How to Choose a Hydration System

If you’re new to the concept of liquid fueling, you might be wondering what hydration system you should use on a run, ride, hike, etc. 

There are a lot of options out there and knowing what to use and when to use it can be overwhelming! Lucky for you, we created this guide to help you choose a hydration system that works best for you.

Bike Bottle

• Great for road cycling, mountain biking, hiking with a pack, or an indoor/stationary workout.
• A standard 24 oz bike bottle holds an hours worth of Endurance Fuel, which makes calculations easy!
• This is one of the most affordable options.
• The wide mouth makes filling Endurance Fuel or Rebuild Recovery a breeze!

Cons:

• You need a bottle cage on your bike to use these on an outdoor ride.

Our recommendation: Our awesome Tailwind bottles of course!

Handheld Flask

Pros:

• Primarily for running, but could also be used for hiking as well.
• Some options come with a hand strap for ease of carrying and small pockets for storage.
• Soft flasks are another inexpensive option.

Cons:

• The smaller mouth requires more care when adding Endurance Fuel and water (but a funnel can easily solve this problem).
• Soft flasks generally have smaller carrying capacities, so are best suited for short runs or races with frequent aid stations.

Our recommendation: Tailwind Hydrapak UltraFlask

Small Handheld (less than 10 oz)

Pros:

• Perfectly suited for the concentrate method when carrying capacity is limited or you want to eliminate having to re-mix your fuel.Best suited for road running/racing with frequent aid stations to supplement plain water.
• The small size makes them easy to stow/pack!

Cons:

• These would not work for carrying Endurance Fuel mixed at the traditional strength.

Our recommendation: Hydrapak 150mL Softflask

Running Vest/Backpack

Pros:

• Whether you use a bladder and hose or soft flasks, this system is best suited for longer runs, mountain bike rides, or hikes.
• Larger  carrying capacity allows you to travel long distances unsupported or race with spaced out aid stations.
• Extra space to pack all sorts of goodies (layers, phone, clean socks, sunscreen, etc.)
• These total pack carrying capacities can range from 1 L to upwards of 15 L. Plenty of options to choose what is best for you!

Cons:

• Wearing something on your back means you’ll be moving slower and sweating more.
• These aren’t cheap; a good race vest is definitely an investment, but spend the money to get one that fits you well and doesn’t bounce or chafe.

Our recommendation: Our team's favorite running vests are from Salomon and Nathan!

Waist Belt

Pros:

• Specific to running, the waist belt keeps your hands free and still allows you to stash a phone and other small items.
• Pair with a soft flask or small handheld.
• Cheaper than a vest, but still allows you to carry some items.

Cons:

• More prone to bouncing and moving than a vest.
• Again, sweating will always be a consideration if you are wearing something on your body.

Our recommendation: Naked Running Band

Unbreakable Wide Mouth Bottle

Pros:

• The classic burly bottle, unbreakable wide mouth bottles are best suited for intervals, track workouts, indoor workouts, or hiking.
• One bottle usually holds 32oz - i.e. about an hour and a half of Endurance Fuel!
• Cheap, durable and utilitarian; these bottles can get beat up and kicked around.
• Half a 32oz bottle is perfect for a serving of Rebuild Recovery.

Cons:

• Usually too large and bulky to carry on a run or ride.

Our suggestion: Hundreds of Nalgene bottles to choose from, including customizable options!

We’re Your Support Crew

Don’t forget to wash and clean your bottles after every use. 

Do you have a question or brilliant suggestion to add to this post? Please drop a note in the comments or reach out to us at supportcrew@tailwindnutrition.com.