How do you attach water bottles to your shoulder strap?

[misterfloyd]

Hello,

I posed this question to a different forum thread and thought I may post it here as well.

I just got done hiking Shining rock wilderness and I have an Osprey 3L bladder with my Atmos 65 pack. My side pockets are pretty useless, cannot reach them, and when the pack is packed nothing fits in them.

I feel that when I do the AT from Springer to Fontana Dam in a few weeks that I can save a lot of weight and space by ditching the bladder, and my Sawyer filter, and using bottles attached to the shoulder straps, and switching to Aqua Mira.

I have also based this by looking at the AT guide and seeing that there are many water resupply points.

Question: How did you get you bottles to fit securely to you shoulder straps?

Any help regarding this would be most helpful, and very much appreciated.

Best regards,
Floyd.

[quilteresq]

There is a small D-ring on my strap right below shoulder height. I used a string tied to a mitten hook wrapped around the water bottle neck to hook to the D-ring, and attached a bottle-circumferenced piece of bungee cord further down the strap. A piece of 1/2" elastic might have held a bit better for the bottom.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmj1tYjCXeU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmj1tYjCXeU)

[Cookerhiker]

Are you only considering shoulder straps? I have a pouch affixed to my waist strap which hold 1/2 liter bottle. Handy to drink from without taking off the pack.

[Feral Bill]

Pouches to attach one liter bottles to the waist strap are about $4, and work fine.

[BigHodag]

Step 1: Have an attachment point. Many backpacks come with a D-ring on the strap for attching phones, etc. I added attachment points on my Walmart Outdoor products daypacks by using plastic zip ties. Ran the tie between some stiching points, made a 1-2 inch loop, and snipped off the excess tie.

Step 2: Add a mini-biner and connector to your water bottles. For loop top nalgenes, you just add a biner.

I've had good luck with these $2 Biner with Bottle Carrier:

http://www.coghlans.com/products/biner-with-bottle-carrier-0572

I've also seen some fancy wrapping of 550 paracord around litter bottles thatalso provide a loop for attaching with a mini biner. Here's a simple version:

http://sticksblog.com/2013/01/20/diy-shoulder-strap-water-bottle-holders/

[Dogwood]

There is a small D-ring on my strap right below shoulder height. I used a string tied to a mitten hook wrapped around the water bottle neck to hook to the D-ring, and attached a bottle-circumferenced piece of bungee cord further down the strap. A piece of 1/2" elastic might have held a bit better for the bottom.

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmj1tYjCXeU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmj1tYjCXeU)

You could do it this way as the vid shows but you could also just use two sections of UL bungee. One loop for the bottom of the bottle and one for top. Helps to have bottles that have indentations where the bungee can notch into. The double bungee method is faster but as I said if you have larger heavier water fulled bottles they can slip through the bungees if not done right. My ULA packs have these double bungees that come stock. However, I take the top bungee on each shoulder strap off and use a little Nite Eze S-biner or cheapy UL mini spring loaded biner that attaches to a D-ring that comes stock on the pack with the other end attached to a screw top water bottle cap with a hole in it. The lower remaining bungee keeps that water bottle from swaying out of control. I think the double bungee or my system makes the water bottle easier to access while in motion than the way it's done in the vid. Do a keyword post search here over the last 6 months using water shoulder straps for your words. I as well as a few others including Lazarus do the same water carrying shouder strap thing.

[Dogwood]

Look on the Bottles verse Bladders thread. Post #12.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?94554-Bottles-vs-Bladders

[slow mind]

I've used the trekking pole bungee with a Gatoraide bottle on my Atmos 65.

[daddytwosticks]

I just used one loop of bungie cord to the strap of my older model Atmos 50. Put it thru the ventillation holes of the foam on the shoulder strap. One loop works perfectly for holding a 20 ounce Gatorade bottle without flopping around. I am able to get 2 other 20 ounce bottles into the side water holder pockets, but like you, cannot reach them while wearing the pack. :)

[scrabbler]

Or just use a hydration bladder and eliminate all of the sloshing of water and swinging bottle syndrome. No strange contortions to reach, no unclipping of d-rings, etc. Downside is if you drink stuff other than water, they are a lot harder to keep clean vs a bottle.

[kayak karl]

http://www.simblissity.net/botspot.htm

[kayak karl]

in stock here http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/simblissity_botspot.html#.UaPJr5yykbQ

[MuddyWaters]

I dont.
ULA packs come with small yellow elastic loops to do it that some use, I take them off.
Look at the pics of ULA packs on their website.

[misterfloyd]

Man oh Man,

You guys have it down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I sound excited, I am!

I have been looking for a solution for this problem for a long time !!

I just looked at my pack and the vent holes are covered by mesh so I cannot use bungee chord with that. I do have that though. Not the heavy duty kind with the loops at the end but pretty close to it.

To sound simple, where did you get the mitten hooks? the Parachord ?

I really have two attachment points on my straps, the both are elastic and they run across. Too high to have it used to hold the cap end of anything, so, I'm forced to have some length of chord.

I've gotta ask how does the waist belt work!

Trekking poles how the ????????

You guys have given me many solutions now to find some material

Big time thanks!

Floyd

[slow mind]

On a newer Atmos 65 there is a bungee attachment on the left shoulder strap. They call it "stow on the go". (it has a small trekking ploe logo on it) I have used this bungee to hang a Gatorade bottle. Nothing to buy, nothing to add on & nothing to modify.

[slow mind]

Here:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSX2iKZXw6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSX2iKZXw6U

[bert304]

I use a Nalgene Bottle sleeve: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VEOU54/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Dogwood]

Like it Slow Mind. I'm on board with that set up for on the go trekking pole storage. Would work well for me because I keep going back and forth between using them and then storing them for awhile back to using them again.

[Dogwood]

Tell me Slow Mind are you left or right handed and which side do you prefer storing the poles. I would guess it's similar to a right handed person most often opting for a left zip sleeping bag.

Or just use a hydration bladder and eliminate all of the sloshing of water and swinging bottle syndrome. No strange contortions to reach, no unclipping of d-rings, etc.... - Scabbler

Actually IT IS NOT LIKE THAT. My system was designed to avoid these things

[slow mind]

I'm ambidexterous & I don't use poles. I use the bungee to hold a bottle sometimes. My hyd. Bladder is for booze.

[Dogwood]

My hyd. Bladder is for booze.

HUI - Hiking Under the Influence or WUI - Wandering Under the Influence.

[slow mind]

SBI- Sharing Before the Influence & SUI- Sleeping Under the Influence.

[Venchka]

Stone Age Solution:
1 L soft Platypus bottle in the top lid of my pack. Drinking tube attached to bottle, exiting through zipper opening & clipped to pack shoulder strap. An OR 1 liter bottle holder attached to the pack to carry spare water bottle, food, whatever I want handy. If needed, a pair of 20 oz. Water bottles in the packs wand pockets. That should date the pack. And me.

Wayne

[misterfloyd]

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments,

I went to Wally world and they had some large water bottle cozies with a carabiner at the end. I have two elastic straps running across my shoulder staps that I can attach this to. For the bottom support I just used some bungie chord tied in a loop. I'm concerned that the elastic on the starps will sometime break so I'm going to stick with 20oz bottles.

I will still bring my bladder as a backup. Even thought it is a 3L I will fill it with 1L. The weight of the bladder and space is minimal.

BTW I contacted Osprey and mentioned my problem with the side pockets. It seems that most people I have talked to have this problem. Long story short. There is an attachment http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/aquastow_addons_attachment that they have. My question is again, if enough people have this problem why don't they fix it as opposed to buying a $19 attachment?
Best,
Floyd

[Rasty]

My hyd. Bladder is for booze.

HUI - Hiking Under the Influence or WUI - Wandering Under the Influence.


Solves the frozen tube problem

[QiWiz]

I use a thin cord that goes through a webbing loop on the lower segment of the pack strap just above the adjustment buckle. This cord goes around the waist (thinnest part) of a 20 oz gatorade or vitamin water bottle and is secured by two cord locks. I found that one cord lock would slip too easily. I found that larger bottles did not work well. I've been using this with all my packs for about 15 years and it works fine for me.

[Praha4]

these are all great ideas, and I'll offer another one.

I like the Mountain Laurel Designs bottle pocket... weighs only 0.7 oz, will attach to any backpack shoulder strap, I use it with my Deuter ACT Zero 50+15 pack, and usually carry a 20 oz. gatorade bottle in this pouch. It will hold just about any 16-20 oz. size plastic bottle.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=46&products_id=71

I've been using this shoulder strap pocket holding the 20 oz gatorade bottle, along with a 1L powerade bottle in a pack side pocket for carrying water, and bring an extra Platypus or Evernew 2L empty softbottle to get water for camp. I stopped using the hydration bladder/hose system a while back. But I've found recently I'm getting dehydrated too often on hikes, it's mainly cuz I don't drink enough, and dont' want to stop enough during the day to get more water, and the Aqua Mira 15 minute waiting time for treatment.

I'm actually going to switch back to using the Platypus Hoser or Big Zip hydration pack/hose system on my next warm weather hike, with the Sawyer Squeeze filter. Aqua mira is great, but I decided to switch to the Sawyer Squeeze, it's faster and u dont' have the waiting time. It's a personal preference thing, do what works best for you.

[daddytwosticks]

these are all great ideas, and I'll offer another one.

I like the Mountain Laurel Designs bottle pocket... weighs only 0.7 oz, will attach to any backpack shoulder strap, I use it with my Deuter ACT Zero 50+15 pack, and usually carry a 20 oz. gatorade bottle in this pouch. It will hold just about any 16-20 oz. size plastic bottle.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=46&products_id=71

I've been using this shoulder strap pocket holding the 20 oz gatorade bottle, along with a 1L powerade bottle in a pack side pocket for carrying water, and bring an extra Platypus or Evernew 2L empty softbottle to get water for camp. I stopped using the hydration bladder/hose system a while back. But I've found recently I'm getting dehydrated too often on hikes, it's mainly cuz I don't drink enough, and dont' want to stop enough during the day to get more water, and the Aqua Mira 15 minute waiting time for treatment.

I'm actually going to switch back to using the Platypus Hoser or Big Zip hydration pack/hose system on my next warm weather hike, with the Sawyer Squeeze filter. Aqua mira is great, but I decided to switch to the Sawyer Squeeze, it's faster and u dont' have the waiting time. It's a personal preference thing, do what works best for you. That looks like a great bombproof option. A little pricey though. I'll stick with my bungie-cord setup with was rigged up using left-over scrap material. :)

[thecyclops]

http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Mountain-LIB146100-Bottle-Assorted/dp/B0009MWW0K/ref=pd_sbs_sg_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0N9CTCXVGBH6JJ388PDR

[Another Kevin]

I've discovered that the elastic of the smallest size of the Quirky Carabandit (https://www.quirky.com/products/311-carabandits-a-rubber-band-a-clip/timeline) goes very tightly around the groove of a 20 oz Vitamin Water bottle. I don't use that bottle for water - I stick my water bottles in mesh pockets in my pack - but in winter it lets me carry the relief bottle outside the pack where it won't stink anything up.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Outdoor Products (Walmart) has a bottle holder with a little zip pouch attached designed to be hand held for joggers, aerobics, etc. I sewed one of these onto the shoulder strap of Snacktime's daypack. It holds a 20 oz bottle quite well.

[The Cleaner]

I use a Platypus Holster, only holds 750ml.27962 Connected with small carabiners to my pack strap. Also hipbelt holders work great too...

[Odd Man Out]

Here is how I did it. I got some thin bungee cord from the fabric store, cut short lengths, looped them around the shoulder strap (between the strap and pad), tied them with a square knot, and taped the ends to keep them from unraveling. Apparently I hadn't put on my bottles yet when I posed for this picture. The upper loop is under the sternum strap which is wrong (it should be above), and the lower strap is tucked under the shoulder pad. A 20 oz Gatorade bottle has a deep groove that the upper bungee goes around. The lower cord secures the bottom of the bottle to keep it from swinging. On my first day out, the bottles occasionally slipped out when I jumped down a large rock. That evening, I retied the knot a little tighter and they never slipped again.

I found that attaching water to my hip belt either gets in the way of my arms or leg swings, and there was much sloshing. Mounted up high on the chest, they didn't interfere with any motion, and there was little swinging of bottles or sloshing of water. I could pull a bottle out easily with one hand. Putting them back would take two hands (one to pull out the bungee and the other to insert the bottle). Some people ask about extra weight on shoulders. I think the pack rides better this way. Having 40 oz of water here centers the load, moving the center of gravity forward. When I had to carry extra water on a dry day, I put a couple of liters is soft bottles in the side pouches of the pack. Later I decided it was better to carry these on the top of the pack, right behind my neck. I think it also helps to center the load, and I worried less about having a branch puncture my water bladders when they were not in the side pouches.

27961

[thecyclops]

Outdoor Products (Walmart) has a bottle holder with a little zip pouch attached designed to be hand held for joggers, aerobics, etc. I sewed one of these onto the shoulder strap of Snacktime's daypack. It holds a 20 oz bottle quite well.
Outdoor products is sold at walmart,but isnt a walmart brand.Its sold at REI,Dicks,Academy,etc also.They have a lifetime warranty on all their stuff,I for one ,when buying new,reach for their stuff.

[misterfloyd]

I have used the bungee chords as well with a square knot. I have also bought in the camping section in Wally world a cozie with a small carabiner that came with it. Attached it to the straps, and had the bungee chord secured on the bottom so it would not sway around. Have used it for a while. I have a blue, and red one. So I get points for style. Sometimes people remark about it and I say I had to "pimp my pack" :) Small weight penalty but I know those bottles are not going anywhere. Use 24-27 oz plastic water bottles. I use these bottles for Gatorade

In spite of this I still use a bladder and fill it with a liter as a back up, which has been useful many times.

I hate stopping to get water and wasting time. It works for me.

BTW: Cleaner, thanks for all that you do at Jerry Cabin. Was there in June.

[QiWiz]

I use 20 oz gatorade or similar bottles that have a nice groove about 2/3 up the bottle. Liter/quart bottles are too heavy. I use a non-elastic cord with TWO cord locks. Most pack straps have a place that you can put the cord through, but if not, I make holes in the pack straps with a soldering iron. The second cord lock helps keep the first one from slipping. I have done this on all my packs for more than 15 years.

[Odd Man Out]

...In spite of this I still use a bladder and fill it with a liter as a back up, which has been useful many times....

I had two Evernew bladders (0.9 L each) plus the 16 oz bag from the Sawyer filter giving me a total of 3.5 L capacity. The 40 oz on the straps are just for drinking when walking. The others were for refilling. I know people say that's too much water, but I only filled those when I thought it was going to be necessary. On my last hike I needed it twice. Once when I had to dry camp on a ridge (couldn't make it to the next shelter before dark), and one very tough 8 mile ridge with no water. It took 7 hrs and I needed every drop of the 3.5 L (summer in VA).

[Francis Sawyer]

Duct tape a carabiner to the water bottle and your problem is solved. Sometimes I think we tend to overthink these things. People have been carrying water on hikes for ever.

[kayak karl]

i made a DIY that looks like this (http://www.simblissity.net/botspot.htm)

[brewyet]

I tired the Gatorade on the bungiee cord and I hated it. I found out about Aqua Clips and it has made it stable and light. http://sticksblog.com/2013/11/23/aqua-clip-water-bottle-holder/

[Rolex]

I dont.
ULA packs come with small yellow elastic loops to do it that some use, I take them off.
Look at the pics of ULA packs on their website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5LXLWnm23U

Here's a utube of them on a circuit. My Catalyst has the same and I can carry 1 liter smart bottles on each one. Doesn't wiggle or slosh around much that I can tell. I switched the tops to squirt lids and can just grab and squeeze the first 1/2 bottle out to drink or so without taking the bottle out of the holders.

[rocketsocks]

The bungee loop on my shoulder strap of the osprey atmos used for a pole holder can/and has been repurposed to hang a Gatorade bottle...works pretty good till the bottle gets near empty, then it kinda dangles and wobbles a bit.

[T-Rx]

I also have a ULA Catalyst with the small yellow loops on each shoulder strap. I carried a vitamin water bottle for years and it fit nicely in these loops and stayed in place fairly well. I have recently switched to a platypus and I prefer it over the bottles. The advantage for me is it allows me to drink while hiking without stopping and I tend to drink more water so dehydration is less of a potential problem.

[vamelungeon]

I make a loop with paracord that I attach to my straps. I get one of those spring loaded cord adjusters (you can buy a pack of them at Wally World very cheaply) and stick the neck of my Gatorade bottle through the loop and tighten the adjuster. Simple, uncomplicated, works great.

[yerbyray]

I think one of the neatest products adapted for backpacking is the ziptie or cable tie with attachment point. See the picture below
28943
For water bottles, I zip one around the neck and then I can use a cheap small biner to clip to a "D" ring or gear loop. They weigh nothing and are very strong. You can get them in several different sizes and they are cheap. Good for many uses.

[CalebJ]

I stopped using zip ties for anything important after seeing too many of them break. If they're pulled tight, even ones that haven't been ought in the sun for long periods will break if bumped the wrong way. In this case that's especially significant, because they're attached to a water bottle that you may drop from time to time. I broke two in a week and switched to a simple knot.

[brewyet]

http://www.aquaclip.com/ is what I use and I love it. I hang 2 smart water bottles up front and it makes a nice counter weight

[Singto]

http://www.aquaclip.com/ is what I use and I love it. I hang 2 smart water bottles up front and it makes a nice counter weight

Nice little product....I like simple solutions.

[Long Stride]

Nice little product....I like simple solutions.

You can read an in-depth review on the Aquaclip at this cool backpacking gear review website by clicking on this link http://www.trailspace.com/gear/other/aquaclip/

[Turk6177]

My pack (ULA Catalyst) has two elastic straps with spring loaded Tiny and Mini Cord Locks like these for sale at Zpacks. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/spectra_cord.shtml I would assume you can find a couple pieces of elastic cord and do the same thing on your straps. Z packs also sells this shoulder pouch that might do the trick http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/shoulderpouch.shtml

[SkeeterPee]

I also have the Osprey Atmos 65. Those pockets are hard to use with most water bottles. Have you tried using a smart water bottle? they are 1 liter, but tall and skinny. I find I can reach the pockets in the pack and insert these 1 handed. And they push them fully in behind the compress strap so they are secure. I can not do that with wider bottles such as a Nalgene 1 liter. So instead of a bladder I carry one of each type and really drink from the smart water bottle. Then use the Nalgene in camp when measuring water for cooking.

[VITCHELO]

Thanks BigHodag (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php/26409-BigHodag) , This was very useful

[Harrison Bergeron]

I made a bottle holster from ripstop, using a stuffbag pattern I found on the internet. I lined it with part of an oversize water bottle so my ozarka bottles would slip in and out easily. Then I used a carabiner to clip it to my pack strap (at the bottom, not the chest). The whole thing weighs less than half an ounce.

[Another Kevin]

I don't generally carry water that way, but when I did, it was with these: http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Carabandits-6-Pack-PCBN1-MTGT/dp/B00IWTRB94 . I still use one on my relief bottle in the wintertime so that it's outside the pack. You really have to stretch them tight. Most wide-mouth bottles have a groove below the shoulder that they'll snap into. They don't last forever, but neither does anything else I've found for the purpose. I didn't pay nearly the price Amazon is asking. I seem to recall that they turned up at the job lot store, or something.

[Vegan Packer]

I use the bungee and cordlock method. One goes around the neck, and another one goes around the middle of the bottle.

[Mtsman]

I use the bungee and cordlock method. One goes around the neck, and another one goes around the middle of the bottle.
This, I would only add that it carries better upside down.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Riocielo]

I don't generally carry water that way, but when I did, it was with these: http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Carabandits-6-Pack-PCBN1-MTGT/dp/B00IWTRB94 . I still use one on my relief bottle in the wintertime so that it's outside the pack. You really have to stretch them tight. Most wide-mouth bottles have a groove below the shoulder that they'll snap into. They don't last forever, but neither does anything else I've found for the purpose. I didn't pay nearly the price Amazon is asking. I seem to recall that they turned up at the job lot store, or something.

Thank you so much for introducing us to the Carabandits! I bought a pack and have found so many uses for them. I can't wait to use them out on the trail.