Great Belt (But TERRIBLE Size Chart)
I run in an area of Houston without many public water fountains, and finally decided to get a triathlete belt for both comfort and safety's sake. The North Face Fuel Tool Belt got excellent reviews by the Runn3rs W0rld folks, and I have to (at least mostly) agree with them - it's an excellent belt so far. Fluid capacity is good, with spaces for up to 4 8oz bottles. The belt comes with two bottles in the back, with the ability to attach 2 more in the front (the additionals are sold separately). The bottles ride at just about the "right" place, on either side of your lower back. I never felt as if the bottles would slip out of place, even when empty. They fit very snugly in their holders, but aren't that troublesome to take out or put in, even while on the move. The nozzles on each bottle point outward, so you won't feel them scraping or bumping against you when running. There's a good amount of room for adjusting the fit (see size discussion below), and the velcro closure holds tight. The closure also features a very small key pocket in front. It's probably only large enough for a key and a few folded dollar bills. The back compartment is big enough for an iPhone or a granola bar. As with most running gear, the belt features reflective striping here and there. My main criticism of the Tool Belt is the comically vague North Face sizing chart. The S/M purports to fit something like up to a 34" waist. I'm a guy that normally wears a 32" or 33", but I couldn't even bring the two ends of the S/M together around me. The sizing chart should read "Extremely Small" for the S/M and "Everything Else" for the M/L. As for other criticisms, I'd like to be able to move the different features around the belt, such as moving the iPod/phone pack to the front or side. If you want that flexibility, your only option is just to physically change how you wear the belt... not too helpful. Also, I felt as if the belt rode a little "high" on my waist. I would've liked to have it sit a bit lower, on the bones of my hips, but not sure how that might work. The belt eventually slides to the thinnest part of your waist, and there's not a lot you can do about it. Another small criticism is that the bottle openings are really too small to get your garden variety ice cube through. If you want something to stay cold, you have to refrigerate it beforehand, or use crushed ice. Overall, a very solid product if you must wear a hydration belt.