2 min readIt’s the worst end to your long run: You’re super thirsty, and your water bottle is empty. Or, even worse, you left it right on your counter at home. If you don’t have any money to pop into a store to buy a beverage, you’re out of luck.
But now, a new app called Tap might just be the solution to your parched problem. Tap—think a search engine for water—allows you to find the closest water refill station to your location. Talk about making hydration problems disappear.
Simply open Tap, and you’ll be able to find the nearest refill station on your route. Filter by categories like chilled, sparkling, or flavored to find what fits your craving. You can also filter by refill type, so if you prefer getting counter service (spots like Shake Shack or a movie theater) rather than a self-serve fill-up, or want to find natural spring water, the app will show you the way.
Each location you select gives you info including distance from you, hours, types of water available, and any extra amenities or info available. You can filter the results to show only free refill stations, or you can search for paid options for the fancier stuff—think sparkling or flavored.
“Runners and cyclists find themselves on different routes all the time. Just like Waze helps you find fuel while driving, now runners and cyclists can find water along their run or ride,” Samuel Ian Rosen, Tap founder and CEO, said in an email to Runner’s World. “Tap enables them to venture further from home, or to new places, without running out of water, or having to buy single-use plastic water bottles.”
[Want to start running? The Big Book of Running for Beginners will take you through everything you need to know to get started, step by step.]
Tap launched on October 23, and Rosen hopes the app can help eliminate single-use bottles. Globally, humans buy approximately 1,000,000 water bottles every minute, according to a Euromonitor International survey obtained by the Guardian. At this rate, the ratio of single-use plastic in our oceans will outweigh fish on to three by 2050, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “Our team has one mission: to save Earth and the people on it,” Rosen stated in a press release provided to Runner’s World.
Currently, you can find 34,000 refill stations using the app—from water fountains to places like gyms, restaurants, and cafes that offer free water bottle fills. There are over 7,000 cities and 30 countries that have partnered with Tap.
Hydrate Your Runs With These Bottles
Next time you think about buying a plastic bottle for convenience, or are out on a run and thirsty, open the app and find your free nearest hydration station instead.
Jordan Smith is a freelance writer, editor, and author with 10 years of experience reporting on health and fitness news and trends. She's also an ISSA certified running coach, and is passionate about making fitness accessible to all. You can find her work in publications including Runner's World, SELF, Prose, Vital Proteins, and more. The Philadelphia-based writer has yet to meet a workout class she doesn't like and can be found exploring the robust Philly food scene, hiking with her three dogs, and chronicling her attempt at tackling her endless TBR.
