help!

[ping1]

My water bottles are awkward to reach when I'm wearing my pack. Does any company make a harness or a belt or something where water bottles are in front of my body? It would also be nice if it had a small pocket for quick-access items like a camera, map, bug stuff, sunscreen, etc.

[Storm]

ULA packs have bottle holders on the shoulder straps and two hip belt pockets. Don't really like the bottle holders so I put on a cheap one from Walmart that will hold a 16 oz bottle and then just keep the quart bottle in the side pocket.

[swjohnsey]

Fun to get up in the morning and itch your face.

[rsjrny]

I use this Osprey accessory for the quick grab items. It attaches to the pack straps very nicely.

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

I still have to use the old Reach Around for the water though.

[q-tip]

Get a water bladder IMO--the best for sipping and hiking

[Bati]

Dana Designs used to make a wet rib, which is exactly what you're asking for. Since these are no longer being made, you might want to consider pulling out the old sewing machine and seeing what you can come up with. Search for it, and you'll see pictures.

One note: I like using a web rib, but I've altered mine so that they connect to the pack itself, not to the shoulder straps. This seems to improve the fit overall.

[Snowleopard]

It's really a good idea to be able to reach a water bottle without taking your pack off.
Gossamer gear (and other companies) makes addon hip belt pockets that would hold a 16 oz water bottle.
.http://gossamergear.com/packs/hip-belt-pockets.html.
OR makes an insulated holder for 1 liter nalgene bottles that is an essential for winter hiking but perhaps overkill for summer: .http://www.rei.com/product/770795/outdoor-products-insulated-water-bottle-holder-1-liter.
If you take a look at those pictures you can probably find something at walmart that could be made to work.
Some people attach a small nalgene to their shoulder straps or hip belt with a carabiner, but I don't like that.

[Blissful]

Marmot made a pouch bag I used on both my hikes which had a place for water. It attached to the backpack.

14329

[aaronthebugbuffet]

Take your pack off.

[MuddyWaters]

One of the advantages of buying a pack from cottage companies, in addition to unbeatable service, is that they are made by people that actually have used the equipment. Thats how they came to be, the "other" companies packs had significant enough shortcomings that it warranted designing and building their own . With many of these, you can easily put a water bottle in side pockets and remove by yourself. ULA, SMD, Gossamer Gear, etc., all no problem.

There are packs out there from major mfgs that the side pockets are useless on with the pack body full. They are too small, too tight, not reachable, etc. Was any real design put into the pack? No. It was designed by an idiot, with lots of compartments, zippers, and bells and whistles to appeal to buyers that dont know what they want or need. Its the old "baffle them with bull$hit" methodology. I especially like the "sleeping bag compartments" so you have quick access to that bag. Good for those quick trailside naps, right?

For some that use a bladder, maybe having nonfunctional pockets is acceptable. Although refilling a bladder is a pain, and makes it too hard to monitor your fluid consumption. A pack without useable side pockets that can easily hold 1L bottles, is a useless pack IMO.

Take some hair ponytails that are made of shock cord about 1/8" and make your ownd water bottle holsters and carry on your straps.

[LDog]

A couple of folks have mentioned ULA. Here's a pic and a link for you:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=51010
(http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=51010)

http://cache.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1311534518_46436.jpg

[Sierra Echo]

http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10026194&N=&Ntt=drink+caddy