Hydrapak E-Lite Vest

Introduction

I first saw the E-Lite vest on the Running and Rambling Blog (Link) and subsequently on the Runblogger (link). My first thought when reading was why would anyone want a 1 liter vest? At the time I read the reviews I ran heavy when it came to gear selection. When I hit the trails I over packed. I carried everything but the kitchen sink. I still believe that more is better than less when you are starting out but once you get your trail running in tune you find you can make do with less. Now that I have my "routes" and run efficiently I find myself “in between equipment”. Often I want to carry enough but not too much because lean towards a bare bones or minimalist style.

Specifications

Weight: 9.09 oz with reservoir -  5.6 oz without - (empty)

1 Liter Reversible reservoir with Plug-N-Play Connector

2 Expandable Front Zippered Pocket

4 Integrated Holster-style pockets

Soft Mesh Back pouch holds 1 liter Reversible Reservoir (included)

Quantum Clip (I think this means magnetic)

Impressions

Right off the bat I can tell you this looks toddler size. I am worried that the single pouch approach for the bladder will not be enough for all the bouncing on trails. The mesh overall seems very "airy". The vest reminds me of the Nathan #028 vest + a bladder. Even though the Nathan #028 is a staple of any ultra field I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet.

Construction / Structure

Pockets

The two zippered pockets are well designed. The zipper is not sown all the way down as was the style with the original version of this pack. This improvement keeps the pocket sleek without the worry of dumpling all the contents out while trying to access them.

The Hydrapak site states that there are 4 integrated holster style pockets. Do not get excited. They are helpful but bigger items fall out of them. On runs I reserve these for used Gel packs, i.e. trash, or a convenient place to have your plastic bag with Salt Caps.

Adjusting

The standard for pack adjustment is pulling the straps down or back in order to tighten or loosen. This makes it tough to know if everything is balanced. I know its a tiny difference but over the course of a few miles you will notice that the left or right shoulder is sore and then you will thank me for reminding you to check.
This pack adjusts by pulling forward which allows you to see that the sides are even. As an additional benefit it lets you adjust on the run. Try pulling backwards while trying to run forward, not as easy as you think.

Bladder

The construction is as solid as they come. The Hydrapak bladder is a top fill bladder with a slide close. This system is great for ultra marathons because you refill and move out of the aid stations quickly. 

Testing 

I have not only used this vest for medium to long range road runs but have also used it for the Rock’n River 50 Miler (report). The decision to use this vest rather than my standard Salomon Advanced Skin 5 was because the distance between aid was not so great to need the extra fluid and I focused on running light.

Running with the E-Lite Vest @ Rock'n River 50

Because of the sleekness of the pack and its light construction I find that i adjust it on the run as the bladder empties which is not really an issue or consideration with larger packs like the Salomon Advanced Skin (Updated Review). This is probably not a big deal, but if you are against adjusting anything at all you will probably find this fact annoying since the fit is completely different when you have a full bladder as opposed to an empty one.

For me the E-Lite Vest fits perfectly into that in between category. One liter gave me enough fluid for a longer run without having to plot a course with water stations to refill bottles. The storage also permits carrying gels, maybe a phone or light if getting caught in the dark is a concern. So with that in mind I have put the vest through its paces and have come up with a few concerns for an otherwise wonderful piece of equipment. 

Pro's
-Size - enough water, but not overbearing
-Light - you literally feel like you have little to nothing on
-Construction - its sturdier than I initially gave it credit for.
-Magnetic Connection for Drinking Tube - thought it would be terrible, but despite lateral movements on trails it held up and secured the tube. (may be an issue for you depending on how you adjust - fyi)

Con's
-Chest Strap - this can be adjusted vertically or horizontally. However, when it goes vertical and the pack has too much stuff in it, it will actually un-clip from its wires and forcing you to stop and fix it. 
-2 of the "holster pockets" are behind the zippered pockets, I think they could have done without them and given you a "pills pocket" with a magnetic connection or something.

Conclusion
If you can afford to pick this up definitely do so. Its a sleeper item since it is not as well advertised as some of the bigger brands "minimalist" vests but it is worth a look. It is reasonably priced compared to its competitors and it offers a lot of features for such a small item. If you ever find yourself in between I suggest you have this in your gear closet. The pack can be purchased from iRunFar.com (LINK) and while there be sure to check out the work Bryon does, he is the NYTimes of the ultra running community.

Minimalist Running

Over the last couple years the shoe industry has been trending towards minimalism. Shoe manufactures are cashing in on the movement (Fila Skeletoes) or rethinking assumptions about shoe function and building from the ground up (New Balance Minimus). Christopher McDougall’s bestseller, Born to Run, has motivated thousands to kick off the foot coffins and hit the streets “naturally”. Zealous minimalist runners preach dumping shoes altogether while moderates assert less is more when trying to run “naturally”. 

Anecdotes and stories generally fall under one of the following themes (1) heel striking is bad (2) less shoe = less injuries (3) trails over road (natural over man-made). After wearing different manufactures and comparing the wear on them when I retiring a pair I discovered I heel strike with shoes that have a drop of 6mm or greater.  While heel striking my knees hurt and my stride over commits (read as: gets longer) and I feel more fatigued at the end. Lower drop shoes (flatter) have helped me shorten my stride, run further, and stay stronger. 

Do I wish I was a Tarahumara? Having the ability to traverse hundreds of kilometers on beer and Chia seeds? Si señor. I read Born to Run like everyone else and what I gleaned from it was: GET OUTSIDE.

I think that the gift of minimalism to the running community has been to demystify “running” by showing that there are as many ways of doing it right as there are people. Whenever I am asked my opinion on “toe shoes” or minimalist shoes generally say to do what works. If they feel better in a “minimal” shoe and it keeps them injury free and smiling, do it. If you want to try it out for possible performance gains, transition slowly. Any info beyond that point is an experiment of one.

Coaching Changes

I am child of the AOL 3.0 generation so naturally I searched online for help with my fitness goals. I started listening to podcasts and among the myriad found the "Geeks in Running Shoes" podcast. The show introduced me to my running coach who subsequently trained me for several marathons and ultra marathons. Unfortunately the coach/athlete relationship came to an end this month. It is sad because I came to rely on the feedback and ease of having a schedule laid out for me. "We had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun; but the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time"("Seasons in The Sun, Terry Jacks). I have a lot of things on my plate and had to make some changes. I am not sure if I will ever return to being coached but if I do I know there are wonderful ones out there.

In similar news; I am going to start coaching athletes. I am the first to admit I do not have 1,000 years of experience with professional athletes nor do I remember running in Onitsuka Tiger shoes (the first Asics) although come to think about it I did run in my share of Nike Cortez(s). The idea of becoming a running coach has kicked around my head for a few months. Recently I find myself wanting to run with people. I mentioned it a little bit in the So Cal Ragnar post about the joy I get helping others conquer their goals. It is also very selfish of me but I love the feeling of getting others to want to be healthy. Most importantly; I want all runners to run happy.

So I decided to work on being ITCA certified and will probably pick a few more certifications this year. I enjoy learning about running and consume more fitness knowledge per week than most do in a month, there is a diagnosis for me out there I am certain. I am passionate about helping people be better and health is key to being the best person you can be. I am not saying that unhealthy people are not good; I just think that health adds a je ne sais quoi to your life like nothing else can. Focusing on athletes as people rather than just cranking out a schedule and hoping they stick to it is the only way to coach and its the way I have learned and the way I think the majority of athletes can see how much clearer the world gets when you step outside the A/C and get some vitamin D. The journey begins. 

The Return is finally here

But the virtues we get by first exercising them, as also happens in the case of the arts as well. For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, e.g., men become builders by building and lyreplayers by playing the lyre; so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.

-Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

I entered law school; unconquerable. I worked full-time, helped my parents out and commuted 120 miles 4 days a week all the while reading the law books at night and maintaining a relationship. When reality set in after a year and half the grind was too much. I had to stop. Physically and mentally I was a wreck. The day came and I admitted this battle was lost but swore to keep fighting.

I am set to start my law degree in the fall 2012. I have worked very hard to prepare for this return after a less than graceful break. It is exciting to actually have a support system that understands the grind and is committed to being there for the long haul. I never gave my family and close friends enough credit for all they do for me. All of them continuously surprise me. Friends I see every few months are always stepping up when I need them. Family members whom I have little in common with trust me enough to ask questions about getting healthy and turning things around. Heck my first 50 mile attempt even included T-shirts with my mug on the front.  

I was a much different person a few years ago. There was eternal preparation but never any action. It was a combination of circumstance and gut instinct that kept me from pulling the trigger on a few things. Something inside always said, "this is not right...this is not you." I felt like a third person was living my life and the real me was off on vacation. It was a profoundly depressing realization. Not wanting to be part of your own life and being content with others choosing for you sucks. The result: stress, poor health, pessimism and a perennial chip on my shoulder.

What changed? acting rather than preparing.

My life and attitude did a 180. I started smiling more and being 40-50 lbs lighter with better overall health helps a lot with the attitude. Believe it or not I am happy to deal with aches and pains from moving too much rather than from moving too little. 

It is not easy to get out of your shell and "do." It is scary and often times you will be met with criticism and even cynicism from those you love the most. DO NOT LET THEM STOP YOU. When others make choices for you; life stops and dying starts. My change in attitude has had a ripple effect. I discovered that positive people have stuck around and the negative people faded into the background. They don't do this on purpose; we just see the world differently. My core group of friends, the ones who were there at my bottom, remain the same. The major difference is that acquaintances are now people I meet through fitness rather than tequila shots. 

It is going to be difficult and stressful but beautiful. Beautiful because I worked very hard to get back and I am doing it for the right reason: me. I am no longer only achieving for others. Riding pine is over and up at the plate I am not going to look at a called strike three. 

If you do not believe, they never will.