Hoka: Bondi Speed

The Hoka One One Bondi Speed is classified as a men's road running shoe but is designed for the runner or triathlete who enjoys multiple terrain surfaces at all distances. After glowing recommendations from a local runner, Bart could hardly wait to give the  Bondi Speed a try...

Although the Bondi Speed is a light weight shoe design intended primarily for pavement use, Bart kicked the testing up a notch and ran on all types of surfaces including mud slick trails spiced with rocks and roots. The Bondi Speed is also marketed as a less cushioned version of the Hoka Stinson Evo, but the Bondi Speed still provided Bart with that "floating over rocks, sticks and roots" feel that the Hoka shoes are famous for.

On stream crossings, he was very impressed how quickly the shoes drained, and it was particularly noticeable how well the OrthoLite insoles wicked away the moisture to the point where the shoes almost felt dry within minutes.

So far, after approximately 200 miles of running, the Bondi Speed shows no sign of excessive wear. Time will tell whether the Bondi Speed will provide the same sensational wear characteristics as the Stinson Evo and the Mafate. (Bart's got almost 2,000 miles out of his first pair of Stinson Evo).  And with that, we will keep you posted on the progress...

Happy Running!

Hoka: Kailua Trail Shoes

It's Christmas in August at the Smith's!  After a long tiring 12 hour shift at work, I came home to find that Bart bought me a pair of Hoka Kailua Trail Shoes.  I love running in the Stinson B Evo model but hate running in the Mafate (which have since been deemed -expensive work shoes now), so I've had a love/hate relationship with Hoka and have been leery to try a different model.  Bart assured me from what the staff at Foot Rx have told him, they are worth a try. Plus Foot Rx said if I wasn't happy with them, I could take them back.  I wore the shoes around the house all evening and liked them from the start.  By morning I was ready to put them to the real test...

We headed over to Bent Creek and put these to a tough 2 hour 45 minute trail run: single track, double track, rocks, roots, stream crossings, and mud sloshing! We covered it all!

The shoes were perfect right out of the box. I didn't have any tender or sore spots after the run.  I was impressed with the laces which never came untied (I usually swap out laces for Lock Laces)...

No slipping problems through the mud or stream crossing...

The soles are thick, soft and stable that I didn't have any trouble running over rocks and roots...

Plus the water drained great out of the shoes, and I didn't feel like I was running with big heavy moats around my feet...

What did we focus on today's run? number 1, having fun...

...number 2, fartlek running...

 Number 3, not forgetting to enjoy the beauty of our surroundings...

So, I'm back on the "love" side of my relationship with Hokas!

Ultraspire Impulse - Dual Bottle Hydration Waist Belt

Any runner heading out for a lengthy distance usually needs to carry their own water. I'd like to share with you our newest running equipment and why we're happy with it,  The Ultraspire Impulse Dual Bottle Hydration Waist Belt...

One of the main draw backs with other hydration belts we've used have been the manner in which they sit/ride on the body and the need to constantly adjust the tension in the belt.  I usually find myself shoving the belt further down on my hips as the run progresses to keep it all in place which in turn antagonizes the already sensitive pressure points the belt has created.

I first read about the Impulse on Ultraspire's website.  The things that initially drew my attention to this belt are the "Pivot Point" metal plate between the bottle holsters and the body forming materials that help the belt stay in place. The dual hydration belt sits as if it is velco'd to my back (without the pressure points). It sits higher and more comfortably on the waist while staying put without the annoying "fanny whoopin" or yore. The belt fastening "Speed Hook" is another nice feature that replaces the "finger biting" snap buckles of other hydration belts.  I did find that the bottle holster will easily accommodate 24 ounce bottles in place of the standard 20 ounce bottle provided with the Impulse.  Another nice feature is the stretch pockets on the outside of the bottle holsters where I can stuff a 400 calorie bottle of EFS Shot that is easy to retrieve and replace on the run.

When running 3 hours or less between refueling stations, the Impulse is now my favorite way to carry what I need to keep me going with little fuss and bother as possible.

Features of the Impulse:

Large zippered pocket on one side of the belt

Flat elastic mesh pocket on the other side holds gels

Lightweight  zipper pulls easily

Shock cord between bottles for stowage of jacket

Elastic mesh pockets on holsters

Weight: 200 g (400 g with bottles)

Bungee cord to hold your wind jacket...

Elastic pockets to hold head lamp and your  gel bottle...

Handy easy on and off Speed Hook...

"Pivot Point" metal plate which is the heart of the form fitting feature...

Elastic pocket to hold gel bottle...

Zippered pocket will easily hold an iPhone...

Handy accessory if you run in grizzly country... *S&W  not included

Sunglasses for Running: Ryders Photochromic Eyewear

The biggest problem I have with sunglasses is If I buy them for running in the forest, they are too light for running in direct sunlight and vise versa, so what usually happens is I end up not wearing any sunglasses then inevitably I get some kind of bug in my eye.  Lucky for me, Bart came across Ryders Photochromic Eyewear and bought a pair for me for my birthday...


Bart found Ryders Eyewear and tried them out for himself first before buying a pair for me.  We have the "Shot" model.  They are one of Ryders' smallest most lightweight models, favored by runners for its minimalist design. The Photochromic lenses automatically adjust to suit the amount of sunlight at any time of day, weather, or simply a change in location or direction of travel.

These glasses are comfortable, wrap around the face for a good fit to protect your eyes from sun and bugs, and for what we consider a reasonable price of $69.99, won't make you cry if you lose them.

And now, Ted has graciously agreed to model them for us...

Ted, it's really hot.  Why do you have a sweater on?

Nice sweater Ted, it's like 90 degrees out...

Honey Stinger Waffle

We would have had pictures of all four flavors, but we ate them all...

While rummaging  through the gel and energy product shelves at out local running store, Foot Rx, prior to an evening run, we came across something called the “Stinger Waffle” by Honey Stinger.  The Foot Rx staff gave the waffle such a glowing recommendation that we ate one right on the spot.  We then immediately bought every Honey Stinger Waffle they had in the store.  The Honey Stinger Waffle is one of those products that we would label “excellent” or “our favorite”....

Hoka One One Mafate

Since purchasing the Hoka One One Stinson Evo almost three months ago and using them as my primary shoe for both training and racing, I have been thoroughly impressed with their performance and durability.   When the offer of a pair of first generation Hoka Mafate in my size came my way, I jumped at the chance to try the shoe that raised eyebrows over three years ago and began turning skeptics into believers...


The Hoka One One Mafate is the shoe that launched the popularity for the Hoka brand almost 3 years ago.  From the Mafate came the slightly trimmed down versions that have become the Stinson Evo, Stinson Evo Tarmac, Bondi B and Bondi Speed models.  The three latter of which are designated as road shoes but have proven equally successful on forest service roads and smooth non-technical trails.

The cushion and “fat tire full suspension” like ride of the Stinson Evo  was impressive and greatly appreciated by my feet and lower legs. From the first stride it was clearly evident that the Mafate has even more cushion in relation to the Stinson Evo.  I also found the Mafate provided additional grip of the trail due to the more aggressive tread pattern.  Now with approximately 200 miles on these shoes, the Mafate is exhibiting exceptional durability as wear is barely evident at this stage.  It is my understanding that the shoe last on the Mafate 2 has been altered slightly to provide more toe box wiggle room, and I would agree that this is a wise change.  The Mafate's heel to toe gradient is 4 mm.

After 200 miles of heavy trail use. Still looking good!

The factory molding rubber is still evident on the lugs even after 200 miles of wear!

Overall I am very pleased with the Mafate and consider the shoe my primary choice on rough demanding technical terrain and ultra long distances. 

The Mafate's are available through Zappos.com and Amazon.com


Happy Running!

Bartman

Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Hydration Vest ~ Update

Update:
For those of us who bought the first production of the SJ Vest and have worn them on several runs and are still able to use it, we're sure you have had ample opportunity to brush up on your sewing skills and have figured out ways to adjust the fit and fix areas where the sewing has come undone.  Below are pictures of what we have done in order to make this vest function and not fall apart...

We sewed in place all four of the elastic adjustment bands on both 

bottle pockets after they both became detached...

We resewed the stitching on the upper pockets after
the threads came loose...

We replaced the elastic cord, located inside the back pack, with a static cord.
The static cord (We used a shoe lace, shown in yellow, and lock lace device)
provides lateral adjustment and stability that the vest was lacking...

We like the materials and design of this vest, but the manufacturing quality control left much to be desired. Hopefully these deficiencies will be corrected in future productions of the SJ Vest...

Run Happy,
Bart & Eve



Post 12/22/12
After much anticipation and long awaited arrival of the SJ (Scott Jurek) Ultra Vest by Ultimate Direction, we were finally able to procure two of the vests...

The SJ Ultra Vest is one of the three models of the Ultimate Direction Signature Series hydration vest. It appears production has been somewhat limited as all three of the vests were quickly sold out through the limited sources available and currently are very difficult to get a hold of.

Our initial impression of the SJ Ultra Vest is the light weight (7.5 oz without bottles), overall high quality workmanship, and the innovative design in utilizing every square inch of space available.  In fact we were mid-way into our second trial run when we discovered two additional pockets on the side.   The materials are highly breathable, do not stretch or give, and appear to be extremely strong in relation to their weight.

Keep in mind that a vest as light as the SJ makes load stability entirely dependent on proper fit. The vest must fit securely to the body without gaps or looseness.  We purchased the vest based on the sizing and measurement recommendations provided by Ultimate Direction.  Since we are both borderline between sizes, we were advised to go with the larger size thus we purchased a large for Bart and medium for Eve  This we discovered was a big mistake.

To itemize the features that made the biggest impression on us:

1) We really like the creative ideas that went into the pocket locations and convenience they provide. The storage capacity is great.

2) We like the materials employed. The materials breathe well, and it appears that they will stand up to a considerable amount of use and even abuse.

3) The vest comes equipped with a whistle that is handy when you feel it is necessary to alert bears and other critters of your presence or to signal your location to others in the event of a mishap and in need of assistance.  The vest can also be outfitted with a hydration bladder (not provided) for those that prefer that option.

4) Because of the lightness of the materials, the vest provides limited structure and stability thus proper fit is very important to achieve stability of the load.

5) The SJ Ultra Vest is extremely limited in adjustment capabilities; only the two sternum straps provide lateral adjustment which based on our experience, is not enough. If the vest does not fit snug the end result is that as the load distribution transfers from front to back (ex. water bottles emptying) the vest shifts, down in back, up in front, leaving the runner with a "clothes lined" effect and no means to make adjustment to counteract this shift.  Lack of a snug fit also allows the load to shift/flop from side to side particularly during downhill running on technical trails.  We note that both of the other vest models in the Signature Series, the AK and PB models have means to make lateral adjustments at the side of the vest thus ensuring the body hugging fit this type of vest requires and also provides the runner with the ability to adjust more precisely the exact placement of the bottles on the chest thereby accommodating variables in anatomy shape, particularly with regards to women. Eve found the vest to be extremely uncomfortable due to the location the bottles and the inability to adjust their location. It is therefore our opinion that lateral side adjustment similar to the AK vest must be incorporated on future models of the SJ vest.

6) Apropos item 5) above, the size Large (36-44 inch) vest does not cover the size range stated. Bart has a  size 38 inch chest, and when the sternum straps are closed down all the way, the vest still fits loose on him.  In fact at the bottom portion of the vest (the narrowest portion of the torso the vest will be in contact with) measures 40.25 inches in circumference with the lower sternum strap tightened all the way!  This we believe is another reason that lateral side adjustment is absolutely necessary. The medium size vest was able to provide a snug fit for Bart; however, the medium size vest was maxed out with regards to adjustment.  There is obviously a breakdown in the Ultimate Direction design shop with regards to size spans.  In other words, the medium to large sizes simply do not overlap or provide proper fit/adjustment capabilities for someone in the 37-38 inch chest size range.

We fully understand the complexities of new products and their introduction.  Although in our opinion, the above sizing and adjustment bugs should have been worked through prior to introduction, we still believe the SJ Ultra Vest has the potential to become one of the very best running vest for the runner seeking a piece of equipment to see them through long unsupported runs once the above problems have been resolved.

Our comments have been sent to Timothy Stanley with Ultimate Direction who has forwarded them to the brand manager and products developers for their review.  We sincerely hope they will consider our suggestions for the improvement of the SJ vest.  If you are considering purchasing an SJ vest we suggest that you find a store that carries them, so you can try the vest on to confirm that you have a proper fit.

Now, let’s get out and run...

The medium size vest on Bart.  Good snug fit and comfortable bottle placement.

 However, note that the  lower sternum strap is almost at its maximum range thus 

extra clothing layers could be problematic.

Medium size vest on Bart. Nice comfortable location of the front and back load.

Large size vest on Bart. Note the sternum straps are tightened all the way 

and the  extra  slack at the bottom of the vest.

Side view of the large size vest. Note of the slack of material both front and back.

Side view illustrating the slack with the sternum straps tightened all the way.

This view illustrates the load shift that take place with the large vest and 

the  "clothes line" effect the bottle and sternum strap has the runner.

We sincerely hope this review will be of benefit.

Bart & Eve

Nathan Elite 2V Plus Hydration Waist (hip) Belt

Nathan 2V Elite shown with our own 24 oz bottles

Some runners prefer to carry their hydration in bottles.  They believe bottles are easier to fill, easier to keep clean, and easier to monitor how much they are drinking.  The problem is finding the means to carry enough liquid for the long haul...

Carrying large amounts of liquid is never completely convenient.  So finding something that distracts as little as possible while carrying as much as possible, usually results in a compromise between the two.  While searching the Internet looking for a dual bottle system, we stumbled upon a product that has been around for several years, the Nathan Elite 2V Plus.  The Elite 2V is a hydration waist belt that we decided was worth giving a try.  We were not disappointed.  Not everyone cares for hydration belts, but we believe the trick to using them is finding the proper position on your anatomy where the belt will sit and not move.

Materials and Stability

Out of the box the first thing that impressed us was the materials, overall quality, and workmanship.  The Elite 2V is built to take a beating.  Weighing in at 16.8 oz the Elite 2V cannot be considered ultra-light weight, but once we had it on, the weight factor was completely forgotten.  Extremely comfortable when worn on the hips, the moisture wicking padded holsters quickly settled into place, and 5 minutes down the trail on our first run, we almost forgot we had it on.  We did however switch out the 22 oz bottles provided with two ‘filled to the brim’ 24 oz bottles.   Load stability is the best we have experienced with a hip belt.   

Now for the downside: Having had enough problems in the past with Nathan Quick Clip bottle lids, we didn’t bother using them.  The problem lies with the valve piece that is stamped into the lid which over time  will either leak, as they all have, or just decide to part ways at an inconvenient time as one did a few years ago during a long run in Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Being the engineer Bart is, he attempted to repair the lids with various glues and adhesives, but to no avail.  Our recommendation is to scrap the ‘quick clip’ bottles and replace them with any of the other standard hydration bottles on the market.

Adjustment Capability

The Elite 2V is a one size fits all hydration belt.  As such, runners or hikers with extremely narrow waist and hips may discover that the bottles wrap around the hips a bit too far for their liking.  Bart has a size 32 waist, and the Elite 2V fits perfectly.  Adjustment is made at the buckle and the excess belt webbing is held nicely in place behind the dual power stretch pockets described below.  This is a very nice feature; no floppy belt ends.

no floppy belt ends...

Storage Capacity

Along with the dual bottle carrying capacity are the two removable Power Stretch Mesh Pockets.  It was amazing how much we could stuff into these and still find it again while on the run.  As mentioned they are easily removed when not needed and with the Velcro fastening device, they will fit onto almost any belt on the market.  The rear pocket will easily accept a Patagonia Houdini jacket, and the belt also comes equipped with two shock cords with single pull tension locks to keep other items (gloves, cap, etc.) under control and in place until you need them.

Side view of belt with our own replacement bottle...

power mesh stretch pocket...

Conclusion

We have used the Elite 2V Plus on several 20 mile plus runs, and we are extremely happy with it.  No material or stitching failures have occurred and still looks brand new especially after Shadow (our canine running companion) was kind enough to lick a gel spill off the belt. 

We and Shadow highly recommend the Nathan 2V Elite Hydration Belt.   It is comfortable, nicely designed and extremely well made. 

The Elite 2V Plus is available at amazon.com

Now, let’s get out and run...

Fartlek - Speed Play

It was once said that a person has arrived at the station of the serious runner when they can say “fartlek” during a discussion in mixed company without grinning. Whether we can say fartlek with or without the grin, whatever the discussion entails, it probably never really touches on the essence of fartlek and what it is about. At least that is the impression I am left with after reading articles written by and talking to, in some cases, very knowledgeable modern day coaches and running experts. I tend to believe that in our high technology age true fartlek has become a lost art.

Mountain Hardware Refueler Short: I must Confess...

...I love Bart's shorts!  This morning we were getting ready for our run and the temperature was in the upper 30's.  As I looked over my selection of running clothes, I was not happy.  It was too cold to wear my typical women's running shorts and too warm to wear my full length tights or even my calf length tights. Exasperated I said,  "Why don't I have something in between???".  Bart said, "well, you can wear a pair of my shorts!"

After looking over Bart's selection of running shorts, I decided on a pair that would be perfect! The length on me would be about the level right above my knees, just what I was looking for!  They may not be the most flattering shorts, but let me tell you, they are so comfortable!  So off we went on our run at the Biltmore Estate, Arbor Trace Loop.  So here's a quick review on the shorts I wore today. The shorts are called the Refueler sold at Mountainhardwear.com. Bart has several pair of these running shorts and they are his favorite.  The fabric is super light weight, and the elastic waist band is not too tight.  They have a little pocket inside to hold your key, and the length is perfect for those "in between"  cold and hot temperature days.  The shape is on the boxy side for us girls, but you can't beat the comfort. The most impressive aspect of these shorts is that you can wear them all day and never feel like they are trying to reshape your anatomy.  The material is very breathable and has a huge temperature range to provide optimum comfort during changing conditions.  They don't weigh a ton when wet and dry quickly without chilling you.  They are available in 7 and 9 inch seam lengths and two color choices, black and charcoal.  Well, that's about it.  They were perfect for what I needed today.  Thanks Bart!  My new motto is, the family that shares clothes together, stays together!  Not sure what of mine Bart may want to borrow, that will be for another post.  And now, here's some pictures of our run today!

It's so peaceful to run at the Biltmore Estate

all trails are shared by mountain bikers, horses, and pedestrians

field is mowed back for the fall

portions of this trail take you along side the fields

one of two bridges on the trail loop

 Zen rock pile someone made in the middle of the French Broad River

Evie wearing Bart's shorts!

Have no idea what's growing in the field, but it's really green!

I swear this little guy was saying, "nice shorts"

Happy Running!

Eve & Bart