Nathan Elite 2V Plus

I walk over 160 miles a month and I just finished walking the JFK 50 Mile race in under 12 hours. This waist pack has been my safety net for most of those miles. First of all, this pack is very comfortable. I've tried wearing backpacks with water bladders, but they restrict my arm swing and I don't like the water bouncing and sloshing around on my back. This belt is well padded and I wear it low around my hips instead on my waist. When pulled snug, it doesn't bounce around, but then I'm power walking instead of running. The plastic buckle is large and easy to use even when you have cold hands. There are two water bottles, a pack in between the water bottles and two small removable packs that easily attach via Velcro to the front of the belt. I like having two water bottles. You can carry a total of 44 ounces of liquid with you. At the JFK 50 I had water in one bottle and Gatorade in the other. As you can see, the holders are angled so the bottles slip in and out easily. The holders are padded and provide some insulation to keep the drinks cool on a hot day. The small pack between the bottles is large enough to carry a few items. I usually put emergency items that I hope not to need during the walk (like Body Glide, Band-aids, and some spare toilet paper). But, I usually am also able to put a couple bottles of 5-hour Energy Drink in there too. With the belt pulled snug, this pack is not the easiest to get into and certainly you can't see what you are looking for unless you take the belt off or at least loosen it and spin it around so the pack is in the front. But, it works well for my needs. The two small packs that loop over the belt in front and secure with Velcro are great. You decide if you need to wear both, one, or neither of them. I use these pouches for my essentials. I can put 8 packs of Gu, some sticks of gum, and my car key in one of these packs. I usually only bring the second one if I'm going to need a place to store my gloves as the day warms up. I can see where the water bottles might stick out too far for someone who is thin. I'm 6'2" and weigh 180, so they don't interfere with my arm swing even though I swing my arms close to my body.

This pack is perfect for long runs. I wear it up on my waist and it stays in place with no problems. The bottle pockets are just tight enough to keep the bottles in place while running but easy enough to re-insert after use. You will love this pack.

I can't believe I've been running in Arizona during the summer without this! I love the dual water bottles and the pocket on the back as it's large enough to carry my smartphone (HTC Evo 4G). I don't care for the removeable pockets as they bother me when running, but it's nice to have the option to add/remove storage space.

The Nathan Elite 2V Plus fits me perfectly and sways less than a hydration pack. The cradled design avoids the problem of the bottle bottoms pushing into my butt muscles. My arms brush against the side pockets, which could be annoying, but they are easily removable. The pockets are not huge, but big enough for energy bars, wallet, small camera, gps, or other similar items I might want on a long run. This is obviously a well-designed and well-made product, which I would unhesitatingly buy again.

After using hand held water bottles while training for my first two half marathons, and having to switch hands every couple of miles, this is a real life saver. It allows me to carry stuff I would normally just do without (Tissues, a spare pair of dry socks, gels, powerbars, etc.) It takes most of the weight and puts it on your hips, reducing the fatigue in your arms. It also allows me to go on considerably longer weekend runs without having to figure out water stops. It is comfortable, and with the exception of having to tighten it once or twice after first starting out, it is easy to use.

Light weight, well designed, and functional to the max. Allows you to integrate your own style with the detachable side pockets and the angle of the water bottles makes them easy to reach and easy to replace. Great product.

Very comfortable and room for lots of things...cell phone, energy bars, gloves, etc. Very well padded and sits well without rubbing and chafing. However, if you have a small waist, then the bottles will come around closer to the sides/front causing your elbows to constantly hit the bottles while running. My husband loves it but I can't wear it anymore due to my elbows hitting the bottles.