Simblissity BotSpot – thumbs up or down?

No direct experience, but methinks:

1. Get the BotSpot only if your water bottle is completely smooth.

2. Get the much simpler two-cords-with-cord-locks if there are indentations in your water bottle for the cords to hold. ULA sells them — or just make them yourself.

Thanks Ben. Have you tried the cords? Without any bottom support I wonder how well that works.

No (I use bladder/drinking tube method – which is why I wrote "no direct experience" up above) — but methinks it depends on the bottle. There are lots of water bottles that come with indentations (or concave areas) — and those should work. Also, methinks a 16 or 20 oz. bottle will work better than a big, thick 32 oz — lighter in weight plus smaller size mean it can be more out of the way.

This kind of bottle should work very well with 2 cords:

This bottle won't work so well:

We use bladder/hose as well, but thought this could be convenient for some situations where my wife and I wouldn't use our water bladders.

For me, I would get the two cords and choose appropriate water bottles. Heck, for the occasional use, there are various supermarket water bottles that will work.

EJ, PM me your address, and I will send you an ULA type setup. Try it first. free

EJ, my buddy uses the two cord method on his ULA pack. The gatorade bottle works really well with it because of the two grooves on the bottle. Almost like it was mode for it. Like Ben mentions, probably not best with a smooth bottle.

This is the best picture I have of it. After my last trip with him, I'm prbably going to rig up my own bottle holder using the same method.

EJ,

I, too, use the cord method. Works great with one occasional downfall – If I fail to tighten the cord enough, the bottle falls to the ground. IMAGINE THAT!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, though, I'll add the second cord as shown above to my setup.

Gatorade bottles work well. I started stockpiling them a little since Propel changed their bottles last year. Didn't think I would ever run out, then BAM – no more old style Propel bottles!

i have two packs with the BotSpot on them and really like the way it works. I liked the first one so much that I got a second one and added it to one of my other packs. I have retired my bladder since and have went to bottles only. dave

Thanks for the helpful tips. Dave why did you go all bottles – just for weight savings? Or so that you could treat some water in one container while drinking from another?

How many and what size bottles do you use and where do you keep yours (side pockets + shoulder)?

E.J.,

I use the two shock cord system and find they work extremely well, especially with 20oz Gatorade bottles….
With these bottles they do not slip and offer easy in/out access.

Thanks Chris, what's the technique side – how many bottles do you use, where do you store each and how do you use them (treating two while drinking from other, etc.).

I used the 2 cord system, but switched to the BotSpot. I like the BotSpot better, I can drop the bottle in without having to worry about making sure the the cords are tight, and positioned in a groove on the bottle…

I used a single cord along with socks to insulate the bottle (tucking the extra sock into the pack strap daisy chain effectively acted as a second strap). It did seem to insulate the bottles a bit. I had some trouble with the cord locks failing, but this was probably due to the fact that they were from a cheap TGIF giveaway garment and not meant for 1/8" shock cord. I would like to experiment more with this for winter, because it keeps an extra pair of socks busy doing something constructive. In the summer, I think I'd just use the double shock cord.

I have use both shockcord and the BotSpot. I would give the BotSpot a thumbs down. The top anchor point is its weakness. It needs to attach to a firm shoulder strap or load lifter. When I used it on my Golite Ion or ULA pack it kept slipping down or I would have to over tighten it and the shoulder strap would bunch up. I also found it unstable and it would flop side to side. I would suggest trying the shock cord method with a 20oz Gatorade bottle. If you don’t like it your only out a few bucks.

I will say that simblissity quality and construction is top notch. I regularly use their unslack pack.

Think I'm just going to try the shock cord method. Does anyone sell a ready-made version with tighteners?

I just ordered their Unslack Pack to replace a heavier and far less functional coated nylon shoulder pouch.

For those who use bottles only, I'm interested in your technique – do you keep one treated ready-to-drink bottle on your shoulder strap with another two in your side pockets, either being treated or treated already?

E J, check my earlier post…

Hi Ken, was going to PM you. Thought this was something you rigged on your own similar to something ULA includes on their packs, not a standalone item. Really appreciate it.

I use 2 bottles anymore, usually 2 1 liter aquafina bottles or 1 1 liter and one 16.9 oz bottle. either one fits well in the BotSpot. I can treat one and drink from the other, or treat both as needed. I usually carry a platy bottle also if I think I might need more than that. The platy bottles roll-up and take up little space and weigh little. I just got tire of trying to remove a bladder to refill. I carry one bottle in side pocket and one in my BotSpot. dave

FWIW,

I don't use shockcord. I use regular cord as I've had the shock cord stretch due to bottle weight on rough terrain while "jogging" for a stretch and the bottle fell out.

For what it's worth, I've tried various shoulder strap mounting methods for bottles including the bungie cords that are on my ULA packs and personally I find it way easier to just reach behind and grab a bottle from the side pocket (this assumes your pack has the side pocket mounted such that you can reach the bottle). I ended up just cutting them off.

With the bottle in the front you have to disconnect it from the shoulder strap and then attach it again, which for me was more work than just reaching back to a side pocket.

Also, I could not stand the weight of the bottles moving around in the front of the straps.

I've been keeping one bottle in the BotSpot, and one in the side pocket of my ULA Conduit. Both are 24 ounce Propel bottles. I can treat one, while drinking from the other one. This year, I'm planning on getting a Steripen, and carrying just one bottle in well-watered areas…

you all might consider this Aqua Clip shown at the winter outdoor retail show held a year ago. I used it last summer on a 2 week hike. Not bad for $3.00.
Link: http://aquaclip.com/

John looks like you would still need a cord to support the middle/bottom – it would bounce around like mad.