Just a quick heads up; Woot is selling the Maxpedition 12 x 5 water bottle holder for $25 right now. I have a couple of these and really like them. If you know Maxpedition you know how bombproof their stuff is and how well made. A quick Google search failed to turn up anywhere else that has them for much under $45...IIRC I paid $40 for mine a few years ago.

No affiliation with Woot beyond being an admitted Woot junkie! Pretty good deal if you a use for one.

I like Woot as well. This is a decent deal. Thanks Phaedrus!

I'm trying to decide if I should get another one! I really don't need it but who couldn't use just one more kit...

I broke down and bought one.

I received it but have a question.

What is the purpose of the various patches of velcro? Wouldn't anything that is velcro'ed on simply get pulled off?

What is the convention on which side has the fuzz and which side gets the hooks in using velcro.

I liked these as they are longer and hold my 48 oz (1.5.L) bottles.

The velcro is evidently for attaching patches, in case you either like wearing cool guy patches or need to mark the container in some way. The piece that gets washed usually gets the fuzzy pile, while the patch that is removable gets the loops.

Moral patches, or maybe a name patch. How do you like it? I have one in black that I use for a hiking surival kit. I keep my stripped-and-repackaged Ritter AMK PSP in the pouch, a small multitool, chlorine dioxide tablets and some extra fire gear and an AMK Heatsheets blanket all in the large pocket. I keep an SOG Field Pup MOLLE'd into the PALS webbing. Inside the bag I keep two cups nested with a large SS water bottle, with a couple of paint filters for removing sediment.

I wound up passing on the deal at Woot simply because I already have one of that same bag plus two CountyComm Hyrdrant bags. Very similar but roomy enough for a pair of 1 L bottles. Sadly I see that bag from CC has been discontinued. Pity, very cool product.

OK. I get it. From where I stand, the velcro serves no practical purpose. It adds complexity and cost without benefit.

I bought it when I read that it could fit my 70-200mm lens. Currently, I am using the stock lense case modified to fit on a milsurplus load bearing belt. I like this solution MUCH better.

Phaedrus, I have carried the normal sizes for quite some time to give increased water carrying capabilities to packs and bags. These have rings for a shoulder strap to allow carry by itself, which is useful at times. I recently purchased some 1.5 liter Nalgene bottles which are too long to fit in the normal size bags. I also have a Fifty/Fifty stainless steel insulated bottle which is longer than normal as well. I was hiking in Death Valley and my lexan Nalgene bottles were getting so hot that the water was almost undrinkable when they were carried in the mesh pockets on my backpack. The bottle containers help to keep the water insulated and cool. I found that my single wall stainless Nalgene bottles also stayed much cooler and drinkable even in direct sunlight.

Yee, you are correct that the velcro serves little practical purpose other than marking in some way. It can be removed easily enough.

Get one of the Velcro backed business card holders, insert a few cards, and stick that to on top. It's a great bag for a 70-200,snug fit, well padded, and it doesn't look like a normal lens/camera bag with a $2K lens in it.