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By Rebecca Trachsel

I am admittedly bad at hydration. For the amount of running that I do, I should be taking in significantly more fluids, both water and electrolyte-enhanced drinks. And, well…I just don’t. For no good reason, honestly. I’m just not on top of it. And I don’t really get that thirsty. But I am 100% sure that my training would improve enormously if I was better about staying hydrated in general and rehydrating post-run. Particularly in the summer when both the temperature and my mileage steadily creep up. So you can imagine my excitement when I recently saw an Instagram post about the hDrop gen 2 Wearable Hydration Sensor. I had no idea anything like this existed and, as with all new gadgets, was somewhat dubious. But after reading some reviews (most of them solid), my interest was piqued. I reached out to the company directly and asked if they would send one out for me to test and review. To my good fortune, they agreed. Grab a seat and I’ll tell you all about it.

First, the hDrop sensor is very easy to set up. Once you have downloaded the app, you are walked through step-by-step instructions with video snippets explaining how to get it started, which I very much appreciate as I am not one to read a manual. Beyond that, you just need to thread the strap through the back, charge up the device, and you’re ready to roll. You can also sync the device up with your Garmin and there are step-by-step instructions on how to do this as well. Again, very simple.

The first thing I did once I had it set up and charged was to take a THUMB read. You can do this early in the morning before you have anything to eat or drink to get a sense of how well you are hydrated at that point. I find this incredibly valuable as I’m a big coffee drinker and if I know I’m starting my day off under-hydrated I’ll make an effort to take in some extra fluids before I down multiple lattes. I’ve started doing this reading every day before I do any activities and I’m finding it super helpful.

I have also been wearing the hDrop device while I’m running for an active hydration reading. I’ve tried to test it out in high heat and humidity (not a problem in July in Massachusetts) but also in cooler temps when I don’t intuitively think I need as much fluid. I’ve worn it for easy runs, track workouts and long runs. And the data I get back is fascinating. For example, today I ran 16 miles. I left at 7:40am and the temp was in the low 70s; so not too hot. But, the humidity was through the roof. So, within five minutes I was dripping. For the record, I drank a cup of coffee and a cup of water before my run. I stopped to drink water from fountains at miles 5, 8 and 11. I also splashed it on my face and neck. I was out for a little over 2 hours in total. Below you’ll see my post-run hDrop stats.

So what do all those stats mean, you ask? Fortunately, the hDrop team breaks it all down for you in layman’s terms. I won’t go into full detail but I’ll try to give you the abridged version. My sweat rate is above average; similar to losing about ¾ of a sports bottle per hour. So, I lost almost two full bottles during this run. Even with the water I took in during the run, I lost more than I thought I would. The sodium concentration in my sweat is on the higher end of medium. As far as how much I lost, it was about a teaspoon of table salt or the equivalent to what’s contained in a full can of soup. So, I’m going to need to heavy up on electrolytes and salty foods post-run. Not a problem. hDrop also provides a temperature metric indicating the device’s temperature and its changes during my activity which it can read because it is directly on my skin. Given how much I sweated, the reading of 85.7℉ (max 88.7℉) told me that my body temp was well regulated throughout the run which suggests good hydration. Go me. There is also a graph that goes along with each of these metrics which is ideal for the visual learner. And finally, hDrop provides a suggested recovery plan based on all of this data with the disclaimer, of course, that the device and the app are not FDA approved and the data may vary in accuracy. In other words, this is yet another tool but by no means something to live your life by.

In a nutshell, this little white cube tracks fluid loss, sweat rate, sodium loss, potassium loss, and temperature. In my opinion, the best feature is that it provides a baseline sweat zone which is calculated after you’ve done several workouts. This number may change over time but unless you’re doing something majorly different, it will likely remain the same or close. Mine is currently 63.5 and has been the same for about two weeks. But, here’s what I love. It will then give you a score for each activity based on that baseline so you can get a sense of how well you’re hydrating for each run. Today I scored a 78/100, so pretty good but not great. Definitely room for improvement. 

Now, for those of you who are skeptical, I get it. There are a lot of gadgets out there in the sports industry and some are definitely more of a gimmick and, let’s be honest, probably unnecessary. “Just drink lots of water,” you say. And that’s fair. But for those of you who like data, and I know you’re out there, this thing is really, really cool. And while it might not be as helpful for those who aren’t logging high mileage, I’m guessing it’s a very useful tool for those training for marathons and beyond. It’s probably very useful when you’re fighting something and your body needs more fluids to heal. Or a good way to get a read on how well you’re hydrated after a long flight. I can think of several scenarios beyond running where this gadget could be a game changer. For me, what it boils down to is this, when I’m dehydrated and I’m a little out of it, having a device that sends a signal suggesting that I replace fluids lost is just the tool I need to keep me from unraveling. And I am all for that. So, in conclusion, I give the hDrop device two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Check it out and see for yourself. And, no matter what, stay hydrated!

Click here to shop for the hDrop Gen 2 Wearable Hydration Sensor and use code “TRAX” for 20% off!