Ultimate Direction claims that
they invented the entire category of hydration packs in 1985. They created the first waist pack for
carrying bottles and a few years later made the first handheld water
bottle. After 30 years, Ultimate Direction remains a
leader in the hydration industry. They created
the running vest and help increase its popularity in the running world. They also were the first to introduce the
first women’s-specific line of hydration packs. Ultimate Direction takes some of
the best runners in the world and gets their input in designing their gear to
incorporate the items that runners really need.
Fastdraw 20 Extreme Handheld Bottle
The Fastdraw 20 Extreme
is a versatile handheld bottle. You not
only get a comfortable hand strap that allows you to run without having to
grasp your bottle, but there is an insulated sleeve. This insulation not only keeps your drink hot
or cold for a longer amount of time, but it also keeps your hand from getting
too cold. I love cold water, but
uninsulated handhelds tend to make my hand really cold, until the ice melts in
about 15 minutes.
It is extremely comfortable and easy
to use. You simply slide your hand in
and use the cinch strap to tighten it down.
The pocket is somewhat large and will fit a decent amount of gels or
even a small light weight jacket. The 20
ounce bottle comes with Ultimate
Direction’s “Kicker Valve” system. The
valve can be easily closed to prevent leakage.
Pros:
20 Ounce Bottle
Comfortable hand strap
Insulation between your hand and the bottle
for comfort
Insulation keeps water cold longer
Great price for as little as $25.99 on
Amazon
Cons:
I wish the pocket was a little bigger
so my Samsung Galaxy S6 would fit.
The Fastdraw 20 Extreme
is a great handheld that is extremely comfortable to use. The only negative that I found was the pocket
could be a little bigger. I could not
fit my Samsung Galaxy S6 with the case in the pocket. It is great for gels, keys, and money though. You can get yours at the Ultimate Direction
website for $32.95, on Amazon
for about 25.99, or at a running store near you.
TO
Race Vest 3.0
The TO Race Vest 3.0 was designed by, and named after Timothy Olson, a very well-known Ultra runner. He designed the vest to by 2 ounces lighter than the previous version at only 8.23 ounces. Let’s start with my favorite feature, the collapsible Body Bottle Plus (which is what I tested the vest with, but are not included in the original price of the vest). If you have never seen a collapsible bottle before, they are awesome and I will be doing a full review of HydraPak collapsible bottles (the same maker as the Body Bottle Plus) later in the week. They not only collapse as you drink water, but after all of the water is gone, you can fit them in the palm of your hand. They are so durable that you can actually stand on them and they won’t burst (although please do this at your own risk).
The TO
Race Vest has more storage than you’ll know what to do with. There are two pockets in the front of the
vest that you can use for your water bottles, or even your phone. They have an
elastic cord that you can tighten to secure whatever you put in the pocket. There are 4 other pockets in the front as
well, one is waterproof for salt or electrolyte tabs. The vest also has two loops on the front of
the pack where you can store your hiking poles.
The front sternum straps are easy to
adjust. They have lightweight T-Hooks where you just pop them out of the loops
and move them up or down. While they
take a little more work than some of the other packs out there, I think these
will ultimately be better because they won’t unexpectedly slide down during
your run. The sternum strap does a
really good job of keeping the pack in place and eliminates bouncing. There are two additional straps along the sides
of the vest where you can tighten it down a little more, in case the vest gets
loose (this mainly happens as you drink your water in the collapsible bottles).
Another cool feature of the TO
Race Vest are the two pockets at the bottom of the back. You can reach them easily so you can store
some stuff back there and access it without having to take your pack off. I really liked that. The back of the vest is made of a really
light weight mesh that is extremely breathable, which is not the case with most
packs out there. It really does make a
difference and my back did feel cooler than when I wear my other packs.
Pros:
Plenty of Storage
Extremely lightweight and breathable
materials
Does not bounce
Holds 2 water bottles (not included)
Has loops for trekking poles.
Decent price for as little as $109.95
Cons:
Doesn’t include the bottles.
The TO
Race Vest 3.0 is a great vest that is not just for trail running. This is a great vest for your long training
runs and races too. Be sure to measure
your chest and order the right size. You can get yours at the Ultimate
Direction website for $109.95 without the bottles, on Amazon for the same
amount, or at a running store near you.
The bottles range from $11.95 each for the 20 ounce hard
bottle to $22.95 each for the Body Bottle Plus.
Ultimate
Direction’s Social media Links
Ultimate Direction guarantees its
products against manufactures defects.
You send in your damaged product and they will be repaired or
replaced. Damages due to an accident or
improper use can be repaired at a reasonable rate. (Click here for more
details about the warrantee). I am very impressed with Ultimate Direction’s products,
especially the TO
Race Vest 3.0. It really hugs your
body and the collapsible bottles are great.
Get your Ultimate Direction
gear today and summon your inner Ultra spirits.
Note: I received this product
in exchange for a review. The review is my personal opinion of the
product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it. I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products
that I review at your own risk.
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