Training for my first marathon, and likely first full IM next year, and realizing I need to start carrying some hydration with me during long runs. But in surveying various running bottle options out there, I notice a lot of negative reviews about many of them. Perhaps that’s because what works well for one person might be subpar for another, i.e. this is really subjective. But I’m still curious whether people have found options they really like, especially people who are picky and have tried various bottles. Advice appreciated!
I challenge your assumption. As someone who has trained for and run 12 marathons I’ve never once had any sort of hydration pack or bottle.
I challenge your assumption. As someone who has trained for and run 12 marathons I’ve never once had any sort of hydration pack or bottle.
Interesting. So you do 20-mile training runs without hydration? Or perhaps in an area with drinking fountains?
Ultimate direction has an awesome two bottle belt I use for trails
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If it’s a normal day, a 20 miler with little to no hydration isn’t a problem if you have trained yourself for it.
Now, if the 20 miles has some “work” built in, I’ll make sure to get nutrition and hydration. But those types generally have loops or tracks or whatever, so I don’t need to carry it with me.
Obviously things are different if it’s like 90 degrees, but it’s dumb to do a 20 miler when it’s 90 degrees anyway.
Route planning.
I’ll leave hydration outside my house and loop back at various distance, and/or take a bottle with me for a couple km and drop it, than run a loop back to hydration point, continue as needed.
For the real long runs, I’ll even drive to a point and leave a bottle or two, can loop around the neighborhood stop by the house for liquids and than take off toward the bottle drop and use that as a point to run to/from if you catch my drift
Until this year I’d been firmly against carrying anything during my runs, but I was forced to change my approach when I started getting involved with some longer distance trail running stuff. I’ve been pretty happy with the Ultimate Direction Marathon Vest: https://ultimatedirection.com/marathon-vest/. You do need to order a bladder (2L / 70oz) separately. Wore it for 20 miles yesterday in ~85 degree heat and didn’t have any issues. I’d still prefer to go without anything, but when that isn’t an option this is a decent compromise.
I’ve tried a few options and my go-to now is an Orange Mud Hydraquiver. I thought it was goofy looking at first. Now it’s one of my best running gear items. Could I run without hydration? Probably, but I just like to have it.
I have these two:
https://www.nathansports.com/speeddraw-plus-insulated-flask-4851n
and
https://www.rei.com/product/796245/camelbak-delaney-plus-waistpack
The handheld bottle nice - i can put keys and cards in the pocket, but the bottle leaks. Perhaps newer versions have fixed this.
I use the waistpack when I want to remain hands free, but I always have to cinch it tight while I’m running. Again, maybe newer versions have fixed this.
Neither are perfect, but they let me extend my runs for way longer.
Another option is the hydration backpack, but I find that to be a bit overkill for road runs
If I am running for more than an hour I carry water/electrolyte. For shorter runs I wear a belt with a 600ml bottle. As you say there are mixed reviews. I tried a couple of different ones before I found one that worked for me. For me I find that if the belt is elastic it bounces around too much. I find a wider belt >5cm doesn’t chafe. I find that if I wet the inside of the bottle holder the bottle doesn’t bounce out. If you try one out in a shop take a full water bottle with you to test it out.
For long runs or really hot runs I wear a Camelbak Octane. It has a waist belt to stop it bouncing while running. The waist belt also has pockets for gels, etc.
For the Bend Marathon and the Ironman Canada run, I wore a Fuel Belt with 2 smallish bottles on my hips. I was glad to be able to drink between aid stations.
For my long runs, I wear an Osprey Duro 6 with a 1.5 liter bladder. I like training with the extra weight and also having plenty of fluids and nutrition to avoid bonking at all costs. Having said that, a previous poster has a good point about training your body to work on less fuel and hydration.
An ultra marathon friend of mine who has a very slight build, says she likes to wear a vest with bottle pockets. She doesn’t like the weight on her back as with a pack like mine.
I’m in IM build. For my long runs, I scouted out a place to run where I could place hydration and take it as needed. I found an unpaved (bonus!) .46 mi. track (6 mi. from home). So, every other time by, I take hydration from a bottle I place on the knee wall. I’ve done up to 16 mi there.
I’d rather do the above than carry hydration with me.
I use the Nathan Speedmax Plus https://www.nathansports.com/speedmax-plus-flask-4857n and the Nathan Peak Waist Pack https://www.nathansports.com/peak-insulated-speeddraw-flask-4876n for long runs. I used this for a 17 mile run this past Sunday and I had plenty of water.
I also have the Nathan Vapor Krar waist pack and it is another great choice. https://www.nathansports.com/vaporkrar-waistpak
Training for my first marathon, and likely first full IM next year, and realizing I need to start carrying some hydration with me during long runs. But in surveying various running bottle options out there, I notice a lot of negative reviews about many of them. Perhaps that’s because what works well for one person might be subpar for another, i.e. this is really subjective. But I’m still curious whether people have found options they really like, especially people who are picky and have tried various bottles. Advice appreciated!
I do all of my long runs from a very urban area where leaving a water bottle along my route isn’t really practical and I’m in a very warm climate that requires hydration on long runs even in the early mornings. I’ve tried many options for carrying water over the decades and settled in this :
Salomon Sensibelt, Bright Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014EBXAGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DSuGzbNB6BJ8N
I love it. I hardly even notice it’s on. I used to absolutely hate running with a water bottle and would be so relieved when I reached a point in my season where it would become no longer necessary to bring water. Now it’s not something I mind doing at all.
I set a bottle or 2 down and do 1-2 mile laps.
I like this mainly because I don’t have to carry anything and it gets me in the habit of only being able to drink every mile or so like I will be doing in a race.
I’ve tried several different options and went with the Naked Running Band. http://www.nakedrunningband.com
Fits 4 6oz flasks with no problems and they don’t bounce. It will hold any size cell phone too.
How much (including stuff like keys, phone, etc) you want to carry might help with recommendations.
Your assumption is correct. This is a very subjective question.
Unfortunately, that means you just have to buy and try.
I started with some 4bottle waist pack. It chafed.
Then, I got a Nathan 2L pack. It is fine, but overkill for most runs.
Now, I mainly have a camelback handheld. 20oz is sufficient for most runs, but I route my longer runs so that I can refill at a water fountain if needed.
Appreciate the various recommendations! I’m going to have to sort through options.
For those who asked, I don’t need to be able to carry much, but I suppose the ability to carry a few gels would be nice. I do usually run with a cellphone, for a while was using a belt for that, but have gotten in the habit of just holding it in my hand. I’ve never run with a bottle in my hand, not sure how I’ll feel about having something that heavy in hand.