TESTED: RUCKSACKS
72 MARCH 2017 womensrunninguk.co.uk
SALOMON AGILE 12
Tested by: Tinasalomon.com, £80NATHAN FIREBALL HYDRATION BACKPACK WITH DOUBLE FLASKS
Tested by: Jackienathansports.co.uk, £75First impressions? Not too large in the body
and lots of outside storage pockets.
How good was the fit? Nice and snug with
comfort padding down the whole of the
inside back to protect your shoulders.
What did you think of the quality/attention to detail?
The comfortable padding on the
bag, accompanied by mesh
covering, was the real
standout feature for me.
The insulated tube was
also impressive, as was the
long slot to control it.
Any useful and/or unique
features? The water tube can
be used on either side of
the pack and easily stowed
away. The external storage is
also roomy and will easily hold
a t-shirt, top and jacket.
How does it feel when you’re
running? Once adjusted the
pack sits well, and there’s
First impressions? I loved the colour; blue
stone with contrasting fluorescent yellow
straps and zips. I also liked how the double
flasks were 350ml rather than 500ml, which I
have with my usual running pack.
How good was the fit? The fit was great. It was
easy to adjust the straps to get a bespoke fit.
What did you think of the quality/attention to
detail? The attention to detail
is excellent. It’s lightweight
and very well designed.
Any useful and/or unique
features? It has three easy-
access pockets on the front.
There is one very small
pocket on the right-hand
side, which I found
useful for carrying
smaller items such as
salt tablets. There are
two further pockets
on the left-hand
side, one of which
no pinching or restriction of movement
under the arms due to the thin arm straps.
How do you feel about the look of the pack?
Pleasantly slimline, ergonomic and, as it
comes in four vibrant colour options, it’s
going to be an all-round pleaser.
What’s the best thing about this product? The
instant storage access while on the
move, especially the zipped
front waist pocket. I have to
carry a lot of food when I run
long – this pack made this easy.
What’s the worst thing about it? Only
positives for this pack.
Mark out of 10 for value? 8. It’s not
cheap, but if you are wanting
a medium-size pack, with a
bladder and ample storage, it
gives you everything.
Mark out of 10 for performance? 9.
Would you buy this? If training for
a long-distance event, definitely,
it’s a piece of kit you can rely on.is made from a stretchy fabric, perfect for a
mobile phone and, the other, an ideal size for
a cereal bar or gel. The main back pocket is
just the right size for carrying a waterproof
jacket and is a suitable for using with a 1.5
litre bladder. The two insulated SpeedShot
flasks also help keep water cold.
How does it feel when you’re running? It feels very
comfortable when running and there is no
movement from the rucksack.
How do you feel about the look of
the pack? I love the look of this
rucksack as it’s not too big and
looks great with my other gear!
What’s the best thing about this
product? It’s light but has enough
space to take everything you
need with you on a longer run.
What’s the worst thing about it? No
negatives, I loved it.
Mark out of 10 for value? 10.
Mark out of 10 for performance? 10.
Would you buy this? Ye s.First impressions? I was a bit taken aback – it
looked more like hard-core body armour
than a hydration pack.
How good was the fit? It has two chest straps
and fitted snugly as if it was made especially
for me.
What did you think of the quality/attention to detail?
At first I was impressed with all the pockets- there seem to be loads tucked away in
every conceivable place – but then I started
to wonder what would happen if I filled them
all with gear and snacks and came to the
conclusion they were rather dangerous! I
could just picture myself lumbering up some
mountain and failing to get to the top as I
was so weighed down with chocolate and
biltong (a South African dried meat snack).
Any useful and/or unique features? There are
handy pockets in the front of the straps to
store things like tissues or a credit card. And
there’s a whistle that you can use to summon
help if you get lost.
How does it feel when you’re running? It’s a
comfortable way to carry extra water but I
just couldn’t get the hang of how to use the
water tubes. I kept trying to tuck them away
in the straps but they just didn’t stay there so
I ended up with them poking out in front of
me like giant antennae.
How do you feel about the look of the pack? It’s all
INOV-8 RACE ULTRA VEST
Tested by: Lisainov-8.com, £120© INOV-8