When I started running seriously, I still spent all my money on cycling, so I didn’t have any fancy running accessories. I would regularly run for an hour or more with no food or water. But I really wanted a Fuel Belt to fix that…

The problem was, I was out of money! So I kept on running and just hoped I could find a public water fountain somewhere along my route.

Fortunately, I eventually got a Fuel Belt for free! Lucky me! I can remember three worthwhile door prizes I’ve received in my entire racing career, and the Fuel Belt was one of them.

I hate to spoil the review by giving away my overall opinion, but man, I love the Fuel Belt!

Let’s step back a bit. What is a Fuel Belt?

It’s a belt (duh) that allows you to carry miniature water bottles around your waist while running. It’s really the only comfortable way to carry water with you. It sucks to carry water bottles in your hands, and hydration packs are uncomfortable for running.

Fuel Belt isn’t the only brand name making these devices, but they have the biggest name, and the product is great.

The belt I have holds four small water bottles (6oz each) and a gel flask. It’s from like 2004 – if you look at the 2010 models, they all look nicer than what I have.

I got a size Large, which is a bit too big for my 30-32″ waist. It fits comfortably when tightened down to the limit, but it’s still loose enough to bounce up and down sometimes. I wouldn’t want it super tight on my waist, but if I were to buy one, I’d try a Medium.

Here’s what I like about the Fuel Belt:

- I can carry plenty of water with me, without using my hands. This is way more comfortable and relaxing than holding onto water bottles. Even if you use those special holders that do the holding for you, it still means your hands aren’t free to do anything like tie your shoes, wipe sweat, etc.

- The Fuel Belt looks way cooler than a fanny pack. Specialty fanny packs for runners to carry water bottles aren’t ugly, but they’re still fanny packs!

- The Fuel Belt does not jostle around like a Camelbak hydration pack. The weight is centered and balanced around your waist, so you don’t even notice it. It’s almost like you’re not carrying any extra weight.

What I don’t like about the Fuel Belt:

- The gel canister won’t stay in the belt when running. It always falls out. So I just don’t carry it anymore!

Otherwise I don’t have any complaints. (Also, I’m pretty sure this issue is solved in all of the newer belt designs.)

My final verdict is…

The Fuel Belt is great for endurance runners, just get one that feels comfy on your waist. If you’re sick of carrying water bottles while running, this is a life saver! Not cheap, but worth it if you run enough.

But if you just do your workouts on a track, there’s really no need for this (a plain water bottle would suffice, since you don’t need to carry it around.)

Official website: www.FuelBelt.com

Whenever I first started running more than a couple miles at a time, the question of “how do I carry food and water with me?” really boggled my mind. I no longer had the luxury of a cycling jersey with pockets in the back, a backpack would be way too big, and I sure didn’t want to carry water bottles in my hands!

But I didn’t want to die of dehydration, either! So I had to do some testing and some shopping, and here are the six different methods I’ve found that actually work:

1. The Fuel Belt

The Fuel Belt is the “go to” product when it comes to carrying food, water, and other essentials while running. With a Fuel Belt you can carry small water bottles, a gel flask or packets, keys, and more (depending on the model you choose.)

The best part is that everything is carried around your waist, making it comfortable and stable. Yes, you’ll know it’s there, but it’s much more convenient than getting dehydrated!

Shortly after I started running, I began to see these for sale at shops and race expos, but I could never justify the $35 to buy one. In hindsight, I don’t know what I was thinking! This is essential for all endurance runners.

2. Shorts with Pockets

If you just need to carry a few gels, and maybe your car keys, there are some running shorts out there with little pockets made for this very purpose. The shorts pictured are from Race Ready, who make numerous articles of “race ready” clothing with those little pockets.

However, I also have a regular pair of Nike split shorts with a tiny mesh pocket in the back, just big enough to squeeze in a couple gel packets. Just make sure the pocket has a flap, Velcro tab, or zipper, because you don’t want anything falling out!

3. Water Bottle Glove

Want to keep your water bottles off your waist, but don’t want to waste energy gripping them in your hands? Then consider this product (the Nathan Quick Draw Plus is pictured,) which is almost like a glove that holds your water bottle in place. You still have to deal with the weight of the bottle, but you don’t have to waste your hand strength keeping a firm grip on it.

Another neat thing with this is that it also has a pocket for your keys or an energy gel.

4. Hydration Pack (Camelbak)

If you’re venturing out into the jungle or desert and need more than 20oz of water (which you could carry with a Fuel Belt,) you might need to step it up to a full hydration pack.

Packs from Camelbak, Deuter, and other brands are small, lightweight backpacks that contain a reservoir that holds 20-100oz water. You can drink from the pack by way of a tube and bite valve that hangs over your shoulder.

You just have to get one that is small, lightweight, and ergonomic, so that it doesn’t interfere with your running stride.

The trade-off for carrying more water is that these packs are heavier than a Fuel Belt, and they can make your back uncomfortably hot if they aren’t well ventilated. Some packs don’t have built-in waist belts, which means they might flop around, too.

5. Bottle Carriers

Another option is this cross between a water bottle glove, a Fuel Belt, and a hydration pack. This is a lot like a typical Fuel Belt (and is usually made by the same company,) but it carries full-size water bottles.

You get the benefit of carrying a larger quantity of water around your waist, without the extra heat and weight of a hydration pack. And if you have a favorite brand of water bottle, you can easily swap that in, in place of the standard bottles.

6. Safety Pins

Doing a race where there is plenty of water on the course, but you still need to carry your favorite energy gel? Then skip the fancy products I’ve listed here and go back to basics – safety pins!

Yes, you can use safety pins to attach gel packs directly to your running shorts. I used this technique during my first marathon and it worked marvelously.

I take GU gels and safety pin the tab to the outside of my shorts along the waistband, then fold the gel pack over inside my shorts. Then I just tear off a gel as needed. It works marvelously!

(Here are full instructions for pinning gels to shorts.)

So get whatever you need, whether it be a Fuel Belt or just some safety pins, and from now on you’ll stay properly fueled and hydrated while running!