CamelBak Ultra Belt 17oz Review

When, earlier this 12 months, I considerably by chance discovered myself signed up for the Revenant, New Zealand’s model of the Barkley Marathons, I opted to put on the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz ($60) for further storage capability along with a operating vest in order that I may carry 17 hours of meals, some water, plus an in depth necessary gear checklist. I contemplated different belts, however finally, this was the one which had all of the options and storage that I needed.

Whereas the Extremely Belt is decidedly not as svelte and glossy as different tube-style operating belts, it greater than makes up for its barely clunky look with its distinctive performance and two-liter gear capability. I obtained my first model of this unisex belt almost a decade in the past from a CamelBak rep buddy who was unloading his outdated samples. It was my first operating belt, and I beloved it — principally as a result of I had nothing to match it to and since it was free (vital for the brand new dirtbag runner). It didn’t have the clear strains or the model recognition of Salomon, but it surely held my water and snacks securely, and I used it for lots of upon lots of of miles in these early years of my operating.

Now, as a gear editor, I’ve spent the last decade since that first belt utilizing and testing numerous different operating belts. And, whereas the aesthetics of the CamelBak Extremely Belt nonetheless really feel questionable, its present iteration stays one of the vital purposeful operating belts I’ve ever used. With an precise weight of three.2 ounces (91 grams) for measurement small/medium, this belt is comparatively mild for what it could possibly match. It has six pockets prepared to carry water, a telephone, and sufficient snacks for a number of hours. Plus, it could possibly carry a pair of foldable trekking poles on the again.

CamelBak provides a number of small and helpful options, together with reflective hits on the back and front, in addition to small loops on the entrance to connect a race bib. The fabric is stretchy and smooth, and I respect that it has sufficient give to permit me to get it over my hips with out having to squirm an excessive amount of.

Store the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz

CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz Storage and Hydration Choices

The again pocket of the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz is hassle-free to entry.

The CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz supplies easy accessibility to hydration and snacks with giant pockets on the back and front. Each of those pockets open on the prime and maintain the included 17-ounce CamelBak Fast Stow flask. I’ve run with two flasks — one within the entrance and one within the again — but it surely begins to really feel overloaded with that a lot liquid when paired with meals and a telephone. The entrance pocket includes a small bungee wire that secures the highest of the pocket, offering extra safety.

Not like many belts, this one has a fairly large zippered pocket that I exploit to carry small free objects like chapstick, sunscreen, and automobile keys. The entrance pocket additionally completely holds a pair of EpiPens if you happen to’re unfortunate sufficient to hold that 93 further grams of weight round everytime you run. This pocket isn’t fairly large enough to carry bigger telephones, together with mine — a Pixel 7a with a big case on it — however the backside expands out to create a whole lot of quantity when full, and folds again on itself properly when empty. When wandering round within the New Zealand backcountry whereas looking for guide pages through the Revenant, I used this entrance pocket to carry the collected pages, assured that the zipper would preserve them from getting misplaced. When it rained all evening, I found that this entrance pocket isn’t waterproof. A reflective stripe on this pocket will increase low-light visibility, as does the reflective CamelBak brand.

The aspect pockets on the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz are perfect for gels and different vitamin.

The smaller pocket on the precise aspect is an easy open-top pocket. The stretchy mesh simply holds gels and bars. The pocket is wider on the backside than the highest, offering a bit of additional safety once you stuff it stuffed with energy. The left aspect has two overlaid pockets. The again options a normal open-topped pocket, wider on the backside than on the prime, and a smaller outer pocket with a fold-over flap. This pocket additionally has a key hook.

The again of the belt has two bungees that may maintain both a pair of collapsible trekking poles, a jacket, or an additional layer. The bungees tighten by pulling downward, which is decidedly the simpler strategy to safe poles reasonably than having to tug up on bungees. I’ve discovered that I can simply carry 500 milliliters of water within the again pocket and nonetheless safe my poles with out the match of the belt getting bizarre.

CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz Supplies

The mesh materials of the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz makes it breathable and good within the warmth.

The CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz employs what the model calls 3D Micro Mesh. The following-to-skin layer below the back and front pockets is a dual-layer nylon mesh with giant perforations. It has some lateral and vertical stretch, however not sufficient to permit a lot bouncing. The massive entrance pocket features a stable materials and is the least breathable a part of the entire belt. Nonetheless, it’s a small space, and I by no means actually felt prefer it detracted from the general breathability of the belt. The rear pocket includes a stretchy mesh that additionally breathes nicely.

The fabric on the perimeters of the belt is the place the stretch is. As a lady who has tried on belts with out sufficient stretch and needed to go two sizes as much as get them over my hips — solely to have the belt be far too giant round my waist — I respect that there’s sufficient stretch to this belt to not must combat to get it on. The mesh materials has considerably extra lateral stretch than vertical, which helps decrease bouncing, and is identical materials used for the outer pockets.

CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz Sizing and Match

The zippered pocket of the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz will maintain most smaller telephones.

The CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz is available in three sizes: XS/S, S/M, and M/L. I’m not solely positive why they couldn’t have simply named them small, medium, and enormous, however such is life. As a reasonably average-sized 5-foot, 6-inch individual, I usually put on girls’s medium clothes. On this unisex belt, I can comfortably put on the 2 smaller of the three sizes. The smaller sits greater up on my waist, whereas I are likely to put on the bigger one decrease down on my hips.

As talked about above, the stretch permits it to suit over the hips way more simply than many different belts I’ve tried. That very same stretchiness means I haven’t felt it urgent on my stomach after carrying it for a lot of hours. The belt width is comparatively slender, so I’ve by no means had any points with it bunching up.

CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz Total Impressions

Bungees on the again of the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz securely maintain poles with or with out water on board.

I nonetheless can’t fairly clarify what it’s in regards to the aesthetics of the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz that has by no means fairly sat nicely with me. Possibly it’s the expandable entrance pocket that doesn’t look glossy, even when empty, or the outsized zipper within the entrance. Nevertheless, as soon as I acquired previous the looks of this belt, I rapidly grew to like it for its performance.

The rear pocket makes it straightforward to entry a smooth flask, and the larger open-top pocket on the entrance holds my telephone. Whereas my telephone — with an Eszter-proof case on it that makes it bigger than it must be — doesn’t match into the safe zippered pocket, extra moderately sized Immediate Gratification Machines will slip proper in. With water and telephone sorted, I can stuff the aspect pockets stuffed with snacks and head out for a multi-hour run.

The stretchy materials permits for a cushty match with out extreme bouncing, and you’ll put on it on both the waist or hips, relying in your physique form and the chosen measurement. This can be a workhorse of a operating belt as a substitute of a present pony, and I, for one, respect its design.

Store the CamelBak Extremely Belt 17oz

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