Ultra gear seems to be designed by the top runners to help them go faster.
This is all very well but the requirements for the top runners on a race are not the same for us mortals bringing up the rear who are running for twice as long and usually with no support team. I have a couple of suggestions.
1 --Race pack with serious carrying capacity within easy reach on the front.(Salomon are almost there but have low volume and an emphasis on min weight) . For a stiff old bugger like me I need to grab water bottles and food without taking my pack off (front clip on bags make taking off your pack a real pain)
2--Combined gortex hood and short cape to cover your head and the pack to prevent rain getting between you and your pack yet allowing maximum ventilation.
3--Method of preventing rain seeping between gortex gloves and top over prolonged periods.
4--Cushioned long ultra shoes (good cushioning) with built in gaiters and a waterproof seal on the calf that lets you go through deep water with no leaks. La Sportiva are almost there but are not cushioned enough for 100mile+ races.
Anyone else got any wishes. You never know someone in design world might be reading this thread.
Comments
A back pack with a shorter back length for short people with adequate storage and an easy opening clip! Again salomon almost there but the pack is slightly too long for me and I have callouses on my fingers from the stiff clip, also if the zips on the side Pockets opened the other way I think it might be easier to open and close!!!
Suunto Ambit? Garmin fenix?
I had a Nathan vest on my Amazon Wish List and it's magically disappeared
Probably not to everyones taste but white compression gear for women for when it's really hot!!! Not sure if I'd like it or not but it seems to be something they make for men but not women? s-lab cerainly don't cater for women!!!
eta: ok so I found these but they just look like you have a nappy on http://www.play.com/Sports-Outdoors/Sports/4-/38364545/2XU-Women-s-Compression-Tri-Shorts/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518%7Ccat:38364659%7Cprd:38364659
Self modification of kit is one way forward for packs. I am about to sew my Raidlight bottle holder to the shoulder strap of my Raidlight run 30.( Fitted normally it bounces to much.)
On the shorter back length for women I can see it can be a problem. Running packs do seem to be getting shorter and with the move to the vest like front storage model, it should be possible to make a really short balanced pack.
Less gear. One size fits all in most things except shoes.
That way there will be less agonising and fewer "what shoes should I wear?" posts on forum threads. Manufacturers could then pass on the economies of scale and stop charging us around £100 and rising for a pair of fell shoes that are fairly cheap to manufacture.
In Liptrot's Republic the only car would be a Nissan Micra and everyone gets one free.
I reckon everyone should run naked so no problems then1
Re front strap bottle storage. If the bottle holders are built into the straps and the cross chest strap is in the correct position then they don,t bounce . The Raidlight Olmo 20 works really well as the 2 bottles go a long way to balance the weight of the pack contents resulting in the pack riding higher up your back .Volume of 20l requires serious ramming in of kit for mountain marathons. I think there is a smaller "Olmo" which could be useful for women in events that require less kit.The front straps also have storage for energy bars and gels .
Race vests have come on a long way in the last while. For those wanting bottles on the front which are sewn on and more stable, there the Raidlight Olmos (5l up to 20) or the new Ultimate Direction Signature Series.
For those who prefer bottles on the back/hips, there's the UltrAspire range. Given all these new contenders I expect Salomon and Nathan may release some updated products to compete as these other ones are moving the game on quite a bit.
Personally iffy heading out for a training run of more that three or four hours I'll use my salomon pack with bladder, less than that I'll use a hand held
It's worth mentioning raid light sell the bottle holders separately if you want to try them out, I have them on an OMM pack
In my case I don't think the speed of the refil we have any bearing on my final time !!! ????
Lirish is spot on I think. Ease of access to refill and the fact that I can carry less on my back if I use handhelds. Nothing for under 2 hours, one handheld for almost everything else. If I am going to be a long time without access to refill then 2 handhelds.
I am not a fan of bottles on the front of a pack although the Salomon vests seem to be ok with them.
I also think you can save a huge amount of time at aid stations by being efficient. Certainly over 50 and 100 mile races.
I have a raidlight strap on bottle holder and never could stop it bouncing. The better non bouncing holders are cross linked to the chest strap and thats what stops the bounce.
Re bladders I never liked the feel of sucking on the tube plus the fact that water from a bladder always seems warmer. Re filling bottles from streams andc in checkpoints is also much easier.
Cragchick, which model Nathan vest do you have, I've just looked on thier site and theres about 6 to choose from!
i have same as Cragc sunluvva -its the intensity vest for women-its fab- about £65
Thanks Loulabell, I'll have a look at it.
That's a good point, the bladder water gets warm too fast!!
unless in winter when it freezes
our raidlights have the place for bottles and bladder..........i have gone a full circle.started off with bottles.went to camelbacks and then bladders.now prefer bottles again