[Stitcher]

While I was home, I managed to take those mini bottles of water with me on my runs, because the fleece that I wore had pockets.<br><br>
From another thread discussing hydration I was reminded of the importance of water even in the winter.<br><br>
So...as I reflect back on the runs that I felt the best on they were the runs where I not only carried the water, but I was able to drink it as well. Not a ton, mind you...just a couple of good swigs at the 20-30 min mark.<br><br>
So, I figure that I'll need to be better about carrying my own water, or planting it ahead of time if I'm going to be able to start feeling good while I run.<br><br>
Anyway.....<br>
I need recommendations, please.....what do you use?<br>
do you have contraptions that will fit any sort of bottle....or do the bottles have to come with the contraption.<br>
Do you really not notice the weight?<br>
As an alternative...<br>
does anyone use the race ready shorts that have the pockets in the back, and put mini bottles of water in those?<br><br>
Stitch

 

[Tri_coach06]

Fuel Belt<br><br>
CS

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

I use the single bottle strappy thing. Use any standard bottle - any bottle that would fit in standard bike cage. Easy to refill, many bottle choices, etc. It works for me.

 

[Yo Sake]

I used to use the single bottle belt (angled) exclusively and the belt didn't bother me. However, I was chasing gu's with sports drink and thought that wasn't a good idea. Anyway, just a few months ago, I finally broke down and bought the fuel belt with 4 bottles. It is much more comfortable!! Plus I can carry both water and sports drink.

 

[hobey]

4 bottle fuel belt for me.<br><br>
BrewDad uses the Amphipod but I'm not coordinated enough to snap the bottle back in. They usually fall out after one or two steps.

 

[Tithers]

I'm high waisted...fuel belts ride up on me...I have a 4 and 6 bottle one.<br><br>
I now use a Nathan hand-held.

 

[kylemcm]

I'll second the fuel belt recommendation. I have the 2 bottle kind. I love it.

 

[Roadie Gal]

Amphipod 4 bottle belt most of the time. For a longer run on a hot day when I think I'll need more than the 32oz I can carry with the belt, I'll use my fanny pack style Camelbak. I have 2 of the Amphipod clips on it so I can put sports drink in the Amphipod bottles and water in the Camelbak bladder.

 

[Cashmason]

I have 2 Nathan hand helds. The strappy things do well with bike bottles too. Don't like the Nathan bottles too well as they dont seal as well as bike bottles. I like the one with the pocket that holds keys or cell phone. They are about 14 dollars vs 10 dollars for ones without the pocket.<br><br>
Ultimate makes better bottles that have funny looking pop out nipples, but other runners seem to like them better than the Nathan bottles.

 

[TriAndStopMe]

Wow, really? I find the Amphipod much easier to use than the Fuel Belt. I started with a Fuel Belt and got a lot of great use out of it, but I feel like the Amphipod is a much better designed product. For me, it's easy to snap the bottle back in one-handed, where I'd usually have to use two to get the the bottle back into the elastic holders of the Fuel Belt. The threads on the Amphipod bottles are MUCH better than on Fuel Belt bottles. (At least as of one year ago.) I also like that you can adjust how many holders are on the Amphipod belt, since it's a modular design. The Amphipod clips hold up better over time. The elastic on the FuelBelt holders weakens over time. I had lots of bottles slip out of the FuelBelt. Always when I bent over to tie a shoe or whatever.<br><br>
FuelBelt is a good product and I got a lot of great miles out of mine. But, IMHO, the Amphipod is much, much better.

 

[wyrillco]

I have this belt:<br><a href="http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/RRU1003/" target="_blank">http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/RRU1003/</a><br><br>
I like it a lot. It has a place to stash my keys and shot bloks.

 

[melonella]

Have you tried the ultra-low tech option -- just hold onto your favorite water bottle while running? I tried it a few times after finding that Fuel belt with the larger bottles didn't work well for me, and it turned out to be pretty manageable. I actually used that approach for the first half of my IMFL run. Try a couple different shaped bottles, because some are easier to hold than others.

 

[hobey]

I think I'm just inept...LOL. I like the modular design of the Amphipod but every time I borrowed BrewDad's, I couldn't get the bottles to snap in properly. Maybe it was the size (10 vs 8 ) but I kept having to stop and pick them up every time I took a drink.

 

[LookiLoo]

I currently have the 4 bottle fuel belt, but I have the same problem as Tithers as I am high waisted and have problems with it riding up. I may try to just carry a bottle with me on my next long run to see how that goes, but it seems so cumbersome....

 

[Kate60]

I use the amphipod and like it a lot as much as you can like them. Amphipod also make a hand held bottle that is curved to fit your hand.

 

[Stitcher]

Hmmmm....<br>
Many opinions.<br><br>
I wish there were some way that you could try these things out before you end up shelling out some money for them.<br><br>
These are the times I wish I lived in a larger city/place. Then, I'd have half a chance of being around someone who might have one that I could borrow to try.<br><br>
Of course, I suppose I could ask around here, too. Go figure.<br><br>
S

 

[wyrillco]

I have a nathan handheld bottle I'd send you. You could keep it. I don't like running with it, but lots of people do. After running with it for 2 hours, my arm hurt. LIke I was doing a curl that whole time. I have to hold it in my left hand because if I do my right I can't help scrunching my shoulders for some reason and get this weird pain. I'm an odd duck.<br><br>
PM me your address if you want. I'll send it to ya. (Now I need to go dig it out of the cupboard!)

 

[bcc594]

Somewhere in my closet of running toys, I have an old neoprene bottle-holder with a special extra-large pocket for a walk-man and a few tapes. I could send you that one, if you wanted! <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"><br><br>
Personally, I like the bigger, single-bottle holders. I can't say that I find them easier, or worse, they're just what I'm used to.<br><br>
Nobody interested in the walk-man/water-bottle holder? What if I threw in the walkman?<br><br>
Bradley

 

[Stitcher]

I don't think walkmans will play cds though.....lol<br>
can you even buy cassette tapes anywhere except truck stops any more?

 

[bcc594]

I don't know. I haven't bought a tape since the last time I was.....ummmmm.....at a truck-stop come to think of it! Halfway between Prince George and Jasper, the real middle of nowhere!