I''ve used the predecessor HPL #020 for a couple of years and thought it to be the perfect race vest, but with the Endurance Nathan have managed to tweak a few things and perfected the design.
I used it during my 100 mile race in April and it really made a difference. My support just had to change the bladder every 2-3 hours and thanks to the new design it went fast to do so.
If your in the market for a race vest with bladder and don''t need to carry much else, the Endurance is your choice. The otside pocket is big enough for a small windjacket and personal stuff like money and keyes.
I am not sure how I used other hydration systems before purchasing this one. I had been mostly using lightweight backpacking systems but they were either are a little heavy with their frames or didn''t ride nicely while running. I also hate the barrel feeling of the bladder with the Camelbaks. The vest solves nearly every issue.
It''s lightweight and breathable. The bladder system is well thought out and easy to use. You can even turn the bladder inside-out to wash and dry. The pockets on the front of the vest can carry my iPhone, food such as Cliff bars and Fig Newtons, antacid tablets and electrolyte pills. The back pocket isn''t large but I stuff it with extra bars, keys and TP. You can also carry a lightweight rain jacket. The vest rides nicely without any pressure points or hot spots.
For long distance running, you can''t beat any of the Nathan vests in my opinion. This vest compared to the other Nathan vests has a few more pockets and little bit different design for the pack part. If you do any running over an hour and a half long, this is the hydration system to use.
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I got fed up with my Camelbak because it kept inching up on my waist and became uncomfortable over time. I switched to a Nathan because they are considered the gold standard in hydration packs by many in the ultrarunning community.
Pros:
With this Nathan vest, I can run for hours and hours and it stays in place and is very comfortable. Despite only having one closure clasp, it really does fit more like a vest and much better than others. So far I''ve done runs up to 7 hours without any major comfort issues. Another plus, the closure clasp in the front has a clip that allows you to connect the drink valve to it so it doesn''t bounce around while running. I also like that you can turn the bladder completely inside out for cleaning. The front pockets can hold plenty of gels, headlamp, elecrolytes, etc. and appear to be designed with ultrarunning in mind.
Cons:
The bladder closure takes a little while to get used to and could still use some design improvement. But it is still manageable. The tube is also a little stiffer than other brands.
Overall:
This is a very comfortable pack at an affordable price. I would recommend it to other ultrarunners.
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I''ve been using the HPL #020 for a few years but wanted to check this one out for the larger pockets. It''s a great pack, but I''d say it''s not worth upgrading from the 020 if you already have one. The Endurance is a little taller than the 020, but it fits the same when you''re wearing it.
Pros:
The pill pocket makes pills easier to access. They say it''s waterproof, but I think they mean sweat and maybe rain. If you''re crossing a deep creek, your pills are going to get wet, so put them in a ziplock baggie. Pocket makes them more accessible though
Access to bladder. There are two zippers on opposite sides of the pack. Just pull on the flap and both zippers unzip, making a large enough opening to refill your bladder without taking it out of the pack.
Pocket space. There''s more than the 020, but not as much as I''d thought there would be. Still, if you''re doing a race that has you going longer distances between aid stations, you''ll be able to put more food in the pack.
Cons:
The bladder. Ive never had a good experience with a Nathan bladder, and this one''s no exception. Instead of the traditional circular opening I''m used to with other bladders, this one kind of folds over itself and there''s a sliding tab that pinches the folded part to make it water tight. This makes it really hard to keep the bladder open while filling it. You have to stick your fingers inside the bag to prop it open. Hello germs.
I really wish Nathan would sell just the pack and no bladder at a lower price. I''m going to replace it with a Camelbak bladder anyhow.
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This is an excellent hydration pack for long runs. I use it for runs longer than about 10 miles. It holds 70 ounces (2 liters) of water. The bladder is pretty easy to fill and I like that you can disconnect it entirely from the vest and turn it inside out so it can be cleaned and dried. There are instructions printed on the bladder which make it pretty fool proof to use. The bite style mouthpiece it also very easy to use. You can twist it to control the flow rate of water.
It also has lots of other little details that make it ideal for runners. There is enough storage space to carry essential items. It has pockets in the front of the vest that are easy to access on the run. The pocket on your left side is big enough to hold a cell phone, gels, etc. I usually put my cell phone, a couple of gels, and chapstick in the zippered pocket. On the outside of that pocket is another smaller pocket. I usually put my trash there or a ziplock bag of dried fruit. Above that pocket is a smaller pocket and also a loop where something can be clipped. On your right side is a pocket with an adjustable drawstring which is big enough to hold a 20 ounce bottle of water or gatorade. Above that pocket is a small square pocket with a velcro cover and another loop like on the left side. On the back of the pack is a good size zippered pocket that is large enough to hold a poncho, hat, or gloves for items you don''t need immediate access to while you''re on the run.
There is a chest strap that clips together to secure the vest and it also has a clip on it that holds the mouthpiece securely when not in use. When fully filled the pack probably weighs around 5-7 pounds but once you put the vest on it''s very comfortable, doesn''t hurt your shoulders, and it doesn''t feel heavy. I usually wear headphones when I run but I haven''t noticed any sound of the water sloshing around when running. There are also two straps on each side of the vest that can be adjusted for the perfect fit. I''m not sure the largest chest size that the pack will fit, but if you are overweight and/or a woman with a large chest you may want to try the pack on before purchasing it. I noted this because I let a friend try the vest on and it didn''t look very comfortable on them.
I''m the type of runner who does the run/walk method and is not very fast. It takes me almost 3 hours to complete a half marathon. Therefore, I feel the need to carry quite a bit of stuff with me because I''m going to be on my feet for awhile. I''m currently training for my first marathon so my long runs often take more than 4 hours to complete. I also like to stay hydrated. This hydration pack more than surpassed my expectations. It holds plenty of water and there is also a lot of storage space which is placed in convenient locations on the vest.
The only negative thing is that with a hydration pack its hard to know exactly how much water you have left. However, you can usually tell because the vest gets a little looser and you can also gently squeeze the bottom of the bladder. When it''s almost out of water the bladder feels flatter. However, for races this shouldn''t be a huge issue because you can stop at a water stop to refill. I''ve definitely had enough water for half marathon length runs but on a 18 miler I did run out of water.
I highly recommend this hydration vest for runners because it is easy to use, clean, and it seems to be designed with the needs of runners in mind.
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The mesh handle and pocket work nice, but the kicker valve makes it impossible to get water out of the bottle. I can barely suck water out of this while standing still, while running, forget it. To use this product, I replaced the water bottle it came with and just use the mesh handle and pocket with a normal water bottle.
