Thursday, July 14, 2011

Belt or Pack?

As the runs get longer and the temps get hotter, the Nathan fuel belt I wear right now is barely keeping up. The two 8-oz bottles it carries are good for runs up to about 9-10 miles in temps up to about 80-85 degrees. But with longer runs coming up on my schedule, I'll either need to start planning mid-run refills or find a way to carry more.

Here are a couple of options I'm considering:

Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack with Four 8-Ounce Nutrition Flasks


~or~



Nathan HPL #020 2.0 Liter Men's 2-Liter Hydration Race Vest


The vest is slightly more expensive and has more capacity than I really need. On the other hand, I'm not sure I really want to carry 32 oz on a belt. My current belt tends to slip with only 16oz, especially after about 7 or 8 miles.

Please let me know your opinion, especially if you have used one or both of these or similar. What are the pros/cons of each one?


4 comments:

  1. Runners World just posted this on their facebook page yesterday.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7120,s6-238-511-0-14021-0,00.html

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  2. Thanks David, I'll check it out.

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  3. I have a fuel belt that carries 4 8 oz bottles so the weight is a bit more evenly distributed...it got me through my first marathon last year. Good luck with whatever you choose!

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  4. Brian, just posted my review of the Nathan Elite 2V Plus Hydration Waist Pack. I really like it!
    http://justalittlerun.blogspot.com/2011/07/gear-review-nathan-elite-2v-plus-dual.html

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