Simblissity BotSpot – thumbs up or down?

I do much like Dave — 2 liter water bottles and a platy for backup. I fill both water bottles and carry them on my shoulder straps – one on each strap. If I think I need more before the next water stop, I'll fill the platy and put it in a side pocket on the pack. Rarely have to do that though. I'm usually just refilling the two liter bottles at the next water stop (Steripen) and continuing to move. I use the MLD bottle holders. They're a bit tight, but quite functional.

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

EJ — I have no problem with my BotSpot bouncing around, I tweaked the strap at the top of the BotSpot, so it's not loose at the top…

I've used the cord system for years. Depending on the hike I will either carry two bottles in the cords (one per strap) or carry one bottle in the cords and one Nalgene Canteen. One recommendation is to use cordlocks instead of toggles. This works better because the tension of the cord itself keeps the bottle in instead of a tiny spring. I had the problem of bottles falling down until I switched and have had no problems sense. I now even have them on my trail running pack. Also use a larger gauge shock cord. Each cord is about five to six inches so weight really isn’t an issue and it will last a lot longer.

I think he was talking about the AquaClip that John Kays mentioned

>>I think he was talking about the AquaClip that John Kays mentioned

I think you're right — wish this forum made it easier to see which message was being responded to…

"wish this forum made it easier to see which message was being responded to…"

+1

How did you tweak the strap?

You can read an indepth backpacking review on the Aquaclip water bottle holder at:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Hydration%20Systems/Bottles/Aquaclips%20Water%20Bottle%20Holder/Owner%20Review%20by%20Ray%20Estrella/

I tried using both 1 and 2 of the bungee cords and found that I would bounce them loose more oftern than I liked. I liked having the bottles accessible on my shoulder strap, so I bought a 12 inch (or maybe slightly longer)velcro strap from REI. This works much better for me and I use it with a Gatorade bottle. Here is a link. Good luck.
http://www.rei.com/product/794899

I've tried the dual cord method, as well as stuffing my bottle in my Simblissity Unslack (never tried the BotSpot). This is the setup that I've settled on: a single small velcro strap (the same exact one that Robert linked above, even!), with a bike water bottle. The bottle is a little heavier than ideal, but it's held really snug by the velcro, due to the shape of the indentation, so I can run and scramble without any annoying shifting.

Can anyone please describe how these attach to the pack shoulder straps? It isn't clear from the photos. Does the attachment mechanism rely on other straps/loops/etc on the shoulder strap?
How is the lateral stability (side-to-side flopping) when a bottle is full?

My intended use is for trail running, so there is a fair bit of stress on the carrying device caused by running with a full bottle. In the past, I have used home-made cord w/locks that also relied on another lower "basket" made out of webbing at the bottom of the bottle for stability – similar to some other ideas presented here, but the basket makes it easier to place the bottle back when on the move. I had to use parachute cord to hold the bottle at the top, a bungee/elastic cord could not hold the weight of a full bottle.

I have another pack that has built-in silnylon sleeves for bottles that is effective, and that I presume the BotSpot is mimicking while adding the ability to be used on any(?) pack.

Thanks for any input!

Bruce

I tried this with both an empty peanut jar with a significant v shaped indentation and a thin 1 litre pop bottle with a very slight indentation. A 14 inch velcro strap works perfectly, and with the pop bottle you can even snake it back in without undoing the strap. My pack has 3×1/2 inch straps and they provide a very good grip.The bottle doesn't move at all at a walking pace. I even found a seller on ebay who has ideal straps. This is a much better solution and very cheap. Note the REI straps listed above are too short for this application. See these instead.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=%28380201882114&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I have this same sort of velcro strap in 13", 16", and 20" lengths at my ebay store bankonknabstore. I also have some listed at my website http://www.bankonknabstore.com.

>>Does the attachment mechanism rely on other straps/ loops/etc on the shoulder strap? How is the lateral stability (side-to-side flopping) when a bottle is full?<<

Sorry for the late response Bruce. You are correct that it relies on the shoulder strap itself…specifically on the point where the nylon strap is sewn to the padded part of the shoulder strap…at least that's the way I've always done it.

>>My intended use is for trail running…<<

What about using hand held bottles? That's what I use when trail-running and/or fast-packing…usually in conjunction with either a hydration bladder (day trips) or bigger bottles placed w/i my pack (fast-packing).

>>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.
>>

+1.

Also, no extra weight.

I have no side pockets which are reachable . As to the weight the bottles don't move at all . I think it's the poor mans Auum pack setup with a counterbalance. We will be doing it on a Golite Odyssey and an REI UL as well just to free up mesh areas. Consider that the earlier posters using bicycle bottles were running with their set ups. That says a lot about balance.For me the almost negligible weight and lack of movement is a good thing.

Has anyone tried it as a bear spray holder?