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Lead Stories: Friday, November 21, 2008

TFS Review: Camelbak Octane 8+ Hydration Pack

Posted September 27th, 2007 at 7:45 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Nutrition, Hydration, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews

It seems that in the world of hydration systems, there is always give-and-take and compromise. The small, light packs may not carry enough water. The bottle-based belt systems require use of hands and often make you stop in your activity during use. The hands-free, bladder-based systems tend to bounce around too much and cause discomfort.

Personally, I tend to gravitate toward the bladder-based hydration systems, such as those made by Camelbak or Ultimate Direction, because I can use them in full stride during my runs. I hate having to stop, pull out a bottle, and then put it back before resuming my run. However, all of the bladder-based hydration systems I had used in the past tended to have a heavy weight, poor center of gravity, and a tendency bounce around. Over the duration of a long road or trail run, this not only proves to be annoying, but can also cause chaffing, discomfort, and alteration of my stride.
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TFS Review: Fuel Belt 10K 2-Bottle Belt

Posted May 19th, 2007 at 1:43 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews

With summer just around the corner, runners are shedding their gloves and long-sleeved shirts, and replacing them with sunglasses, singlets, and hydration packs. Staying cool and hydrated is important for runners of all speeds and abilities during all seasons, but this fact becomes even more critical during the warmer months. Fortunately, there is a wide array of hydration systems available to meet runners’ specific needs.

I have used Camelbak and Ultimate Direction hydration systems in the past, but had never tried a Fuel Belt product until recently, while field-testing their 10K 2-Bottle Belt during several long runs and hikes.

The Fuel Belt 10K includes a knit-elastic belt with a Velcro closure that sports two 8-oz bottles and a small, rear neoprene pocket. The belt also features reflective material in several locations and bungee cord locks to secure your water bottles. The bottles and the belt itself are contoured to match the form of your body to ensure a better fit and maximum comfort.
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