Any suggestions for the best way of carrying gatorade on 15+ mi runs?
Hydration belts seem like they’d chafe, and even the strap-on handheld water bottles seem like a pain in the butt.
Are there alternatives, or have one of those options worked fine for you?
thanks!
I recently tested the new Camelbak hydration systems and really like them as an alternative to fuel belts. Here is a liink to a thread I posted on that:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ng=camelbak;#3174428
If you’re not in the mood to have the camelbak on, I’d recommend the hand held bottles made by Nathan Sports (and I’m sure there are other brands). I thought before using it that I would get annoyed of having it on my hand but I tend to forget about it after about a mile or so.
http://www.nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/handhelds
I used to use a hydration backpack but never cleaned the bladder. To replace it was about the price of a new hydration belt. Thu actual use of the backpack was never an issue.
I now use a hydration belt but wear it low (back portion on middle to low butt) so it doesn’t ride up. Most of the time it’s okay but there are occasions when I fight it the first 2-3 miles until it settles into place. I haven’t tried a hand-held bottle.
I’ve tried Camelback-style ones, handhelds, and hydration belts. I race up to 50K trail races. The winner for me? The Nathan Trail Mix 2-bottle belt. Has a clip in back, you can cinch it up pretty tightly. Camelback style was too cumbersome and heavy, and not easy to clean or refill. I hated the feeling of carrying a full bottle in my hand, so the hydration belt for me is the clear winner.
I’ve used a Camelbak, double bottle fuel belt and a single bottle nathans handheld. I really don’t like the handheld bottle, it’s very cumbersome as the miles tick away and the heat from my grip tend to make the drink less than appetizing. I will usually use the fuelbelt when on the road and the camelbak when on the trails. I prefer the fuel belt because it’s smaller and easier to manage but I like having my hands completely free while on trail runs, so I tend to use the camelbak’s system for those runs.
2x hate to agree with you but I do :0)
Thom
.
Aaawwww, come on Thom! You LOVE to agree with me! 
I use the fuel belt…just strap it across your shorts just below your waist and tight enough that it does’t ride up and start to rub on your skin. I’ve never had a problem with it causing irritation on my skin.
Picked up a helium 4 bottle fuel belt off the classifieds here and tested it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Nine mile trail run. Wish I would have picked one up a couple of years ago. Didn’t even notice it was there. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. I have wider hips that is just seemed to sit on. No bouncing at all. I drank the bottles on the right first and still no bouncing side to side.
Used to do the water bottle in the hand thing and there is no comparison for me. Fuel Belt, hands down.
I use one of Nathans race vests and have been happy with it, I am not a big fan of belts since I dont like the pressure on my gut
.
I stopped using a FuelBelt and started using a De Soto trisuit for long runs. There are two rear/hip pockets that are great for 7oz flasks, and there is no chafing/bouncing. There are leg pockets that I use for a couple of gels (I do gels and water vs. gatorade).
Check out the new Fuel Belt Revenge coming out. It’s super comfortable and offers easy one handed entry and exit. Fuel Belt is the originator and innovator when it comes to portable hydration, don’t settle. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=192609104090349&set=a.144506968900563.21033.131694123515181
Here is a different version of the fuel belt. A new brand called Vo2max hydration belt only recently(2 years ago) released in NZ and Australia.
The above is the 2 bottle version to show the view from the back (note the pouch which fits my cell ph,gels and keys well).
It also comes in a 4 bottle version as shown above from the front view (it has the pouch on the back also).
They are comfortable to wear and each bottle holds 250mls.
Here is a link to them for sale on my website :
http://triathlonshots.com/VO2maxHydrationBelts.html
$68nzd including airmail postage to the USA (which is $53usd delivered to your door).
They were designed by a guy who was a runner (who raced world champs 1500m and won a few marathons etc) .
G.
The “wrap around” bladder is hard to clean and dry, but I’ve had otherwise good luck with this for long self-supported trail runs. There is no bounce, no shoulder chafe, plenty of fluid capacity, and space for a few extra clothing pieces, nutrition, etc.
http://www.inov-8.com/…=5050973012&L=27
Not judging, just throwing it out there for consideration…have you tried not carrying any hydration? How long does a 15 mile run take?
Not judging, just throwing it out there for consideration…have you tried not carrying any hydration? How long does a 15 mile run take?
One other option for longer runs is to take an extra 15 min and “plant” a few drinks along your route. Besides a gel or 2, I hate carrying things with me as I run so its worth the time. Obviously, doesn’t help for trail runs.
Someone poste the INOV belt. Here is the link to all their products. Have been very happy with the race pro 18. I also have hand bottle for runs less than 2 hours.
I use the fuel belt…just strap it across your shorts just below your waist and tight enough that it does’t ride up and start to rub on your skin. I’ve never had a problem with it causing irritation on my skin.
+1. frankly it did take a short while for me to get used to (a few years ago), but not long at all, and now the benefits totally outweigh the negligible annoyance. i like that i can adjust the number of bottles i strap on based on the mileage; carrying just one or two flasks of H2O and a gel is barely noticeable but can be a really helpful amount of input.
Not judging, just throwing it out there for consideration…have you tried not carrying any hydration? How long does a 15 mile run take?
One other option for longer runs is to take an extra 15 min and “plant” a few drinks along your route. Besides a gel or 2, I hate carrying things with me as I run so its worth the time. Obviously, doesn’t help for trail runs.
+1
I tried the 4 flask Fuel Belt and think it is a good concept for some but I can’t get used to the jostling when the flasks are full and carrying them when they are empty (yeah I know HTFU). When I do runs longer than 12/13 miles or 10 miles or more in hot conditions I will either start with a cheap water bottle and stash it along the route when it’s empty or cache a water bottle along the route beforehand. At first my kids thought I was crazy taking them out in the evening to pick up or drop off water bottles in the woods but I found a Dairy Queen along my long run route - now we make it an adventure and my kids me me honest about getting in my long run every week during the summer. Unfortunately the DQ is only open in the evenings - yumm…Butterfinger Blizard…