PACK LIKE A PRO

PACK IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT

You are not a student lost between Bali and Australia; neither are you a contestant in Peking Express. You are a runner, and as such need not be cumbered with a bag as big as yourself while chasing your personal best up and down the mountain. At Compressport we have never been afraid to innovate. No matter the distance you choose to run, our packs give you the option of carrying all you need, and carrying it fast, without looking like the proverbial donkey..

WHAT KIND OF DISTANCE RUNNER ARE YOU?

0-30km

Fasten your belts… pack them full of all your sports essentials and don’t look back. Developed with and for our professional athletes, the Free belt Pro is possibly the best thing since sliced bread in trail running, and has been not-so-gently elbowing traditional packs off the path for the last year. It’s a comfy, stretchy belt, not rocket science. Yet it can easily hold all you need for up to 6h: a couple of flexible drink flasks, a handful of energy bars, keys and phone, an extra layer, band-aids, a sandwich… You get total freedom of movement in the shoulders, no risk of a sweaty back, and it stays firmly put so you don’t have to worry about it wrapping around your ears or ankles.

30 - 60km

Swing it like Seb. Would you give Seb Chaigneau a dollar and a backpack and tell him to hitch-hike to Courmayeur? Chances are he will throw the whole lot back at you, pull on the ultra-light, ergonomic trail vest he designed himself, and run it faster than your average Italian driver. Every single centimetre and surface is measured, optimised and precisely located so no time or effort is wasted. Two rear compartments hold baselayers, waterproofs, torches and safety equipment. The front holds fluids while easily-accessible wrap-around pockets take nutrition, phone, salt tabs etc. Simply reach for what you need (no contorsion required), focus on the view or where you’re putting your feet, and “give yourself the opportunity of free exploration,” as Seb would say.

60+ km

Ultra-light it up. So you’ve decided to take the inevitable plunge. Just as triathletes won’t rest until they’ve done an Ironman, we trailers will, at some stage, go ultra. Just for the fun, and the pain; for the challenge and the glory. So what to pack ? Some guys over in Chamonix/France put together an equipment list for a little trail race which happens every August (it’s called the UTMB®). The list is roughly as long as the race, and it takes considerable skill to carry all it requires. Yet you do not need to hire a Sherpa. Combine the Freebelt Pro with the Ultrun S Pack and you will have more than adequate volume to carry everything and a little more. Weight can be evenly and comfortably distributed, access and organization are child’s play, freedom of movement is guaranteed.Still considering that 60l rucksack?

DIEGO PAZOS "ZPEEDY" INPUT

3 words to best describe the Ultrun S Pack?

Comfortable, ergonomic and lightweight

When do you wear the Freebelt, and when do you choose the Ultrun S Pack?

Over distances longer than 40km, I systematically leave the house with the Freebelt and the Ultrun S Pack. For one, I can attach the poles to the Freebelt, but it also allows me to distribute the weight evenly. For shorter races, I’ll choose either the Ultrun S Pack or the Freebelt depending on how much fluid reserves I need. If I need a litre between aid stations I’ll choose the Pack, if I only need 500ml I’ll take the Freebelt. During training, I often just take the Freebelt because of how light and free I feel ;-)

5 things (équipement, nutrition, mp3…) you always take with you?

My bow tie, Isostar essential cacao bar, Armsleeves, Cap, Freebelt

3 things you always leave behind

Mp3 player (I prefer to hear the sounds of nature), beer so it stays cold in the fridge for when I get back & my computer.

Do you have 2 pro tips for efficient and organised packing?

Put your change of clothes in plastic bags whether the weather is nice or not, to avoid them getting wet from rain or sweat. And remember to push out any excess air before putting them in the pack to save space and keep everything compact. Find your own location system in the pack or Freebelt. For example, forward-left pocket for fruit pastes, forward-right for energy bars, etc…