Packing water bottle Hyperlite Mountain Gear junction

Unless you perform in Cirque du Soleil, there is no way you are accessing a bottle in the back (aka ‘front’) pocket while wearing the pack. Just load up one or two of the side (aka ‘bottle’) pockets with water. I find HMG bottle pockets reasonably easy to access while underway, but people’s shoulder flexibility differs.

+1 to what Philip said. Long arms and even a little flexibility help. Tall slim bottles promising extra intelligence, too. Other HMG owners have said no way can they reach the side cupholders.

Another option is shoulder-strap water bottle carriers offered in variety of shapes, sizes, and weights. Not for me. Can’t stand swinging a lot more weight around to put on a shoulder strap.

I’ve also decided that drinking water at rest stops kills two avian fauna with one cobble – when I need to rest, I take a drink, and vice versa. Water bottles in the big back/front pocket would work OK, but I like cupholders better.

— Rex

I am never able to remove them from any side pockets of HMG packs let alone back pockets. Did try the Unbound 40 and you sure can remove it from the side pockets. I think the Porter packs with porter water bottle pocket add ons work great….you could add that water bottle pocket and angle it such that it can be easily removed.

I always like having bottle pockets on the shoulder straps – easy access to water and load distribution. Also, I use Steripen – so, many times, I can just scoop water and filter it without removing my pack.