to the GravityWorks. The tubes wrap neatly around the filter and it’s easy to roll the water reservoirs around the filter to fit everything into the included storage bag. Storage size and weight is reasonable for the system’s large capacity and output. The bag closes much like a super-sized plastic sandwich bag, and getting a proper seal when it is full of water can sometimes be tricky. A word of warning, however: make sure you are conscious of how well you zip up the dirty bag before putting it into your pack (flip it upside down to test). The ability to carry a full 8 liters is an efficient manner is a major boon in areas where water is hard to come by. Should you need to carry additional water to camp (such as in our case), it’s as easy as leaving the 4-liter dirty bag filled with water, throwing it in the hydration sleeve of your pack, and reconnecting the system when you’re back at camp. Using a pump filter for that much water would’ve ended in one of two ways: Popeye levels of arm strength or heat stroke. Filtering the 12 liters of water was as simple as loading up 3 bag fulls. For Pacific Northwesterners that are used to finding water relatively easily, this type of vulnerability was particularly powerful. With the knowledge that we wouldn’t be near a reliable source of water again for about a day, we needed to filter a lot. An effective case in point occurred in Utah when we found a spring on our way to our overnight campsite. For large groups or whenever you need to filter a lot of water at one time, there isn’t a better system on the market. The benefits aren’t limited to its fast performance it’s the convenience of not having to pump, squeeze or manipulate the water through the filter in some way. We were really impressed with the flow rate and it’s right on the claimed 2.5-minute claim for the full bag, although to keep it flowing at this rate does require pretty consistent backflushing (we discuss maintenance below). Connect the hose to the filter, hang the dirty bag from a branch (or alternatively, hold it or place it on a rock), release the plastic clamp that pinches the tube to start the flow, and watch it work. Using the filter is as simple as skimming along the surface of the water to fill up the “dirty” reservoir. That storage bag is a source of a minor complaint, however, as we prefer more separation for the dirty items to avoid contamination. All of the tubes, filters and reservoirs fit into a pouch-with a bit of maneuvering-for safe transport in a pack. The setup for the Platypus Gravityworks system is incredibly simple thanks to an intuitive color-coding system (grey = dirty water, blue = clean) and helpful instructions. To see how it stacks up, see our article on the best water filters and purifiers. The larger packed size and weight won’t win over minimalists, but for those that need to filter a lot of water, there isn’t a better option than the Platypus GravityWorks. The filter is easy to use, filters quickly, and is truly an energy and time saver. We put the GravityWorks 4-liter filter through a rigorous test in a number of backcountry locations, including the remote and parched lands of Utah’s canyon country, and came away very impressed. Hang, hold or lay the dirty water bag above the clean bag and sit back and enjoy. In the hopes of delivering convenience with few sacrifices, the Platypus GravityWorks filter leverages, as the name suggests, gravity as a means to clean water. Water treatment is a sometimes annoying and always time-consuming process, but remains an absolutely essential part of any backcountry trip.
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