If I had to guess, I would say I spend 80% of my life dehydrated. Somehow, with all that I do, I can usually get away with it, and still reach my goals. In the summer? Not so much. In that vein I’m always looking for easier ways to stay hydrated and I hate to stop mid-run. I know it’s ridiculous but once I set my watch and start moving, I don’t want to stop until I’m done. I have yet to find a hydration pack that can keep up with me, and stashing bottles for long runs is just a pain that I (nor my running buddies) need.
First, some hydration history…
My very first hydration pack for running was the Camelbak Catalyst. It was “made for runners” and sat like a reverse fanny pack with a tube attached.
Old school hydration at it’s finest.
Problem one: You could only put water in it. I know this because once I started mixing Gatorade in, my tube got moldy. I then had to dismantle the tube and boil it in a pot on the stove and then reassemble it. #TrueStory
Problem two: The water was stored in a bladder and it was pretty small…and would sometimes leak…and the water line would freeze in the winter.
Yours truly wearing the fanny pack hydration system during an Adventure Race in 2006. Yikes!
Luckily, hydration products have come a long way. I’ve never been one to be able to hold a bottle when I run. I just can’t. I can barely hold a shirt if I take mine off, and usually I will toss it to the side of the road and hopefully remember to pick it upon my way back.
Last year I bought the Nathan Hydration belt and it was ok but it wouldn’t stay in place on my hips once I started losing water weight over my long marathon training runs, and the bottles actually bruised my hips! I’m very delicate.
Stop beating me up!
So, once I saw NYCRunningMama singing the praises of the Orange Mud HydraQuiver vest pack, I knew I had to give it a try.
Your power awaits…
First things first – it’s expensive. Allow me to give you some perspective. The $84.95 price tag is less then a pair of running shoes and you will have this much, much longer. Also, I’m giving you 10% off with the coupon code VITATRAIN.
Now that we’ve taken care of that, we can move on…
When my HydraQuiver (which I paid full price for, BTW) arrived I wanted to cry. I tried it on and thought there is no way this thing isn’t going to chafe me. I felt like it was already chafing me and I was just walking through the kitchen.
Trying to stay positive, I packed three extra packs of glide and some Aquafor on my trip to New Hampshire, where I would be testing it out, and hoped for the best.
YES!
I’m wrong a lot, and this time was a whopper.
On my virgin run with my HydraQuiver, it was a scorching 85 degrees out and I had to do a 20 minute run followed by a swim. I figured it couldn’t be that bad for just 20 minutes and then I would be jumping into the lake to cool any burning parts of my body.
I filled my Orange Mud water bottle, strapped on my vest and started running.
This was absolutely not taken by me.
Surprise #1: This thing did not move! There was almost no movement at all and just the slushing from the water and ice in the bottle. And, you don’t have to use this exact bottle, just a water bottle of similar size will do!
Surprise #2: It was super easy to move the bottle out of the holster and then put it back in.
Surprise #3: I felt like a mix of Katniss and Daryl from The Walking Dead removing a bow for my arrow, each time I took a drink. Not only does ice cold water taste amazing when you climbing hills in New Hampshire in the middle of July, but I felt like a total badass doing it. #WaterIsMyWeapon
The only downside so far is I may need to get the double barrel for my long runs leading up to the NYC Marathon. I’m hoping that my mileage increases will coincide with cooler temps and I can just keep the single, since I don’t have another $85 bucks to drop.
The only other downside I have heard is that you may have to adjust your ponytail in order to have a smoother water to mouth transition. I have 99 problems but a ponytail is not one…
What’s a ponytail?
So, if you are in need of ultimate hydration bliss, this is the pack for you. Go to OrangeMud and order your hydra quiver with code VITATRAIN for 10% off.
Happy hydrating!
[Tweet “Hydration history and @orangemud HydraQuiver Vest review, plus discount code! #waterismyweapon #runchat”]
What is your favorite water pack and why?
If you could design one yourself what would it look like?
Katniss, Daryl or who the hell are they?
I know I joke I NEEED a vest like this for my hikes with the Doodle in TEXAS–but I really think I do!!
((clickity click))
YES! Can’t wait to see what you think!
We love Orange Mud products at work. They make such a great line of products, I’m glad you like them!
Sounds like I need to try a few more! Thanks Hollie.
I’m like you, I can’t stand hydration belts. I’m very delicate. I can tolerate a handheld but even that can be a pain. I saw Michelle’s review of this too and thought, hmmm? I would totally feel bad ass wearing it though. I’d do a cross of yelling C’mon lets go! ala Daryl and then talking about the district ala Katnis.
Obviously you need one!!
I’ve been checking these out for a while! Sounds like a cool hydration pack! Funny enough my first hydration pack was that same Camelbk one and it used to leak all over me! Fine when it was hot but otherwise not so much 🙂
OMG I know!! I think that was the only one that wasn’t a backpack!
LMK if you order one 🙂
Ah I’ve heard so much about these (all good things)! I’ve used a fuelbelt waistback with the two little water bottles my past two marathon training cycles but was so fed up with it bouncing and all this year. I tried my camelbak but didn’t like the bouncing, how I couldn’t put Nuun in, and some of the sweatiness. I just got a Nathan waistpack where the one water bottle sits at my back. If that doesn’t work out, I’m grabbing one of these!!
So much trial and error!! I hope you can find one that works…and I hope it’s Orange Mud 🙂
You have certainly peaked my interest. I’ve never seen a hydration system like this before and as someone who is a “heavy sweater” and lives in a very arid climate, I need a lot of fluids. I can’t stand things that bounce ( I’m a little ADD and it’s tough for me to focus on relaxing when I’ve got something bouncing up and down- thank goodness I have small boobs) I digress, okay, so when I get back to running, I will be considering this! Thank you for the honest and detailed review Allie! xo
I also have small boobs so I totally get it! 🙂
I hope you get back to running very soon and, if you can get this pack, it’s well worth it!
Thanks Lisa.
I have one and love it but am finding that I too might need to (sob) drop another $85 for the double barrel…
I know, right? Why didn’t we think about that?? One water bottle seemed like so much at the time… *sigh*
I have tried multiple varieties with the water bottles at my hips and that does not work for me. Now I just wear a flip belt and carry a water bottle in my hand…. I don’t know about that backpack….I would feel pressured to be extra badass wearing something like that!
Um, I think your post today confirms your badass-ness. Place your order girl!!!
I have a belt with 3 small bottles. Works well as it balances the weight around my waist and does not keep sweat close to my body (as I imagine a backpack style would).
You look terrific BTW!
Thank you Julie and I should have addressed that! As evidenced in the picture, I sweat like a beast and the pack is super light and very breathable. Obviously your tolerance may be lower then mine, BUT, it really wasn’t bad at all!
I can’t stand hydration belts or handhelds either, so I usually only stop at a water fountains if I need to. I should definitely look into this then, especially because this heat does not seem to be leaving Seattle soon! I don’t watch Walking Dead, but I will say that Hawkeye from Avengers > Katniss.
Oh how I wish I lived in a magical place with water fountains on my running routes!
I love the Hawkeye reference – yes!!…and you should really watch The Walking Dead 🙂
Wow you’re really inspiring me to consider the vest! I literally just ran with a Nathan three bottles belt last weekend and I couldn’t believe how much I liked it. I was one of those ignorant souls that thought hydration belts were no fun. Boy I love being wrong, my world just got bigger and better!!
I love it too 🙂 The bottle belt thing isn’t that bad but I really do like this much better. Thanks Danielle!
i have never really carried hydration!! When I was pregnant, both times it was winter, when they turn the drinking fountains in the park off, so i would use a handheld bottle then, because I was paranoid about dehydrating while preggo. But apart from that, I’ve just run sans water. Even on my long runs in the summer training for NYC, I’d map it around fountains so I’d know I’d have access to water every 2 or 3 miles or so. I will tell you, last year I ran a half in VT and for far too much of it was behind a guy with a camelbak which was thumping around and there were these straps swinging and hitting his bare upper arms and it was just killing me to watch chafing as it was occurring. So I’m glad this Orange Mud one stays put for you, because that Camelbak looked AWFUL. Oh and welcome back!!! I am so relieved you are away from the bears and deer and other assorted crazy animals.
I too am very relived to be away from all the wildlife and back to listening to music on my runs!
Like I said to Laura, I so wish I lived in a magical place that had water fountains on my routes. Seriously. I remember the first time I ran in Chicago by the water and there were drinking fountains!!! I almost cried I was so happy. Don’t ever take those for granted!
And watching chaffing as it occurs is almost as bad as being the one chaffed! YIKES!!
I hate carrying water. I end up putting a bottle in front of my house and usually circle back around to take water breaks. All other water carriers I’ve used move too much, and since I don’t need one come race day I’ve stuck with my water bottle standing by at home;) Well, thanks for the review, the vest looks like a cool option!
I’ve used that method with friends but I hate stopping!…especially if it’s at my house because, if I’m home, I’m done! 🙂 I’m glad it works for you though because carrying water is just hard. #whining
I read this super early this morning but of course I couldn’t comment because I ran out of time before my train went under! I knew once I read your review I’d want it for myself!! I might have to use the secret race registration/gear credit card for this one LOL thanks for the discount code!!
That is hilarious and you are not the only person I know with such a card 🙂 But, I think you probably have the water fountain option too since you’re a city girl?? Either way, PLEASE stay hydrated out there!
Nellie, I just want to give you a heads up that NYRR won’t allow backpack hydration in races anymore! So be careful training with one if you’re going to miss having it in a race situation, lady!! xoxo
Okay, so I’m reading your post and I get to the pic of the hydration bottle on the rock with the beautiful sunrise. All I could think was “what a stunning photo that Allie took!” And then I read the caption and was laughing so hard!!
Anyway, I cannot, cannot hold a bottle while I run – that is never happening. I have never used a hydration system and would plan my 20 mile runs to either a. go by my house at some point and have my husband holding a drink as I passed by or b. have hubby meet me out on the road with a drink or c. stash a drink in a bush!
I am sensitive having anything on me while I run, but this sounds pretty awesome. I read Michele’s review also and was intrigued. I think I’ll have to try this!
Great review – thanks!!!
OMG that is hilarious! I guess I should have actually given the photo credit but I think it’s from the Orange Mud web site 🙂
I’m with you on the handhelds. I have no clue how people do that!?
Your husband is amazing!! Seriously. One of my good running friends’ husband went out a few times over the winter and stashed bottles for us for our 20 milers. That is true love.
I hope you get to try one out, I think you’ll like it…and your husband probably will too 🙂
While I like the idea of this I’m not sure even 2 bottles would hold enough water for me. I go through sometimes 90 oz of water on a long run!!
HOLY %^$#! Seriously? That is really good and you’re probably so well hydrated! Keep it up…I so wish I could do that.
Yea, well, NUUN…but I sweat a lot and get thirsty pretty quick, especially in this humidity!
How can I possibly compose an articulate response when I’m still laughing out loud from “What’s a ponytail.” Bahaha. Seriously, this looks interesting, especially since summer running in Florida is similar to slowly killing yourself and you are dehydrated and sweating profusely before you get to the 400-m mark. It seems like this would be really bulky and uncomfortable, but if you say it works, then it must! Thanks for sharing! xoxo
I thought the same exact thing Jesica but it’s not bulky or uncomfortable at all, and much less so then those waist packs. I’ll bring it to Maine so you can give it a test drive 🙂