Renowned distance runners Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka, and Peter Bakwin know a few things about hydrating on the go. For Spring 2013, Ultimate Direction turned to the trio to design three Signature Series running vests.
This is a great use of athletes by UD, from both a product and marketing perspective. Why more companies don't tap into the knowledge of individuals who are pushing the limits of their sports is beyond me -- not sure why designers who spend most of their waking hours inside think they know more about the needs of their customers.
It's really nice to have you chiming in on the boards and offering your input.
I have no doubt that your input/experience will be quite beneficial to others here.
I have to agree with ya on designers "supposedly" knowing what the needs of others are when they don't rack up any trail time other than in an office, behind a monitor, so on, and so forth.
I have on more than one occasion purchased a product that looked great on paper only to be left with the thought after some trail time that the folks that designed the product must have been highly intoxicated. :p
Nice to see you here, Andrew. I enjoy the notes from you we see here every so often. Welcome.
I'm always amazed at the 'must-have for outdoors' lists that magazines and store brochures come out with all the time. They're usually just gadgets for car-camping - coffee presses, chargers for your electronic gadgets, toys and knicknacks, or clothing for the fashion conscious.
Then there was that incredible Abercrombie and Fitch ad that was posted here a while back. What a joke! That kind of stuff really costs them their credibility.
I'd much rather hear from people who are using the gear, like the pros mentioned here. One comment; the vests are meant to control bounce when running, so they're not really for dayhiking. Because a backpack is meant for carrying a heavier load, the design has to be a bit different.
Wow really liking the looks of these. Wonder if they have one to fit women or if it's a generic one size fits all? I've tried on running vests before but have not been able to find one that fits.
Thanks for all the comments. I agree that it's interesting to hear what particular athletes want in a piece of gear. I'm interested in checking these out at Outdoor Retailer in just a few weeks too. I've been eyeing different hydration vests for long, long runs.
To answer Nugget's question about sizing of the UD Signature Series, all are Unisex, but they come in more than one size:
AK Race Vest: Sm/Md and Md/Lg
SJ Ultra Vest: Sm, Md, and Lg
PB Adventure Vest: Sm/Md and Md/Lg
As for stability, Ultimate Directions says of all three:
Vest Design:
No bounce & no pressure points = greater comfort
Vests are inherently stable = more volume for less weight
We've also got more packs and hydration options, including more vests, to cover from other brands in the coming weeks as well.
Since some people like bottles and some like reservoirs, I'll point out that hydration in the UD vest is supplied by two 20-oz bottles mounted on the front.
If that's not your thing, stay tuned next week for some new trail run hydration options from Gregory.
Also, Camelbak currently has these options, though you're not going to get the same gear storage:
I want the Adventure Vest, but with my attention span, I hope I remember these vests when Spring 2013 comes around. I am especially appreciate the gear capacity along with the hydration capabilities that would be ideal for the fast day hikes I do in Juneau.
I really like the extra storage capacity of these packs. I am always trying to turn my hydration pack into a day-long adventure pack and it doesn't quite have room. I'm wondering, though, with three ultra-celeb designers not one of them could be a woman? I'm a small framed woman, and women's cut packs are barely small enough for me. I really doubt these awesome packs will fit me. Also, it would just be nice to see more equal representation of women in the sport and acknowledgment that we exist as runners and consumers of ultra gear. I saw a lot of men get chicked this year at WS100 - we're out there on the trails too.
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