Nathan Speed 2 Hydration Belt

It’s hot in Savannah, and when I run, I get thirsty. For a while, I relied on a Camelbak Quick Grip handheld water bottle for hydration on a run. But when I began to get into longer distances during my half-marathon training, I grew weary of holding on to the bottle (let’s not even get into the issue of hand sweat). I was itching to go hands-free.

I began researching fuel and hydration belts, and decided to give the Nathan Speed 2 Waistpack a go. It comes with two 10-ounce flasks, a pouch for holding gels, keys, etc. with some smaller pockets for separating the contents, as well as a water-resistant pill pocket in the front, and a waterproof medical ID card.

But before I ordered, I did some research on the fit. The waistband has limited-stretch elastic, meaning you can stretch it a bit to get a snug fit, but it’s not so stretchy that it bounces around when you’re running. I measured my waist and almost ordered a small, but decided to go into a store where I could try on the belt.

I’m glad I did. I had assumed I’d want the belt around my true waist, but found that it was more comfortable around my hips. You may feel differently, so I do recommend trying the belt on to be sure you get the best fit.

At the lower placement on my hips, the belt seemed less likely to interfere with the motion of my arms and just felt more secure. So I opted for the medium. I bought it in bright pink, naturally, although you can get it in black, grey or blue as well.

The fuel belt has now been my companion on many, many runs and races, and I’m a fan. Now let’s be honest – I’d still rather not wear a fuel belt at all. I’d rather a sherpa came with me on my runs with ice cold water, bagels and a misting fan. But I do enjoy running hands-free and having water or sports drink at the ready.

The bottles are easy to get in and out of the holsters while running. I wash them in the dishwasher with no problem. Sometimes when I start running, if the rubber tops aren’t firmly pressed down, I’ll feel the water splashing my back (is that you, sherpa, with a mister?). But if I put some quick pressure on those rubber tops, the leaking stops.

The storage pocket isn’t very big – if you’re one of those people I see in marathons who carry 20 GUs on their belts, then you may find the pocket too small. I usually run with a few GUs, a pack of jellybeans and a house key, and the pocket is plenty big enough for me.

In summary, if you’re looking for a comfortable fuel belt to keep you hydrated and hands-free during these hot summer months, I would recommend giving the Nathan Speed 2 Hydration Belt a try.

Happy running!