AUTHOR=Scheer Volker , Vieluf Solveig , Bitter Niko , Christ Leon , Heitkamp Hans-Christian 

TITLE=The Optimal Weight Carriage System for Runners: Comparison Between Handheld Water Bottles, Waist Belts, and Backpacks

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.571221

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.571221

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=For long distance running the carriage of water and nutrition is essential. To compare the economy and physiological demands of different carriage systems, twelve recreational runners (mean age 22.8 ± 2.2 years, body mass index 24.5 ± 1.8 kg.m-2, VO2max 50.4 ± 5.3 ml.kg-1.min-1), completed four running tests, each of 60 minutes duration at individual running speeds (mean running speed 9.5 ± 1.1 km.h-1,) on a motorized treadmill, after an initial exercise test. Either no load was carried (control) or loads of 1.0 kg, in a handheld water bottle, waist belt or backpack. Economy was assessed by means of energy cost (CR), oxygen cost (O2 cost), heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). CR (F(2,20) = 37.74, p < .01, ηp2 = .79), O2 cost (F(2,20) = 37.98, p < .01, ηp2 = .79), HR (F(2,18) = 165.62, p < .01, ηp2 = .95), and RPE (F(2,18) = 165.62, p < .01, ηp2 = .95) increased over time but no significant differences were found between the systems. Carrying a handheld water bottle, waist belt or backpack, weighing 1.0 kg, during a 60 min run exhibited similar physiological changes. Runners’ choice may be guided by personal preference in the absence of differences in economy.