As a part of my planned triumphant return to world class trail running, I thought that I would get one of these newfangled running vests. I did a bit of online research, and as it turns out, like you can probably imagine, there is a staggering array of choices out there. I guess like with most things… if you build it they will come.
There were a bunch of features that I was looking for. Some vests had more of these than others of course, but the one that seemed to check most of the boxes was the Osprey Duro 6. So, what were some of these features you ask? Comfort obviously. The cut of the vest, the materials used, the sternum strap(s), and the weight all play a part. The Osprey uses dual sternum straps that are highly adjustable. How the liquid is carried. By this I mean is it reservoirs, or bottles, or both. I wanted both, and the Duro 6 complies. Pockets. It has one front zippered pocket big enough to hold a large phone. There are two large pockets that can hold small bottles. Two smaller pockets suitable for food. Plus four side pockets that are good for gloves and whatnot. Turning to the back, there is a large zippered pocket that holds the 1.5l supplied bladder. (You could fit some other things in there) There is a small zippered pocket with a key clip. And lastly there is an open top pocket where you can stash a vest or something similar. One nice thing about the bladder is that the hose has an insulated covering over its entire length. Attachment Points. The Osprey has dual attachment points. This allows one to carry poles or even a short ice axe. Although not a feature I was looking for it also has an attached rescue whistle in one of the front zip pockets.
The only two things that I am not liking about it, and I’ll freely admit that I’m nitpicking a bit here…. Are the colour choice (bright blue) and that it’s not made out of waterproof materials. The latter being a somewhat moot point considering where I live.
The company Osprey has been around making packs since the 1970’s, so they have some decent experience with the technology. I’ve never owned one of their packs, but I have lots of friends that have. Osprey offers an iron clad guarantee. If your product is defective they will replace it, no matter how many years ago you purchased it. Osprey has a fascinating company history, and I encourage you to check it out, and see what they are all about.
How does it work though…
The first trip I used it on was a 7km trail run over, rocky terrain, with about 313m elevation gain. I had it packed pretty light. One liter of water in the bladder, a cell phone, my wahoo computer, and a 3” straight knife in a sheath, that I stored in one of the long pockets. Part way through, I took off my gloves and put them in the side pockets. The whole system worked without a hitch.
The second outing…
This outing was about twice as long at 14km, with about 740m elevation gain. I also loaded the vest more fully. I had all the stuff I had last time plus the full 1.5l compliment of water, some food, and one shirt on the way down. It worked great. So, not that it means all that much, but I fully endorse this unit. I will report back in six months give or take. Sooner, if there’s any problems.
The specs by the book…
Capacity: 6.0l
Liquid Capacity: 1.5l
Bladder Included: Yes
Weight: 400gm
Material: 320gm Nylon
Number of Pockets: 11
Gender Style: Male
Sizes: S / M / L