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Ultra Gear

tim cronktim cronk
in General Training Discussions

 

SHOES.....I been running in Newtons(Distance and Gravity) for ever , tried Hoka's and they didnt work for me. Other shoes in the quiver are Zoot , Kinvera which I rotate thru... The Ultra's I have signed up for are not that technical , at least the 50k isnt cause I have seen the course, the 50miler is not supposed to be.... So while I dont need hardcore trail shoes I do need something a little more substantial than what I have... Going to try the Newton Boca (thier trail shoe) and an Altra....

What are you guys planning on wearing for the distance?

Water Bottle.... Pretty sure most Ultra's require you to have a handheld bottle or a fuelbelt to make sure you have enough fluids to make it to aid stations... I run with a Nathan Fuel Belt when my long runs get over an hour and its fine... I would like to carry a hand held on some training runs and possibly use in the races... Since I'm a weakling I dont want too large of a bottle to carry...I carry a 4oz gel flask on the IM run and that is enough LOL... Probably something in the 12-16oz category.... Some of these have a pocket for cellphone/keys etc... Beginning to think a cellphone is not a bad idea while training and running on trails SOLO??

Anybody run with a handheld water bottle?  Thoughts , comments, recommendations?

 

Comments

  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons

    I was going to try the Hoka trail shoes but am second guessing after your review and may go with Zoot now.....

    Still deciding....

    SS

  • Peter NoyesPeter Noyes
    Altra just launched the superior 2.0 a few days ago. Looks really good. I am gonna get a pair.
  • tim cronktim cronk
    @SS keep in mind there sure is a lot of love for the HOKA in Tri and Ultra circles so there must be something to it... The model I tried did not work for me but I'm interested in try the Clifton when they make my size 7 (which the rep said they would)... I am liking my Zoots but only compared to the road Newtons....

    @ Peter I saw that new Altra...looked more of a hard core trail shoe which I dont need... trying a pair of the Altra road shoes high cushion first....
  • Peter NoyesPeter Noyes
    Cool. I forgot to mention that I have run with a Nathan 12oz hand held bottle and that it has worked well for me. It doesn't have a pouch though. I recently found the "Running Buddy" which is a magnetic pouch that clips to your shorts. It works really well. I am going to use it to hold gels for a marathon. It would work well for holding small items.
  • drjohnson08drjohnson08
    @Tim, I have a Nathan Quick Draw which holds somewhere around 16 oz. It has a pocket that a smart phone can squeeze into along with a key and a gel. It works well if you like to carry a hand held. However, I don't like to carry a big bottle in my hand. Instead I typically use it at the track and grab a drink as I need when I run by.

    When I carry hydration with me I use my Nathan hydration pack. I love that thing. It can carry up to 2 liters of fluid and when adjusted properly I almost forget that I'm even wearing it. It has a bunch of pockets for your phone, keys, gels. You could probably even stuff a shell jacket in there or some gloves or a hat if you wanted to carry some extra supplies. I usually put TP in there for emergencies.

    The other option you may consider is a "sling" for lack of a better term. They have these minimalist packs that have pockets for 20 oz water bottles. The thing has pockets for gels, etc. You get the capacity of a 12, 16, 20 oz bottle without having to carry it in your hand.

    I know there are a lot of brands out there. Besides Nathan, Ultimate Direction is another popular brand in the ultra community.
  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons

    Decided to go with the Altra 2.0s, Nathan Hydration pack and Relentless forward progress book via Amazon Prime....

    Also signed up for the 25K hilly Bandera trail run on 1/10...

    Hope that works out....it will be/is an adventure...

    SS

  • Sue ChapmanSue Chapman
    Great little handheld (and I hate carrying anything in my hands): http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Insulated-QuickShot-Plus-Flask/dp/B00GGHI9QS
  • John StarkJohn Stark
    Dual water bottles. One in each hand. Can carry plenty of water and if you fall the bottles save your hand for getting cut up.

    All the ultra's I have run up to 100k I habe always used standard Asics trail shoes. I use hoka's now for road running and love them! Will use for trails when the trails are runnable again.

    Stark
  • tim cronktim cronk
    @JS great idea with the 2 hand helds but I find 1 is too many.... just hate carrying them ... they also get in the way when I wanna get something in my belt or got to the bathroom....

    I got a 16oz handheld and thats working pretty good... Like to swap it each mile....Wearing my nathan belt with 2 - 10 oz bottles and small pocket too.... I think I am starting to really like my Altra's, got 4 runs in them so far 7 , 9 , 10 , 17 and pretty comfy...
  • John StarkJohn Stark

    @Cronk - Ya, I personally hate all the weight around my waste.  I am minimal there with only my anti-bonk stash, TP, duct tape, etc in something very light like a spy belt.  I graze the aid stations for my fuel but will grab a gel or two and put them in my bottle holder pouch.

     

     

  • Patrick HaydenPatrick Hayden
    I used the Ultimate Direction - SJ race vest for my last 50 miler. It took a little time to get used to the water bottles being on the chest, and I found that they road better not 100% full. After several longer runs I determined I didn't like UD's water bottles so I swapped them tops off with my camelback podium lids which I like better since I can lock them. Overall it works out quiet well, allowing me to take fluids, nutrition, and carry a light jacket, hat, phone, etc. in the back if I need to swap out or grab them. I did find I had a number of people looking me over more on the trails or roads when I used it, but that didnt really bother me much and the fit on it was nice so no wearing anywhere.

    I partially chose this over handhelds, because I just don't like carrying something in my hands while running, never could get used to it.
  • tim cronktim cronk
    Shorts- Got a couple pair of North Face "Better than Naked Long Haul" shorts and they are awesome... Kept reading people rant and rave about them.. Expensive but very nice.
    http://www.rei.com/product/878672/the-north-face-better-than-naked-long-haul-shorts-mens-2014-closeout?s_kwcid=hQchoedQ_dc|54436939205&gclid=CjwKEAiA_NmkBRCe3ubC1aWAtEcSJACxkkbqZv1sruRbMndY0WGnlcXKR95gC7xfGwZQrg0GyQNQ6BoCyc7w_wcB

    Socks- last summer I won a pair of double lined socks... didnt think I would like them... then I started wearing them and they are really nice... slightly compressive and I hate compressive socks.... well I still havent run in them until yesterday and they were awesome!
    http://www.amazon.com/Sole-Dual-Layer-Anti-Blister-Socks/dp/B005IHVCKW
  • Shaughn SimmonsShaughn Simmons

    My Torin 1.5s showed up today along with my Nathan hydration pack!  Looking forward to finding a trail and trying those out soon later this week!

    I'm not sock guy and never have been.  I break the shoes in and everything usually seems to be fine.  With trail running that may have to change so we will see.

    I will bring a roll of duct tape to the race in the case things are wet and rainy and my feet begin to split open, I can just wrap them up and KMF......

    SS

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