Carrying water on long runs

[Grog]

Oh, dear running women of TE,

I am starting to consider longer runs but I find the lack of water on my course a bit annoying. I don't want to run with a camelback. I am not too excited about the fuel belts with small containers, but would consider them. I have seen this and it seems like the perfect solution:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20328

Any of you have better ideas? What do you use?

Thanks!!

[colby]

I'm in the same boat. I have been jogging 5 mile distances, which I can do without continuous water during the cooler seasons, but in the summer I feel dehydrated. Also, I have started doing longer weekend runs (10-15 miles... so far... someday a marathon!), and I have to carry in my hand a 24oz bottle to make it.

I tried the Fuel Belts on at an expo with our local 12k run and they seemed okay, but the super small bottles seemed weird. This one looks cool:

http://www.ultimatedirection.com/product.php?id=11&page=search

It's a 20oz bottle, which is still pretty small.

This is the one I tried on, which isn't bad. I think I'd want to wear it lower around my hips rather than so high on my waist (I'm afraid of rubbing):

http://www.fuelbelt.com/hyulru.html

I have hesitated on the Camelbak, I sweat a lot and I'm not sure how that would go. Maybe some of the women with Camelbaks can pass on how the fit/comfort/sweat factor is.

I really like the idea of continuous liquids, too. Good question, looking forward to everyone's advice!

[Grog]

Wow, that Strider thing looks nice. I love the idea of how it hangs on one hip.

I can't take stuff at my waist either, but I haven't found anything that was stable at the hips. :confused: And I don't want to carry something in my hands...

Thanks for your comments and advice Colby! Let's hope other TE runners come by!

[liksani]

I actually like the fuel belt with smaller containers since it kind of distributes the weight of the water around rather than having it in one concentrated mass at my back. :P This is the one I have:

http://www.fuelbelt.com/en4be.html

I actually wear it lower towards my hips rather than my waist since it just felt odd at my waist...

Camelbak hmm, I have one for when I bike or snowboard, but I'm fairly certain I wouldn't want it on me when I run. My back would just feel too hot :( As it is, sometimes the camelbak annoys me even while I'm biking with wind. :P

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Guys,
I recently completed my first adventure race, and while training and racing, I used a Camelback. I have always used one while mt biking, but it was new for the run. I can't stand anything around my waist, so I had no other option. At first it felt weird, but I got used to it in no time.
Now I have to qualify, that I am not an elite runner, and that I am trail running, and not on the street.

If you decide to go with the Camelback, get a small one, the type they use for racing.

Ruth

[Nanci]

http://tinyurl.com/jr4pb

I use the Strider for shorter runs, and like it. The bottle sits diagonally along my back, and the little pouch is on my left hipbone.

[TxRider]

I trained with a group for the Houston half marathon a couple of years ago & we all used Fuel Belts. I found it to be convenient b/c I could carry more than one type of fluid - water in a couple and some sort of sports drink in the others. With it being so hot in the summers here, I would freeze all but one of them overnight so that I had fluid available from the beginning, but the rest would stay cool as they thawed throughout my run. When the temperature started cooling in the fall & they didn't thaw as quickly, we'd fill the bottles halfway to freeze & then fill up the other half in the morning.

[Grog]

Ok there are good reviews for the fuel belt, and I must admit it sounds helpful to have different drinks in different bottles...

I hope I can find one that feels good at my hips, and stays there. I'll try to find a running store in Vancouver that has some selection so I can try before I guy. I'm really annoyed when I have to return items through borders (shipping is expensive and slow...).

Thanks all for the good advice! Keep the ideas coming if you have more...

[trigurl]

I have been doing training for a trail marathon and found I have to carry a hydration pack, I drink a LOT and those little bottles don't even touch what I need. for short runs I carry a little pack around my waist with one bottle or a hand held bottle carrier, but after about 30 min those are empty. The one around my waist does not bother me - and I don't like things around my waist either, but this is nice and I can put my keys in the pocket and some toilet paper, the pocket is small so not much else fits.

The hydration pack is not bad, when I bike to work I use the same backpack as when I run, to carry clothes, etc. I have a smallish back pack and bought a big camelback not the bladder, this is covered with nylon and you can put it in any pack or attach it to the outside of a pack, not sure what it is called.

To keep it from sloshing around fill it up with water, blow all the air out of the tube (into the bladder) then turn the bladder upside down and suck all the air out!

The hydration packs are expensive and this was a cheaper way to go since I had already bought the pack. It takes a little bit to get used to but now I love it! it is a little hot BUT I have water! and that is more important to me, I run trails so I never get tooo hot.

[triflor]

The fuel belt is good for LONG distance from what I've heard as, like Grog said, different drinks in different bottles. Lots can be said for have gels with you, which is what that size of bottle is good for.
One thing you can do is carry some cash, stop for water/gatorade at a store. Make note of what buildings are around, any community centres, public schools?

[KSH]

I have hesitated on the Camelbak, I sweat a lot and I'm not sure how that would go. Maybe some of the women with Camelbaks can pass on how the fit/comfort/sweat factor is.


When I was training for a 1/2 marathon last year... I ran with my Camelbak. I really loved it. I run up to 8 miles with it on (I had to stop training due to running pain, so I never made it further than that).

I would fill it up with ice and water... and off I went. It didn't make me extra hot and I always had cool water I could sip on easily when I needed to. I also had something to carry my car key in.

For me, I think this worked better than a fuel belt... and I would think that something bumping around my waist would get really annoying.

Additionally, when I have run with a bottle in my hand... the ice melts really quick and I get sick of holding it.

[Lise]

Don't know how I missed this thread, but sure glad to find it. I have a Camelbak "Hydrobak" that I use for long rides. It was a birthday gift last year. I ran with it once, and found that the shoulder straps tended to slip down. I'm going to research the variety of Camelbaks. I'm sure they make one better for running. I hate stuff on my hips, as my belly and hips are the only fat part of me (OK, the boobage, but they don't call that "fat" so much...:rolleyes: ), and it just makes me feel fatter. A cold water/ice Camelbak would help me stay cool. I heat up so fast as it is. Thanks guys! I'll let you know what I end up with.

Right now I run with a bottle that has a mesh handle with a little zipper pocket. It's not bad, but I don't like holding anything while running.

[Grog]

Thanks ladies for the input!

I've practically stopped running since cycling season has boomed - more good weather, more dry roads means much more riding and much less running. I plan to start running again mid-August, and will probably try the Camelback. I have one in the storage room somewhere, that would probably a place to start. I can't seem to find a satisfying fuel belt, and it's true that they don't contain a lot of ... fuel.

I run in populated areas but my thing is that I don't want to have to stop, and I want to be able to drink continuously so I don't get the sloshy feeling in my stomach...

I'll ressussitate the thread in August!

Thanks again!

[sunrunner]

I usually dont' run with water as I don't run that long, lol..but during my recent training for a 1/2 marathon, i started requiring water. I, like you, didn't want one of those camelbak backpaks, but found their waist packs are great!

I got one similar to this one (below).

CAMELBAK WAISTPACK (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=47989716&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1&color=BLACK/GREY&img=/media/633653.jpg&view=large)

It doesn't bounce around, it holds a great deal of water, and i can carry my keys, ID, and cell phone.
I've tried other waist packs, like with water bottles and what not, but the water sloshed around and bugged me. Not so with the camelbak waist pak....worth the money, imo

[Tri Girl]

For my iron training I'm doing much longer runs (and usually on trails where there aren't any water stops). I've been carrying my camelbak (took just a couple runs to get used to it- and it's actually MUCH more comfortable than my old bottle waist pack). I put water in the camelbak, and then I also wear a fuel belt with bottles of gatorade (which I use more sparingly). It also has a place for my gels/sport beans. I must look silly, but I don't care how I look. I'm well fueled and that's all that matters to me.

[Lise]

I bought an Amphipod waist pack with two bottles (total 21 oz) and a carry pouch on it. I got the largest size so I can shove it down around my hips. I cannot stand anything around my waist. It makes me nuts, dunno why, but it does. Fortunately (?!) most of my fat is around my belly and hips. If I shove the belt sort of below it...it stays put. Pretty much. I may try a running Camelbak back pack. At $40 a pop, it's expensive to keep trying these things out! :rolleyes:

[Lifesgreat]

I too, have an Amphipod.

http://www.amphipod.com/overview/overview.html

[EBD]

Y'all, it's hot out here. Perhaps you've noticed. So after reading this board I went to REI and tried on different hydration waistpacks, and ended up with the Camelbak Alterra. All the bottle packs just seemed so bouncy when I put them on and jogged in place (though of course they were empty). Also, unlike the various bottle holders, the Camelbak had soft fleece cushioning on the inside of the waistband. It was about $35.

I took the Camelbak on its first long run yesterday and am very happy with it. I like that you can fill it just partially, and add ice, and it won't slosh. It holds 28 oz., which is way more than I need for an hour and a half run, even in N.C. in August. I managed to squeeze a gel and my mp3 player into its various crannies as well - although I'd say the biggest flaw is a lack of useful pockets. Although it took a little getting used to because I'm not used to carrying anything on my runs, it didn't bounce. No matter what I did, though, I couldn't get it to stay down on my hips - always rode up above my shorts. I'm very hourglass, so if you aren't you may have more success. Luckily, the fleece lining meant the waistband didn't chafe my belly.

So I give the Alterra two thumbs up. I'd rather not carry anything on a run, but this pack seemed a pretty un-intrusive solution.

[VeloVT]

I don't carry water for runs under 12 miles or so, even on hot days -- but on longer runs, I'm all about my camelbak (actually I have 3:D ! Really! One minimal one for summer runs, one minimal insulated one for winter runs, and one big one with lots of cargo space for other activities). I think this is very personal -- but I simply cannot have something bouncing around my waist. It upsets my stomach, throws my stride off, throws my breathing off, and distracts me terribly. The camelbak, on the other hand, I find I don't notice much. I have one of the women's specific ones -- charm or dream? I don't remember which. But it's remarkably stable, doesn't inhibit or interfere with normal upper body motion, I don't find that it's too hot (though it does get sweaty and is hard to wash), and it carries lots of water (I think the one I use most is about 70 oz).

If you do decide to try a camelbak, definitely get one with a sternum strap. It really helps.

[limewave]

I carry a water bottle that has a hand strap on it so I don't actually have to hold it. It's great. I tried the belts and packs around the waist and back and they really bothered me. I carry it with me for any run over 6 miles or if it's over 85 degrees out.

[runner2]

i run early in the morning, it's a 3 miles loop near my place, i place some water bottles at a safe spot, and go on running loop after loop.

[Bikingmomof3]

I carry a water bottle that has a hand strap on it so I don't actually have to hold it. It's great. I tried the belts and packs around the waist and back and they really bothered me. I carry it with me for any run over 6 miles or if it's over 85 degrees out.


Limewave,
Which one do you use? Even with the cooler weather, I am always thirsty. Partially because my medications make me thirsty, the other I sweat a lot.
TIA!

[Grog]

I tried the Camelback and didn't like it too much either. I didn't like to feel and hear the water slushing around. Running with a bottle was not bad. I think I'll get a holder too. I've seen them at the Running Room (big running gear chain) so I guess they're fairly easy to find. I think there's one for sale on TE too...