add-on hipbelt pocket choices…

You know, those add-on hipbelt pockets can be very handy. However, they tend to add a fair amount of weight for a small volume of space.

If you are any good with a sewing machine, you might try fabricating your own out of thinner fabrics. Or, if you get something of the wrong color, you can dye it to match something else.

–B.G.–

The two I mentioned seem pretty light…not sure I could do any better with a MYOG solutios. Someone might be able to, but not me ;). The Granite Gear versions do seem heavy compared to the MLD and GG ones, which is why I had excluded them.

I like the Gossamer Gear one. The large size fits one of my quart size freezer bags, and I fill them almost all the way. It's the perfect size for me. I wish the pocket on my ULA was as big.

For shoulder pockets, I went with the silnylon version from Zpacks because my stuff is better protected from falling out accidentally.

I have the gossamer gear ones and I like them. I have two on my multi day pack and one on my lumbar pack. One complaint I would have is that they're meant to be attached by velcro to GG pack belts, the velcro patch I put on was only on the outside of the hipstraps so the pockets would come off and slide around until I put some stitches in to keep them in place.

The GG pouches are good. But, they are designed for GG packs. You can circumvent the slipping with a couple small T-lok's connected to the loops and a small burned hole with a hot nail (to puncture and seal). I have found them pretty good in use. But adding to my hips is not really the best in a lot of situations. They may take a bit of getting used to. Likely for a woman, they are no problem. Depends on your body shape.

The shoulder mounted ones are OK. But they add to the weight on your shoulders. Like the front packs, they are generally unsupported by the hip belt. I think the aarn ones do have a better mount to the hip belt, though.

I have two packs — one with GG hip belt pockets and the other with silnylon. The silnylon ones are lighter and eminently usable, but I prefer the GG ones. YMMV, of course.