Gear Review: The Wink

So yesterday I went out on a long run, looking like I was ready for a LONG run. You see, Eric got me the Ultimate Direction Wink hydration pack for Christmas, and I haven’t used it yet! I feel sort of silly gearing up with more than a hand bottle for anything short of, say two to two and a half hours. On the other hand, I’ve been staring at this pack for over a month now, wanting to try it out badly. Also, Eric pointed out that I needed to test it while we’d still have a shot at being able to return it if something was wrong. So, for only a twelve-miler yesterday, I filled up the bladder in the pack, strapped it on, and headed out.

I need to say that toting sixty-four ounces of water on your back, no matter how well-engineered the system is, is going to be noticeable. It’s added weight, any way you look at it, and not a small amount. I didn’t need anywhere close to that amount of water yesterday, especially with the temperatures being in the low 20s, but I did want to test the pack to its fullest, so that’s what I carried. The Wink really is well-engineered, though, and despite the weight, I didn’t feel a single bounce. In fact, once I got used to it, I barely noticed it at all! This will be a very good thing when I’m carrying it, say, up this. (Aw, yeah.)

A big reason why I suggested this particular pack to Eric when he was shopping was the storage in the front straps. I was reluctant to get most of the hydration packs I saw, simply because I didn’t want to have to stop and take off the pack should I want anything from inside it. With this vest, I can keep my nutrition, gloves, cell phone, whatever in any of the little pockets lining my rib cage. I tried it out this time, and it worked brilliantly! Love it! As far as drinking from the hose went, the bite valve is a little trickier than just using a bottle, but I can see where I’d get used to it fairly quickly.

So, the Wink: good gear. Looking forward to using it when I actually need it. I still intend to use my Amphipod belt for ordinary runs, but if I’m going to be out and about for long enough to require more than a handful of gels, the Wink will definitely serve well. Also, being able to carry sunscreen, bug repellent, a hand towel, etc. will be awesome for trails.

(What I should have stashed in it yesterday was dog biscuits, perhaps. Near the very end of the run, I entered a cemetery and nearly ran directly into a very large, white, husky-type dog. Now, it didn’t look unfriendly, and I could see it was wearing a collar, but I wasn’t about to try to approach it. I stopped, and it didn’t come nearer; I sternly said, “Go home!” and it wandered a few steps away, then looked back at me with a confused expression. My guess was that it was lost, but I don’t know dogs; it could well have been trying to figure out the best way to drag my lifeless body back home with it. When it wandered further away from me, I took off in the opposite direction. A few minutes later, I crossed paths with it again, near where I think it may have crawled under the fence to get in. It didn’t follow me, but it watched me run off, looking mildly entertained.)