NATHAN, a leading brand continuously creating hydration, visibility gear, and other functional products designed specifically for running, participated in the Beijing ISPO exhibition on January 28, 2015, to accelerate its global expansion and effectively consolidate its industry-leading position worldwide. This was NATHAN's first official appearance in China, and it partnered with a domestic outdoor product professional agent to enter the Chinese market.
A good sports water bottle belt should be both stylish and perfectly functional. For all outdoor sports enthusiasts, the prerequisite for enjoying long-duration and long-distance outdoor activities is to reduce the body's burden. However, some items are essential and must accompany us. Small waist packs or arm packs either have too little space to hold everything or are cumbersome and swing around during exercise. How can this problem be solved? The Nathan Trailmix Plus hydration belt provides a satisfactory answer. Yes! It is exactly what you are looking for.
1. Details Help You Reach Your Potential
The hydration belt sent for this review was not wrapped in a tightly sealed box, but only in a transparent plastic bag, allowing me to see its entirety at a glance. Although it lacked some mystery, I know this American brand relies on excellent performance and attention to detail.
After unwrapping the packaging, the front and back of the hydration belt were revealed. The color combination and stitching quality clearly indicate it is from a major brand, and it looks like it won't be cheap.
The high-end product tag is entirely in English, which might be challenging to understand without some English proficiency. However, the usage instructions and maintenance methods are detailed and clear. Fortunately, the Chinese agent, Shenzhen Himalaya Company, provides a Chinese certification. Place of origin: Philippines (likely due to lower labor costs here), unified retail price: RMB 448.00 (confirming my earlier estimate that the price is not very attractive).
The main part of the waist pack on the belt features the Nathan logo, which is reflective, making it considerate for night runners. Below the logo is a hand strap, allowing runners to easily find the pocket and retrieve items while running.
The waist pack has three layers. The outermost layer, which can be opened with the hand strap, is made of mesh fabric and sealed with Velcro. It can hold energy gels, salt tablets, and other supplements, making it convenient to replenish energy when needed.
The second layer of the waist pack is sealed with a zipper. The zipper head is sturdy and durable, with a good feel. This layer can hold a phone and keys. The tag clearly states it can hold an iPhone 6 Plus, which is exactly my phone model.
Inside the zipper layer, there is an inner layer, which is quite hidden. This layer can hold small amounts of cash, bank cards, or ID cards, keeping important items safe.
From the pictures, it is evident that although the waist pack looks small, it has a large capacity, much like Doraemon's magic pocket, exceeding your expectations (my iPhone 6 Plus, 3 energy gels, 2 boxes of salt tablets, a keychain, and 2 ice packs) without any pressure.
The part that touches the body is made of breathable mesh material, making it more comfortable to wear around the waist.
The belt length can be adjusted using the reserved extension strap, so runners with larger waistlines need not worry. The extra belt can be stored using the elastic band on it, making it both aesthetically pleasing and preventing the belt from loosening and causing unnecessary trouble during exercise. The belt edge is equipped with a drawstring, allowing for tightness adjustment according to individual body shapes. It can also hold a few energy gels for backup. The buckle is very sturdy, and opening and closing it is smooth.
To test the lightweight convenience of the entire hydration belt, the water bottles and the waist pack were weighed separately. The two water bottles together weigh 37 grams, while the total weight of the hydration belt is less than 200 grams. Wearing it around the waist does not add any extra burden to the body. While fully enjoying the exercise, you can find anything you need in its small body.
Each side of the waist pack belt has a 300ml water bottle placed in a soft transparent plastic sleeve. The edges of the plastic sleeve are tightened with elastic bands, making the bottles secure and easy to retrieve. The curved design of the bottle fits snugly against the waist, providing comfort without pressing against the waist during exercise.
The bottle has capacity markings, but they are in ounces (oz) rather than milliliters (ml), which might be more in line with American measurement habits. The bottles are BPA-free, odorless, and the silicone spout is not prone to choking, making it convenient, safe, and hygienic to drink from.
Pouring a 500ml sports drink into the two bottles almost fills each one. It is recommended not to fill the two bottles with 600ml of water; filling each bottle to about four-fifths is sufficient. Otherwise, the water might slosh around while running.
The silicone spout tends to attract dust, especially in dusty outdoor areas. It is recommended to rinse the spout with the water in the bottle before drinking, as health should always come first.
2. Ready to Go for a Mountain Tour
Filling the bottles with water and heading up the mountain to interact with nature is a great idea.
During the climb, whether on steps or dirt roads covered with branches and leaves, the hydration belt remained snug against the body without any swaying. You don't need to worry about the hydration belt during exercise because it feels like it doesn't exist. The belt's stability is excellent, with no signs of loosening, merging seamlessly with your body.
While running, the belt's fabric is comfortable and soft. The mesh design prevents stuffiness and has excellent sweat and water-wicking properties. Even in cold winter weather, wearing more clothes does not affect the quality and speed of running. There are no traces of the belt on my clothes, and I can easily access my thin gloves and napkins clipped to the drawstring.
With such a convenient and practical hydration belt, no matter how long, far, or rugged the mountain road is, you won't be afraid. With sufficient energy supply, the dawn of victory is not far ahead. You just need to stride forward, unafraid of challenges, leaving all the support and assurance to it.
Upon reaching the mountain top, take big gulps of water, enjoy the beautiful scenery below, and breathe in the fresh air. It is a very fulfilling experience. Once you are fully recharged, descending the mountain will become much easier.
Back at the foot of the mountain, quietly watching the frozen lake, I felt a sense of joy for my attitude of not fearing the cold and challenging it. Then, I played a game of chess with my fellow runners, battling for three hundred rounds, becoming a young person who is both healthy and wise.
3. Practical Summary
Pros:
The Nathan Trailmix Plus hydration belt is well-crafted, stylish, has a large capacity, is comfortable to wear, breathable, stable, easy to retrieve water bottles, convenient for drinking, and provides sufficient supply.
Cons:
The spout tends to attract dust, making outdoor cleaning difficult. The water bottles feel somewhat thin and soft, which may affect their durability. Lastly, the price is relatively high.
Every detail of the Nathan Trailmix Plus hydration belt reflects the hard work of the development team. With it filled with energy supplies, you can run farther and stronger, chasing your dreams and destinations.