Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter – Best Filter for a Group

The Platypus Gravityworks Water Filter is a convenient, high-capacity water filtration system that takes the effort out of securing potable water. Simple to use and easy to maintain, this system can provide clean water for you, your family, pets, neighbors, and anyone else that happens!

The Platypus Gravityworks Water Filter is a minimalist, ultralight, ultra-compact filter kit. It uses a simple design to directly connect the pump-free water filter to a water bottle or hydration reservoir.

  • Weight: 9.1 oz.
  • Length: 9″
  • Width: 3″
  • Filter Life: 400 Gallons

Who Should be Interested in the Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter?

For just one person, I would choose a smaller option, but for a group, this filter is king. If you are a scout leader or frequently hunt in off-grid locations with a group of buddies, a filter like this takes the effort out of providing water for everyone.

Sale
Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 4-Liter
  • High-capacity, gravity-fed, hollow-fiber water filter system is ideal for group and family camping,...
  • Meets all EPA/NSF guidelines for removal of 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa, including...
  • No pumping required; reservoir fills easily and hangs from a tree to deliver four liters of filtered...
  • Includes 4-liter dirty water reservoir, 4-liter clean water reservoir, hollow-fiber microfilter,...
  • Replaceable cartridge filters up to 1,500 gallons; produces flow rate of 1.75 liters/minute; kit...

Features

The .2-micron pore size of this filter is pretty much standard and meets with CDC and World Health regulations on removing bacteria and protozoa. Like most filters on the market, this does little to help with viruses or chemicals in the water. If you choose your source wisely, this filter should do everything you need on the North American continent.

Boasting a 1500 liter treatment capacity, the Platypus GravityWorks has a solid lifespan and a flow rate of around half a gallon a minute and a bit over a gallon at a time using the included reservoir; this filter is sure to keep you in water with little effort.

Around the home, this filter could provide enough clean water for drinking, cooking, and any other task for a whole family with just minutes of work a day.

A well-designed plumbing system takes a lot of the thought out of getting the filter set up. The reservoir has an automatic valve that only allows water to flow when the system is connected, so there is no need to drag everything along when filling up. A hose clamp on the outgoing line allows some flexibility in dispensing water.

Field maintenance and cleaning of any gear should be the foremost considerations. The Platypus GravityWorks makes this a breeze with probably the easiest cleaning solution of any filter type and can be done in seconds. Even checking to ensure the filter is in proper working order is foolproof, quick, and reliable!

If you’re unsure how to choose the best water filter, read How to Choose the Best Survival Water Filter for more info.

Competition

Product
Best for a Large Group
Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter
Most Versatile/Best Overall
Sawyer Mini
Preview
Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 4-Liter
Sawyer Products SP105 MINI Water Filtration System, Single, Black
Weight
9.1 oz.
2 oz.
Filtering Capacity
400 Gallons
1,000 Gallons
Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Best for a Large Group
Product
Platypus GravityWorks 4.0 Liter
Preview
Platypus GravityWorks Group Camping Water Filter System, 4-Liter
Weight
9.1 oz.
Filtering Capacity
400 Gallons
Prime
Amazon Prime
Most Versatile/Best Overall
Product
Sawyer Mini
Preview
Sawyer Products SP105 MINI Water Filtration System, Single, Black
Weight
2 oz.
Filtering Capacity
1,000 Gallons
Prime
Amazon Prime

Pros

Platypus Gravityworks Water Filter shines because of its ease of use and hands-free filtration. The dirty water reservoir has a Ziploc-type closure, making filling it a snap as long as your water supply is large enough to submerge the bag.

Simply hang it in a tree above the clean reservoir and let the filter get on with its business while you tend to other matters. A couple of minutes later, you have a gallon of clean water. For groups of people, no other filter type will stack up to the Platypus gravity filter.

Like any tool, maintenance is the lifeblood of a filter system. Cleaning is a chore, especially in the field, except for the Platypus GravityWorks. For most filters, flowing requires getting clean water and forcing it back through the filter under pressure.

For the Platypus, reverse the flow by putting the clean reservoir above the dirty reservoir for a few seconds, and it’s done. This can even be done in the middle of filtering your drinking water.

Clever plumbing makes water procurement easy. Even accessories like a hydration pack hook directly into the system for maximum convenience. A bonus feature of this particular filter style is that it could easily be set up as a shower or sink to sort out any hygiene issues.

Cons

Though this filter offers a lot of conveniences, it does come at a price. The Platypus GravityWorks is one of the pricier filters on the market. Couple that with any add-on accessories you might want, and you can spend money on this setup.

For backpacking or a bug-out bag, this isn’t the smallest filter with its two-gallon-sized bags, filter, and plastic tubing. However, it only weighs about 12oz which is quite a manageable weight for a filter system.

If you are in an arid climate filling the bag can be a pain, often coming down to dipping water into the bag with whatever is at hand. In these conditions, a pump-style filter is a better option.

The worst flaw of this filter that I see is its fragility. It doesn’t deal well with being dropped or banged around. The filter must be kept dry in cold conditions where freezing temperatures will ruin the filter media and compromise any water you treat with it.

That said, checking the filter to ensure it’s safe is very easy. Simply blow back through the filter. If you see bubbles in the reservoir, the system is broken and will need to be replaced. New filter cartridges are sold independently of the rest of the system for around $50.00 bucks.

Conclusion

Though the Platypus Gravityworks may be expensive, and its durability may leave a bit to be desired, I still think this is one of the best filters on the market. This is especially true when you can leave the filter in place at a base camp or home and not pack it around with you.

It offers adequate treatment of contaminants, a decent lifespan, great flow rates, easy maintenance, and clever design features that make it a leader in the gravity filter market. If you go solo, this filter may be a bit much, but this should be the go-to option for a family or group.

The Platypus GravityWorks water filter is the best option for a group looking for a light filter that can handle a large amount of water simultaneously.

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