Welcome,
Whew, I won't lie to you guys...I am tired. (To clarify, I have never lied to you guys?). Anyway, my first week of work was exhausting! But I enjoyed it, and the people are great, so I have no complaints. As I've complained to many, we recently sold my car, so now I'm a bike commuter to work again. Which adds to the exhaustion, I guess.
I used to ride my bike when I worked at RunningCo. of Haddonfield, but wow, that was two years ago. Speaking of New Jersey, I'll be heading to the East Coast next week (mainly the Charlottesville area) but hopefully spending a day in New Jersey too. After the desert air, I am looking forward to some humidity.
This intro was all over the place! So with that, back to summer running and hydration. Right now, I carry hydration on almost every run. In the desert, sweat evaporates off you before you realize you are dehydrated, so carrying hydration is better and safer. We've had a mild summer so far (I hope I didn't jinx it), with not many days reaching 110. Hand-carrying a water bottle can be annoying, so that's where hydration packs and belts come in.
If you missed past newsletters, I talked about summer running and hydrating before a run.
How Do You Choose the Right Hydration Pack?
Like any running gear, every person has a personal preference, and what you use for hydrating is ultimately up to you. The first step is recognizing that hydration packs can provide some real benefits. I used to think “only ultra runners used packs and held water.” But then I realized I needed to carry water unless I wanted to make loops around my neighborhood. It only took one run in the desert, where I didn't know if I would make it home, to humble me.
Features to look for in choosing a hydration pack:
Capacity: How much water can it carry?
Weight and Size: No one wants a heavy backpack.
Comfort: Make sure it feels comfortable to you.
Insulation: Will it keep your hydration cool.
How Much Water Can It Hold? How Much Do You Need?
Packs now have many incredible features, but you want one with the water you need. More is not always better as it becomes heavy. I have a few for various types of runs. I will carry something smaller for daily runs than when I'm out for 2 hours. Whether you are looking for a water bottle, belt, or hydration pack, make sure it holds the amount of water you need for your training.
Weight:
Whatever you choose should be comfortable for you. You want water when needed, but you also don’t want to feel like you are running with a cumbersome backpack. A lighter pack is usually easier to carry but might hold less water. If you plan to use the pack in a race, look for something that won’t feel like a burden to bear. It won't be pleasant to be uncomfortable during any run or race.
Comfort:
I cannot emphasize this enough. Make sure your pack feels comfortable to you. Every pack is different; just because someone else likes it, it doesn't mean others will.
Insulation:
Many belts and packs are now insulated. Consider an insulated belt or pouch if you are running for a couple of hours and want your drink cold.
It’s essential to think about how much fluid you need versus how much you want to carry. Running 20 miles where there aren’t water sources is different than being able to stop at your house for more fluids.
The Extras:
As I mentioned earlier, hydration packs and belts are no longer just about hydration. Many come with plenty of pockets and extra features to keep you comfortable on the run. Most groups have lots of space to store gear such as clothing, phones, fuel, and whatever else you might need.
Here are some packs I've used and liked throughout the years.
Small Packs:
Flipbelt: You can purchase bottles to place in the pack
Medium Packs:
Camelbak Flash Belt 17oz Overall, this is probably my favorite pack for runs. It keeps things cold, and it's the most comfortable belt style pack I've tried
Salomon S-Lab Sense Hydration Vest: This is definitely the lightest pack I've tried!
Longer Run Packs:
Nathan Hydration Quickstart 4L Vest Comes with 4L bladders, and I've run several races in it.
Camelbak Flash Belt 17oz Review: Comes with two different bottles to use and the ability to add a bladder if you prefer.
Unexpected ways to carry water:
Ultimate Direction Apparel Review: Did you know Ultimate Direction makes running clothing with bottles. I've run in the pants, and they stay put and feel ok (I was SHOCKED).
Hopefully, you will find a hydration pack that works for you this summer!
If you have a favorite, I would love it if you dropped it in the comments so others can see it!
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
Hiking Potato Chip Rock and the Mt Woodson Summit in San Diego
Watch Sydney McLaughlin break the 400 hurdles world record.
4 Reflections After 50 Years of Title IX
Highlights From Day 3 of the 2022 USATF Championships
You Can Follow me on:
I use an Orange Mud vest that I've had for a few years now. The original bladder that came with it ended up breaking and having leaking issues so I replaced it with a larger one (I always seemed to finish the other bladder before my runs were over) because I thought bigger would be better. Yeah, no. Now it's too heavy to have the full bladder and I rarely have it more than 3/4 full ever.
I have a Solomon vest that I use during training run but tend to race with a Naked belt, depending on the distance between the aid stations. If they are 5-6 miles apart consistently throughout the race then I’ll go with the belt because I know I can drink two bottle in the 1-2 hours (depending on terrain) and be ok. Anything longer and I will use the vest. Love both of them.