Running Without Injuries

Friday, March 10, 2017

Atc’teryx Review

If you are like me, you may not have heard of Arc’teryx before. They are an outdoor clothing company based out of North Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Their name and logo refers to the Archaeopteryx Lithographica, which is the first reptile to develop the feather for flight (something to bring up at your next trivia night). Their parent corporation is the Salomon Group, which has built up quite the following in the outdoor sports world. The company was founded in 1989 by local climbers whose goals were to create equipment that enables a person to be immersed in the moment no matter what the conditions are. Arc’teryx also believes highly in environmental stewardship, responsible manufacturing, and community engagement. I recently tested three products including the Norvan jacket, Trino tights, and the Calvus visor.

Norvan Jacket

I have tested waterproof jackets from Salomon, Outdoor Research, and Ultimate Direction in the past. A friend of mine just got the Norvan jacket from Arc’teryx and I really liked the way it looked and felt. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to test it out. The first thing I realized when I first got it was how well it was constructed. All of the seams were well taped and the 3-layer GORE-TEX® felt extremely comfortable. You didn’t get that stiff feeling that the older GORE-TEX® coats had.

Arc’teryx describes the Norvan jacket as an “Ultra minimalist waterproof breathable GORE-TEX® protection for high output activities in wet, windy weather.” It weighs a mere 7.6 ounces and has a trim fit. There are three color options, Adriatic Blue, Black, and Vermillion (Reddish Orange). It’s made to keep out the wind and moisture while still remaining breathable.

The Norvan jacket uses the patent-pending 3-layer GORE-TEX® fabric with GORE® C-Knit backer technology. You get all the protection, with plenty of comfort. There are two layers of GORE-TEX® that are bonded to a dense, extremely thin circular knit layer to make a less bulky jacket that is not only comfortable, but slides easily on and off over other clothing layers.

This jacket was designed with performance in mind. The hood is fitted to provide protection and has an elasticized brim for extra protection. There are air vents that pull air through openings under the arms and provide constant air flow, reducing heat buildup in the jacket while you are running.

The WaterTight^TM front zipper has a quiet, soft pull that is easy to operate. There is also an internal waterproof pocket that is laminated and has a port for your headphone cord. That way you can keep your phone or MP3 player in the pocket and run the cable out without subjecting your device to water damage.

The arm cuffs and bottom hem are elasticized to keep the jacket in place. The arms are shaped, which is great since you don’t run with straight arms and there is extra coverage to keep rain off of your hands. There are several reflective logos and stripes on the jacket as well to make sure you are seen in low-light situations.

The Norvan jacket is easily cleaned in the washing machine (warm water and double rinsed). As with almost all athletic gear, do not use fabric softeners and remove them from the washer immediately.
You can tumble dry the jacket on medium heat.

In my test runs, it was pouring non-stop and none of the rain made it in the jacket. The vents worked fairly well and I did not overheat. With any waterproof jacket, you will sweat more than with a water resistant jacket, but you won’t get drenched by the rain. It does a great job and I really like the fit as well as functionality of the jacket. The hood was perfect and really stayed in place, which has been a problem with some of my water resistant jackets in the past. I also like not having to worry if my phone will be damaged from the rain, thanks to the waterproof interior pocket. All in all, this is an excellent jacket.

The Norvan jacket is available at the Arc’teryx website for $349.00, which includes free shipping. I have seen the same jacket at REI for around $245 and at there are a few places online under $200. It’s a jacket that truly protects you while keeping you feeling comfortable. While the price tag is up there, the quality is amazing and should last for a very long time as long as you follow the care directions. This would fall into the “you get what you pay for” category.

Pros:

Excellent waterproof jacket

Elastic hem and sleeves keep the jacket in place

Under arm vents keep you cooler

Waterproof interior pocket

Great hood

Breathable

Ultralight (7.6 ounces) and packable

Cons:

On the pricey side at $349 MSRP (can be found cheaper though)

Trino Tights

The Trino tights are made with GORE® WINDSTOPPER® and is made for training in windy, cool and damp conditions. They will help you in your fast-paced adventures whether you are on the road or trails.

These tights combine the protection of GORE® WINDSTOPPER® with the air permeable stretch performance of Atreus^TM. They put the GORE® WINDSTOPPER® on the front of the tights to focus on wind proofing and water resistance. The back of the tights have the Atreus^TM to improve temperature regulation and provide a great fit.

There is a 9” zipper at the bottom of each leg with gusseted fabric inside to make the lower legs tighter (more like a tight than a pant) while still being easy to take on and off.

There are two small hip pockets for gels or keys as well. And the tights are designed with articulated legs so they fit and move better with you during your entire gait cycle.

I was extremely pleased with the comfort and functionality of the Trino tights. They do an awesome job of keeping the wind and moisture out. There were 15-20 mile an hour winds, and I couldn’t even feel it on my legs. Even with the extreme rain, my legs stayed almost completely dry, which I didn’t really expect.

The Trino tights are available at the Arc’teryx website for $149.00, which includes free shipping. I have seen them at REI for around $100 which is a great price for windproof/water resistant tights. Just like the Norvan jacket, the quality is amazing and should last for a very long time as long as you follow the care directions.

Pros:

Windproof/Water Resistant

Great fit

Zippered/gusseted legs

Two small hip pockets

Great price $149.00 MSRP (around $100 at REI

Calvus Visor

My friend asked me “A visor is just a visor right?” I’ve noticed that certain visors have better fit and functionality than other visors. The Calvus visor is a lightweight technical visor that not only protects you from the sun, but does an awesome job at wicking moisture away.

The brim is made of a foam insert to hold its shape without adding weight or bulk. The fabric is made with Socora^TM polyester and is light and air permeable. Weighing in at only 1.2 ounces, it has a barely there feel. The Spacermesh^TM band wicks moisture away quickly too.

The elasticized rear headband provides a secure fit and there is a reflective logo on the side for low-light situations. I love the fit and feel of the Calvus visor. It performs well too and it has become my favorite visor. The price tag is great at $29.00 on the Arc’teryx website which is the same price everywhere else online.

Pros:

Great fit

Excellent moisture wicking

Reflective logo

Archaeopteryx Lithographica Fossil

Light weight

Great price at $29.00

The Arc’teryx Social Media Links:

Twitter

Arc’teryx makes some amazing products. While some of their products have a higher price tag, I think they are worth the extra money. I am a strong believer that paying a few extra dollars on a product that will make your hours of running more enjoyable is more than worth it, especially if the gear lasts for quite a while. I love my Arc’teryx gear and highly recommend it. If you have tried any of their gear out, drop me a line and let me know what you think.

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.

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Ultimate Direction Spring ‘17 Review

When it’s hot out, staying hydrated is vital. I have tried hydration backpacks, belts, handheld bottles, and even tried just figuring out where drinking fountains were on my runs. Staying hydrated on my runs, especially in the hot California Summer is a necessity.

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. I have tested several Ultimate Direction products in the past.

Fastdraw 20 Extreme Handheld

TO Race Vest 3.0

Access 20 Plus Hydration Belt

SJ Ultra 2.0 Hydration Vest

AK Mountain Vest 3.0

The AK Signature Series from Ultimate Direction is named after Anton Krupicka, an American ultra-runner. He has won some of the top ultra-marathons including the Leadville 100 (twice), the Miwok 100k, the Rocky Raccoon 100 Miler, the White River 50 Miler (twice), the High Mountain 50k, and the Estes Park Marathon. It is amazing to win just one of those races, but Anton is an ultra-running icon. He is 33 years old and lives in Boulder Colorado. You should check out his blog, Riding the Wind if you get a chance. Anton had a huge hand in designing this pack and while he used it to be able to hold more gear for climbing and high mountain adventures, it works great for long trail runs and trail races. I used it during my first 50k last month and loved it, but more on that later.

The AK Mountain Vest 3.0 is a beast when it comes to storage capacity. It has 2 pockets for bottles (either their Body Bottle or Flexform 600 bottles) in the front. There is one zippered pocket, three elastic stash pockets, and two Velcro pockets that are also in the front of the pack. There are two zippered pockets on the sides and two zippered pockets on the back. In addition to that, there is a big mesh pocket and the large zippered compartment for a hydration bladder if you want to add that (not included). That back compartment has a separator and a bladder hanger as well. So, to give a count, there are a total of 12 pockets not including the large compartment in the back. It will hold more than you could possibly imagine.

The AK Mountain Vest 3.0 comes in three sizes and has additional straps, hidden in the side pockets, to make micro adjustments. There are two sternum straps that tighten the vest from the front. The straps move up and down on rails to make the fit work for different body types. They also come in handy after you have taken out some of your gear (i.e. gels and water out of the bladder) so you can tighten up the pack.

There are ice axe loops on the back and there are two sets of trekking pole loops on the front of the pack. It makes it much easier to store your poles for quick access instead of having to take your pack off to put away your poles and take them back out. While I probable will never use the ice axe loops, the trekking pole looks work great and I will use them for sure.

The pack uses a combination of Knit Mono Mesh, Darlington Power Mesh, and SilNylon/66 to make the pack light weight and extremely breathable. It can hold 11.5 Liters of gear and weighs in at only 11.55 ounces (14 ounces with the bottles).

You can get the AK Mountain Vest 3.0 for $154.95 on the Ultimate Direction website or you may be able to find it for less by shopping around online. It comes in two colors, the Graphite/Blue and the new Canyon Color (Red and Yellow/Orange). I love the look of the Canyon color scheme.

I have used this pack for several training trail runs, road runs, and ultimately, I decided to use it for my first ultra-marathon, the Salmon Falls 50k Endurance Run. I picked the AK Mountain Vest 3.0 over other packs that I have tested because it is not only one of the best fitting packs I’ve tested, but it can hold tons of gear. I also like the fact that the pockets are positioned really well. I had my Samsung Galaxy S6 in the front zippered pocket (so I could use Garmin LiveTrack and have quick access for pictures).

I had plenty of room for the two Flexform bottles (one with water and the other with Tailwinds) plus enough Glukos gummies to make it through the race. I used the Velcro pill pouch for my salt tabs and Sport Legs and had a small hand sanitizer on the other side. In the back Velcro pockets, I had Coleman Bio Wipes in case I needed to make a pit stop and a small first aid kit. Just to clarify, the AK Mountain Vest 3.0 comes with two of the Body Bottles that are collapsible. The Flexform bottles can be purchased separately. Here are pictures of both types of bottles.

The AK Mountain Vest 3.0 is awesome and I can’t recommend it enough. Anton really put a lot of thought into this pack and Ultimate Direction did a great job as usual. I can’t wait to use it on my next trail run.

Pros:

2-14.2 Ounce Body Bottles

Light weight

Soft lining around the whole pack to reduce chaffing.

Tons of storage

Trekking pole and ice axe pools

Hydration bladder compatible

Great price for as little as $154.95 (Sells for as little as $112.45 online)

Groove Stereo with Bottles

The Groove Stereo with Bottles is a great waist pack that has tons of storage and comes with two Body Bottles.

The Hi-Fi front pouch has a large zippered pocket with a clip to secure your keys. There are two flexible pockets as well. One is larger and the other is smaller. The larger one is big enough to fit my Samsung Galaxy S6 with its case. The smaller pocket is big enough for a few gels.

The back of the Groove Stereo has two pockets that will fit the Ultimate Direction Body Bottles or you can get the Flexform 600 bottles if you need more fluids (sold separately). The pockets hold the bottles in well. There is a large zippered pocket in the back that can easily fit a phone, jacket, or a ton of gels. There is an elastic draw cord on the back to attach your jacket after you warm up as well.

The Groove Stereo uses AirRip mesh, which provides dual compression for a secure and breathable fit. It has Velcro and stays on well. This system does a great job of holding a lot of gear without bouncing. You can flip up the front pouch to tighten the belt even more. There are two sizes and the pack weighs in at 4.5 ounces without the bottles.

You can get the Groove Stereo on the Ultimate Direction website for $99.95, but just like the AK Mountain Vest 3.0, you may be able to find a better deal online. It is a great pack with tons of storage. It does a great job of spacing out the weight and feel great mile after mile.

Pros:

Plenty of Storage

Extremely lightweight and breathable materials

Does not bounce around

Fully adjustable

Holds 2 water bottles (comes with 2 body bottles)

Decent price $99.95 (Sells for as little as $69.95 online)

Ultimate Direction’s Social media Links

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

Ultimate Direction Blog

Ultimate Direction guarantees its products against manufactures defects. You send in your damaged products 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. The AK Mountain Vest 3.0 and the Groove Stereo are both great hydration systems and will make sure you have plenty of room for all of the goodies you want to take with you. Get your Ultimate Direction gear today and summon your inner ultra-spirits.