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August 22, 2012 Comments (0) Gear Reviews

Flexline Hydration: Product Review

Flexline Hydration sent us a couple of their products for testing/review. The following is a demonstration and review of the products available, as purchased at www.FlexlineHydration.com

Many of us use handheld bottles or a hydration pack to keep the fluids coming during long endurance events. We are also “function over form” type of people, by my observation. In this, I refer to the fact that unlike so many other sports, ultrarunners seek products and equipment that works well despite any current trends or large advertising campaigns. I have always appreciated the ultra-endurance community for its unique qualities with respect to functional choices and homemade equipment.  Of course, we also like high quality equipment if it works well to get us to the finish line.

Flexline Hydration has dedicated some significant effort to perfecting one piece of equipment. I am referring to the plastic hydration tube, so commonly used by runners and cyclist to cover longer distances. I think it’s pretty fair to say that this is not the complete focus of the companies making hydration packs.  I would argue that their time is mainly spent working on the pack itself, with respect to the comfort and function overall. The tube, however, can be a pain when it pulls against your shoulder. Another problem is the inexpensive drinking “nipple” that can fall apart or pop off during a long run or race. When this happens, your fluid comes spilling out of the tube and you desperately try to cap the flow with the nipple after it fell in the dirt. (The worst is when you have sugary liquid inside and then get covered in this sticky fluid in the middle of nowhere.)

Flexline Hydration has developed a replacement tube for the common hydration packs being used on the trail. The tube is flexible and holds its position when you move it. This allows you to find more comfort or manipulate the tube into a variety of other positions that may work better than those of your current tube/pack. In addition, the Flexline tube can be an ideal piece of equipment for ultra-distance cycling, triathlon, or time trial. The systems allows the rider in the time trial position to be hands-free, which can even lead to better efficiency in itself.

This is just a simple post and a quick video to introduce the product to you. Perhaps Flexline Hydration is a piece of equipment you may want to have in your bag of tricks.

Run (and ride) Long and Prosper!

Flexline Hydration: Product Review from Jerry Armstrong on Vimeo.

Jerry, aka EnduranceJer

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