Hydration during runs?

[pixy0stix]

So my running route doesn't go by any fountains or anything, and I don't really want to hide bottles in peoples yards, etc. So what is my best option? Water belt? I'm not sure about holding a bottle the whole run. Would the hydration backpack thingies chafe too much?

(As always, thanks for helping me with all my newbie running questions.)

[al320]

I have an amphipod belt. It doesnt chafe, you just have to get used to it and then its fine.

[mrsjthompson]

I'm not much help. I make DH carry the water. But I did just buy a FuelBelt for him at TJMaxx yesterday for $15, if you decide to go that route.

[pixy0stix]

May 22, 2013 12:10:42 GMT -5 mrsjthompson said:

I'm not much help. I make DH carry the water.

LOL! I wish I could get DH to run with me. No dice. He's working on it on his own, so maybe some day.

[hannahb]

I have both and while neither bother me, I love the handheld. I didn't think I would like it for longer runs but have done up to 13 miles with it. I pretty much use it any time I'm out in hot weather.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I just had pretty much this same question, and I went into my LRS to test-drive all the various systems. I eventually decided on a handheld bottle like this, because there were no seams that rubbed wrong and made me fear the chafe, I liked that the neoprene would keep the water colder, and the bottle wouldn't leak.  I took it on a test run at the gym (on the treadmill, LOL!) and I was SURE I would hate it, but I had no time to switch to a belt-style, so I used it in my 10k on Sat.  Honestly, half the time I forgot I was wearing it.  It was great.  

I think if I were regularly running greater than 6 miles (out here, at least), I'd be looking into a hydration pack, because I drank my last sip of water about 1/2 mile from the finish and was still thirsty.  However, for my needs, the handheld was great.  Perfect, even.

[enfuego23]

I bought a water belt last summer - I hated it, it bounced around too much. If you want it, I will send it to you:)

I'm no help - I do my long runs with a running group in the summer and they have water out for us along the route and my other running routes are in a downtown area so I either stop and buy a water or run near the university and use the water fountains in their building.

I've never tried a handheld water bottle.

[texassmith]

I hate fuel belts. I carry a Nathan handheld and it's good. It has a strap so you don't have to physically be grasping it the whole time.

[venice2007]

I have a hydration belt with four bottles for long runs by nathan. Love it.
Also just one that slips on my iPod belt that's great for shorts runs by nathan
Also have had hand held in the past. I only like those for very short runs. I hate carrying stuff but they work well!!!

[vanillahip]

I have an amphipod belt with the little bitty bottles and I like it because my back is super sensitive so handhelds (even my phone in an armband) feel awful on my back by mile 2. (The bigger bottles you can get for the amphipod totally blow, they're too big for the little elastic belt and bounce all over the place. Very uncomfortable IMO)

[D2M]

Another vote for the handheld. I have an insulated one and it's not cumbersome at all. If you hate running with it, you can always use it as a water bottle for other workouts or for keeping at work, etc. For really hot days, I'll fill it 2/3 of the way the night before, freeze it and then add fresh water the next morning. On my route, I'll refill at water fountains. It stays pretty cool by the end of the run this way.

[Wines Not Whines]

I have a handheld one with the strap that goes around your hand. It's actually not bad. I also have a 2-bottle Nathan hydration belt. The handheld only works for shorter runs during the summer, unless I have a place to refill it, because I need more than 10 oz of water on a long run. Sometimes I drive my car halfway along my path and leave extra water/fuel inside for refills.

[finallykrisb]

My long run route has zero options for water and I have a 4 bottle Nathan that I love.  When it's a long, hot run I fill two with whatever electrolyte drink I'm using and two with water.  Sometimes I only carry two bottles. 

[pamela]

I just bought a 1 bottle Nathan belt. I decided against a handheld because I couldn't find one with a big enough pocket for my phone in the otterbox case and didn't want to carry something in both hands. I'm not a huge fan of it and only use it for my long runs when I'll really need the water. I don't drink much while I'm running though.

[bullygirl979]

I have a small hand held that I use for shorter runs. It has a strap so it isn't like you are holding it the whole time. I also have a fuel belt that I use for longer runs. I don't LOVE it, but you get used to it.

[patches31709]

I have a one bottle Nathan belt where the bottle sits in the back. I also have a smaller 4 bottle belt. They definitely take some getting used to, but I like them both a lot.

[Deleted]

I don't mind the fuel belt and I rely on it heavily in the summer/hot months.

[Deleted]

I have a handheld that I bring on runs over 5 miles in the summer.

[shorty20]

Depending on how long I'm running, I'll either do a handheld, a two bottle Nathan belt, or a 4 bottle Fuel Belt belt. 

I've never had problems with the belts chafing, you just need to find the most comfortable spot for you to wear it so they won't bounce.  I've found that for me, I like them lower on my hips instead of at my actual waist.  Once you get used to them you hardly notice that they're there.

[taratru]

I'm notorious for not using water, so I'm no real help. I either a) go put water out - not in people's yards, but by stop lights, or in bushes on the trail/by the road or b) run loops that go by my house so I can stop for water if I need to.

[venice2007]

May 22, 2013 14:07:05 GMT -5 shorty20 said:

Depending on how long I'm running, I'll either do a handheld, a two bottle Nathan belt, or a 4 bottle Fuel Belt belt. 

I've never had problems with the belts chafing, you just need to find the most comfortable spot for you to wear it so they won't bounce.  I've found that for me, I like them lower on my hips instead of at my actual waist.  Once you get used to them you hardly notice that they're there.

Yes lower on hips is better. Too much bounce on waist. Tight and on hips and I barely notice the fuel belt is there. :-)

[pixy0stix]

May 22, 2013 12:18:00 GMT -5 enfuego23 said:

I bought a water belt last summer - I hated it, it bounced around too much. If you want it, I will send it to you:)

I never know how to respond to these, but if you're serious I'll take it.

[G22]

I hate holding things in my hand while running.

I use my camel back. Its lightweight and doesn't chafe, even when I wear tank tops. It works for me.

[trigal]

I carry a bottle, but I'm planning to try DH's fuel belt. He swears by it!

[MrsE]

I use either a handheld or water belt.

[aurora]

I have all of the above: a handheld, a belt, and a pack. I did my marathon training with the pack without issues, but most of the time I'm not running that long so I use one of the others. I don't love any of them but they're better than getting completely dehydrated.

If you do get a belt, do *not* get one with a vertical water bottle. Those just kill your tailbone. The angled or horizontal bottles work a lot better.

For the packs, some styles have a wider neck area than others and I find the wider ones chafe less. Something styled like this

shop.camelbak.com/dart/d/1249_c_130_cl_3306

works a lot better for me than this

shop.camelbak.com/volt-13-lr/d/1247_cl_3426

just as an example of what I'm trying to say.

[katinthehat]

I think it's trial and error. I went through a bunch of them before I found what I like and turns out, I like both.

[archaeominx]

I have a handheld and hate it, the strap always comes loose, the water sloshing drives me nuts, yadda yadda. I have a 3 bottle FuelBelt and I really like it. It's much more comfortable to wear it at my natural waist, it doesn't move at all that way. It's really a matter of personal preference, you'll probably gave to try a few things to see what you like.

[grk2012]

I use a Nathan Speed 2 belt. Nothing chafes.

[humpforfree]

I do a 2 bottle Nathan belt. Usually one bottle has water and the other has Gatorade. It is kind of annoying at fist but after the first quarter mile or so I have it adjusted to where it doesn't bounce around.

I'll take it with me over 8ish miles in the winter and 4-5 in summer- it's so humid here.

Oh! And I love that it is also basically a built in SPI belt with the pouch for my phone, fuel, Chapstick and sometimes inhaler...