Hiker Deals

Training for a half-marathon or even a marathon this spring? If so, you may want to grab a hydration pack for those long runs. Whether they’re on trails or roads those long runs prescribed by most training plans may not seem nearly as long as a good day of hiking, but the extra effort and speed means you sweat out a lot more. All the sensationalism about getting dehydrated and passing out aside - drinking water during a run definitely helps to keep me from getting as sore later in the day or from staying as sore for days after. …basically, I find drinking water during runs keeps me from being as sore as not drinking.

So, unless you want to carry a water bottle in your hands for over an hour-and-a-half a hydration pack is a good idea. The thing is that most backpack-style hydration packs slosh around a lot when you run. After all they were made for moving slower over rougher terrain - and to carry lunch and a shell jacket in addition to all the water. If you’re getting serious about running it will be worth considering a waist-belt-style hydration pack. They’re a lot more comfortable than having straps running under your arms while running and since the water is around your hips it doesn’t slosh as much. Admittedly these things do look a bit dorky, but so does wearing a soaked-through t-shirt and rubberized sunglasses - and it’s not like you’re training for the next Olympics anyway.

Two examples of what I’m talking about are pictured. The Camelbak Flashflo has a bladder to put the water in, and is currently $25.00 - 37% off at Sierra Trading Post. The Ultimate Direction Solitaire has a sleeve to hold a standard water bottle, and it’s currently $19.95 - 44% off at Sierra Trading Post. Personally, I prefer the style that carries a water bottle because it’s easier to put the bottle in the dishwasher than it is to clean a Camelbak bladder.