I use a Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack. Usable water bottle pockets are not a feature on this pack. It has side pockets near the bottom but when the pack is full they are useless. In another discussion (No, I do not want a water filled bra) a Wet Rib was mentioned and it seems that this would hook onto the shoulder strap. A search does not turn up much information on this. I am looking for suggestions on how to carry water while hiking. I have thought about adding some mesh pockets to the top of my pack to carry one or two one liter platypus. Any other suggestions. I am interested in something to hold water while hiking so that I do not have to take the pack off to get a drink. Presently I am using an OR holder which goes on the hip belt and holds a one liter bottle but it is a poor solution.

The vapor trail has two pockets for a bladder. I use the outer one for a 3 liter platypus hoser. It's between the back pad and the main part of the pack.

Shock cord and a barrel cordlock will hold a bottle on the shoulder strap. ULA uses two but I only use one to hold a 20 oz. Gatorade bottle.

Simblissity and zpacks both make shoulder strap pockets that will hold a bottle.

Marmot now makes the wet rib and is probably available through the gear portal.

Luxury Lite make a front pack designed to carry water.

I can carry a 20 oz. bottle in either the front pocket or the cargo pocket of REI Sahara pants.

I don't use the vapor trail, but it's lighter cousin, the virga - I simply load a platypus bag into the main compartment in the middle near my back, and run the hose out the top, run it through and clip to the sternum strap.

OTOH, I have successfully carried a 600 ml (20 oz) coke bottle just fine in the bottom side pocket
with the pack full, and it seems pretty secure - and when I look at it the pockets appear to be the same as those on the vapour trail. A coke bottle appears pretty secure in there, I don't think something a fat as a nalgene would be - it is a bit to tight and short for that. The narrowness of the coke bottle and the tapered waist of it seems to help make it work ok.

My problem with that for what you are suggesting is that I have trouble reaching the bottle without taking the pack off at that point.

Dunno if this helps but the Wet Rib was a Dana Design accessory, and I'll guess some are still out there as leftover inventory or used. A clever DIY'er could sew some up, but I'm not that guy, myself.

It's a good concept that keeps the water close at hand and under control, but I never used one myself--just fiddled with them in the shops.

Granite Gear makes a couple of insulated water bottle pockets, but I'm not sure they'd be an improvement over the OR holder. (I've not tried them, but they look similar; you might want to check them out on the GG website.)

I'm not sure which OR water pouch you are using, but I've used this http://www.rei.com/product/402189 simple one for years. I have it attached to the right side of the hipbelt on my Granite Gear Ozone. Weighs about an ounce. Costs about $5. Holds an Aqua Fina bottle perfectly.

It makes the water very accessable. I reach for the bottle, take a drink, and replace it when I'm on the go and without even setting down my trekking poles.

Food,

I checked the MARMOT website and could not find the Wet Rib. If you find it please post the link in this thread.

Interesting to see they took over part of the Dana Designs pack line. What a convoluted way for Dana packs to passs out of existence.

Eric

Eric,

I could not find it on the Marmot site either. I thought there were still some in stock but maybe not.

http://www.backcountrygear.com/catalog/accessdetail.cfm?PRODUCTS__ProductID=MA7200

Check out the Maxpedition rolly polly or their bottle holders. I have one of the rolly pollys, but I am thinking about getting this bottle holder http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=7&idproduct=574