Many hikers and backpackers like to attach extra accessory pockets to their shoulder straps and hip belts to provide extra storage and help organize their gear so it can be accessed quickly without removing their backpacks. Extra water bottle sleeves, camera bags, phone pockets, or extra hip belt pockets are available and commonly used for this purpose, including ones that come from companies other than your pack’s manufacturer. Most accessory backpack pockets are designed so they can be used on any backpack but it’s important to understand how they’re attached, whether they’ll stay bounce-free and secure, and how easy they are to remove or switch to another backpack.
Here are the top 10 backpack accessory pockets we recommend in 2023.
1. Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket
2. Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket
The Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket has a three-way velcro attachment system that is compatible with just about any backpack under the sun. It’s available in a medium size that is compatible with most Smartphones and a large size if you want still more storage. Made with water-resistant Robic Nylon, these pockets have a second mesh sleeve on the outside which is great for stashing sunglasses or snacks for easy access. This pocket works well with all backpacks, especially those that don’t have daisy chains on their shoulder straps like packs from Osprey and Gregory.
3. Chicken Tramper Gear Water Bottle Sleeve
4. Gossamer Gear Hip Belt Pocket
5. LiteAF Hip Belt Pocket
6. Mountain Laurel Designs Pack Pocket
7. Superior Wilderness Designs Hip Belt Pocket
8. Thrupack Summit Bum Classic Fanny Pack
The Thrupack Summit Bum Classic is a 2.5-liter fanny pack that holds everything you need when transitioning between town and trail. It has a large enclosed compartment with a mitten clip, d-ring, and internal sleeves for cash or cards as well as an easy-access external pocket large enough to stash a smartphone. Use it to stash liner gloves, earbuds, snacks, a headlamp, compass, chapstick, or any small essential that you want at hand without having to take off your pack and dig around for them. It comes with a 1″ webbing strap expandable to 50″ to loop around your waist or over your shoulder. Available in waterproof Ultra 200 or EcoPak, its more versatile than your pack’s hipbelt pockets and probably much easier to reach too.
9. Zpacks Multi-Pack
10. High Tail Designs UL Fanny Pack
The UL Fanny Pack from High Tail Designs is made with seam-taped waterproof Dyneema DCF fabric to keep your essentials high and dry. Weighing 2 oz, it has one liter of on-board storage with a large main compartment and internal sleeve. A 3/4″ webbing belt is included along with a waterproof zipper. High Tail Designs is known for its wild and colorful designs which are fun if you want to stand out from the crowd.
Backpack Pocket Attachment Systems
There are a number of different ways to attach extra pockets to a backpack shoulder strap or hip belt. Some of these are universal in that they can be attached to any backpack and some are limited by the anchor points available on the backpack shoulder straps or hip belts such as daisy chains. In any event, you can often overcome these limitations with a small of cord to secure a pocket or prevent it from bouncing too much.
Here is a selection of setup videos from the vendors listed above to give you a sense of what is involved and whether it will work with your backpack (or you need to kludge something up).
Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket/Hip Belt Pocket Setup Video
Chicken Tramper UL Gear Water Bottle Sleeve Setup Video
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