I needed a hydration belt for my longer runs and even shorter runs on blistering hot days while training for a marathon. I was debating on the Fuel Belt and the Nathan, and after looking at many reviews, I went with the Nathan. (Also, the Nathan on here was 50% off and only $23.50, which made my decision even easier)
I couldn''t be happier with it. After a few minutes of running I didn''t even realize that it was on my waist. It doesn''t interfere with my arm swing at all and the bottles don''t move, slosh around, or leak at all. I can easily remove and replace the bottles one-handed with ease.
I don''t feel chafed or sweaty around my waist at all. It''s lightweight. The pocket in the back is a bit small but I think it will hold a few gels, my key, and my ID... which is all I need.
The belts run smaller than they do large. I''m a guy with a 32" waist, which was the exact measurement listed between the medium and small, so I went with the medium and it''s perfectly snug.
The bottles are great. You can hold them upside down and water won''t come out until you squeeze them.
I planned on only using the Nathan on long runs but I think I will use it on every run from now on because it''s that comfortable.
I recommend it. Hopefully you will like it as much as I do.
(I''m not knocking the Fuel Belt brand. A friend I work with has one and he loves it)
I have used a number of different types of hydration packs and this is by far my favorite for running (and would likely be my go-to choice for hiking as well).
The four bottles are a nice quality/size (8oz each) and allow for flexibility in your hydration plans (you could choose to use all or just some of the bottles; some can be filled with gels, sports drinks etc, while others have plain water). Each holster is nicely constructed and sits flush against your body when you have the belt on, making it relatively easy to pull the bottles out and put them back in single-handed (putting them back in can be a bit tricky when they are behind you, but with practice it gets easier). Just a note: my belt came with 4 of the "race tops" (in the photo, these are the purely grey tops), but these are amazingly handy when you are on the move, as they do not require you to open the spout. All you have to do is squeeze the bottle and the seal in the cap automatically opens (I do not know how well this seal holds up over time, but so far it does not seem to leak).
The belt itself is well constructed, with a nice zip pocket for stashing your stuff. The pocket features a smaller velcro pouch for securing important stuff (i.e. keys/id/money), while the main compartment is easily accessible for gels or your phone. This pocket could be worn in the front or back depending on your preference (I usually have it around back).
Some have complained that the belts run small, but if you select your size based on the measurements offered (26-32=small, 32-36=medium, 36-42=large), they should be dead on. There are two things to consider before selecting your size. FIRST, take note of where on your body you intend to wear the belt (waist, hips, between the two, etc). I have found this style belt is most comfortable when worn tight and low on my hip bones (that way the weight of the full bottles does not impact my breathing). As an athletic female with 35in hips, the medium fits comfortably with room to loosen or tighten the velcro a bit. SECOND, you need to assess your body composition and comfort level with tight clothing. These belts work best when worn TIGHTLY against the body minimize bouncing, and as such may not be comfortable for everyone (particularly those with a bit, or a lot, of extra "padding"). Wearing the belt on your hip bones will minimize some of the pressure and will keep the belt from "digging in" quite as much. If you are concerned with this element of their fit, you may wish to try on one of these belts (or the FuelBelts, which have the same sizing) in a store prior to purchasing.
With the 4 bottels full, the belt can be a bit on the heavy side, but is nicely balanced when worn around the hips. I find that it is as comfortable for 3 miles as it is for 12+, and should be excellent as I move into marathon mileages. If you are fed up with sweat soaked camelbacks, cumbersome hand-held waterbottles and uncomfortable single bottle belts, this is a great option!
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Product seems fairly robust and fits well and comfortably... Not likely to fit a larger person. I have 38" waste and it''s about at max maybe a little more room available. Bottles are not quite as tight in holsters as I expected, but enough to stay in place. We''ll see if they stay put on the trails... they work ok on the road. Pockets are nice... just enough for a few things. First one arrived missing one of the bottle, so returned, but replacement was shipped fast.
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Got the Nathan Speed 4R Waist Pack with four flasks in a size medium to wear for marathon training. Wasn''t sure two bottles would be enough, and I figured I can always just leave 1-2 flasks at home if I don''t need them all. Used the hydration belt this morning for a nine-mile training run and was not disappointed. The belt fit perfectly and did not move around during the run like one-size-fits-all belts tend to do. I wrapped a measuring tape around my hips where I planned to wear the belt, to make sure I ordered the proper size. Do not go by your pant size, which uses a waist (not hip) measurement. You need to wear the belt lower so it doesn''t interfere with your arm swing.
A few things worth noting (not complaints, just observations). Mine came with four race caps, not two as advertised. Not worth dickering about with customer service, as the race caps work quite well. The Nathan tag attached to my belt has a picture showing four race caps, unlike the picture on this listing that shows two race caps and two regular caps. Also, a few times my headphones cord got caught around one of the flask cages. A minor annoyance, and something that will happen with probably any hydration belt that has the molded cages for holding flasks instead of the elastic bands. I like the cages because I can grab a flask and put it back in with just one hand.
The pouch in back just barely stretches enough to fit my iphone with the case still on my phone, although I could also fit my ID and debit card in easily, and could probably cram a few keys in as well. I just wore my iphone in an armband, though, so I can fiddle with the settings more easily, and put a hankerchief in the pouch in case I got a runny nose. Didn''t need to use it so I can''t attest to how accessible the pouch is during a run.
Bottom line, I really like this hydration belt and will be using it for all of my long runs.
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I''ve work an fanny pack type bottle holder for years and decided to try the belt out. I''ll never go back. I absolutely love this belt for shorter trail runs. The quality is excellent and the weight distribution it provides makes a big difference. The velcro is high quality and I''ve had no problems with the belt loosening up. My only complaint is that the two pull-top bottles seem to leak around the bottom of the "nozzle" which frequently causes the liquid to miss my mouth when I''m running and dribble down the front of me but this might just be me. All in all, a highly recommended product.
This is the most basic bottle cage you can get. It''s perfect for the weekend warrior or everyday exercise and it will hold up well. With a little force you can actually bend the cage to fit your water bottle. I have two and this one looks a little bulky on my road bike, but it looks well sexy on my MTB.
