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OrderingHow to Order Custom Running Bottles for Your Next Race: A Checklist
Ordering race swag on a tight timeline is stressful mostly because nobody tells you what order the decisions need to happen in. Here’s the checklist we walk race directors and program coordinators through so nothing gets missed between a quote and a shipped order.
Work through it roughly in this order.
1. Lock your quantity early
Base your order on registered field size (or membership count) plus a 5–10% buffer. Ordering too tight means a reorder at a rush rate; ordering too loose just sits in storage.
2. Send artwork as early as possible
Vector files move fastest. If you only have a low-res logo, tell us up front — recreating it print-ready adds a day or two to the mockup, which matters if your in-hands date is firm.
3. Pick format before color
Format drives price and lead time more than color does. Decide handheld, stainless, soft flask, belt-clip, or kids bottle first, then choose from the color options available for that format.
4. Confirm your in-hands date, not just your race date
Build in a buffer between delivery and race day for check-in, sorting into swag bags, or distributing to a run club roster. Tell us the date you need bottles in hand, not the event date itself.
| Step | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Submit quote request | 6–8 weeks before in-hands date |
| Approve mockup | Within 2–3 days of receiving it |
| Production | 2–3 weeks after approval |
| Shipping buffer | 3–7 days |
Ready to start your order? Get a custom quote — free mockups in 24–48 hours. Learn more about how we work, or browse more guides.
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