ways to carry water bottle?

[Sarge]

I had an interesting way of carrying my water bottles. I carried them in my pockets. I hiked in military camo BDU pants because I found them to be loose and comfortable, they breathed well when it was warm outside, and they kept my legs insulated well when it was cold. Anyway, they have those very large utility pockets on the outside of the thigh. I just slipped my water bottles in those pockets. My water was always accessible to me anytime I needed it without having to reach or take my pack off. Most people would probably find it awkward, but it didn't interfere with hiking and didn't feel awkward to me. It was different, but it worked for me.

Sarge

[IceAge]

now, why would the cap crack?

I don't know, might have happened when I threw my pack into the back of a shuttle van, never heard of it happening to anyone else, so it probably isn't a huge concern. It was just very disheartening to start a trip by pumping water directly into my pack!

[scope]

A deliberate need to stop and get out my water bottle ensures that I won't rush through the trip without any time for enjoyng where I am. Just my thoughts.

snapper

I hear ya, but that would be an awfully slow trip for me, as I like to take a sip, wet my whistle, gulp, whatever at somewhat frequent intervals, especially going uphill.

I love the bladder tube for sipping as I go, but I sometimes don't love how you have to pack around it. I ended up switching packs to something that has more accessible side pockets so I would have that option. The bonus was the pack's hydration bladder goes deep and low so that I can form my sleeping bag and other soft gear around it first and leave the top half of the pack with an area that's more packable for hard gear. (Golite Quest)

Another option is to put the bladder in the side pocket and run a tube from there, especially if you want to be able to refill it frequently on the trail.

[Saffirre8]

I hear ya, but that would be an awfully slow trip for me, as I like to take a sip, wet my whistle, gulp, whatever at somewhat frequent intervals, especially going uphill.

That is my point, i must drink way to much water, exspecially in the summer, i get very thirsty and dont feel like having to stop every 15 mins to take my pack off to get a drink or having my hiking buddy to get water out of my side pocket for me. I think i will try out the bladder and see how it works for me and if not i'll take it back to REI and get my money back...

I am not a thru-hiker so i shouldnt have to many issues packing my pack around it, since i am only going on long weekend and week trips.
Thanks for all the advise my hiking frieinds.

Happy Trails

[Jester2000]

I, too, like removing my pack to drink. I like being on a schedule where I take my pack off at regular intervals. I've also used a bladder.

I have also purchased a cheap insulated water bottle carrier, cut the straps off, and attached it to my shoulder straps. I think if you want access without using a bladder, somewhere on your shoulder strap is the way to go.

This looks like an interesting little thing that might work, depending on what sort of cross-straps are on your shoulder straps or hipbelt:

http://www.aquaclip.com/

[Saffirre8]

i also have a camelbak water bottle and that has a loop i can always use a carabiner and attach it to my should strap and see how that works...

[Dogwood]

You have a platy but you're not using it in the pack with a tube while you're hiking?

Yup, me too. I have a separate 2 L Platy for longer water hauls or for when I'm in camp and another water bottle, sometimes 2, about .8 L each, that attaches to my shoulder strap(s) at titty ht. I took my idea from the ULA website. They sell some attachment device for doing this but here is how I came up w/ something myself that I find works for me. I use OGG brand aluminum water bottles(not as light as a plastic water/soda bottle, but they clean up easily, are very durable, and cost and weigh less than the SIGG alum bottles), They come with a screw on cap with a tight fitting leak proof washer on the cap. The cap has a round hole in it. I attach a very light wt spring loaded biner to the cap and let the water bottle w/ cap attached hang from a D Ring that comes installed on my goto 3 season thru-hiking pack, a ULA Conduit. To keep the water bottle from swaying around uncontrollably I've slipped a short piece of UL velcro under the webbing on the shoulder harness that attaches around the water bottle. If I want a drink I unwrap the velcro and unscrew the cap leaving the cap attached to the DRing by way of the small biner. I can also take the water bottle off with the cap sealed on it if I like by just detaching at the biner.

This way my side pockets are free for maps, trail food on the go, gloves, hat, spare layer, etc and I don't have to remove my pack to drink or take up volume inside my pack with a filled reservoir like a Platy or Camelback and the bottles are easily accessible, even for those with the shortest arms.

Looks odd to some though. I get questions like "is that an oxygen bottle?" or double takes like I'm carrying Grenades like soldiers do on their shoulder straps or attached to their chests.

[Rockhound]

My problem with a bladder is getting it in and out of a loaded pack and pumping water into it from a filter. IMHO, not very friendly for those uses.

Don't get me wrong. I use a bladder for all day activities, but not overnight.

A camelback straps easily to the side of my pack. Beats having it inside the pack. Easier to access and refill.

[Jester2000]

i also have a camelbak water bottle and that has a loop i can always use a carabiner and attach it to my should strap and see how that works...

That'll work, but you might be able to find an attachment lighter than a carabiner. And you'll want to figure out something to keep it from swaying, the way Dogwood does.

Home Depot is a good place to find velcro strips and other useful stuff for attaching things to your pack.

[Trailbender]

I could be reading this incorrectly so if I am, I apologize in advance, but I really like carrying water bottles that require me to stop, take off my pack and enjoy my drink. I look forward to those break times when I take the extra moment to look around and enjoy my surroundings while replenshing my fluids. I know that everyone is suppose to "hike your own hike" but sometimes I think we get too carried away with trying to get somewhere quickly and loose out on enjoying our time in the woods. A deliberate need to stop and get out my water bottle ensures that I won't rush through the trip without any time for enjoyng where I am. Just my thoughts.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...Be well.

snapper

What he said.

[Bags4266]

I have a Gatorade bottle on the side. I knock off the hip belt loosen the shoulder straps low. This allows me to swing the pack slightly to a side and grab the bottle.

[cowpoke]

I bought a marmot fanny pack and just turned it around and wear it out front...carries two bottles of water...my map....snacks....camera...trail guide notes....and anything else I want to put in there....don't really notice the extra weight. Has worked fine for me.

[babbage]

I carry mine upside down in winter so it will not freeze. Otherwise I just put it in the water bottle holder on my pack.
Funny thing - I found one on a trail in Citico - it was cheap and said made in China. My wife washed it and the dishwasher was on "heated dry". That bottle shrunk and would not even hold 16 ounces. It looked like an episode of Big World, Little Bottle. Very funny to look at.

[AeroGuyDC]

REI has several different "Nalgene coozie" type holders with a pack belt sized loop to secure it on your pack belt. I have one from Lowe Alpine. My water is right there at hands reach while hiking.

Another option to consider.

[4shot]

I looked it up, showed it to my mass gear supplier representative (mom...) and dhe said she would order it (score!) now, why would the cap crack?

is awesome and way better than mine (I had to work for 30 years to acquire my gear ). Unfortunately that "system" probably won't work so well for you in a couple of years. Make sure that you say thanks and tell her your "mass gear supplier rep" that you love her too.

Sorry to get off-topic. Please return to the discussion on water transportation.

[white_russian]

do they still make the dana designs wet rib? thats what i have hooked on 1 of my packs

Not that I know of. When I bought mine from Winton Porter about a year and half ago I commented about how they were very hard to find. He said something along the lines of all he had to do was call up Dana Gleason and they would be back in production.

[Skidsteer]

So after alot of atempts at reaching my H2O bottles in my packs side pockets, I realize i need a new alternative. I allready have a platy resevior for camp use and am using 1L soda bottles for easy fill up. So other than using my hands to carry my bottles, does anyone have a lt. weight suggestion.

Here's my solution:

http://www.bplite.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=740

[BitBucket]

A quick disconnect adapter mounted on the hose (mouthpiece end) will allow you to quickly hook up your filter pump directly to your camelbak eliminating the need to remove it from the pack.

My Vario takes 46 pumps to completely fill my 3 liter camelbak. Pop the adapter, plug the mouthpiece back in and you're on your way.

I've seen a 3 way disconnect that stays inline all the time, but haven't use one as I thought it was a bit bulky compared to a simple quick disconnect plug...

[Jonnycat]

My problem with a bladder is getting it in and out of a loaded pack and pumping water into it from a filter. IMHO, not very friendly for those uses.

Why put it *in* a loaded pack? My bladder (platypus) is the last thing I load in my pack, it sits at the *top* just before I close it up.

When I'm hiking and need to refill it, it's the first thing there.

[Jester2000]

Not that I know of. When I bought mine from Winton Porter about a year and half ago I commented about how they were very hard to find. He said something along the lines of all he had to do was call up Dana Gleason and they would be back in production.

Yeah, I think we've got one left somewhere in our store. Not sure where.