A quick update on all the crazy weather here….
It’s really only raining off and on at this point, the storm surge has died down, and the flooding it still happening (as of yesterday). My running route is still completely inaccessible at this point, so I have had to become a bit more creative.
With all of the debris from the wind all over the sidewalks, it’s really just been easier to get my running done on the treadmill. It is definitely not my favorite, but it gets the job done. Since I pretty much never do speed workouts inside, I never noticed how much the treadmill really propels you forward! The 5×800′s that I did Monday night seemed way too easy for the speed that I was holding – either that or I’m getting faster. Let’s just go with the latter 
Yesterday when I was out walking my pup, I was approached by a local news station for a quick interview. Yep – here is my moment. Fast forward to 1:10, or watch the whole thing if you want to see the crazy flooding! And if you haven’t seen enough pictures from Debby, here’s another to really put you over the edge!
Finding the Right Running Water Bottle
After running the hottest marathon ever, I knew that to get through summer training for the Chicago Marathon, I was going to need to get some form of hydration for my runs. I have been looking at a few options, and have narrowed it down to four. I would love your input for those of you that have tried them and like them (or hated them!).
The FuelBelt Sprint
The bottle is only 10oz, so it is the smallest of the four. It obviously would weigh the least, which means it would hold the least as well.
Nathan Quickdraw Plus
This bottle holds 22 oz, so it is more than double the amount of the FuelBelt bottle. The pouch is a bit larger so it can hold more as well. All of the cute colors don’t hurt either
Camelbak Quick Grip
This bottle holds 21oz, and is actually insulated so that liquids stay cold the whole time, and the mouth piece it stationary – you just squeeze it to get water out . This bottle was recommended to me, so I am somewhat leaning towards it.
Nathan Thermal Quickdraw
This bottle is just like the other Nathan water bottle, but it also insulated like the Camelbak. The insulation looks to be a bit different though – on the outside rather than on the inside.
I’m in search of the perfect handheld too! I recently tried the Nathan small 10 oz bottle. Although it was light weight, easy to drink from and hold, it didn’t hold much.
Very interested in what others recommend!
Yes! There have been so many great recommendations! I’m so thankful everyone is giving their opinions!
I haven’t tried these yet, however when I’m on the treadmill I use a waterbottle you squeeze to get the water out and love it! 10 oz does seem too small, unless you have a few spots during your run where you can fill it back up!
Yea, I am definitely going to have to get something bigger than 10 oz for sure!
I don’t like hand-helds very much but I agree that the small size is too small unlesss you mainly go for short runs. My friend uses one and we are always onthe lookout for a water fountain so she can refill it. I have the regular Nathan one and it is fine. I don’t like having to squeeze while I’m drinking on the road (although I might not mind on the TM!) so I wouldn’t like the Camelbak. The other thing to look at is the size of the pocket (if that matters to you). The Nathan is not big enough for my iPhone, although the Camelbak might not be either.
If people like belt styles, I I finally found my perfect belt-style and show it here — http://got2run4me.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/cherry-blossom-foolishness/
I hope the flooding goes down soon. That picture with your dog is so precious!
They changed the size of the pouch on the Nathan Quickdraw and it’s big enough for an iPhone now! I got a new one recently and was so happy with it. I really like mine. It’s easy to drink from, doesn’t leak, and it generally stayed pretty cold for a long run if I start with a little ice in it
ooo nice! I’m not sure if I would put my phone in it though – probably just add to the weight even more – I’m already nervous to carry something!
Interesting – I guess its all preference. Some people hate the squeezing, some people love it! Glad there are a lot of choices!
I use the nathan quickdraw, however I didnt think about the water being freezing on my hand when holding it (I dont have the insulated kind) and now I wish i had an insulated one!
So true! I think I will have to get an insulated one for sure from what everyone is telling me
Hey Mary!
I use this water belt, and although it’s not hand held like the ones you’ve listed, I really love it. It definitely holds enough, and you can even consider putting water in two, and gatorade in two… or something like that
I also like the pockets, perfect for holding your ID, keys, credit card, etc. Not sure if it is big enough for the phone, I haven’t tried. But it is comfortable, doesn’t get in the way of breathing because you wear it low on your hips, and I love that you can just squirt it into your mouth without having to mess with the top.
http://nathansports.com/our-products/hydrationnutrition/racespeed-series/speed-4r
Thanks Court. Does it ride up at all when you run? I still don’t like to wear shirts, and I am afraid the belt will rub funny on my torso.
Nuts flooding!
I’ve used a Nathan-4 bottle belt for the past 2 years. I generally only take 2 bottles with me if I know that I can fill up in places and I freeze the bottles over night if its going to be hot. It also has a pocket for bigger items in the back, generally I put my inhaler and such there, and a smaller zipper pocket in the front with is good for chapstick.
I also have that bigger Nathan handheld but its real heavy when its full and I’d rather have the extra weight around my waist than in my hand.
I can’t imagine not having water in Florida! I need it in Chicago.
Ya, this is actually going to be my first time training by carrying fluid. We have a lot of water fountains around where I run, so I can usually have something available about every 2 miles or so. I just really want to be able to have Gatorade this time around.
I use the Nathan one and love it. The strap is comfortable. The pouch will hold up to 3 Gu packets for long runs or is perfect for keys/id for any run. Plus it’s easy to sip. I do find I have to switch which hand I carry it with during the run so one arm doesn’t get crampy feeling, but it’s not too hard to do that.
Ya, I pretty much expected to have to switch hands regardless. I think I am definitely leaning towards the Nathan bottle – everyone loves them!
I actually asked for the fuel belt sprint for my birthday! I haven’t tested it out yet, by I asked a ton of long distance runners and they all swear by it. I will let you know how it goes when I try it out!
Thanks Kelly!!! Please do
So I tries it on two 6 miles run, I had a water fountain at miles 1, 3 and 5. The days I used it, it was extremely muggy and hot, so I used about 7 oz of the bottle by mile 3, I refilled and used about the same on the way back. I also, tend to sweat a lot and it’s very salty. But for me it was the perfect size. I also can fit 1 Carb Boom ( or Gu, whatever you use) in the zip pocket. My only complaint is that I can’t fit a phone in it, and come race day I would like to be able to do that….
I have something to put around my arm for my phone. I thinking carrying it along with the water would be way to heavy!
I’ve used the Nathan thermal for some longer races, and the purchased the Amphipod Lite and far prefer the Amphipod for ease and comfort. I keep my stuff in my Spi belt so don’t worry if there’s not a ton of room on the bottle. In the FL heat I would definitely suggest having that neoprene on the outside or your hand will make the water get warm pretty quickly (plus your hand will get cold brrr). Here’s the link to the Amphipod: http://m.roadrunnersports.com/#!/product/detail/AMP119. Good luck!
Its funny, because I would have never thought about the water being too cold on my hand until some of you all started bringing it up! Definitely something to consider
WOW! Those flood pictures are insane! I run with my jogging stroller and a nice little place to carry my water so I’m no help with your quest, but I’m loving the comments as I’m about to begin marathon training and I know the Weasel won’t last 20 miles in the stroller!
Yea – I’m sure the kiddos would get quite bored on that long of a run!
I have a fuelbelt which is pretty comfortable, and the camelbak which takes a little getting used to but now I like a lot, but only up to 12 miles ish. I fill mine halfway, freeze it, and then fill it full at the start of my run. The ice keeps it cool but gradually melts on the run. Awesome!
Do you use the Camelback backpack, or the handheld bottle?
They all look so cute, but I think that I’d be so annoyed by carrying a water bottle.
Ya, that is a concern of mine too. But I think that having access to Gatorade will trump the annoyance!
I have the Nathan sprint and the Quickdraw– the sprint is way too small. It would work if you have water fountains along the way to refill, otherwise, it won’t do much in terms of keeping you hydrated! I The Quickdraw is nice- it holds a lot more, and I love the pocket for phone/keys… but to be honest, I find myself using my belt the most. The Quickdraw is heavy when it’s full, and it can throw off your stride just a bit, so you have to be careful. I find the belts to be the most comfortable… good luck in your decision!
I actually have a lot of water fountains on my route – I really want to the water bottle for Gatorade. I want to mimic my hydration in my training runs as much as possible for race day
I am just so hesitant to try the belts. I don’t wear a shirt very often, so I feel like it would ride up.
I’ve tried virtually every hydration product out there and have a few conclusions to share:
Water Reservoirs (fanny packs and backpacks made by CamelBak, GoLite, Saloman, etc.) are the best solution because they hold more fluids, can carry other gear (phone, gps, money, ID, gu, food, etc.), and can be adjusted/cinched as you use up the fluids. They are a bit heavier and take a bit of getting used to, but I strongly believe they are the best option. Marathon and Beyond had an article about this subject in the last 1-2 years and I remember the conclusion of that article being that the packs were the most efficient carrying solution because the weight was distributed evenly, close to the hips/core, and not swinging at the end of your arms.
Fuel-belts (Fuelbelt, Amphipod, etc.) seem popular, but I’ve seen too many dropped bottles in races and on trails to bother with this kind of system. For comparison, I’ve never seen anybody drop a CamelBak or water bottle. Other downsides to the belt systems are that they don’t cinch as tightly as the reservoir systems, can be hard to access while running, and the little bottles are a pain to fill. They also tend to be more expensive and yet carry much less water. On the upside, this is the easiest way to carry different kinds of fluids, such as water and sports drink.
For water bottles, I’ve used bottles from North Face, CamelBak, Nathan, and Ultimate Directions. The benefits of bottles are that they’re not too big, easier to refill than fuel belt bottles, and if you carry two bottles you can have two different fluids. That said, ice cold bottles can literally freeze your fingers, can throw off your balance, and you end up carrying them at the end of your arms which is a lot of extra swinging weight in a long run. There are systems that let you attach a full-size water bottle to a waist strap, but if you’re gonna do that why not just carry a small fanny-pack with water and have the convenience of a drinking tube instead of wrestling with a bottle behind your back? If you’re running on trails it’s harder to brace for a fall if you’re carrying things in your hands.
If you’re committed to water bottles, I suggest the FastDraw Plus from Ultimate Directions: http://www.rei.com/product/813748/ultimate-direction-fastdraw-plus-water-bottle It has an adjustable hand strap so it holds on to your hand so you don’t have to expend as much energy holding the bottle. It also has the best drink valve BY FAR and a small pouch for key, cash, ID, gu, etc.
If you’re open to packs, I recommend the CamelBak FlashFlo http://www.rei.com/product/811636/camelbak-flashflo-lr-hydration-waistpack-50-fl-oz It’s lightweight, holds 50 oz and other essentials, is easy to refill and cinches down well as you drink the reservoir dry. I’ve run thousands of miles, dozens of marathons, and several ultras with these packs and swear by them. Enjoy!
Wow Adam! You win for longest, most information filled comment that I have ever received!!
Thanks so much for your insight. I really appreciate it!
[...] By Mary Baum on June 29, 2012 | Leave a response Thank you all so much for your opinions on which water bottle I should buy! I really think I am leaning towards the insulated Nathan bottle! It definitely seems [...]
I’d used a Camelbak last year for marathon training, but it just felt so gross once it got really hot. I bought a small Amphipod (12 oz) today and haven’t tried it yet. I was looking at the Nathans and the guy in the store said he’d tried them and his fingers got kinda numb.
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[...] last summer for the Chicago Marathon, I had to get something to hydrate myself. I did a lot of research on waterbottles and worked on finding the perfect one for me. I highly recommend the Nathan Quickdraw! See all my [...]