Now that I have decided to run the Burning River 100m, I am going to need to do some LONG training runs. This means that my single bottle waist pack will not hold sufficient liquid for proper hydration. It’s time to find a system that will allow me to run the long distances.. I already have to worry about poison ivy, hidden roots, horror movie villains and ninja skunks, I don't need to add dehydration to the list.
On one of my extended lunch hours I headed to REI, and picked up the CamelBak Delaney DC.
The first thing I noticed about this pack were the two gel flasks that sit on either side of the front pouch. At first I thought this was a very cool design, but after squeezing several gel packs into the flasks, I realized it could be a very sticky process. For the record, energy gel is extremely sticky. I think they use it to hold heat panels to the space shuttle. Even after the flasks were filled and rinsed off (almost had to use Goop Off) I found that they got sticky again just from opening and closing them on my run. There is nothing fun about sticky fingers when doing a 20 mile run.
If I were to use this pack again I would just leave the gels in their packets where they do less harm. Unfortunately I would have to carry them in my pocket. With, the gel flasks taking up real estate on the pack the only pouch is the one in the front. Once I put my keys and phone in there I don’t have much room for any type of fuel that I would need for a long run
With gels flasks filled, I was ready to put on the pack. To put on this pack you have to clasp the belt in the back next to the water bottles. Not being able to see what I was doing, I spun around like a puppy chasing his tail a couple of times before success. Okay now the gel flasks are filled and the pack is on with the water bottles centered at the small of my back. Why is there a gel flask jabbing me in the belly button? Because there is a tightening strap on each side of the pack so cinching one side only results in an awkward fit. It took a lot of back and forth before I had the front pouch centered and every time I tightened the belt I had to make sure to tighten it on both sides or the pouch would start listing to one side.
The flasks are filled, the pack is on and centered, now it's time to run. Holy Bouncing, Batman. The two water bottles started bouncing so much that my MP3 player vibrated right of the belt. It took me about a mile to properly tighten the bottle cinch straps but once I did it was smooth sailing. Once all the adjustments are made the pack actually feels real comfortable. The bottles slide in out easily and there is very little bounce. Unfortunately my inability to use a gel flask without making a sticky mess, much like Pooh dipping his hand in honey, will keep me from using this pack again.
Does anybody want a slightly used CamelBak Delaney DC Waistpack, minus the water bottles. I'm keeping those. I seem to be losing a water bottle a month so I need to keep whatever I can.
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The only (nearly) bounce-free Belt I got is the Salomon Twin-Belt.
ReplyDeleteI have the same belt, if you keep it tight enough, it is one of the few belts that does NOT bounce. As for gel flasks, use the Hammer gel from multi serving jug, mix 50/50 with water in flask, you have the equivalent of 4 gels, no mess. I have been using this belt for my last 5 marathons, and have found this one to be the most comfortable, The waist strap must be as tight as comfortably possible.
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