Smaller than I thought, but...

Posted by JWS on 6th Aug 2017

Half the fun so far has been configuring this thing. So far I've settled on not using a canteen and using a water bottle instead. I'm using a Nalgene 32 ounce stainless steel bottle nested into a Stanley pot nested into a Snow Peak 700 titanium cup on top of the Stanley lid. In the back pocket I have a disposable poncho and a Snow Peak titanium sport. In the front center pocket I have a first aid kit tin and a Swiss Army Knife Hercules with room to spare. In the right pocket I put a fire kit with room to spare. I've kept the left pocket empty so that there's room for a granola bar or whatever. Using the upper left loop I've attached a Thrunite 18650 flashlight pouch, and I've stuffed a Sawyer bug spray "pen" inside the left loops. I haven't used the right two loops yet.

I'm using this kit such that it can be used on its own for short hikes and in conjunction with my Hidden Woodsman haversack kit for day hikes or overnight trips. So far it has held up to being banged around quite a bit in the back of a John Deere Gator. Like the Hidden Woodsman haversack, I've found it to be considerably more comfortable by adding padding to the shoulder strap.

Though I haven't had this product for very long, I'm happy with it so far and expect it to last a very long time. I can't bring myself to pay $150 for the Heavy Cover canteen, which I'm sure is great, but I'm quite content using my water bottle kit and stuffing a bandana along side it to snug it up a bit.

Is it worth the price? Hmmm... It does hold more than my Pathfinder water bottle bag does, but it costs roughly four times more. I have no regrets. It's a nice piece of kit, and you get what you pay for.