Completed my "Tactical H2O" (Maxped 10X4 + Guyot + Maxped TC + GSI Bottle Cup)

[Macchina]

Well, after a few months of collecting different pieces for this water bottle carrier, I am finished (because I can't fit anything else in here). On the outside is the Maxpedition 10x4 Bottle Holder with a shoulder strap from my Wilderness Holster (very nice strap). The 10x4 is expensive, but it is well made and one of the only ways to carry a water bottle on the outside of my pack. It's insulated, allows extra stuff to also be carried in it, and has a nice big front pocket for snacks or a kit. Inside is a Maxpedition Tactical Can Case, which serves no purpose in life (especially for its price) unless you put a kit in it an sink it to the bottom of a 10x4. On top of that goes the GSI Bottle Cup, I've used a slightly smaller version of this cup for the past 10 years and have been more than pleased with it. This Bottle Cup version is about 1/4" bigger in diameter and allows a Guyot or Nalgene to fit inside it. The Guyot itself (actually a rebranded Nalgene Guyot which were $15 at Dick's a few months back) is the perfect water bottle for me. It is stainless, has cut threads, an awesome removeable lid, and is the perfect 40 oz. (advertised as 32 oz.) for me. I have some 5" Maxpedition TacTies on the back which work well for a belt loop for my hiking backpack waist belt. I just found out I can put my Taurus TCP .380 in the front pocket with room to spare! I put some stuff in my kit, most of it is recognizable except for perhaps the Frontier Straw which is a very simple water filter with no moving parts.

 

[Shotgun]

Nice setup. I have a round altoids tin(sours) that I have in the bottom like your chew holder. Almost time to switch to the 10x4. The weather has stayed unpredictable here so I'm still daypacking it. For extra layers.

 

[cgd160]

Just curious, will the bottle holder close with the cup on top instead of the bottom?

 

[Macchina]

I don't see why not, but I wouldn't personally carry it that way. I use my water bottle many times in a day, I use my cup only during meals. It makes sense if you would pour your water into the cup then drink it, but I'm not that fancy.
With the cup on the bottom (above the TC case), it keeps the shape of the bottle holder and allows for very easy withdraw/replacement of the bottle in the 10x4.

On thing I noticed about this "kit": I ACTUALLY USE IT! We all seem to like to put stuff together to make they ultimate this or that, but I know I would never carry a decked-out backpack (too heavy in the woods, too weird in the city). I strap this water bottle holder (sans the bottle cup) to my Maxpedition Falcon II for use at college. When backpacking, I put it (with the bottle cup) on the waistband of my Gregory Forester. If I'm car camping or hunting, I carry it with the shoulder strap.

 

[cgd160]

I ask because I always see people struggling to get the cup out.

I have an EMS version that is large enough to put a cup on the bottom and top (2 cup set up ). It is loose enough to pull out the top cup effortlessly but snug enough so nothing rattles. Unfortunately the EMS lacks a pouch and a nice strap, it's also not as durable.

 

[Macchina]

I ask because I always see people struggling to get the cup out.

I have an EMS version that is large enough to put a cup on the bottom and top (2 cup set up ). It is loose enough to pull out the top cup effortlessly but snug enough so nothing rattles. Unfortunately the EMS lacks a pouch and a nice strap, it's also not as durable.

It can be tough at first, but once you get a hang of "fisting" the cup and pulling straight up (so your fat fingers aren't on the outside making it tight) it's much easier. I do however fear snagging one of the handles sometime and not realizing it. It'd take a lot of effort, but I'd hate to bust a weld on the handle hing of the cup.

 

[hung-solo]

nice set up... i doubt you can boil water in that bottle since it has a plastic top.. which i am sure you knew. (correct me if i am wrong here).. never heard of the Tauras. ill look that up. i have the ruger lcp .380 and love it..

 

[Macchina]

nice set up... i doubt you can boil water in that bottle since it has a plastic top.. which i am sure you knew. (correct me if i am wrong here).. never heard of the Tauras. ill look that up. i have the ruger lcp .380 and love it..

The plastic top is completely removable (it's held on with a paracord lanyard with a slide), leaving only the 100& stainless steel bottle.

Taurus used to be Made in Brazil and though it's always been a good value, the quality was sometimes lacking. They moved a lot of their new production to the USA (the TCP is 100% USA made except the mags) and has really stepped up their game (I used to think I'd never own a Taurus). Kinda like how Sony was considered complete crap in the 70's...

I was going to buy the LCP, but when I started comparing the LCP vs. TCP, it was an easy choice for me. For $275, I got a USA made, stainless slide and barrel, very compact carry .380 with a far better trigger than the LCP, last round hold open, 2 magazines, and a free holster to boot! I've shot it enough to satisfy my needs for a reliable carry gun, and it's been in my pocket everyday for the past few months.

 

[storl]

Cool setup, I like it a lot. I'm going to point to this thread when people ask what they can do with the Maxpedition bottle holders.

 

[A.L.]

Very nice, liking it!
I like the idea how you could tuck that away in small space.