The Running Thread --2025

[mmm_texas]

QOTD: This may have been recently discussed but here we go again if so. Summer time is just around the corner! As we all know, staying hydrated is important during these warmer months. I want to know, what kind of set up do you have for a hydration set up?

ATTQOTD: I carry, in my hand, a bottle of Powerade (with a koozie). I run loops (usually 3 miles) and have enough extra bottles on ice in my car to get through whatever distance I'm running that day. When I finish I usually also have a protein drink (I like Owyn), which besides the protein I think helps with replenishing fluids/reducing muscle soreness. (For races, I use on-course hydration.)

 

[Fe Kitty]

ARRQOTD: I too have and use a magnetic pouch, filling half PowerAde and half water. I also have a Nathan handheld soft water bottle that I use on long runs, I freeze half it the night before and then before run I fill it with water. Gels I stick with Maurten on runs 60 minutes and longer. I do bring some sort of mints, jelly bean or hard candy.

 

[avondale]

ATTQOTD: I generally only carry water (even if it's really hot/humid) if I'm going to be out over 60 min. If I'm not carrying liquids, I have a nice little waist belt to hold my phone and keys.

For liquids, I use a hydration vest (Salomon for me). The reservoir holds 1.5 L and I can fit two soft 0.5-L flasks in the front vest pockets, so I can hold various amounts. If it's an actual running hydration vest (not a hiking backpack for example), they are pretty minimalist and light. It's nice that they center the water on your back (hardly notice it) and you can drink from the straw without holding something in your hands.

The vest has sufficient stretchy pockets for my phone, some nutrition, a folded-up hat, etc., as needed, all within easy reach.

have never tried a hydration vest as I overheat easily,

Pro tip: depending on the outside temperature, freeze your water in the reservoir ahead of time or fill with lots of ice + your liquid. Then you're carrying a cooling system right on your back via your vest.

If you freeze the liquid ahead of time (completely solid), it can take quite awhile for it to thaw - longer than you might think - so it's a bit of an experiment for which outside temperatures you need to thaw it in time to drink it.

I will admit that filling the reservoir with ice cubes can be a little noisy until the ice cubes melt. This may be different for different styles of reservoirs.


A word about Salomon vests: the women's sizes tend to run small. Either get the unisex version or size up one in the women's size compared to what they suggest. (The arm holes run small - apparently they think all women have stick-figure arms.)

 

[SheHulk]

Hang on -- everybody talking about the flipbelt bottle made me do a search and I saw these soft HydraPak Softflasks. Anybody use these? They seem exactly like what I want: I want to be able to run with concentrated Tailwind and then dilute it more with water from aid stations while I'm in a race. I want something small enough that I can stash in my jogbra or belt. Please let me know if anyone has tried them. They look like they come as small as 150ml.

 

[pluto377]

ATTQOTD: I have a 12 oz Nathan handheld that I use for runs up to 6 miles. It works fine and I have no complaints, but I don't love carrying it. I also have a Camelbak vest that I got a year or two ago for longer runs. It has two soft water flasks in the front and room for a third in the back. Two things I don't like is that the back rides kind of high on my neck because I have to tighten it so much. However, I do most of my long runs in the cold of November/December so wearing a jacket helps with it not irritating my neck.
Also when the flasks gets close to empty they tend to flop out of the straps at the top and that's annoying.

ATTQOTD: I have a magnetic pouch that holds a 7oz water bottle, and I like it a lot better than my Nathan handheld. I liked the pouch so well that I got 2 more kinds from the same brand to hold other random things I might need during longer runs or races. I wear them at the small of my back and I pretty much don't even notice them.

Thanks for this link! I'm going to get one of these as a Mother's day gift to myself. I think I would like this a lot better than my handheld.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

ATTQOTD: I have a Naked belt with two 8oz soft flasks that I use for any runs between one and two hours. I've tried other belts that were really annoying and bounced all over the place, but this one stays in place comfortably as long as you get the right size.

For runs over two hours without a convenient place to refill my flasks, I have a Salomon pack. It's more comfortable and has better storage than my old Nathan pack, even if I do have to tuck the straws for the front bottles into the pockets so they don't smack me in the face every step.

Less than an hour or so, I don't carry anything. I'll stop for a quick sip at a water fountain if I get thirsty.

I mostly carry Skratch to drink; if I'm packing the big rear bladder on my vest, I'll put plain water in that for when I need a break from all the sugar.

 

[Zutroy]

Hang on -- everybody talking about the flipbelt bottle made me do a search and I saw these soft HydraPak Softflasks. Anybody use these? They seem exactly like what I want: I want to be able to run with concentrated Tailwind and then dilute it more with water from aid stations while I'm in a race. I want something small enough that I can stash in my jogbra or belt. Please let me know if anyone has tried them. They look like they come as small as 150ml.

I own the HydraPak Softflask, and the Naked branded Softflask designed to fit in the belt—both in 500 ml. I love both, but even though they are made by the same company, they are different. The HydraPack has a flip open lid which makes refilling it easier, but I still find adding Tailwind powder can be a little tricky without a funnel. The problem with the lid is that it’s not as compact as the Naked HydraPak, which doesn’t have a hard plastic ring for the lid. Both are great because they disappear into nothing when empty.