Nathan VaporWrap: The backpack that gives you a hug

After years of running with many different hydration backpacks, I may finally have found my perfect partner…

Over the years I have suffered serious pain and discomfort from wearing badly fitting packs and been frustrated with different issues, ranging from trouble accessing pockets to sloshing water reservoirs becoming irksome after hours of continuous running and everything in between!

I had entered the 40 mile version of the Compton Downland Challenge, but courtesy of a rather nasty cold with cough I decided to only run the 20 mile version and take it very easy.  I wanted to trial my new Nathan VaporWrap and enjoy the views along the way.  The race had been “sold” to me due to the fact that a little bit of the route runs along The Ridgeway….  Perfect opportunity to reminisce and also dream of things that might one day be…

The VaporWrap/ Shape is available in both male and female fit.   I chose to trial the male version in size S/M, which is available in Nathan’s trademark orange and grey colours.  I am a size 8-10 and was able to adjust the vest for a perfect fit on my small frame.  The vest has side, shoulder and chest straps allowing adjustment to ensure a perfect fit for the variety of sizes and shapes us humans are available in!

The 2 litre reservoir sits in a protective insulating bag inside the actual vest.  It is easily accessed and can be removed by the person actually wearing the vest at the time.  Putting it back in is a little bit harder unless you remove the vest and then it very simply drops in without any fuss, unlike some hydration packs which require a written explanation and at least two working hands – have you ever tried fiddling with a reservoir and backpack when your fingers are so cold they refuse to work…?

The reservoir is very easy to open/close, refill and clean.  It has a large opening for refilling, which is sealed by folding down and securing with a sliding clip.  The bite valve is quite literally that, no locking mechanism to confuse me as I can never remember what is open and what is closed – on many a very long ultra I have gotten really grumpy thinking I had a defective hose or a blockage, until realising that I was trying to suck water from a locked pipe!

Now this is the really cool bit, anyone that knows me will understand….  It has got loads of little compartments!  Little hiding holes for all the goodies that one requires during a very long ultra.  Side pockets for Clif Bars and Clif ShotBloks; secure front pockets for phone and emergency “stuff”; rear pockets for space blankets and spare clothes as well as a peanut butter bagel; extra bottle holders at the front – perfect for a ready-made portion of Dioralyte and a packet of baby food.  There is even space for an MP3 player for when I am trying to keep awake at 1am in the middle of an ultra. 

As I was only going to be running for a short while on Saturday I had opted to carry only a few things with me during the run.  ShotBloks, Clif Bars, Clif Gel (chocolate of course) my telephone and some water in the reservoir.  Plus of course my route map and directions in case I got lost along the way.

My immediate thought as I secured my VaporWrap chest straps was just how comfortable it felt.  It felt just like someone was giving me a little hug.  It didn’t feel like a parachute upon my back or a lump with sticky out bits to catch my arms and neck upon.  Even my pig tails didn’t catch on the shoulder straps. 

I decided to have a piece of ShotBlok very early in the run, just to see if I could access the side pocket to remove and replace any left overs without dropping anything or having to stop running.  Very easily done, the zip was simple to open and close, no need to carry left overs in my hands for many miles – yes, I have been known to do that in the past!

I was very much aware that during the entire run I did not have to fiddle with the straps or readjust any of them.  I have previously found that most other hydration bags have tended to bounce around as I run, loosening the straps, resulting in them needing to be tightened every few miles or so, or when the reservoir becomes empty.

I also noticed that that when I removed the vest, there was no evidence of sweat or salt staining on the straps – I guess that as there was no contact with my skin it was protected!  All previous back packs have required an emergency hosing down after accompanying me on a run!

The next test for the Nathan VaporWrap was to try it out while wearing a cani-cross belt.  As someone that runs with dogs (huskies) sometimes I wear a belt that I attach them to via their own harnesses and special bungee lines.  Running this way allows my hands to remain free (for accessing pockets on backpacks…) and also allows me to run quicker than normal by asking the dogs to assist me.  Picture huskies pulling sled in your mind, but replace the “sled” with me and my Nathan VaporWrap and you will understand…

I was delighted to find that the belt and vest work well together.  The vest is short in length and therefore does not infringe with the back of the belt, which sits on the top of my hips.  The only problem that I had during our two hour run together was that every time I removed something from a pocket the dogs turned their heads around as soon as they heard the rustle of paper – they are both big fans of Clif Bars!

One thing I have not yet tested is the performance of the reflective writing and strips when running in the dark.  When I first tried it on (during the day) Ian immediately commented on how brightly the words NATAHAN and the other strategically placed reflective strips were reflecting the sun coming through the front window.  This will be extremely useful during the night-time sections of very long runs - Ian will be able to spot me from miles away by just shining a light!

I have a permanent little scar on my shoulder from where a hydration pack damaged me during my first ever ultra distance event.  Over the years and miles that I have run since that day, I have yearned for a great many things from a backpack, most of which the Nathan VaporWrap delivers.  I have been on a quest to find the perfect partner for a very long time and I may well have found him.  The perfect running partner that even gives you little hugs as you run….;-)

Thank you 9Point9 for supplying me with this awesome hydration vest.

This review also featured on RUN247 the place to find all your running needs.

(Images courtesy of Nathansports & TZRuns)

Little Boy Blue: Week One

Little Boy Blue has only been with us for one week, but in that short time he has shown huge improvement in health and behaviour.

He is eating very well and his body is thriving on the good nourishment that he is now receiving.  We have been feeding him “proper” food, natural and wholesome in the form of raw meat, bones, fruit and vegetables.  His stomach is coping with it very well with no sign of any digestive problems.  He has a big appetite, which we are trying to satisfy!  It will be very interesting to see how much weight he has gained at tomorrow’s “weigh in”.

We were fearful that his poor start in life may have caused permanent damage to his body, but as each day passes we are more confident that he can make a full recovery.  His growth has quite clearly been restricted and only time will tell if he will fully catch up and be the size of husky his genes want him to be.

A lovely surprise this week has been the change in his hind leg movement.  Within days of free running with the other huskies his coordination and muscle development has improved immensely.  He is very clumsy and cumbersome, similar to a much younger puppy of “normal” upbringing, but everything is working well.  He has fallen over a lot, but each time he does he comes back stronger and more determined.  

When he first tried to climb stairs he only managed a few steps before his legs weakened and he had to be helped.  Now he dashes up and down the stairs at every opportunity, even managing to carry very large toys up and down them.

His skin is no longer red or irritable and his fur is growing well with very few bald patches remaining.  I bathed him today and he now smells sweet and looks fluffier.  He was very well behaved during his bath, relaxed and curious and he has become even more affectionate since!

His behaviour towards humans continues to surprise us.  He is friendly and affectionate to everyone that he meets.  He has no fear of them and is very trusting.  He shows no psychological signs of being badly treated by humans, quite the opposite in fact.

However, he is fearful when meeting other dogs outside of our pack, in particular large male dogs.  Unfortunately there are many irresponsible dog owners that cannot control their dogs and when they come charging up to Little Boy Blue it is heart breaking to see his reaction.  One large Labrador came charging over yesterday and would not leave him alone.  The owner as usual was oblivious and I had to step in to help little puppy.  We have work to do here as managed inappropriately he could potentially become a “fear biter”.  It should be a relatively easy problem to fix though as I know a lot of nice people with well socialised dogs and these are the dogs that puppy needs to spend time with.   He is also a very quick learner and is quite a sensible little chap.

This boy loves to run!  Hardly surprising being a Siberian Husky, but even when he could not move his back legs very well and his body was very weak, he was still determined to keep running.  Day by day he gets stronger and I don’t think it will be long until he is running short distances with the big boys.  At the moment he is mostly walking, with little running sessions when he feels the need to.  I use an extending lead so he run/ walk freely.  I must admit though that when he goes on one of his mad dashes I do struggle to keep up!!

When he breaks into a bounding motion, the tip of one of his ears flops up and down while the other one remains tightly upright.  He looks so happy when running, his little face lighting up with so much enthusiasm.  He has a very pronounced stripe down his back where his fur is most developed and when he raises his hackles he has the most awesome spike along the full length of his back.

We were concerned about his relationship with Kroft early this week.  Kroft is very wary of him and has being showing signs of stress when he is in the house and puppy is nearby.  This in turn causes stress for everyone.   Kez tries to defuse the situation by body blocking puppy and ushering him away from Kroft whilst Ian and I sit on the edge of our seats listening out for every little noise and trying to interpret all dog body language and eye contact.

I have been walking both of them together all week and am pleased to say that whilst Kroft is still wary when puppy is close, he has become more relaxed and is showing more tolerance of Little Boy Blue’s behaviour.  It is easy to forget that he is over 6 months old when you look at him and see a typical 3-4 month old sized body.  Kroft will know that he is more teenager than baby, and a rebellious teenager at that!

Kroi has been amazing this week.  When you introduce a puppy into a pack, the previous “baby” appears to instantly become a grown up.  The very sensible and mature behaviour shown by the ex Superbrat is an absolute pleasure to witness.  I even see the change when we are our running together without puppy anywhere nearby.  Kroi no longer feels the need to try and chase all wildlife he sees and if a dog tries to provoke him he just gives a “whatever” look and trots on by….  He listens to what I tell him without feeling the need to challenge.  He even ignores fresh road kill – all I have to say is “leave it” and he pretends that he never saw it!!  He is however still a full blood Siberian Husky, therefore if a mouse is going to run immediately in front of him, there is only going to be one outcome…

Little Boy Blue idolises Kroi, just like most other dogs appear to – the ones that don’t want to kill him that is.  Little Boy Blue follows him around like his shadow and tries to sleep as close to him as possible.   He has certainly chosen a very good role model to idolise.

Kez is helping teach him the house rules…. No jumping up when food is being prepared, don’t steal from anyone’s bowl and do not try and climb over the stair gate.  It is brilliant to watch Kez in action as he deals with the situation quicker than I can and then glances over to me for approval of what he has just done. 

The Huskies Running team have a lot of work to do with this little chap, but the future is looking good for Little Boy Blue.

All photos courtesy of my new phone :-)

Little Boy Blue

We had expected a very skinny and moth eaten 3-4 month only husky puppy.  What appears to have moved in with us is a very underweight, malnourished, moth eaten puppy that is at least 6 months old, quite possibly older.

He weighs 10kg, is the size of a 3-4 month old puppy, has a full set of adult teeth and has certain behaviours consistent with a male husky between 6-12 months.

When he first arrived he was very defensive towards all three of our dogs, which took us all by surprise.  Perhaps an attitude derived from the life he has led so far.  Or perhaps there is another reason, time will tell….

In the 24 hours that he has been here today the tension within the pack has settled and he has shown puppy like behaviour and respect for the big boys.  The boy huskies are helping teach him a few house rules and he is responding very well.  Kez is already taking on his “mother hen” role…

One thing that has taken both Ian and I by surprise is his attitude towards people.  He is a very friendly and very affectionate little boy.  Very inquisitive and not fearful of anything that we do.  We have already been able to start teaching him the word “no” and he comes to us when we encourage him to.

He would not settle or lie down all yesterday afternoon and evening, and I feared a very restless night for us all.  I decided to lie down on his bed and within seconds he lay down beside me and as I held him in my arms, he fell asleep.  He slept right through the night, only once awaking and asking to out for a little wee.

He was very chilled and laid back whilst in the veterinary surgery this evening, lying down to have his nails trimmed and very relaxed whilst being examined by the vet.

The only issue I had the whole time that I was there was when we exited the surgery and met four very aggressive sounding German Shepherds…..  Little Boy Blue was initially scared, but after two seconds of hesitancy he leapt forward growling and snarling like a ferocious lion!  To see such a pathetic and fragile little furry person react in that way was heart wrenching.  He certainly has a strong survival instinct, and an attitude that belies his very weak form.

Little Boy Blue was found wondering the streets in Brentwood, near the railway station.  Some lovely people were able to capture him just before he escaped under a fence and onto the railway line.  They then took him to a local lady that owns huskies and she took him into her home.  As well as severely malnourished, he had sarcoptic mange (fox mange) and all the symptoms associated with a severe infestation.  This lady has taken brilliant care of him in the few weeks that he was with her – he has been bathed, fed and shown love and attention.

Sadly she could not keep him and so his journey now takes a different path as he becomes a temporary member of the Huskies Running team.  He will not be running for a very long time, but he will enjoy all the other benefits of being in the team!

He has very poor bone and muscle development, his front legs work quite well(ish), but his back legs are very unstable.  His co-ordination is poor and he wobbles and falls over rather easily.

Little walks for now as we build up his body and strength.  It is too early to know how he will develop from this point forth.  Very stunted growth, but with the right care and attention the future is bright for Little Boy Blue and our objective is to turn this little boy into a beautiful glowing and happy husky.  When we do that he will fly this nest and find love with a forever family of his own.  We will be updating you on his progress, so watch this space to see something amazing.