I am a big fan of Nathan products so I was very happy when I had the opportunity to put the Speed 2R and the Elite 1 to the test.
Speed 2R
From the moment you put this belt on you will want it to be part of your race gear. This is a perfect belt for those who do not wish to rely solely on aid stations during a race. This belt may look simple but it is extremely functional, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. It allows you to carry a total of 16 oz of fluid in the form of two 8 oz bottles which are held in place by silicone grips inside the holsters. It has one main stretchy pocket on the front which holds items in place and allows for quick access since there are no zippers to deal with. Inside this pocket is another pocket with a small velcro closure to keep smaller items in place. The main feature that drew me to this belt was the addition of a Race Cap with high-flow, one-way valve. This allows you to quickly take a drink without needing to pull up on the mouth piece found on their standard bottles. Simply squeeze the bottle and hydrate! Another feature I find very helpful is the ability to have the bottles slightly angled. This not only makes it more comfortable on the waist but more importantly, allows you to easily remove and replace the bottle with ease. No need to slow down!
I have done several races with this belt as my companion and could not be happier. Nathan has really done their homework on this model and have focused on minimizing weight without sacrificing performance or features. You will not be disappointed by this little gem.
Elite 1
Although I have not had the opportunity to use this waistpak for racing, it has been used for hiking and while volunteering at events. As with the Speed Series belts, Nathan has focused some attention on ergonomics and comfort. Having the holster angled allowed me to quickly and effortlessly remove and replace the bottle. It is also conformed to the bottle keeping it nicely in place with virtually no chance of it popping out. The small zippered pouch allows you to stash some essentials such as gels. I particularly like the way it sits comfortably on the waist due to the wrap around sides. The bottle holds 22 oz of fluid and is easily held when out of the cradle.
on the test of the two bottle system, how much movement did you find on the belt. I have tried “fuel belt” products – 4 bottle and 2 bottle as well as single bottle middle of the back models. On all of these i have found that they continue to shift around my waist, which does drive me crazy. To stop the movement, I typically have to close it too tightly with the velcro closure. Any thoughts?
thanks
qb
Hello Quentin,
When you say you have tried other fuel belts, are you referring to the Nathan brand or just in general?
I also have the 4 bottle Nathan Speed Belt which was the one I used for my long runs and half marathon races. That was, until I found the Speed 2R. I am not sure if there are any fuel belts out there that stay in place 100% of the time. However, I do believe that some stay in place better than others. I experienced some shifting issues with my 4 bottle belt but never found it to be extreme. I think the more bottles you have the greater the shifting will occur since there is more weight being placed on the belt. With the Speed 2R I find no shifting issues at all. This may be due to a couple of reasons. First, there are only 2 bottles that each hold 8 oz of fluid as opposed to the 10 oz per bottle that my 4 bottle holds. This makes them considerably lighter and barely noticeable on the waist. Secondly, and I believe this to play a big part is in the way the bottles are angled and fit nicely on either side of my hips.
I do keep my belts quite tight but they are never restricting. Another factor that could cause shifting to occur is the type of fabric the belt is being fastened on top of. I wear my belt under my jacket. Wearing it over a jacket could contribute to quite a bit of shifting since many jackets are smooth and do not allow friction to help keep the belt in place.
My suggestion to you is to head over to a Running Free store and try on the Speed 2R and see how it feels/fits. Perhaps you can even fill the bottles with water to get a better feel for it. I think you will be surprised. Please let me know how you make out or if you have any other questions. Cheers.