Australian Hiker

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Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter-Complete Kit Review

Gravity filters work as the name says by using gravity to feed unfiltered water through a filtration unit into a clean water vessel, usually a bladder or bottle of some type. This filter is effective against most water borne pathogens but won’t deal with viruses which is usually not an issue in western countries.

The Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter-Complete kit comes with a two litre ‘dirty’ water bladder, a filter, a clean water bag, and various connections to connect to bladders or water bottles. The kit also comes as a 4 litre option but unless you are dealing with very large groups of say five or more people then this two litre option works well.

The first time I used this filtration unit on  trail I got a few strange looks as this is not a common system on the Australian hiking scene. Usually when I solo hike I will use an MSR Thrulink as that’s about as lightweight an option as you get. Even with two people we still go the Thrulink option. However when you start dealing in groups of three or more people then this is where the Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter really comes into its own.

The first time we used this filtration unit it was as the main filter for a group of three people and we would filter the water at the end of the day. This included filtering our water into our bladders for the next day, filtering enough water for cooking, and filtering an additional two litres of water for use overnight and to fill up with water (for two of us) before we headed off the next day. In all this amounted to around 12 litres of water in total. Each two litre filter took around three minutes and that included the time to fill up the ‘dirty’ water bag and to filter the water into our bladders. If the water is dirty then it is likely to take longer.

The Gravity Works has an estimated life span of 1500 litres which for the hiking Gill and I do and using around 4.5 litre of water per day per person (mid summer) then this filter will last for 166 days of trips. This means that we will get a lifespan of around 2+ years if you are using this exclusively which is pretty good by any measure. The Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter-Complete Kit has an RRP of AUD $269.99 but can often be found for  a cheaper price and based on it’s suggested lifespan the cost for each day of water filtering works out at around $0.75 per person/day.

Using this filter is as simple as filling the ‘dirty’ water bladder (it’s labelled as dirty so there no confusion), connecting the filter and holding/hanging the bag up to allow the water to drain into whatever storage container you use. The complete kit comes with a clean water bladder but usually I don’t use this. Instead just fill up my hydration bladder directly and then leave the bladder hanging up for use at camp and overnight.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using this filter as a solo hiker however there are lighter weight options on the market such as the Sawyer Mini or MSR Thrulink. If however you are travelling in groups of 3 or more then the Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter actually works out as being a lightweight option for the group. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this unit was to use and if you only want one filtration system that caters for all your hiking and camping needs then this is a great option for filtering large amounts of water very quickly.

We Like

• Easy to use
• Very quick to filter large amounts of water
• Lightweight when you spread the weight between the group
• Good lifespan for most keen hikers of 2+ years depending on your hiking frequency
• No after taste that can be present with chemical water treatments
• Cheap unit over the duration of the filters life

We Don't Like

• Initial expense
• Ziplock on the dirty water bag can be hard to close
• Doesn’t remove viruses

Best Uses

• Great for group of three or more people but can also be used by solo hikers who aren’t counting grams
• If you only want one water filter for all you camping needs then this is a great option

Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter-Complete Kit

Buy One

You can purchase the Platypus Gravity Works 2.0L Water Filter in store or online from Snowys, or from Wild Earth

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD $269.95 RRP

• You will usually find this filter available on sale on a regular basis so keep an eye out

Other Versions

The filter is available as  the Platypus Gravity Works 4L Water Filter which is ideal for groups

In use on the trail hanging from a rafter of a camp kitchen on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail

Filling a bladder with gravity works

Ready for use while in camp

Packed away ready to travel

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Last updated

9 February 2024

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