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#110754 - 02/05/09 11:45 AM Making a lighter bear spray holder?
Wolfeye Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 413
Loc: Seattle, WA
I'm interested in making a bear spray holder, but... I have little idea of where to start. I've made a few items out of leather for native dance regailia before, but that's worlds different than using UL materials.

What I have in mind is something that will clip onto either a hip belt or onto pants. I've read about heat-moldable Kydex for sheath making, so I thought I'd start there. The end product would look something like a shlumpy bicycle bottle holder, only paper-thin.

Any advice? grin I'm sure something lighter could be made out of fabric materials, but my knowledge of that is pretty murky.

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#110757 - 02/05/09 12:23 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Wolfeye]
hoz Offline
member

Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 138
Loc: midwest
My holster for Counter Assault Bear Spray is made entirely from cordura and nylon webbing and has a "loop" on the back for a belt.

The cordura wraps around the can and the webbing from top to bottom.




Pretty simple project actually.
http://www.counterassault.com/html/bearproducts.html
_________________________
We don't stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking. Finis Mitchell

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#110766 - 02/05/09 03:08 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Wolfeye]
DJ2 Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 1348
Loc: Seattle, WA
I use a 5/8" fastex like quick release buckle.

I tie the male half of the buckle to the neck of the bear spray cannister using 1/16" inch cord.

I tie the female half of the buckle to the front of my pack's shoulder straps.

The bear spray hangs on the right side of my chest and is readily available if I need it.

When in camp I wear a 1/2" nylon strap around my waist like a belt. It has several female buckle halves attached to it. I snap the bear spray to one of them.

These buckles, by the way, only weigh about 1/5 ounce each. I have them attached to many places on my pack. I attach handkerchiefs, monoculars, hats, etc. to the pack using them. I've never had one break or accidentally open. I buy them at Seattle Fabrics.

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#110769 - 02/05/09 03:29 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: DJ2]
frediver Offline
member

Registered: 05/11/07
Posts: 114
all you need is a 12oz. size nylon water bottle holder, you can get them at the grocery store , $1.99-$2.99.
they have a belt loop and a elastic draw string top. Fits mine perfect.

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#110775 - 02/05/09 08:19 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Wolfeye]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Wolfeye

So what good is light bear spray? Isn't that a bit like light beer? goodjob
Jim
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#110791 - 02/06/09 09:18 AM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: frediver]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I haven't had the need for bear spray or ever purchased it. I would think that a waterbottle holder with a draw string would make it slow to whip it out. Have you seen some of the bear videos where the bear comes charging around a bush and knocks the person with the camera down? I think I would want a quick draw holster if I were to carry the stuff. Maybe some kinda clip affair like a cell phone button? I don't know about lite bear spray but I can tell you that lite beer sucks.
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Enjoy your next trip...

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#110792 - 02/06/09 09:19 AM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Jimshaw]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
Jim, he is talking about spray for light bears. crazy wink wink eek
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I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

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#110811 - 02/06/09 11:54 AM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Wolfeye]
Wolfeye Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 413
Loc: Seattle, WA
I actually use bear spray as a jet pack to help me up those steep hills. cool

Looks like there are plenty of simpler options out there than a kydex sheath. Now I'm thinking of ways to rig a rubber strap so it will have a quick-draw belt clip on the back. I like the belt attachment idea; back in my paintball days, we used to hold CO2 cartridges & cigar tubes (ammo tubes) in shotgun ammo loops. Very handy.

Once I get my hands on another can I'll get to work. Nice hiking weather has come nigh, and coincidentally my wife wants to take a pepper spray defense course. It seems the two wolds collided and made me think of bear spray.

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#110817 - 02/06/09 01:31 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Wolfeye]
Cesar Offline
member

Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 217
Loc: El Paso, TX
I dont know if you ever plan to put it back in the pouch but you can always jbweld the quick draw belt clip to the bottle. Probably more reliable then rubber bands.
_________________________
My gear is no where near lightweight

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#110846 - 02/07/09 03:14 PM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: Cesar]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

I've used the stretchy type and the type as in the picture above - (nylon with the flap). Go for the nylon with the flap, it's lighter, and you don't lose your bear spray. The only time I ever had to take it out of the holster in a hurry the flap was no trouble at all.

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#110872 - 02/08/09 08:47 AM Re: Making a lighter bear spray holder? [Re: phat]
hoz Offline
member

Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 138
Loc: midwest
Should be noted the nylon webbing flap in the above picture is held in place with velcro
_________________________
We don't stop hiking because we grow old, we grow old because we stop hiking. Finis Mitchell

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