Water Hydration Devices: Keeping you hydrated and performing your best
Posted November 25th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Carolyn Hershler
Section: Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Hydration, Training Tips
You are running on an off-trail, under the hot unforgiving sun, sprinting around loops and bends and yet, are you’re having the time of your life! You feel invincible, your body is performing at its peak and you can’t be stopped. So, what’s missing? TA cool sip of water to quench your thirst, hydrate, cool your body and keep you performing your best. Alas, you suddenly feel the refreshing clear taste of water reach your mouth.
This has to be a mirage, or a daydream, since carrying a water bottle was not an option during this intense run! But this is not your imagination, your savior? One of the water hydration devices that have been flooding into the market, by manufacturers such as Camelbak or perhaps Fuelbelt. Camelbaks and Fuelbelts are water-carrying devices that alleviate the arduous task of carrying a water bottle during your runs, cycling trips and other outdoor athletic activities.
A Camelbak pack stores water in a central container strapped to your back and shoulders; like a small, against-the-skin backpack. The water is connected to a straw which makes it easy to drink on the go.
A Fuelbelt places water bottles around a flexible belt that is strapped to your waist. The water bottles can easily be removed from the belt and then returned after the runner drinks. The belt is designed to not slide up and down your body (alleviating any possible irritation) and offering a plethora of designs to fit your needs. This includes a varying number of small water bottles (can also be used to energy gels), pockets and even spots for your mp3 player.
While Camelbaks and Fuelbelts similarly provide hydration, they offer different benefits due to their on, unique designs. Camelbaks are able to hold water more efficiently by using a single large pouch. As noted by Fast Trak Systems, a main distributor of Camelbak products, a Camelbak actually keeps an athlete’s body temperature lower by pressing the stored, cool water against the back. Keeping a lower body temperature prevents overheating and can improve the overall workout of an athlete. Fast Trak Systems also cites the comfort factor of the Camelbak:
To be honest, this is the number one area of resistance among people who have never tried one. And once they do, they’re always amazed at how comfortable it is and how quickly they forget it’s even there”. And while the Camelbak does add some weight to the athlete’s shoulders, it can be viewed as a resistance, which in itself can help improve endurance and increase the amount of calories burned during athletic activity.
Fuelbelts have specific benefits of their own. By spacing water bottles around the belt, as opposed to one central pack, the weight of the water is dispersed proportionally around your center of gravity. This is preferable for the athletes who does not want the added stress or irritation (wearing anything on your back when your shirt is soaked through can be quite uncomfortable to some people) on their back. The Fuelbelt is also much more versatile since it provides multiple storage compartments. As stated by Outdoor Divas:
You can carry just enough water to keep you hydrated for a moderate to long run as well as carry gel or energy bars in the small cargo pocket.
The Fuelbelt can conveniently carry items other than water bottles that may be needed during a run (i.e. - keys, ibuprofen, a cell phone, emergency $$$, etc.). Runners can store different drinks in each water bottle, such as a sports drink in one bottle and water in another, to cope with the changing physical demands of their workout.
How does one choose between Camelbak, Fuelbelt and other models of water storage device? The decision should be based on the type of athletic activities in which the individual participates and their personal preferences.
Fast Trak has observed:
We find that runners, day hikers and casual cyclists seem to prefer our fanny-pack styles and harder-core cyclists, skiers and fisherman prefer the backpack styles. It mostly depends on personal preference.
Fuelbelts have even come out with a new line of belts that are specifically targeted towards varying distance runners. The new line offers the “5k Bottle Belt” and the “10k Bottle Belt,” which Fuelbelt’s website boasts as the “fastest selling hydration belts in the world”. 
These Fuelbelt products meet the hydration needs of 5k runners or 10k runners by including additional space for fluids. Also keeping casual runners in mind, the Fuelbelt line has introduced the “MP3 Hydration Eliminator.” This product includes water bottles on the belt for the runner’s hydration needs, as well as pocket and headphone jack suitable for a MP3 player, for their entertainment needs (sounds like a great holiday gift!). Although Fuelbelt always makes great products, and these new additions are no different, the names associated with them are more marketing ploys than anything else. Just buy the belt (regardless of it’s name) that fits your performance and hydration needs.
Not to be outdone, Camelbak offers products broadly geared towards runners, skiers, snowboarders, hunters, and bikers. One of its newest products in the Winter 2007 line is the “Chaos Hydration Pack.” This hydration pack is appropriate for hikers, bikers, skiers and snowboarders, with large fluid needs, with a capacity of 70 ounces. The Camelbak’s new “Flashflo” model is specifically designed for runners, and is positioned on the waist, similar to the Fuelbelt. Camelbak’s website boasts that the “Flashflo” provides just as much water as a two bottle fanny pack.
A generation of athletes have been attracted to Camelbak’s products. Camelbak signed Jeremy Jones, a successful snowboarder, and Kirk Voreis, a free-mountain bike athlete and a World Cup downhill racer, to head its 2007 campaign. The Mountain Bike Action publication reports that Voreis named Camelbak as his exclusive hydration pack supplier. Voreis talks up Camelbak’s products in stating, “CamelBak makes the best mountain bike packs in the industry.”
Similarly, an assortment of famous running athletes have been seen training and racing with their Fuelbelts; including Ironman champions Cameron Brown, Lisa Bentley and Marilyn MacDonald.
Although Camelbak and Fuelbelts are the leading distributors of hydration gear technology, there are alternative brands that consumers may choose. The Amphipod brand of bottle packs are situated on the waist like Fuelbelts, but the water bottle is turned sideways and positioned on the “lumbar” portion of the back. Amphipod’s “Full Tilt Hydration Pack” has won numerous awards for this unique design. Amphipod’s website states that the product’s design “eliminates the discomfort associated with traditional bottle packs.” The Amphipod hydration packs provide room for keys and other essential items, similar to the Fuelbelt.
Another competitor, atleast for hiking and maybe trail running, is the Kelty brand. Kelty specializes in outdoor gear for camping and hiking but designs water-carrying devices as well. The “Kelty Tecate” hydration pack is deemed as being “super-light” and durable. The Outside Online publication describes the “Kelty Tecate” as “featherweight back hugger stays in place during even the most jarring bob-and-weave trail running”. The “Kelty Tecate” was recommended by Outside Online’s 2006 Buyer’s Guide as well.
There is no lack of innovation in portable hydration gear. You merely have to decide which features you are looking for: capacity, cooling, comfort, weight, versatility or some combination of these things. The Final Sprint plans to do a full comparions test of hydration devices from Camelback, Fueltbelt, Amphipod and Kelty; so keep checking back.
If you would like personalized assiatnce with determinging what hydration devices might best fit your needs, send an email to thefinalsprint@gmail.com
Sources and for further reading: [Fuelbelt], [pixelectomy], [Amphipod], [Camelback], [altrec], [Kelty], [MBaction], [Outside.Away], [Outdoor Divas]
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
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Tags: amphipod, camelbak, catalyst, flashflo, fuelbet, full tilt hydration pack, hydration, kelty, kelty tectate, water, water hydration devices
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The Final Sprint
If you want to use something other than water, you can drop ZYM tabs in the packs to replace your electrolytes. I’ve been using it since the NYC marathon. www.gozym.com.
November 30th, 2006 at 7:18 pm[…] The Final Sprint has a good article where they focus on two of the top hydration device manufacturers (CamelBak & FuelBelt ). These are both great companies with great products but this article will be focused on the Amphipod RunLite 4 hydration system which is the one I decided on purchasing. I do own a CamelBak and a FuelBelt hydration pack which I purchased several years back. The CamelBak product is great but it is designed like a backpack and used primarily for mountain biking. CamelBak has recently introduced a fanny pack design targeting runners but it has yet to catch on. Snowboarders, mountain bikers and other extreme sports enthusiasts swear by the CamelBak products but they have yet to truly crack into the runners market. FuelBelt is probably the best known manufacturer of hydration devices since they primarily cater to runners and triathletes and use very well known sponsorships to help build their brand. […]
December 11th, 2006 at 6:09 pmI’am a sprinter and it seems that I get real fatigued before I run my races I drink water most of the time when I warm up which usually last for 40 min, but when I go to consume gatorade before my races I get an immediate energy slump. I also think it could be nerves too. How should I hydrate myself right before my competition and what should I drink?
May 10th, 2007 at 1:06 pmI do a fair bit of running myself, but still find myself getting dehydrated.
That ZYM stuff looks great, but I’ve also heard that just a pinch of salt in a glass of water is enough to restore your electrolytes.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:39 am