My Personal Gear

So  rankings here of my top 3 picks in various categories... I will update this as my favorites change. This is my actual stuff I own and use. Here it is with brief reasons.

Head wear...

1. Mil-spec monkey Multi Wrap 

available at http://milspecmonkey.com/store basically buff head tube but cheaper, only 5.50 a piece and they are a little bit looser and slightly longer than buff, I have a big head... Super funtional they come in limited prints and colors but I sweat out too many hats that get all stinky.

2. Buff head wear

just type in buff headwear on Google and you will find plenty of places. See the above but triple the price and multiply the print options by 100! 

3. What ever old trucker hat or golf hat I want to stink up. 

Wish list: I want to try out the Buff visor series soon, really want a half buff visor but I will cut one down I I half to.

Running Vest:

1. Ultraspire Revolution.

Available at runningwarehouse.com or Ultraspire store but RWH is cheaper and ships free.

Read my review on my blog here.  It is hands down my favorite hydration system, holds my phone, a big bottle, mp3 player, jacket, arm sleeves, snacks/gels. Everything! I have even put a 1 liter bladder in the back for long scary trail runs away from civilization.

I can't say enough good things about it. Works for any distance or activity, very customizable.

2. Nathan HPL 28:

runningwarehouse.com this is my go to trail "backpack". Two hand helds and I will most likely be wearing this. Lots of storage, for the size and weight.  I love the Spry but this is just slightly bigger all around. Front bottle pocket is deeper and the back will hold slightly more.

3. Ultraspire Spry:

runningwarehouse.com second to the Nathan 28. Mine is the older model with the older mesh. I think if I had the newer model it might edge out the HPL 28.  I think the quality and workmanship is much  better on the spry than the 28. But it's just smaller...

Wish list: I want to try the ultimate direction AK vest but the sizing looks small, next is the Ultraspire Alpha, and the Ultraspire Kinetic.  Kinetic will probably be my next acquisition.

GPS Watch:

1: Nike GPS sport watch:

nike.com or runningwarehouse.com.  I recommend getting it with the foot pod and an aftermarket lace holder for it, get for heavy trees if you lose signal, that's about it. Mostly I own it for the simplicity and the nike website. I love the little silly rewards and badges and friends and being able to compare your stats to other runners your age. Limited no workouts. You can do intervals, and that's about it.

2. Garmin 620:

runningwarehouse.com. Holy $h!+ what can't this watch do? Complex workouts. Pace, calorie, heart rate, and cadence warnings that you can program. Ground contact time, cadence, verticals ossilation... I didn't even know I needed or wanted to measure these stats but now I love it! If you get it you need to get the new heart rate monitor to get all the fun new data and I recommend it for data heads but for the more simple of us it can boggle the mind.  Mine was a gift and that is the only reason I have or, I would not have bought it otherwise, but now that I have it the data is fun to have.

3. My old garmin 305.

Available at an antique shop?  Seriously I still like this old brick for deep trail where I want the little map function and navigation but don't want to bring the iPhone, so mostly super rainy weather nasty conditions...

Wish list: the new GarminFenix 2 looks all black and mad max and has all the navigation functions I want. I am also interested in the Suunto Ambits mostly because of the 3rd party apps, seems like some fun potential there.

Handhelds:

1. Nathan QuickDraw Elite

with updated Truflex bottles. Available only if you have a Delorean or a Tardis, the new Nathan QuickDraw plus is similar but you can't beat the original.  Huge zippered storage pocket with an elastic mesh pocket on the outside.  The Velcro adjust is on the bottom so there is no strap adjustment on the back of the strap. The bottle is awesome too. Big spout, nozzle is removable for cleaning. The old Nathan bottles sucked.  Seriously these went back in the closet until i swapped out the bottles. Best part are the thumb holes.  With your thumbs in the holes there is almost no grip pressure required.

2. Ultraspire Isometric pocket.

This is almost a tie with the QuickDraw.  The isometric has a bit of material at the palm area that insulates the bottle from your hand and vice versa.  The issue I have with the Ultraspire is the bottle tops. I hate their twist top nozzles... They must have gotten feed back because they now make standard style push pull nozzles which you can buy seperately.  I'm going to retro fit all my bottles soon. Again the thumb hole option is key.

3. Bills custom set.... Only available from me!  I have a pair of Amphipod 20 oz bottles with neoprene bottle sleeves on them in a pair of Walmart handheld bottle holders.  Yes they are ghetto but I can put ice water in them that will still be cold 2 hours later.  I'll upload a pic soon. 

Wish list:  I'm curious about the Ultimate direction Fastdraw extreme. I run a lot in the summer and I love anything insulated so I can throw ice in it. Ice cold in 100 degree heat in 100% humidity is almost better than sex.

More to come later...