Spare camel-back, anyone?

[mrrun]

Can you recommend a good backpack or hydration pack? My ultra training is pushing some long shifts and I need to carry my drinks along. For the last warm 32k run l used almost 1.5l of liquid which l carried on my back but the pack was an inexpensive gift that caused shoulder strain as well as some uncomfortable neck rubbing. I don't like either. I've been to a running shop before this apocalypse where they tried to flog a great looking pack for £180 but l declined that kind offer.

However, l train alone and l will run the ultra on my own so no pit-stops for me. When l ran the marathon l focused on the area where my car was parked and I would get another bottle every hour. This is different business, I want to run a 50km stretch across London and need to have it all nailed before l set off. Oh well, I've done crazier things before but a good backpack would be an asset. Any thoughts please?

[Macmac Marathon]

I used to use a small camelbak hydrapak with 1.5l bladder for runs up to Marathon distance, but invested in an ultimate direction mountain vest 4.0 so I could have more pockets and front bottles too for a 50k ultra. Plans for the ultra are on hold for now, but the UD pack is Sooo comfortable. It’s ace. Lots also speak highly of Salomon packs too.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Macmac]

Nice one mate 👍

[SlowLoris]

I have a Salomon for long runs. It came with bottles. The latest Decathlon packs seem to have copied the Salomon design but sell at Decathlon prices.

The Salomon pack was discounted on Sportsshoes.com with another 15% off with a voucher from Trailrunner mag website.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Great, many thanks!

[misswobble Marathon]

I quite like the gear tests on Wild Ginger Running. I was watching her hydration pack reviews the other day. Price is no guarantee of a good pack it seems She was reviewing packs for a long cross country race she was planning

She did a budget packs review too which was good

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

So many to choose from. I'll come up with something in the end, l normally do.

[Madge50 Marathon]

I’ve got an Aonijie back pack, very reasonable in price...... i love it, now I don’t do the distances you do - it was bought in anticipation of maybe getting a VLM place.....but that didn’t happen, so I never got the bladder to go with it, but have decathlon soft bottles 250ml and 500ml....

It’s got pockets at the front, I tend to use it for HM training, especially if I’m on my own and have to take my phone etc., once it’s on it doesn’t move, really comfortable.

Hope you find something that suits

Mx

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Madge50]

Thank you, I'll check it out. My priority is 2.5l liquid capacity and many of those packs would hold two 0.5l bottles only. That's what you get when you run those things alone. I'll figure something out.

[misswobble Marathon]

I’ve got an Aonijie but hasnot got side cubbies as my husband got me the wrong one

The one reviewed that came out tops,of the budget ones, was the Aonijii “Wild Wind”.

It’s manly black and red too Mr Run 😃

She did say that camelbak bladders are spot on, and can be used in all the various packs

[misswobble Marathon]

Correction. “With Wind” strange but true 😃

[misswobble Marathon]

I found it on amazon. Tempted to get one. It comes with 2L bladder and 2 500 ml soft bottles

Aonijie ref E928

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

That stuff could cut the deal. A thinghie in the back and some bottles up front. If it comes in black and red it's a no brainer. With correct outfit l could look like an assassin! 😎

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I use a cheapo Amazon Teton pack I got for 20 bucks. It does the job for now. But I’ll be looking for something more substantial soon too

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Decker]

My plan was to visit the route a day before and ask pub landlords to keep a bottle for me to pick up as l go. Every hour or so, one bottle. And a loo break if needed. Well, that brilliant strategy went through the window now. London is shut. There's going to be a hardcore way only for me. Lol

[C3PO Marathon]

I have an Osprey 2 l bladder that I carry in an Osprey Tempest 9 l backpack on the really long runs. The first one I had tended to leak, but the one I have now works really well - they had upgraded the model and it had several improvements. It worked really well during my 8-hour event last year.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to C3PO]

Ah, thank you, will check it out. I also remember you saying once how some runners in Norway run marathons 'for fun' on their own. I got a follower on Twitter from Norway. He calls himself 'Arctic Runner' and his routes are more menacing than anything I've seen. And, yep, he runs alone. 😀

[misswobble Marathon]

The Aonijie 10 litre size is the same price. Bigger pack though 🤷‍♀️ 😃

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Surfing the Amazon at the moment 😉

[misswobble Marathon]

I reckon I’m gonna get one I’ve got a smaller Aonijie one but it’s not got the side cubbies It’s fine, but for my ultra recce runs I’m going up a size. the race I have in mind is self-supporting so you have to tote everything including map, compass, drinks, food, clothing, kitchen sink 😁

Compass 🤷‍♀️🤔