Free delivery on orders over £80Why Do I Need A Running Vest?
Ellis Brigham’s Trail Running Guru Martin Bell gives us the inside track on this essential piece of trail running kit.
Over the past few years, running vests have become much more popular. They’re ideal for so many occasions, carrying extra gear during events and races, long training runs and sometimes even on shorter runs.
Running vests hug the body much better when running than a conventional pack, they don’t bounce about, and you hardly notice you’re wearing one.
When using a running vest, you want everything you think you’ll use at the front of the vest.
With most vests, you can fit two 500ml soft flasks at the front. You don’t need to take the soft flasks out to drink; they’re designed to stay in the pocket. Soft flasks for me win over a bladder for the following reasons: they’re easy to drink from, you can see/feel how much liquid you have in them and you can refill them without having to take the vest off. As well as the soft flasks it’s good to carry a collapsible cup/mug, a Sea to Summit X Mug is ideal as you can put coffee in it and fill it with food (not at the same time!).
You get various pockets made with a stretchy material at the front of the vest; these pockets can carry a LOT more than you’d think they can. This is where you want to carry your food, hat and gloves – basically anything you think you will use. Also, at the front of certain running vests are loops that you can attach your collapsible running poles through. Again, it’s easier to access if it’s at the front.
In the larger rear pocket, you can carry all the gear that you know you should take, but might not need to use.
A good tip with running vests is to put the gear that is going into the main back pocket, into a dry bag. This will obviously keep everything dry if it’s raining but also dry from sweat on a hot sunny day.
When sizing for a running vest, be sure you have some adjustment spare with the straps; try not to be at either extreme, you want to be able to make slight adjustments when needed. The vest will fit differently when wearing a waterproof jacket compared to just a t-shirt!
