DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: The manufacturer sent me this belt at no cost, in exchange for a fair review. I will make this review as unbiased as I can. I add this disclosure simply to be transparent. Here is the link to their Amazon listing: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Hydration-Zippered-Climbing-Guarantee/dp/B01E9CRQFQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
REVIEW: I have used hydration belts for nearly a decade, mostly my Amphipod with several 8- and 10- ounce bottles. I recently replaced the Amphipod because it was slowly failing. I now use an Ultimate Direction AK vest with two 21 ounce bottles, as I am doing more long-distance trail running. I have also tried using a Nathan handheld.
Some quick observations about each of these, before I move on to the PR Hydration Belt. The Amphipod belt is great, but the bottles are held on with a sort of plastic tension bracket that squeezes two sides of the bottle. This is great, except when it isn’t. If my shirt got between the bottle and the clip, it would cause the bottle to pop off. Also, if I used something like Nuun in the bottles, the carbonation would cause the bottle to swell slightly, and the bottles have fallen off. The same if they get wet, or too cold, or…… you get the idea. Not a secure means of holding the bottles.
The Nathan was okay, but I really don’t like running with stuff in my hands, especially on trails. I’ve taken a stumble with the Nathan in hand and almost broke my wrist when I hit the ground because the bottle twisted it so bad. Also, the bite valve on the Nathan leaked incessantly. The final straw was when the plastic on the bottle cracked while I was running with it in the winter. The cold air caused the plastic to get brittle, and when I squeezed it to get a drink, the bottle cracked.
The UD AK vest is, so far, the best hydration system I’ve used so far. However, it is a little much for shorter runs. No complaints, though I would love something a little more compact for 4-8 mile runs.
Now, for the PR Hydration 3 bottle Running Belt by SLS3. Upon receiving it, I looked over the belt and immediately noticed a few things. First, the bottles. They are small, at only 7.1 ounces each. They have a soft bite valve, similar to the valves used by Nathan. They are held in place by a plastic cover held on by elastic straps. The design seems more secure than Amphipod’s design. However, the bottles cannot be moved around on the belt, nor can you add more bottles. The bottle location has a padded backing. On first look, I was concerned how comfortable this would be while running. The belt itself looked good. It fastened via a Velcro strap. I have mixed feelings about this. First thought was it will help with on-the-fly adjustments. Second, I was (and continue to be) concerned about the Velcro snagging on my tech shirts and pulling threads. There is also a small zippered pouch attached to the belt that looks good for a couple gel packs.
PERFORMANCE: I took the belt on a few short runs (less than 6 miles each), mostly road runs, as I am currently nursing an Achilles issue. The belt was comfortable. It didn’t twist around my waist, and didn’t ride up. The Velcro made adjustments pretty simple, and the bottles sat pretty comfortably at the small of my back. Getting the bottles out of the belt was very easy. However, it took a little time to get the hang of getting the bottles back into the belt. This might be because I am used to the Amphipod clips, and just needed to get used to the slip-in bottles. No issues after a few tries, though.
The bottles themselves performed well. The caps did not leak, and were easy to open and close. I felt very little sloshing around (this could be due to the fact that the bottles are very small, so they are either full or empty, not like a 21-ounce bottle).
CONCERNS: I have a few concerns that time will address, either positive or negative. After a longer trial period and some longer (10+ miles) runs, I will write an update. For now, I’ll just put my concerns out there. First, how will the belt’s construction hold up? This is a concern I have with most equipment, as I can be a little rough with stuff (I seem to be really good at taking spills, and my gear needs to be able to keep up). Will the stitching hold up? Second, as mentioned above, is the Velcro going to wreck my tech shirts? Would a traditional plastic clip be better? Second, how well is the elastic that holds the bottles in place going to hold up over time? I think, if the bottles were not so snug, they would bounce around a lot, which would negate one of the big selling points for me. And finally, how will the bottles themselves hold up over time? Will the caps get loose and leaky? Will they crack in the cold?
As you can see, durability is a big point for me. I am a little concerned that the lightness of the materials are indicative of flimsy materials. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
PROS:
• Bottles don’t leak.
• Belt and bottles are lightweight, even when full
• Comfortable. No bouncing or sliding.
• On-the-fly adjustments very easy, thanks to Velcro attachment
• Bottles feel very secure.
CONS:
• Very small bottles. I’m a big sweaty guy, and go through 21 ounces of water pretty quick. This belt probably won’t work for longer runs, especially in the summer.
• No way to add more or larger bottles.
• Zipper pouch is too small to carry much, even a small cell phone. I like to have a phone with me, in case something happens.
OVERALL OPINION: I like the belt overall. I am rating it a 3.5, as I think the small size and lack of customization is a downside. It will work great for shorter road runs. I don’t think it will be good for anything over about 8-10 miles, though. Thinking outside the box, though, I could see myself using it in conjunction with my UD AK vest, and using these bottles as gel flasks, as opposed to filling them with water.
Again, after more time, and some longer runs, I will update my review with any new observations. Stay tuned. In the mean time, feel free to ask me any questions.
