We all have some unique, helpful piece of backpacking gear we discovered at some point and can’t shut up about. I’m talking something blatantly practical, yet easy to have missed.
Something that should be in/on everyone’s pack but for some reason just isn’t. A quality pillow, an innovative toothbrush, a tiny pad pump: the list goes on. After thousands of miles of backpacking, I found that piece in the CTUG Phone Pocket.
Here are 5 reasons why.
1. Versatility
A great “favorite piece of gear” is one you can easily toss into any kit. Over the last several years, I’ve had the fortune to be able to test a variety of top of the line, popular backpacks.
These have included some of the leading packs seen on America’s long trails: ULA, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, LiteAF, Gossamer Gear, even a CTUG day pack. I can say from personal experience that the CTUG Phone Pocket (I’ve tried every size and style) fits easily onto all of them. Not only that, but it also still works functionally on them all.
I’ve found that not all packs are created equally, and sometimes backpacking accessories just don’t work great on certain packs. Sometimes, this can be hard to tell without field experience. An accessory might technically click into place on any pack, but with the variety of pack styles and fits that exist, that may not always be particularly functional. I can confidently say I have yet to find an issue using a CTUG Phone Pocket on any backpack.
2. Durability
I first got to try out a CTUG Phone Pocket on my Calendar Triple Crown hike in 2022. I picked it up within my first few days on the Appalachian Trail, and it lived on my pack all the way to the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail, 10 months and 3 thru hikes later. Today, I still use that same phone pocket. I’ll admit, the velcro isn’t as sharp as it once was and the purple isn’t as purpley as when I first attached it, but it still does the job.
3. Simplicity
The best bells and whistles are the ones that jingle and… whistle. I love gear that does its job, and does it well. The CTUG phone pocket is so, SO straightforward and easy to use. To start, it’s wonderfully simple to snap onto any pack. The clips are strong so it takes a few seconds to unbuckle, but those tough clips also keep my mind at ease that my pocket isn’t going anywhere.
Once it’s in place, the pocket then does its job perfectly. I’ve got one big protected pocket for my phone, and a nice little mesh exterior pocket for the accessory of the hour: a couple Clif bars, my sunglasses, a Taco Bell burrito I packed out of town, whatever. It’s a perfect place to set something down quickly and thoughtlessly, simple as that.
4. Efficiency
I am right handed. I keep the pocket on my left shoulder strap so I can easily reach across to grab my phone the 200-300 times I check my map every day. During this (extremely frequent) process I can hold both trekking poles out of the way with my left hand. Then, with my right hand, I can lift the velcro flap, grab my phone, and take care of business.
When I’m done, it’s just as easy to put right back into place. From the moment I think “I should check the map” to “k got it,” I’m probably spending 10 seconds and virtually 0 brain power. It’s a simple, easy, perfect system. Exactly what I want as the lazy thru hiker I am.
5. Style
This factor has creeped into relevancy for me over the years as the market has become absolutely saturated with awesome backpacking gear. As ultralight weights bottom out and most every imaginable product exists, one of the most popular forms of innovations over the last few years has become style.
Flashy colors, simple blacks and whites, unique cuts, and more are attempted with varying success on just about every piece of gear on the market. More than ever, a backpacker can loudly express themselves through the nuanced style of virtually every piece of their kits. I think CTUG strikes a lovely balance between attention grabbing and elegantly adventurous.
I love colors in my gear, but I also like to coordinate. I typically go flashiest with my shirt designs and simple elsewhere. This combination makes for a perfect fit for the CTUG line up. I love my flash of purple against my otherwise solid pack color. And I think other folks appreciate the simplicity, too. Not everybody likes loud, flashy colors and designs on their gear. The simple single colors of CTUG Phone Pockets make for easy coordination with virtually any pack.
Final Thoughts
The CTUG Phone Pocket is, in my opinion, THE perfect backpacking accessory. I’ve tried backpacking once or twice without mine, but ever since I got used to it, I feel incomplete on trail without my handy super accessible pocket.
It’s a great gift, it’s a great self-splurge, and it’s a great investment that can accompany an ever-evolving kit as gearheads like me continue to try out all the latest toys.
