i've tried camelbaks. i've tried waist-belts. i've tried flasks and i've tried hip-hugging bottle holsters. none of them ever felt quite right, incessantly bouncing about and loosening up no matter how tight i'd cinched up the straps. helplessly confined to how far i could run with a handheld bottle, i decided to check out this sleek hydration vest i'd seen on a few backs lately.

ten minutes into my first run with the hpl 080 i was entirely unaware of it. the design is beautiful with it's soft, wide straps that hug your shoulders and torso. 50 ounces of water, several gels, a hat, gloves, a windbreaker, and a digital camera never felt so... nonexistent! the contents are held tightly to your back without placing uncomfortable pressure on your back or midsection, and the straps never loosened on me -- not once! and the pouches on the front of the straps are genius for quick access.

i would recommend this to ANYBODY wishing to take more gear/water on their unaided runs. i can't wait to try an hpl 020 for even longer distances. i'd also like to see some competition from amphipod and others to see where these things go.

I got this pack for a recent Mountain 100 mile trail running race. I don't really care to carry water bottles when I run and this pack was the perfect replacement. The front pockets are a bonus for carrying trail food. Fully loaded I could hardly tell I was wearing it. Also, there is no waist belt to aggravate your stomach. Another thing I like was the transition speed for water refills. Didn't have to pull out the bladder to refill. This is definitely a racing pack.

This is a great race vest. I am not a big guy, so I was looking for something that could hold between 50 and 60 oz of water, but was relatively light. This pack does both. It is very easy to figure out how to best fit it to your body so that it stays stationary whether you are hiking or in a full out sprint.

After the first few miles in it, I completely forgot the pack was there. The shoulder straps were comfortable and did not rub. The clip in front is non-obtrusive and is comfortable. Convenient front pockets as well.

Go to any ultra-marathon and watch folks finish. It's no wonder why over 50% of the field are using Nathan packs. I am totally on board.

This pack is lightweight & comfortable. Running long down hills the pack doesn't bounce or strain my back or shoulders. I definitely recommend this to anyone wanting a change from lumbar packs or carrying/stashing water bottles.