Not everyone is on board with the idea of running with a backpack but Camelbak’s new form-fitting Octane LR may be useful for Ironman distance training since it is a bit of an aid station on your back. I would never wear one in a race with aid stations, but for training for Ironman and for trail runs and even long rides this is a very well conceived hydration accesory.
I love backpacks and adventure racing equipment so I really enjoyed doing this review. These are available at better Camelbak retailers.
I like Inov-8’s packs because of their reservoir arrangement. Their shoes are nice too, especially for runners who want a low heel to toe drop option.
One minor nick I have against the Inov8 packs is the dark color. It’s tough to find the pack in the dark when you lay it down and tough to see inside in lower light. Bright colored fabric packs are easier to see into. I’ve been hoping Inov-8 may change colors. I have an obscure custom made pack from Spectra fabric that is all white inside- you can see everything in there.
I have a Camelbak Octane (last years model) for shorter adventure races which usually require some type of water pack.
I have never like Camelbaks for a variety of reasons but the Octane came VERY close to fixing those reasons. My only complaint is that it is not sized for bigger guys. I’m not talking fat guys, even though it deffinately won’t fit fat guys, but if you are 6’2" or taller… it just feels like it could be a little larger. It is more lacking in length than anything, barely acceptable for my 6’2" height.
One of the things I noticed was a relatively narrow band of adjustment for suspension system. If you are under 6 feet tall and under 220 pounds- no problem. If you’re tall and muscular you’ll be way on the outside of the pack strap adjustment range. They pretty obviously sized for the bottom 85%.
That’s an important point. I think I’ll go back in the article and add that. Thanks for the reminder.
I made an addition to the “drawbacks” paragraph of the review that mentions the range of adjustment in the shoulder straps and waist belt and that the pack is generally best for athletes below 6’2" and 220 pounds.
For adventure racing or long distance events – this might be a great idea – also would use it for off-season / non-IM specific training.
I am very interested in how it would work for long distance xc skii racing.
However, specifically as an everyday IM training tool, I would never use it – it violates one of my basic training principles -
“Nothing New on Race Day”
I follow this principle religously –
i.e. train / Race on same equipment – for my in-season training, I like to always prep my bike and running gear the same way as it will be on race-day (race-wheels aside of course).
I even lay the crap out and work a transition into almost every training session.
Agreed about “nothing new on race day”. Absolutely.
I see this as more of a tool for getting through really long training runs where you simply have few options for staying hydrated short of stopping some where.
To your point however, I think there actually is some wisdom- a lot probably- to setting up an “aid station” with the products you’ll use during Ironman and using that in your long training. There are a couple ways to do that:
Actually set up a station in front of your house or at your car and, when you are doing a long run workout, plan it to circle back on the “aid station” every mile on the run. this gets monotonous if you have to run the same 1 mile circuit 13-17 times as in a very long training run, but if you have a big park somewhere perhaps you can park centrally and do a kind of cloverleaf course with the practice “aid station” in the center.
Have a buddy meet you in a car or ride with you on a bike while you run. I’ve done this and it helps. When you get to the one mile mark that’s an “aid station” and they simply give you the stuff you’d get in an IM aid station. You’re gonna owe your buddy a favor though…
If those two options aren’t available then some typ of long range hydration system like the Camelbak Octane LR is a viable solution or alternative.
bingo – I use my car as an aid station and my long training runs / rides circle back to my car – I am very spoiled – I live in a place with no traffic / great roads / great trails / lakes, ponds, etc…
