Platypus QuickDraw 2L Filter System

What it removes from water, and how well that is proved. 8: Clearly better than most.

0.2 µm hollow-fibre membrane. Platypus says every filter is individually tested to EPA and NSF guidelines for 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa: a named standard for bacteria and protozoa, so 4. No virus claim.

How fast clean water comes through when it is new. Real flow drops as it clogs: see Ease of use. 10: The best you can buy for this.

Platypus gives 3 L/min with squeeze pressure and 1.75 L/min by gravity, for a new filter. The method bands the brand's figure (2.5 L/min or more), so this is 5, but testers measured less in use. Better Trail squeezed a litre in about 20 seconds over a sink with a new filter (about 3 L/min) but saw flow fall to about 2 L/min after a few days; The Trek found flow dropped sharply by the third week with little backflushing; GearJunkie timed 1 min 26 s a litre by gravity in murky creek water (about 0.7 L/min); UKC got only a slow drip in gravity mode. All of these used the 1 L kit with the same filter.

How much it adds to your pack. 6: A bit better than average.

161 g for the filter, 2 L reservoir, caps, hose and clamp (Platypus). 150 to 299 g. Platypus gives 127 g for the minimum set-up, and UKC gives 69 g for the filter cartridge alone.

Filling, squeezing or pumping effort, how fast it clogs in peaty or silty water, and how easy it is to clean. 7: Better than most.

UKC (Dan Bailey), GearJunkie and Better Trail found the filter simple and quick to use (4 each). The Trek found it easy at first but flow fell sharply by the third week of lazy maintenance (3). Average 3.8 out of 5, so 7 out of 10. All four reviewed the QuickDraw filter with the 1 L reservoir: none reviews the 2 L kit. The filter, caps and cleaning are the same in both kits, so we count only what each review says about the filter itself (attaching it, squeezing, shaking and backflushing) and ignore what it says about the 1 L bag. This is the same rule as the Katadyn BeFree files.