MLD Burn Pocket Q

Just to clarify, I can reach the bottles in my Kumo easily. I know pocket depth isn’t the only factor at play here but it’s a factor. Seeing how high the pocket of an MLD burn goes in relation to my favorite bottle would be an excellent data point.

Matt, the following images are with the MLD Burn and 1 L smartwater bottle, both right-side-up and up-side-down. YMMV, but the 0.7L smartwater bottle is a better, easier fit. Also, because the bottom of the Burn side pockets is pointy rather than flat, storing the bottle upside down lets it sit a little deeper and more secure IMHO, and it makes it a little easier to replace. Temporarily unclipping the waist belt to let the pack sink also allows you to reach the side pocket better without taking a shoulder strap off. One reason I like the 1L BeFree is that the flexible “bottle” slithers its way down into the side pocket rather easily, especially if you jiggle your body/pack to help it out, and especially if the bottle is nor more than 2/3 full.

Thanks, Lester.

I’m surprised to see the Burn pocket might even be a little lower than my Kimo’s pocket. The body of the Burn is narrower in width. Maybe that’s why I had trouble reaching the pockets.

Thanks for the photos and the tips. I may pull the trigger on one a Burn once I see what the new Palante looks like.

Matt,

i am able to get a bottle out of my new Burn.  It is narrow which is half the reason that it is as painful as it is.  BUT! I don’t store water there, I added four bottle/food pockets on the hip belt and took the weight completely out of the pack.

@gg-man:

Would really appreciate a picture of your four bottle/food pockets on the Burn hip belt.

Care to post them here?

Malto, that does seem like a good solution. I’d be interested in seeing that what looks like as well although I am using a hipbelt less and less these days.

Here is a closeup of one side.

I took a different approach to the weight.  I moved as much out of my pack as possible.  I have a total of six pockets on the hip belt, 2 used for water and/or magical Malto mix, two used for food while hiking and two for stuff I need while walking, pills compass etc.  in deserts I can carry up to four quarts of water using all four for water allowing 8 pounds to be pulled out of the pack.  Often there is so little weight in the pack that it floats away from my back acting more like a fanny pack than a shoulder carried pack.

Here is a photo from a few years back (click for a closer view) showing my setup from 2011.  It has changed much, just some small improvements that made it stable when I occasionally run with it.  https://www.postholer.com/journal/Pacific-Crest-Trail/2011/gg-man/2011-08-05/Day-77—Sisters/2569https/25691

Thanks for posting that picture and providing other details.

Unfortunately your postholer journal is not accessible:

“This journalist does not exist.”

is what I get when I tried to access the above URL.

https://www.postholer.com/journal/Pacific-Crest-Trail/2011/gg-man/2011-08-05/Day-77—Sisters/25691

Thanks for sharing your setup, Malto.