How do you equip items in Zelda: Skyward Sword?

How do you fill a bottle in Skyward Sword? I'm trying to scoop up some water, and I can't figure out how to get the bottle equipped.

Solution 1:

You can equip it like anything else in your bag, such as when you've got a new shield (hold - to select, press - to get it out.) and use it like an item. (Press A to use it after equiping.)

Solution 2:

Just to clarify: to equip items, you have to press - (minus) when you're on the main walking-around screen, not when you're on the inventory screen (which you can separately access by pressing 1 [one]). It's confusing because there is also a pouch in the middle of the inventory, which you can also interact with using the - (minus) button.

Solution 3:

Finally figured it out.

Push and hold "-" and it will bring up a screen with all of your items in your pouch. You then use the wii-mote to select the item that you would like to equip by pressing 'A' and you can use it like any other item.

Solution 4:

Hold - then mouseover the desired item to equip (shield or bottle; medals are considered equipped if Link is carrying one and bags provide a passive storage bonus). Note that you don't have to equip a bottle to catch a fairy, you can use the Bug Catching Net instead.

To scoop up water, equip a bottle then press A while standing in the water.