Platypus as a name is generally known for being an awesome animal in Australia and a company that makes water reservoirs that are genuinely taste free. They’ve dived into making hydration packs and have really knocked it out of the park. They make several different styles and sizes, but today we are looking at the big boy, the Duthie A.M. 15 Hydration pack. The Duthie A.M. 15 is a hydration pack but after seeing it and using it really walks the line between hydration pack and day pack.
This thing is massive, but not in a bad way. Just much bigger than any hydration pack I’ve ever used. The Duthie A.M. 15 is a big boy with lots of extra room. As a hydration pack, it comes with a 3-liter bladder that fits in the very back of the pack in its own hydration pocket. This is a ton of water and plenty to keep me hydrated throughout the day. The bladder, or reservoir, is the taste-free design Platypus is famous for. A new bladder also has that distinct rubber taste and it often leaves me with a sore throat. The reservoir uses a wide-mouth opening so it can be filled up everywhere from the kitchen sink to the faucet outside without much mess. It’s also really easy to clean.
The hydration bladder is held is place by little hooks that keep it from bouncing, jostling and collapsing. Lastly, the hose is fitted with a big fat lip for easy biting and drinking. This hose is nicely secured via a magnet to the shoulder strap which is actually very nice and really convenient.
Load It Up
The Duthie A.M. 15 is a massive pack and has tons of room for extra gear. The bag itself is designed to carry a full load for the dedicated biker, this includes a stash pocket large enough to accommodate a full face helmet. The inside of the main pouch has enough room for an entire bike toolkit as well as pump sleeves for shock and tire pumps.
The Duthie A.M. 15 is great for carrying bike gear, but what if you aren’t a bike guy? Mountain biking is a blast, but its not my hobby. Is the Duthie A.M 15 still for me? As a general outdoorsman and someone who loves to hike and camp, I can honestly say the Duthie A.M. 15 is well suited for a wide variety of tasks.
It really is perfect for long hikes because you can store all the goods you need for an all-day hike. I can pack in food, even more, water, a first aid kit, flashlights, extra batteries, and more. The Duthie A.M. 15 can hold so much stuff its nuts really.
Inside the main pouch is plenty of extra room for whatever you need, and the bag has tons of internal pockets to organize your gear. The Duthie A.M. 15 can be loaded down with a lot of stuff and become quite heavy while remaining comfortable. That FloatAir back panel is a mesh panel that’s superbly comfortable and breathable. It’s tensioned to create the feeling of the pack floating on your back. This supports the bag, keeps things from poking you, and provides you with plenty of airflows while hiking.
The Duthie A.M. 15 On the Move
Additionally, when I was hiking I appreciate the waist strap and sternum strap to keep the weight on my waist and the keep my shoulder’s comfortable. The waist straps have a pocket on each side big enough to accommodate a phone, a camera, or even a small handgun.
I’m a big fan of the stash pocket on the back of the kit. Often its cold in the morning here and warms up quickly when the sun is up. In these situations, I often start with a hoodie and get a little too warm and 10-7 the hoodie. The stash pocket allows me to take the hoodie off, shove it in the pocket and keep going. It’d also be great if I got rained on and wanted to ditch the wet clothes. I could toss them in the stash pocket and keep the rest of the gear in my bag dry.
Speaking of rain the Duthie A.M. 15 comes with a built-in rainfly that is stored in the bottom of the bag. Open it up, toss it over and you can keep moving in the rain without your pack getting sopping wet.
The pack has tons of adjustment so you can fit it to you pretty easily. I had no issues making it fit my massive frame, and it was comfortable to boot. The Duthie A.M. 15 is an all-around excellent pack and its price tag is a real bargain when it comes to what you are actually getting. The Duthie A.M. 15 is made to last, is extremely comfortable, and perfect for hiking, biking, camping, and much more.
