Ever been on a hike or a walk and wish you had easier access to your water bottle or didn’t have to carry it in your hands the whole time? There are several vendors on the market that offer varying styles of a water bottle pouch. The issue I’ve found is how they attach to a belt or gear. Molle straps are great if you’re attaching it to a tactical backpack, battle belt, or plate carrier, but for the average citizen that’s not very practical. I wanted something that didn’t scream “tactical” yet had a reliable and comfortable way to carry my water bottle. After looking at several companies, I settled on The Wilderness. They are a USA company with a pretty bad ass catch phrase – Overkill Never Fails.
Size: 1.0 quart. This bottle bag will fit your standard 32 ounce Nalgene, Camelbak, and Kleen Kanteen water bottles. I have been carrying my 27 ounce Kleen Kanteen in it without any issues. The bottle bag top strap fits perfectly through the cap of my water bottle to secure it in the bag. There is also a shock cord draw string at the top of the bag to better secure the water bottle.
What makes this product so tough and considered to be “overkill”:
- ALL seams are double-stitched then taped, for three stitches total. All tape ends are tucked in.
- They use 92-weight bonded polyester thread, which is heavier than the milspec industry standard (69-weight) and more U.V. resistant.
- They use 8 to 10 stitches per inch. The average for most competitors is 5 or 6 stitches per inch.
Attachment Options: The water bottle pouch attaches to your waist belt or pack belt with The Wildernes signature wrap-around belt loop. This allows you to easily put on and remove the bag without having to remove or unbuckle your belt. On a recent trip to Washington DC, I found that if I used a carabiner through the top of the belt loop and clipped to my belt loop I was able to access the water bottle easier – reminiscent of a drop pouch.
Color Options: Black, Coyote, Ranger Green, Urban Grey, Multi-Cam, Pink, Marine Blue. I went with the Urban Grey color as I wanted a more neutral color for use in urban areas.
MSRP: $18.95 direct from The Wilderness website.
Bottom Line: Give this bottle bag a try – you won’t be disappointed. It’s made right here is the USA and it’s only $18.95. For under $20 you can’t beat this piece of gear.
