I was not paid, compensated, or given product for this review. I purchased this item for my own use and as always, all opinions are my own.
I’ve been looking forward to today’s post for a while. A few months ago, I asked some running comrades that I hold in high esteem their opinions on hydration. At the time, I owned (and still own and love) two other hydration systems: one a belt and one a traditional vest with tube and bladder. I was looking for something different to add to my training arsenal. The belt is great for shorter runs but sometimes digs into my belly, which is no good for sensitive runner’s tummies. The vest I have I completely love but sometimes it’s overkill. The bladder is huge and it’s sometimes more than I need. I had seen many a photo of and heard countless stories from some of my favorite runners who all swore by and loved Orange Mud. It’s smaller and more compact, so I decided I would give OM a try.
After researching the company and asking a million and one questions about OM, I settled on the HydraQuiver. There are four different hydration vest options, plus a nutrition-only vest option. Since these vests aren’t cheap, I definitely wanted to make sure I was making an informed decision. I based my decision on a few things:
1. How far would I be running and how much water do I consume?
2. Will my husband be able to wear it as well?
3. How much do I want to spend?
After paying careful attention to my hydration needs, it turns out I’m not a guzzler while on the road/trail. Unless of course it’s really hot, in which case I can always bring or stash back-up water, if necessary. The color I picked is unisex, so yes, my husband can use it. It’s not gender/frame specific, and the straps are completely adjustable. Did I want to spend a fortune? No, not really. Like I said, I have two other hydration options available for longer (and shorter) runs. I was really looking for something in the middle of the road.
So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. What do I love about the HydraQuiver?
Pros
I love that the bottle is just a bottle. You untwist the cap, wash with gentle suds and warm water, and let it air dry. No fumbling or wrestling with tubing, bladders, or awkward straps. And it doesn’t take forever and a day to dry due to said tubing, bladders and straps.
There’s a little hole for earbuds which is definitely awesome. Makes listening to music on the run much less annoying than an armband or *gasp* holding your phone in your hand!
There is ample space for extras. Keys? Fit. Phone? Fits. Nutrition? That fits, too. Cash? Yep, it’s in there. There’s so much room, it’s almost uncanny.
The footprint of the vest itself is really small so you never get hot! It’s amazing, really. And also a huge draw for why I wanted to get my feet wet with Orange Mud in the first place. The vest sits squarely on your shoulders and doesn’t take up your entire back. Hence, much less back sweat! Win-win.
It’s fully adjustable. I’m 5’1″ and a petite frame. My husband is 6’4″ with an athletic build. The HydraQuiver fits us both. Perfectly. There aren’t many (any?) other hydration vests you can say that about.
And what did I not love about the HydraQuiver?
Cons
If I wear my hair in a bun, the water bottle gets tangled in it. I’m not sure I’ve found any solution for that except to wear my hair in braids. Which I have no problem doing but I’m wondering what other people do if they have long hair. (If you’re a long-hair person and also an OM person, please comment below with your solution!)
Remember the hole for the earbuds that was so awesome? It’s not really that awesome in a race. I was trying to listen to music and have a good run, which I totally did, but it turns out my phone was taking pictures for two hours straight while I was running all over creation. I’m not sure if that was a user error or what, but it seemed that the vest and my phone were not getting along so well. Unless it was the gremlin…
It’s hard to trust yourself to get the bottle back in the right place while you’re running. (But surprisingly easy, so you should trust yourself!)
There are far more pros than cons here. Bottom line — would I recommend Orange Mud HydraQuiver to my friends and family? For sure. It’s comfortable, easy to use, has ample storage, and is easy to clean and take care of. Clocking in at $84.95, it’s definitely one of the more affordable hydration vest options on the market.
Not in the market for a hydration vest but interested in the ingenuity behind Orange Mud? Check out the rest of their products here.
Do you have a hydration vest/belt preference? Tell me your faves!
xo
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