Fuel belts hold water too?

[Red Rock]

This might seem light a dumb question....but....are the "bottles" on a fuel belt to hold water, electrolyte drink or gu?

I guess I have never been able to figure this out. When the IMSG came through everyone seemed to have one with something in the bottles. So if they are used for drink etc. how often are they used if you have an aid station +/- every mile or so?

Why are the bottles smaller? Do you refill at aid stations?

Thank you for answering my crazy questions. This might solve the other question of How useful are they? Inquiring minds want to know

Red Rock

[Tri Girl]

There are no dumb questions!
I have a 4 bottle fuel belt. I put a stiff electrolyte drink in two and water in the other two. I only like drinking my own electrolyte concoctions, so I never drink at a race (either theirs are too weak or a flavor that makes me gag). I take a sip of the strong mix, then wash it down with water. I refill water at the aid stations when I'm out.
My DH never needs to carry fluids in races (even marathons). I am not thirsty just at designated mile markers-I need to drink when I'm thirsty, ya know?

Oh, and they have Gu specific bottles that clip onto the fuel belt and hang upside down (and are smaller than the FB bottles).

[colby]

This might seem light a dumb question....but....are the "bottles" on a fuel belt to hold water, electrolyte drink or gu?

I guess I have never been able to figure this out. When the IMSG came through everyone seemed to have one with something in the bottles. So if they are used for drink etc. how often are they used if you have an aid station +/- every mile or so?

Why are the bottles smaller? Do you refill at aid stations?

Thank you for answering my crazy questions. This might solve the other question of How useful are they? Inquiring minds want to know

Red Rock

Tri Girl pretty much got it. You can hold whatever you want, but usually it's a concentrated sports drink mixture of some kind (or diluted gels) that people have used in training, and possibly some water so you can drink (or mix more sports drink) at times other than the aid stations. The bottles are smaller because bigger bottles would be heavier and more uncomfortable. This way you can distribute the load and not carry so much on your waist.

Some people can take in what's at aid stations, which for an Ironman is usually Gatorade, PowerBar Gels, and an assortment of broth, flat coke, pretzels, and fruit. A lot of people can't tolerate gatorade or the powerbar gels (or in enough quantities to satisfy their calorie needs), so they concoct and carry their own stuff that they practice with in training. By the time you get to the run part of an Ironman, your tummy is not exactly rock solid anymore and taking in things that you've never had before can be pretty disastrous.

[Red Rock]

Thank you Colby and TriGirl for answering my questions. That makes a little more sense after you describe these things. Do you use the fuel belts on your training runs or something else?

Thank you,
Red Rock

[artifactos]

A fuel belt is on my wish list so I can actually hydrate during my longer training runs, where there are no aid stations, no water fountains, and when carrying a water bottle just wears me out.

I haven't done a running race over 5k, so I don't know yet if I'd like to wear one during a race.

[zoom-zoom]

I've never actually used a Fuel-Belt, but I love my Amphipod belt. I have one like this (20oz bottle):


During marathon training in the Summer I would use that bottle for sports drink, then on the front of the belt I had 2 smaller (10 oz.) bottles that clip on and off that I'd have filled with water:


If I liked gels I would have probably tried one bottle with gel, since that's cheaper and less messy than the packets. But I prefer sport beans, so never needed the really small bottles.

Since I have relatively few places to refill my bottles on most of my running routes I never had any interest in the Fuel-Belt system...I would be dehydrated if I had to rely on such small bottles for fluids.

[GLC1968]

Zoom Zoom - so that hydration belt doesn't bounce too much for you? Or the bottle doesn't leak being on it's side like that?

I wish you'd posted this earlier! I just purchased a Nathan belt that holds a water bottle on an angle. It seemed to sit the best on my back in the store - but until I fill it with water, it's kind of hard to tell. Since I do like gels when running, I also purchased one of those clip on small bottles you mention. I like the Amphipod ones because they have a wide mouth (for a tiny bottle) which should make them easier to clean. I also like that I can suspend them upside down for quicker gel access!

If this version doesn't work for me, I'll try the one you recommended next.

[zoom-zoom]

Nope, no leakage problems. I also like that I can use the bottles with a hand-strap and the shape is more comfortable for my hand. I have a Nathan hand bottle that I hate. The flatter Amphipod shape is better for my hands.

No bouncing issues, either. The belt fits snuggly and the bottle/pack really sits nicely in the small of my back. Easy to clean, too. I throw the belt in a delicates bag and wash it with everything else, then hang it to dry.

[colby]

Thank you Colby and TriGirl for answering my questions. That makes a little more sense after you describe these things. Do you use the fuel belts on your training runs or something else?

Thank you,
Red Rock

Lots of people use them during training - they are probably more commonly used in training than racing, even, because training doesn't usually include aid stations.

[TsPoet]

If I liked gels I would have probably tried one bottle with gel, since that's cheaper and less messy than the packets. But I prefer sport beans, so never needed the really small bottles.

I have an amphipod belt just like that. I replaced one of the lids with a solid lid (no pour spout) and I fill it with beans. I love jelly (er I mean sport) beans! I'm not convinced they are just an excuse to eat candy, but oh well.
I've recently replace the belt with a nathan hydration pack, but I'm going to try and attach a couple of those bottle holders to it - one with electrolyte water, the other with beans.