Alameda Runners – Get After It!

Hydrapak E-Lite

Running long distances requires us to carry enough supplies to last the distances we are running.  I usually carry a water bottle in a fanny pack and stuff as many supplies as I can into the small pouch.  This works fine for runs less than 15 miles.  When I go longer than 15 miles, my nutrition requirements change and I need to carry more supplies and more variety.

The Hydrapak E-Lite vest has six front pockets to carry stuff.  The six pockets gave me enough room carry a Samsung Galaxy S3 phone, an iPod, one Payday bar, two energy gels, one pack of energy chews, and one energy bar with room for more.  Of course, it also carries about a liter of water in the back pocket.

Take note of the hose location

The Hydrapak fits really well.  It is pretty cool how they use support material in the front straps as the main stability brace.  The side straps clip in and are easily adjustable by pulling on the thumb loops to tighten or lift the plastic retainer to loosen.  I like to clip both retaining clips together with the adjustable straps loose to put the pack on then tighten everything up after it is on.

When I start out the weight is evenly distributed between the front and back with a little more weight on the back.  A full pack of water rides higher on the back then drops down as the water is consumed.  You can drink almost all of the water in the pack with just a few ounces remaining.  The water does get warm on hot days.  I recommend a lot of ice in the pack.  Do not put the pack in the freezer as the hose connection piece will freeze preventing the hose from being installed until it melts.

Full review after the jump:

When I first put the pack on, it felt comfortable.  I did not notice the retaining clips or adjustment straps on the side and still managed to get it on.  The shoulder straps like to slide away from my neck which I found uncomfortable.  I used an old shoe lace and a race bib clip around the upper rings to help keep the straps secure around my shoulders.  I did like the way it felt with the upper straps held tightly.

I only did it for one run and was fine without the extra strap for the other runs.  I wore it for a few short runs of 7-10 miles and a few long runs over 15 miles.  For the longer runs, I wore the Hydrapak for water and a waist belt to carry electrolyte drinks.  I don’t recommend electrolytes in the Hydrapak because the sugars in the sports drinks encourage bacteria growth.  The Hydrapak bag is very easy to clean but the hose is a little tougher to get completely clean.  Speaking of the hose, it is good to keep as much of the hose as possible in contact with the cool water.  The water that is exposed to the sun gets very warm.

Pros:

Light and comfortable
Easy to wash
The zippered pockets are a lot bigger than they seem
The front pockets stay cool (huge, unexpected bonus)
The water does not slosh around
The back pouch can hold a wind breaker, properly folded, under the water pouch
Easily adjustable
All of the water can be consumed

Cons:

The shoulder straps slide down my shoulders
Vinyl bags make my back sweat
Although it is light and comfortable, it feels like a flak jacket, when it is fully loaded.

I like the Hydrapak E-lite … it is comfortable and has plenty of storage.  The six front pockets are nice and the six stretch loops are nice to hang things like the iPod Nano.  I do not like wearing backpacks but after trying the Hydrapak E-Lite vest, I am going to wear it for all of my marathon training runs that are farther than 15 miles.  After long runs, it is nice to be able to drop most of my gear in the self-contained chest package.  The E-Lite is easy to clean but make sure you remove your electronics before you turn the hose on.