Sports

Kenmark integrates a water bottle into an armband for runners

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The Kenmark Armband Water Bottle stores everything you need in one package
The Kenmark Armband Water Bottle stores everything you need in one package
More comfortable than a hydration pack or waist pack? That's up to you

Kenmark Sports has a new way for runners, walkers and other fitness enthusiasts to stay hydrated. It takes the bottle out of your hand, off your waist and out of your backpack and puts it on your arm. It calls its (not so creatively named) Armband Water Bottle the "first multifunctional armband on the market."

Staying hydrated is easy for some types of athletes. Players in organized leagues have jugs of water and Gatorade awaiting just outside the lines, cyclists can mount water to their bikes, and marathon runners have people practically throwing water down their gullets. But for sports like power walking and running, where you're on the move and want to eliminate as much clothing and as many accessories as possible, it's a little more difficult to stay hydrated. You can hold a bottle or two of water, strap a few bottles to your waist, or wear a hydration backpack. Those options work fine for some but may be clunky, annoying and dysfunctional for others

Kenmark thinks it has a better solution. The Armband Water Bottle may be appealing to those that find other packs uncomfortable. More than just a water bottle holder, the accessory straps to your arm by way of Neoprene sleeve and includes a storage pocket for keys, money, cell phone, music player and other small items. It holds water in a 16-ounce (473-ml) aluminum bottle. The storage pocket features a clear face for touchscreen access and is detachable, so that you can use it as a makeshift wallet.

More comfortable than a hydration pack or waist pack? That's up to you

In its product announcement last fall, Kenmark founder Kendall Thompson said of the Armband: "The Armband Water Bottle fills an unmet need in the sporting goods industry, while existing water bottle carriers, such as belts, waist packs or bladder packs, can be heavy and hinder physical activity."

More options are always a good thing for any consumer, and some athletes might very well prefer this over existing hydration systems, but we're curious about the claim that other options are heavy and hinder physical activity while the Armband solves those problems. Much of the weight of any hydration solution is in the actual water being carried, and there are plenty of ultralight pack options for runners and athletes. The arms are among the most active parts of your body in many workouts, so having a bottle of water sloshing around during every arm movement could definitely hinder your workout. It's an option, but not a silver bullet.

The Armband Water Bottle is available from Kenmark's website for $30.

Source: Kenmark Sports

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7 comments
adamtx
that's pretty sweet, but don't you think they could have made it bigger and more awkward looking?
SeekMocha
"clunky, annoying and dysfunctional" is exactly how I would describe this device.
Lisa Pure
Great Idea! I've been looking for a product like this to run with.
KenmarkSports.com
Kenmark Sports will be releasing smaller versions of the armband water bottle this fall for those who would prefer something smaller in size for their hydration system and physical activity needs.
Bobby Fisher
Smart idea! I can't wait to get my hands on one of these since i'm an avid runner.
sk8dad
People actually want a full bottle of water sloshing around on one arm when they run? That doesn't upset your arm motion? Will you end up with one really strong arm...kind of like a crab?
Cooper
I like this product. I'm a track coach at a high school. I wanted to purchase and try this product before posting a comment. This Armband Water Bottle is light weight and it feels comfortable on my arm when filled with water while I'm running. I purchase the Armband Water Bottle last week and received it on Monday. I have used this product for 3 days. I'm going to order some more of these water bottle for students on my track team.