Review on Nspire Dual Bottle Hydration Belt by Kevin Folsom

Updated rating after 70 minutes of trail running. I walk a lot Every single day for more than a year is "a lot". I also run a lot a few times a week, define it as "a lot" of running for 2 or more hours. It's a lot of kilometers and the daily abuse is brutal to the equipment. Update: I clearly endorse Nathan's products. Except that after 70 minutes of running I found some really annoying features. The bite valve can be a bit tricky when running. The bottle is hard and squeezing out water can be difficult due to the hardness. The holster is padded and can be rolled up so that it can be swapped out at will. I had to walk several times to replace the bottle. A flexible string to cap the bottle can also be tricky. I have replaced bottles and caps from other Nathan products. Nathan products have never let me down. Spring. Okay, that's not entirely true as my previous Nathan belt had problems with zippers and breakage. But hey, after 8 years of use and at least 3 ultramarathons, that's hardly a "failure". I am delighted with this replacement. You can slip a phone into the case (the previous model could do it first, but phones have grown in 8 years...), and the bottles are standard 10 oz with a pinch spout. Each bottle has a flexible locking loop to keep everything secure. For me, the bottles are positioned to only be worn on the hip, and the phone and gels on the lower back are a comfortable place for them. The strap holds well and the strap has some flex. Some reflective strips on the boot holster. I also use hydration vests for more water capacity, but sometimes it's just nice not to carry that load on my back or when water stops happen often enough that 20 ounces will do. 20 ounces isn't much, but on a well-planned training course or race where tanks can be refilled, between waterholes, and for RUNNING moves, then this belt is a good piece of equipment. Most people sweat — on average, but can vary wildly depending on the environment and fitness level — at a rate of 24 to 32 ounces per hour during exercise — and should aim to replace at least 75 percent of that with your run. That means drinking 18 to 24 ounces per hour while running, so 20 ounces is the sweet spot for a fit or trained long-distance runner. Research and my personal experience show that the maximum water intake while running is 5 ounce sips every 10-50 minutes. Plus, it's a water belly — or worse, a bush pit stop — on the run. If you are looking for a water bottle for hiking and expect to drink water, then this belt is not for you. Designed for long-distance running to help maintain hydration, this belt is designed for this specific purpose. I went through all of this because I often see complaints about these types of straps with 10 ounce bottles from non-distance runners. They can't go wrong with hikes and "exercises," but they definitely criticize this tool for not getting it right! With warmer weather on the horizon on my long runs, I'm so glad to put the hydration belt back on. a list of equipment for hourly runs or runs that allow you to complete work at hourly intervals. As always, thumbs up for Nathan's drinking products, but I'm deducting a star for the annoying attributes listed above. I really recommend going with the more expensive Trail version for trail riding (which still holds 20 ounces of water, which is pretty much the "standard" for belt hydration).