Reviews > Packs > Pack Accessories > Backcountry Solutions Geek Pocket > Test Report by Kurt Papke

Backcountry Solutions Geek Pocket

Test Series by Kurt Papke

Initial Report - May 19, 2012

Tester Information

Initial Report

Product Information

The Backcountry Solutions Geek Pocket is a clip-attached carrying pouch designed to hook onto a strap of any kind (as long as it is of the allowable width).  For hiking and backpacking purposes it augments the storage of the hiker's pack, typically attaching to a pack shoulder strap or perhaps a narrow belt.  It is targeted primarily for carrying electronics such as a radio, camera or GPS.

• Soft fleece lining to protect lenses or screens from scratching
• Attached with two Annex clips, one fixed, one that can slide up and down the back of the pocket to accommodate interferences on the strap it is being clipped to 
• Hook-and-loop strap closure with finger tab for easy access
• Strap size and placement allows protrusion of electronic gear antennae, carry straps, etc.
  

The exterior is designed to be waterproof, but I'm not sure how much good that would do as the top is open save the strap, and rain and snow can easily fall into the pocket.

Initial Inspection

Care Instructions

Trying It Out

Summary

Kudos:

• Easy to attach to a webbing strap
  
• Sturdy
• Easy to open/close
• Protects the screen of my electronics
  

Concerns:

• Too small for my camera
• Heavy
• Doesn't clip easily to packs that do not have an exposed strap at the right height
  

Long Term Report

Test Conditions

Sweetwater Trail

This day hike was my first opportunity to test the Geek Pocket.  I clipped it horizontally to the hip belt of my pack and loaded it up with my GPS:

Hmmm, looking at the photo now I can see from the strap lettering that it was actually upside-down, but there was nobody else out on the trail that day anyway!  My first thought was to clip it to the belt on my shorts, but as can be seen in the photo that is not accessible either.  I wonder if Geek Pocket is bucking the trend of recessing straps (perhaps to avoid snags?) by designing a product that requires an exposed strap?

The pocket worked just fine to carry my GPS once I had it properly positioned as close to the front as possible to minimize interference with my arm swing.  It made my GPS very accessible while hiking.  Problem is, I don't often access my GPS while hiking.  I'd really like to put my camera in it, but it doesn't fit :(

Samaniego Ridge

The Samaniego Ridge trail is one of the less-used paths in the Catalinas, as it is poorly maintained and has a reputation for difficulty which is well-earned.  The northern trailhead is also notoriously hard to get to as a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is required.  Fortunately my Jeep Wrangler is up to the challenge, and I arrived at the trail head late Friday afternoon.

Mt Humphreys

This was a 3-day 2-night backpacking loop hike consisting of the Kachina, Mt Humphreys and Weatherford trails in the San Francisco Peaks, including a summit of Mt Humphreys.  The photo at right was taken on the Weatherford trail with Mt Humphreys in the background.

Once again the Geek Pocket rode on my hip belt right at the front.  I like the accessibility of this position, but I don't like the way my GPS gets handled when I take my pack off and drop it on the ground.  The hip belts naturally hang down, and with the Geek Pocket containing my GPS as an anchor it hangs down even more and is the first thing to hit the ground when I drop my pack.  It is a good thing that the Geek Pocket is somewhat padded and very protective, as so far my gear hasn't sustained any damage.

I'm finding it is somewhat of a hassle to undo the strap and extract my small GPS from the pocket.  I seemed to access my GPS less than I would have liked due to the awkwardness of the operation.  I'd prefer to have the Geek Pocket on my shoulder strap in easy reach as my camera is in the photo.

Vault Mine Trail

This was a 2-day/1-night backpack up to the Agua Caliente Saddle.  It was the first time the Geek Pocket had to deal with rain in normally sunny Arizona.  It didn't rain while I was hiking, but it poured during the night.  The Geek Pocket got pretty well soaked in the rain, but by the time I was packed up to go in the morning it had dried out completely.  When I put my GPS in the Geek Pocket, it did not feel squishy with water, just slightly damp.

Pima Canyon Trail

This was the first time I used the Geek Pocket with my lumbar pack.  I attached it to the waist belt, which unfortunately was too wide to easily accommodate the clip, so I had to fold the belt in half to use the clip.  This actually worked just fine, and it extended the space in my small lumbar pack nicely.

Summary

Things I like:

1. Versatile: attaches to pretty much any strap quickly and easily.
   
2. Protective: the thick fabric prevented my GPS from damage when dropping my backpack to the ground.
3. Ease of access: no problems getting to whatever is in the pocket.
4. Weather tolerant: held up well in the Arizona sun, and dried out quickly when it got wet in the rain.
5. Sturdy, reliable: I had no problems with the unit detaching from a strap despite being bounced up and down mountains.  After four months of use it looks pretty much the same as when I received it, though a bit dusty and dirty from the trail.
   

Room for improvement:

1. Limited to attaching to an exposed webbing strap.  It seems like fewer backpacks, including my current favorite, have an exposed shoulder strap.  I had to be a little creative in using hip belt straps as the attachment point.
2. Limited width of items I could carry in it.  The Geek Pocket is not made of stretch material, and has a limited width.  I was not able to carry my point-and-shoot camera in it, and this is the piece of gear I access most frequently on the trail.
   

Reviews > Packs > Pack Accessories > Backcountry Solutions Geek Pocket > Test Report by Kurt Papke