Storage spot for "grazing" food

[Timinator]

When I hike I never eat while I'm walking because my bag has no pockets on the outside to store snacks, and it's too much of a pain to go searching though my bag for food all the time. Sometimes I even skip meals because I can't be bothered.
Does anyone know any good way to keep my snacks accessible?

[ChinMusic]

Does anyone know any good way to keep my snacks accessible?

The following was one of my favorite pieces of gear on my '13 thru:

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/backpack_lid.shtml


http://www.zpacks.com/images/accessories/lid/lid_chest_l.jpg

[Timinator]

Not bad at only 2.9 oz.

[Siarl]

LOL I love it. This is said just for fun so don't take it personal, but I did grow up on a very small Virginia farm and it reminds me of a horse and a feedbag full of grains. But it's a great idea. I just wouldn't want it right under my chin. How about a smaller bag attached to either side of the backpack's hip belt?

[Chair-man]

Gossamer Gear Hip Belt Pockets (http://gossamergear.com/hip-belt-pockets.html)- get the large cuz even the large isn't that big. I got 2 of them one for each side. Holds all my miscellaneous stuff, whistle, fine point tweezers, snacks for the day etc.

[daddytwosticks]

That Zpacks chest bag is nice, but it looks like it could be hot in summer months. Most of my packs have hip belt pockets. The one that doesn't (GG Murmur) slips so easily off my shoulders it's like no efforts to remove to retrieve a snack from the back mesh pocket. :)

[waterman1148]

Ribz pack

[saltysack]

ULA packs have lil d rings on shoulder straps...smart water bottle 1l on one side and wide mouth Gatorade bottle on other side filled w gorp. Small metton hooks from z packs work perfect. Attach hook w zip tie to bottle neck.


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[Lucy Lulu]

The Gossamer pockets are great. I use a couple of those. I also always hike in longer shorts with deep pockets, and just keep bars in the pockets if I don't have the pockets on the pack.

[CoffeeBager]

I added the ZPacks belt pouches to my belt and use one of them for grazing: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/beltpouch.shtml

[Starchild]

Each morning I took out my estimated snacks and lunch and second breakfast, and second lunch (yes thru hikers get very hungry), and stored it in the easiest place in my pack to access - the brain (the top most section which had a zipper opening). I even learned to access that food while hiking/not removing my pack.

[rusty bumper]

I use one of the medium size Gossamer Gear hip belt pockets (0.85 oz). I load it up every morning with a Snickers bar and a zip-loc bag filled with nuts, M&M's and raisins.

[Coffee]

The ULA hip belt pockets work well for grazing. For packs without pockets, I believe that zPacks and others have accessories that can be added to most any hip belt. For me the key is to have snacks available without having to take off my pack.

[Sara]

I added the ZPacks belt pouches to my belt and use one of them for grazing: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/beltpouch.shtml

I also use them for my snacks and small handy items like Chapstick.

[max patch]

If your pack doesn't meet your needs then its time to get a new pack. Seriously,

[ChinMusic]

That Zpacks chest bag is nice, but it looks like it could be hot in summer months.

As you know, 2013 had a tremendous stretch of heat/humidity. I HATE heat and humidity. It kills me. I found the front pack to add no level of discomfort during the hot period.

[Airman]

I carry a fanny pack as part of my gear. I put trail guides, snacks, camera, ipod, batteries, steropen, etc....Everything is acessable as I need it. And it never leaves my side even when I'm at a shelter.

[Alligator]

I keep my snacks in a separate snack bag. This bag gets the days snacks in it similar to how Starchild mentioned. I put my lunch for the day at the top of my food bag and my food bag sits second from the top in my main pack compartment under my jacket or vest. Cooler days for most breaks I will put on the jacket or vest to avoid cooling down, so if I happen to need something out of the food bag, it is right there anyway. The snack pack goes into my top lid where it is easily accessible. I'm a big fan on the top lid as I keep other items I want quickly in there.

A hip pouch is an easy add on, I have done this on my older packs. It's not really necessary to swap out your pack if this will customize it for your needs. I sometimes keep a single snack in there for on the go but I usually take a break to eat. I use the hip pouch for hats, camera, gloves. Items may get a little wet in there though depending on the material, on some packs these are just mesh so be aware of that if this is a feature you might want on a future pack. Pack covers don't usually cover it well and the hip pouch touches the ground when put down.

[Alligator]

I carry a fanny pack as part of my gear. I put trail guides, snacks, camera, ipod, batteries, steropen, etc....Everything is acessable as I need it. And it never leaves my side even when I'm at a shelter.I used to bring one but I was never comfortable with the fanny pack belt and my help belt. There's an extra weight penalty on the belt too, it's small but significant for some. They are handy in camp though, keeps stuff from getting put down in out of the way places. Trail clothes don't always have pockets, some layers do, some don't. They are helpful car camping as well.

[Bog Balls]

This... http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/addons/grabbag

[Bog Balls]

This... http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/addons/grabbag
Should have put a bit more description on previous post. There are 2 attachment points on the left of the grabbag that go low on your pack's right shoulder strap (down near hip belt area). The right hand strap/buckle on the grabbag goes across your body and attaches to your pack's left shoulder strap. It rides as low on your hip as you'd like. Pretty good setup.

[Tammy]

After using a pack for a while, I just add what I need to it. I've sewn pockets on, added daisy chains with the extra webbing. You can permanently attach a pocket or use Velcro and a clip to make it removable. I just noticed my new cell phone will not fit in my hip pocket so I'll be adding a pocket to my pack.

[CarlZ993]

When I hike I never eat while I'm walking because my bag has no pockets on the outside to store snacks, and it's too much of a pain to go searching though my bag for food all the time. Sometimes I even skip meals because I can't be bothered.
Does anyone know any good way to keep my snacks accessible?

Several possible solutions listed. Another possibility is to slide a water bottle carrier over your hip belt. Put your snacks in that. I used a Jandd water bottle carrier (2) on my hike. On the few times I slacked-packed, I used one for my water bottle and the other for my snacks. Both were looped over the pants belt. Rain jacket wrapped around my waist. http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FBOTB

If you can spare the extra $$, I'd second the notion about getting a pack that fits your thru-hiking needs (assuming this is what you're going to be doing). I put all my days' snacks in a 2-L Sea to Summit Silnylon Dry bag. I placed this bag in the right water bottle pocket of my ULA Circuit backpack. I'd reach back, grab the bag, grab something to eat, and put in back in the pocket. This system worked for me 99% of the time. I once failed to properly shove it back in the pocket & it fell out. A fellow thru-hiker recognized my food bag & picked it up for me.

[lonehiker]

I just use the pockets of my hiking pants. Additional weight = zero.

[Turk6177]

I wonder if a Maxpedition dump pouch would work? You can roll it up when you are not using it. I know people use them on tactical gear. Maybe it would work to hold a meal or snacks while hiking. http://www.qmuniforms.com/maxpedition-mini-rollypoly-pouch?utm_source=GooglePLA&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=BG778_KHA&src=QU3064&gclid=CIWGjbHIg7wCFYw1QgodJn0AwA

[mak1277]

I just use the pockets of my hiking pants. Additional weight = zero.

24 responses before someone said pants pockets...I was beginning to think I was hiking wrong :-)

[CarlZ993]

I just use the pockets of my hiking pants. Additional weight = zero.
Body temp melts my Snickers. I hate that when it happens. :)

[Papa D]

I try to keep things really simple.
All food goes in the food bag.
The food bag rides on top.
If I want to snack, it takes about 30 seconds to
get the pack off and reach in the food bag.
Keeping food (or anything) in all sorts of different
pockets makes me tend to loose track of things.
If it's food, it's in the food bag.

[Portie]

Colin Fletcher was a proponent of the "Office on the Yoke", or a big pocket on the shoulder strap. He'd carry a notebook, pencil, map, glasses, matches, candy and other items in that pocket. After I read his book almost 40 years ago I made my own Office on the Yoke by sewing velcro to an old army surplus first aid pouch. I continue to look for something better.