How necessary is a

[adcobe]

Fuel belt? I am training for a full right now and I am starting my super long runs, 13 plus miles on the weekends. If I do buy one do you suggest a two bottle or four bottle? Also would you run the actual race with it on?

[clseale]

I never run with a fuel belt with water bottles, but this is because my route has fountains roughly every 4 miles. I DO use a spibelt to hold my gels (see lovely fanny pack looking item in sig pic. lol That bad boy is packed with 4 gels & cheez-its), but if you have a lot of pockets, that would solve that problem. I bring my spibelt on 18+ mile runs and during marathons.

[taratru]

I think it's not necessary at all. I've never worn one, but I have to go out in the summer and put water out for longer runs, or run routes near fountains. I just put snacks/gels/whatever I'm taking into my shorts pockets.

[breezy8407]

I've never run a full, but wanted to say that I love my Spibelt as well. It's great for racing to hold a few gels, my phone, chapstick, etc. I use it for all my warmer weather long runs when I don't have pockets in my clothes anymore.

[Deleted]

I bought one and hated it so I don't wear one. I'll take a water bottle or plan my route to circle back to the car every few miles.

[D2M]

I have only ever trained for halfs (halves, I guess). I get thirsty quickly so I bring water with me. I use an insulated handheld bottle with a strap and a pocket to put my keys, etc. (you could put fuel in there, too). I refill it at water fountains if I need to. I remember debating between getting a fuel belt or a handheld and someone said if I find the fuel belt annoying, it sucks. If I find the handheld annoying, at least I have a bottle I can take to the gym or use somewhere else. The bottle ended up working really well for me. Really long story short: Maybe start with a bottle before you invest in a fuel belt?

[al320]

I think its preference, not necessity.

[shorewife]

I ended up with a Camelbak because I can't stand having those belts bounce around and it worked out great! I only used it for long training runs though, not for the race.

[adcobe]

Okay I think I will try a handheld water bottle and get a spibelt. Thank you!

[chw57]

I hate fuel belts because they bounce so much. I put my phone in a spi belt and carry a handheld water bottle that has a pocket for Gus

[kams]

I don't have access to water so I carry a fuel belt on runs longer than 12, and a handheld for 6-12. I have a Nathan four bottle, and I don't find that it bounces or bothers me at all.

I used a spibelt to carry gu for my marathon and I found that to bounce more than my fuel belt that I wear for training.

[thom]

I have one (an amphipod 4 bottle) and use it for runs over about 10 miles in warm weather. I live in a rural area and generally have no access to fountains or places to stop for water. As PPs said though, you can always set out water bottles before your route or even leave them at your driveway's end and loop back past it.

My belt doesn't bounce too bad, but it's still cumbersome & I don't wear it unless I really need it.

[clseale]

My tip for the spibelt is to wear it low. Really low. Mine sits below my hip bones, and the strap goes across my butt.

[gummybear]

I've never used a fuel belt. I am hyper sensitive to things bouncing and rubbing or even making sloshing noises (I kind of meditate during my run). But I have never gone more than 14 miles. I am not exactly the poster child for proper hydration techniques though. I have 2 routes I use for 12+ and I have access to fountains or my car (it's a 6 mile loop) for one, so I use that on super hot days, or I carry a water bottle with me and toss it when I finish. It leaves me sort of thirsty for the end but if the situation were dire I have access to stores/bathrooms/fountains etc. if I go a little off the route.

Like I said, I am a bad hydrator. But it's worked for me so far and I've never had an issue. Once I decide to train for a full I'll have to change.

[keweenawlove]

I used to use one all the time when all my long runs were on the trails and I didn't have a drinking fountain option. Now that I don't have trails, I just plan my long runs around drinking foutains. I've never raced with one. I have a belt similar to clseale for gels during marathons.

[RoryGilmore]

For me, a fuel belt is necessary. I don't put the work into planning a route around water fountains and the water fountains aren't plentiful enough in my area to rely on. I have a 3 bottle belt where all 3 sit across the small of my back and honestly usually forget it's there within a few minutes. For me, I have to wear it up high on my true waist (same is true for my spibelt). It gets too hot to not have water with me and my handheld doesn't hold as much as my belt.

[agswife]

I have a one bottle (it's a decent size) fuel belt. I wear it with the "water pack" thingie on my back. Found it reduces bounce.

[archaeominx]

There's no water options at all on my runs and most of my routes have wide open stretches if no shade so I have to carry water. I have three bottle Fuel Belt brand. I don't have an issue with bouncing but it definitely took some getting used to. I only wore it for one half because I had heard that the course support wasn't great. I also have a handheld Nathan but I actually prefer the belt. In a race I just use a Spibelt.

[archaeominx]

Oh and ditto Rory on wearing it up on your natural waist to get it to stay in place correctly.

[katinthehat]

I think it's totally personal preference. If you're train with a specific carb drink that they won't have at the race and you have a sensitive stomach, then yes, I'd race with it on. Otherwise, skip it on race day.

But I don't think there's really any right or wrong.

[Wines Not Whines]

I have one, and I used to wear it for all of my long runs. But for my second marathon training cycle, it started bothering me. Now I prefer to drop water bottles along my route. I don't think you need one, but they can be useful.

[enfuego23]

I bought a fuel belt and hated it - the bouncing around of the bottles and the sound of sloshing water just made me feel like I needed to pee when I had it on, lol:) 

When I trained for my full marathon this past summer, I did all of my long runs with a running group that put out water for us and when I ran on my own, I put water out for myself. 

[mrshandy]

It was pretty essential for my marathon training. I have no idea where water fountains are and setting water bottles out would be way too much of a PITA. Plus during the hot summer I needed water for most of my runs.

I have the Nathan 2 bottle one and it has served me well during my half and marathon training. I do prefer to run without it though.

[agrippa]

I abhor handhelds and have never seen a water fountain around these parts, so I have an amphipod belt. I sweat like a mofo, esp. in the summer and it's absolutely necessary for me to bring water on all runs over 6 miles. I love that my amphipod allows for horizontal placement of the bottles. Much less sloshing and I'm not hitting my arms on bottles like I was when I tried the Nathan. And, you can organize the bottles however you like. There's no set number for the belt.