Hi All!
I am curious what each of you do to carry water on long training runs. I am just getting up to 8.5 miles on my long run and trying to find the best way to take water with me. I am not excited about holding a water bottle the entire time, so am leaning towards a hydration belt or back pack of some sort. I have done a lot of reading online but it doesn't share much on personal experience. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated!
Happy running!
Kristi
Hi!
I used to use a belt that carried two 250 ml hard bottles, and I got on alright with it, but I got out of the habit of using it. I tend to go up to about 15 km (9 and a bit miles) without carrying water - I drink plenty before I go, but if I need a drink on the run (I often don't) I will buy one from a shop, or if in the right part of town I can use a water tap. For longer runs, particularly on trails, I favour a running backpack with bladder. I have one that will carry up to 2 litres, which is more than enough for me, although I have run with it full now and then and I don't really notice the weight. I suck the air out of the bladder so the liquid doesn't slosh around in it (that is annoying with hard bottles), and I have used water and sports drink in it. I wash it out after use with water and washing up liquid, and store it in the freezer to inhibit microbial growth. The backpack is not a perfect fit for me, it chafes my collarbones a bit, and I wouldn't like to wear it without a t-shirt on (not a vest or just a sports bra), but if I pad it out with a thin towel to stop any bouncing it's fine. It also has lots of pockets for snacks. The worst thing about it is the sweaty back 😊
ohh. hadn't come across the freezer tip before. Only used mine once so far, but spent ages drying it out afterwards 
freezer sounds much easier!
Freezer is MUCH easier, and I find that if I fold the bladder in two and tie it together inside a carrier bag it takes up very little room in there 😊
Hi Kristi, I’m like you, hate having to carry anything in my hands. I have a Zikee belt that has two small bottles and a large zip pocket (big enough for a smartphone and snacks)....I got it from amazon, but haven’t seen the same one very recently, however there are loads out there. I really like it, I wear it with the bottles and pocket at the back. Lots of them have quite small pockets, it was the larger pocket that made me go for this one.
As I was potentially looking at even longer runs, I looked at something with larger water capacity and got a aonojie running vest again from amazon that has a pocket for a water bladder, love it, once you’ve got it in the right place it doesn’t move at all, really comfortable, got plenty of pockets, plus space in the back - I’ve also got some soft water bottles (decathlon) that squash down when empty, so you don’t get the sloshing sound as you run along.
Hope you find something that suits.
Mx
I have a zikee too..and have just got a hydration vest..Only carry water when v hot and after 10K..ran 12K this morning did not take water. I hydrate very well anyway..and take a 5£ note so I can maybe find a shop or pub if I need to buy water..
I used a cheap pack up to half marathon. I bought a couple of the matching bottles off eBay. It was fine!
amazon.co.uk/AONIJIE-Backpa...
However I’m now moving up to full and will be summer training so need more water so I’ve bought a new pack with a bladder. You can get a bladder for that cheaper pack but the reviews of it aren’t good according to the plastic taste you get from it so I just got a new one.
sportsshoes.com/product/cam...
I had the plastic taste problem with mine, but putting something lemony in it has fixed it 😊
I find 50/50 water orange juice with a tiny pinch of salt works very well for cycling. I don't run for long enough to need anything when running.
I have an Osprey Rev 6 pack that I bought for minimalist treks and long runs - 1,5 l bladder and lots of room for munchies. Maybe a bit too big if you are not taking a bit of a pic nic and extra stuff with you. I used it in Spain last summer to walk/run sections of the Camino de Santiago. gearinstitute.com/gear-revi...
Osprey hydration system is top gear and no plastic aftertaste etc. Food grade plastics etc.
Like roseabi, I only take water over about 15k. I don't get on with belts, they all seem to ride up, and hydration vests make me feel clammy just by thinking about them so I take a little freebie High5 doughnut bottle and if I need to use both hands on a trail or something I'll just slide it up my arm. I carry as little as possible with me on a run, and don't like having stuff in my pockets either so pare everything back as much as I can—but if I'm out in the countryside I have to concede a few things just in case! (water, bank card, phone, keys, maybe some sort of fuel if it's pushing 20k. In the height of summer I took a bigger bottle, but I don't much like it.
Thanks Sqkr! I am right with you on not carrying anything I don't absolutely have to. I have a flip belt I wear that will hold my phone and a few other small odds and ends, should I choose to add them. No room for water though, so I love all the input I am getting.
I did 21 km the other day with no drink. I took a few haribos to keep my mouth moist I’d take a few quid in case. I have a water tap in two graveyards I can call upon 😁. Also a local church hall i’ve nipped in to borrow the facilities I hate carrying a bottle but sometimes I do I stash it down my front out the way. When it’s empty i put it in the bin as I’ve taken to using a washed out plastic bottle My husband has bought me a Ron hill collapsible one but Ive not used it yet
Thanks MissWobble. I love that you wander into a graveyard for a drink. So adventurous! 😅
I knew there had to be a tap 😁
You do know you are my heroine!!!
Awesome... I actually went into the graveyard of the church in one of the next villages yesterday to see if they had a tap!!!! And to see if they had any loos there!
She who dares wins 💪👍😃
So true... but did end up in a field with some sheep.. and daffodils too... I never knew the joys that a wild wee could bring!!!🏃♀️🏃♀️🐇🐏🐏🐏
Tell me about it 🙄. I got my best tights horribly snagged🤨. Not by the jaws of some ruminant though Hideous brambles Bah!
There’s loads written in here about it so do browse 🙂
Good to hear from you again kwell39!
If you run with headphones then sloshing noises might not be such a problem. Generally speaking I prefer drinks bladders. As roseabi says, remove the air as sloshing the larger capacity can be felt as well as heard.
Ideally carry as little as possible. Run a route where your car or home can be used as a quick pit stop.
Hi Kat! I miss all of the posts on here since I haven't had much time to spend online lately. I typically only carry my phone in a flip belt I wear and my air pods. This last run, I took a GU energy packet on my long run. I wanted to see how I felt taking it after the half way mark. No water though and our fountains in the parks along the way were shut off for winter. I have been looking online but wanted to get some real world feedback from my folks here. Hope things have been well with you!
Yeah! Joined the local athletics club. They have a real mix of abilities so I can plod with the slower groups or get slaughtered, I mean, encouraged by the gazelles group. My longest run to date is also about 8.5 miles and my 5k time improves nearly every week.
Just not posting quite as much while doing my own less structured running.
I'm planning to do about 8miles tomorrow. I'll post for a change! 😁
I have a belt that carries 2 small bottles which is fine. I only use it when running over 13 miles though and even then I often don’t drink it until the end of the run unless it’s warm weather.
Thanks Hillrunner!
hi I have a belt which holds two small bottles plus everything else I need to take with me you have to make sure the caps are locked down in between drinks on the bottles otherwise the water spills out with the motion of you running Ihave a hydration back pack which I use for walking but found the effort to suck too much to keep running hope this helps good luck
As others have said, first be sure you NEED to take water with you, or whether its a security blanket. I make sure I drink plenty everyday and usually have a small glass before a run. Last two long runs have been 18k and I have not taken water (or any other fuel) or found I needed it. Afterwards yes, I hydrate well.
If I carried water I would drink it. I take water at drink stations during events because its there, but I don't need it. Its like having chocolate in the house. Its there, I've got to have it.
If you are able to on your run, leave a bottle of water somewhere you can easily get back to, then only come back if you need it. If you do carry then be realistic about how much you will actually need.
Being realistic about how much water is especially important if you get a bladder. If it is a 1,5 litre hydration system then it's tempting to fill it right up, but unless you are running 20k + in summer you don't need that much. When I use my 1,5l I fill it max 1 litre even for 20k plus runs. Water is heavy.
Yep, I do exactly the same. I have a 1.5l camelbak - it’s comfortable and lightweight. As others have said, if you don’t fill it to the max, just squeeze out excess air to reduce sloshing noise (i put about 1litre in at the moment). I just use water only in mine for my long runs above 18k.
I've sometimes used a cycling top which has pockets in the back. A small water bottle fits in there ok (250-400mls) without feeling heavy etc. That's been fine for an hour and a half on cooler days. Might need a rethink as the weather gets warmer - last summer I was still doing c25k so haven't done longer runs in warm weather yet!
I’ve got one of those- with three sections. It’s flippin hot though as the fabric seems thicker than running gear. It’s beautiful though - crushed strawberry colour 😃
I have a run gilet with a capacious zipped pocket at the back. I’ve used that all winter but not needed the pocket thus far. I think'i will when it comes to summer long runs
Following this with interest as I’m increasing my distance for a half so want a hydration vest for training. I know many run without hydration but following a stroke last year I really struggle so keeping hydrated is very important. I’m looking at the Salomon Avd Skin 5 but plan to read and watch a few more reviews.
Glad to see the Salomon Adv Skin 5 get a mention.
amazon.co.uk/Salomon-Advanc...
That’s what I use, after a recommendation by ju-ju- It came out with me today for my first ever HM distance run (whoop!). Comes with two 500ml soft bottles, will take a bladder if you need it, and has zillions of stretchy pockets so will take an awful lot of stuff if you need it to, whilst all fitting very snugly and securely around the upper body.
My only issue with it is that even in XL the straps across my chest are a little tight, which is perfectly comfortable, but not exactly the most flattering look 😅 ...hopefully with my weight still falling steadily, that will soon be a non-issue 😀
best gels to take during marathon?
Bewl Water Half 
Best way of beating the aches and pains afterwards
It's a long way - to Tipperary!!!
Carry on plodding!
