In that case you've made a conscious and educated choice to less equipped to balance other parameters. I guess my question is have you looked for an alternative carrier that are compatible to your activity and environment?

I ask because to compare something in the Bay Area on dry land to something like canoing in a more remote area is like comparing oranges to broccoli- not even the same shape. Hiking in most places is kinda like your runs, and thus analogous to cauliflour; a small kayak or day sailer in the Bay is kinda like canoing, so kinda like an apple.

And being in the Bay Area, how close are you to your car when you are running? Or do you not bother with a car kit because it doesn't fit in the pockets of your running shorts? Becuase it does sound like you are dismissing water bottle based kits because they don't fit a very specific and narrow role. They are a bit more general purpose than what you are describing, and more capable. They don't fit in every non-emergency scenario, no one kit does.