Anyone use a fuel belt (or any kind of water-carrying belt)?

[VeloVT]

I'm one of those that can't stand having something around my waist while running. I wear a small women's specific Camelbak backpack on long runs. BF doesn't like the idea of running with a Camelbak, so after much research and hemming and hawing (I'm a much more impulsive gear buyer than he is), we ended up with an Amphipod belt, one of the ones that have modular bottles like Fuelbelts. The bottles seemed easier to remove and replace on the Amphipod than on the Fuelbelt. I haven't used it yet (I am curious to try it but still don't think I'll be able to get used to having something on my waist), but he likes it a lot.

[Kathyrides]

I have a fuel belt, amphipod belt, and a nathan hand held thing.

It depends how long I'm running for which I use as I have a pretty high sweat rate and aim to drink 48 oz/hour running.

I hate my amphipod one as the bottles always fall out..which stinks. They are supposed to be super adjustable which they are but I don't like doubling back to get the dropped bottles. I like that the waist size is adjustable so if you lose weight you don't need another one. Anyone interested in one I'll sell you mine.

I like Fuelbelt and would use it more but going for 2-3 hour run means filling it up which takes longer as I have 6 little bottles than filling up a simple water bottle. I find it comfortable and works well for me on long runs if I had enough water. It does feel a little funky but I get used to it and it doesn't bounce around much.

In practicing for my half ironman run 13.1 miles with water stops, I just used the hand held water bottle and refilled it 2x an hour. I did a 5.5 mile loop and stopped at my house and the Y to refill.

I have considered getting a camel back of some type so I can go farther without having to stop for refills, but I need frequent bathroom breaks too and not many places are wooded and secluded near me.

[OakLeaf]

Does it make a difference to whether it sloshes around, whether there's air in the pack or not?

It seems to make a difference for me cycling and walking, if I'm careful to fill the pack *completely* full of water, or evacuate any air space if I'm not filling it. But I've never tried running with a hydration pack.