Black Diamond Spot Headlamp Review (and Discount Sale)

A little more than a year ago, when I first reviewed the Black Diamond Spot headlamp, I called it the most affordable option for dedicated trail runners.

Shortly thereafter, I did a comparison review to Petzl’s equivalent lamp, the Tikka XP2. At that time, the XP2 was a stronger high-performance option, thanks to some additional features - such as a battery life indicator, red lamp option, and compatibility with rechargeable batteries - that weren’t available on the Spot, and a brighter lumen output (60 compared to 45). However, since the price point of the Spot was only $40 compared to the XP2’s $55, I concluded that the Spot was a decent value for basic features in a durable compact lamp.

2011 Black Diamond Spot headlamp

Since then, here’s what Black Diamond has done to the Spot lamp: they added a three-stage battery life indicator and a red bulb mode. They made the lamp compatible with rechargeable batteries. And they boosted the lumen output – not to 60, but to 75.

Sounds great, right? But even better is what they didn’t change. The lamp is just as compact as last year’s Spot, with an overall size and shape that are only slightly different than the previous version. And the retail price remains exactly the same.

(And if you keep reading, it’s even cheaper … but I’m getting ahead of myself a bit.)

2010 Spot on L, 2011 Spot on R

The new Spot operates much like the previous versions. It has separate bulbs that effectively function as flood lights or a spot beam. The flood setting uses two LEDs that shine at only 16 lumens, which isn’t very helpful on the trail, but it’s useful enough to find your way to the trailhead. The larger triple-power LED is the real powerhouse of the lamp, producing a strong beam that burns for 50 hours on the high setting. On previous versions of this lamp, I felt that the spotlight beam shone almost too narrowly to see the whole trail; on the new version, the beam is noticeably wider – which is great, since the flood setting isn’t a viable trail option. Both the flood and spot modes have two brightness settings that can extend the battery life to a maximum of 200 hours.

Smaller multi-function button on 2011 version at R

Despite the overall performance improvement, there are a couple of subtle changes on this upgraded version that don’t compare quite as favorably to the previous model. The new Spot weighs in at 90g (3.17 oz) with batteries, which is 5g heavier than the old version. Also, the single multi-use button on top of the casing is slightly smaller on the new Spot, which makes it somewhat more difficult to operate with gloved hands.

Finally, as you’d expect from a beam that burns 60% brighter than its predecessor but uses the same battery power, the life span of the batteries on the high setting is noticeably shorter – the old Spot lasted for 100 hours on high, while the new one lasts only 50. However, this drawback is more than offset by the fact that the new Spot is compatible with rechargeable batteries, so if you’re a responsible consumer, the shorter lifespan is a non-factor.

Here’s the bottom line with the Spot: at a price point of $40, it used to be the best value on the market for basic compact lighting needs. Now that it’s packed with improvements and retails for the exact same price, there’s no question that the Spot offers more bang for your buck than any other lamp on the market.

And here’s where the deal gets even better: one of my affiliates, Wilderness Running Company, has a full supply of the 2011 Black Diamond Spot, and offers them at a 10% discount if you use coupon code R&R10 at checkout. If you pick up something else cheap (like maybe the best socks in the world) and bring your total order to $50, you get free shipping on everything. My coupon code applies to your entire order – so go check out the Spot lamp from WRC, and feel free to take a look around the place while you’re there.

*Product provided by Black Diamond
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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WRC Black Diamond Icon Giveaway Winner; VIVOBAREFOOT Neo (or Evo?) Winners; Random Shots of Beauty

It's time to announce our final winners from December's huge giveaway bonanza!

First, the winner of the Black Diamond Icon headlamp and Wilderness Running Company gift card is ... Shel! Contact me at the link below.

Moving on to the main VIVOBAREFOOT drawing - remember the ground rules here: depending on your shoe size and overall availability, you'll either receive a pair of the Neo shoe I reviewed, or the Evo, which in my opinion is a better overall shoe. With that in mind ... Marathon Maiden, Tim Butterfield, and treklightly, you're the lucky winners! Send me your address, and I'll pass your information along to my VB rep.

To everyone else who is interested in the Neo: check this product page to see if your sizes and colors are still available, or to put your name on the wait list for their official launch this spring. Thanks to everyone for playing!

*

As for this weekend's Random Shot of Beauty: I haven't written much lately about bike riding with my son, but it's still something we do on a regular basis. This photo was taken last week while riding through the Fort Ord open space:


Go ahead and add January bike rides to the long list of reasons I love living here.

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Black Diamond Icon Headlamp, NRG Rechargeable Battery Pack, and WRC Gift Card Giveaway

Happy Old Year! Before today's post, let's do our customary rundown of status updates on previous contests ...

* The New Balance MT101 giveaway and Ryders Eyewear VTX giveaway contests are both officially closed as of this evening, and I'll announce the winners for each of these contests on Saturday.

* There's still time to enter the VIVOBAREFOOT Neo running shoe contest, and to increase your odds of winning by spreading the word via return links. This contest will run through next week.

As for today's contest, I'm closing out the December giveaway bonanza with a couple of my most familiar companions: the Black Diamond Icon headlamp and Wilderness Running Company. If you're a regular reader of this website, my feelings about each of these entities are fairly well-established - and if you're a new reader, I'll just direct you to some links to help bring you up to speed.

Black Diamond's Icon has become my number one choice for ultrarunning; with 100 lumens, it's bright enough to light up the most technically challenging trails, and its long battery life will easily carry you through a full night of running. If you use its rechargeable NRG battery pack (sold separately), you can top off the charge to achieve full brightness relatively quickly, and you'll never have to worry about buying disposable batteries again.

In 2009 I did some extensive headlamp testing, including this in-depth review of the Icon and NRG pack. I also did a couple of head-to-head reviews: this one comparing the Icon to Petzl's equivalent MYO RXP lamp, and this one comparing the Icon to Black Diamond's equally impressive Spot and Sprinter headlamps. By the time the following summer rolled around, I had pretty much any headlamp I wanted at my disposal, and went with the Icon when it was time to pull a couple of all-nighters on the trail - and I never regretted the decision for a second.

As for Wilderness Running Company, my partnership with them is approaching two years now, and my professional respect for them grows more with each passing month. Sure, I'm probably a little biased because they hosted one of the coolest runs I did all year - but there's something about principal owner Stacy's passion for trail running, his business philosophy, and his commitment to provide first-class service that's extraordinarily impressive. And of course, they're an integral part of this giveaway.

To help you light up the New Year in style, WRC will award one winner a Black Diamond Icon headlamp as well as the NRG rechargeable battery pack - and if that weren't enough, we're throwing in a $25 gift card to spend on anything you like from their website. It's a value in excess of $100, and the only cost of entry is a comment below.

Since this post represents not only the end of the year but also the end of the Great Running and Rambling Giveaway Bonanza, we'll do this final contest in straightforward, rapid-fire fashion: one comment, one entry, with a winner announced Wednesday, January 5th. Big thanks to WRC, good luck to everybody who enters, and ... go!

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La Sportiva Winter Running Grand Prize Winners; La Sportiva Crossover GTX Winter Running Shoe Review

Clearly, the main event today is the awarding of grand prizes from La Sportiva to one male and one female reader – but the opening act isn’t too shabby either.

That’s because we’re leading off with a review of the Crossover GTX, which also happens to be one of the prizes (along with the Wildcat GTX and a hobnail kit) in the grand prize drawing. So I’m stealing a line from Survivor host Jeff Probst to ask, “Want to see what you’re playing for?”, and recommending that you take a look at the review – because even if you don’t win a pair, the Crossover is a pretty compelling choice to put on your shopping list after the holidays have come and gone.

La Sportiva Crossover GTX

To be perfectly simple, the Crossover is essentially La Sportiva’s award-winning Crosslite shoe with two augmentations: a Gore-Tex (usually abbreviated GTX) upper, and a breatheable integrated gaiter. As you’d expect, the additional features add a little bit of weight to the shoe – the Crossover GTX weighs in at 12.73 oz (361g) compared to 10.97 oz (311g) for the Crosslite – but you get a significant upgrade in foul-weather preparedness that makes it far easier to head for the trails even in the worst possible conditions.

I first reviewed the Crosslites a year and a half ago, and thankfully, La Sportiva had the good sense to leave a good thing alone, as that model has remained unchanged in the interim. I’ll refer you to my Crosslite review if you want more details aside from the basics that follow below, or you can save yourself a click and just take my word for it that the Crosslite shoe simply rocks.

So how do you winterize an already rugged high-performance trail runner? You start with giving the upper a waterproof Gore-Tex lining to keep your feet extra warm and dry. Most of my testing for this shoe consisted of stomping through every puddle and mud pit I could find during our recent West Coast storm surge, and I found the Crossover to be extremely effective at keeping moisture away from my feet.

Hard at work, splashing through every puddle in sight

However, I consider GTX to be something of a double-edged sword in regards to comfort: there’s nothing better when it comes to keeping moisture from rain, snow, slush, or wet mud away from your feet. (Also note that the GTX is waterPROOF, not merely water resistant – there’s a big difference.) On the other hand, if you do a full immersion of the shoes at river crossings, thereby allowing water to enter the shoe from above, the GTX significantly slows your drying time by limiting moisture transfer away from the foot. Since I tend to do a lot of stream crossings at this time of year, my own preference is to have a shoe that lets water in but also dries quickly – then again, I’m not often running through icy slush that would make my toes freeze.

The next step for winterizing is to have a protective gaiter to provide extra warmth and keep out trail debris, and this feature is probably the biggest innovation on the Crossover GTX. The gaiter does NOT have a GTX lining, so this portion of the shoe is breathable, which I found very nice from a comfort standpoint. Its zipper is slightly asymmetrical towards the outside of the ankle, and opens wide enough that getting the shoe on and off isn’t a problem.

Shoe laces over scree guard on upper

One nice deviation that La Sportiva included here is that the shoelaces are entirely outside the scree guard – on the traditional Crosslite, most of the laces are under the guard, which makes it challenging to open the shoe extremely wide. Once you have them on, the gaiters close with a cinch closure and Velcro flap that remain very stable throughout the run – but in my case, I generally chose to leave them loose.

Cinch lock and Velcro flap gaiter closure

Over the course of several years as an ultrarunner, I’ve gone back and forth on the gaiter idea: I started without thinking much of them, then went through a period where I couldn’t do without them, and now I’m back to being relatively indifferent. If you’re a gaiter user, the great news is that the Crossover’s version does a very nice job of keeping you insulated but also allowing ventilation as needed without overheating – and obviously, since it’s integrated into the upper, you don’t have to mess around with hooks, glue, or Velcro attachments anymore. If you’re in the non-gaiter camp, the Crossover doesn’t offer you any option to remove it. However, as a current non-gaiter guy, I can attest that with the cinch fastener fairly loose, the extra material on my ankles didn’t noticeably impact my comfort or performance on muddy trail runs.

Secure-fitting gaiter; protective rubberized toe cap

The integrated gaiter zips rather snugly over the upper, providing a very secure fit through the forefoot. La Sportiva is known for slightly narrow toeboxes, and it might be psychosomatic, but zipping the gaiter up seems to enhance the sensation of a tight forefoot fit – whether that’s a plus or minus is up to you. The front of the upper also features a sturdy rubberized toe cap to protect your toes from getting stubbed on rocks or roots.

FriXion AT rubber outsole with Impact Braking System lugs

The remainder of the shoe is La Sportiva’s bread and butter: the Crosslite dual-density midsole with a TrailShock molded shank and high-tensile RockGuard plate for protection from the sharpest and pointiest rocks you’ll ever encounter. Beneath that is perhaps La Sportiva’s best feature: a prominently lugged outsole made of their trademark FriXion AT sticky rubber and an impact braking system (precise angulation and directionality of the lugs) that claims to decrease impact forces by 20%. The outsole rubber maintains traction on slick rocks, and the shape and spacing of the lugs sheds mud quite easily in the course of normal running.

Midsole thicknesses are 26mm in the heel and 16mm in the toe, so the Crossover certainly isn’t a minimalist shoe – rather, it’s an aggressive neutral traditional trainer built to take on the harshest conditions you’ll encounter for winter trail running. If you’re facing a steady diet of snowy, slushy, icy trails this winter, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better-equipped shoe than this one.

The La Sportiva Crossover retails for $150 with free shipping from Wilderness Running Company, where you’ll get an additional 10% off by using coupon code R&R10. Or if you’re one of two lucky winners below, La Sportiva will mail you a pair for free.

**

So who are the lucky recipients? It’s time to announce the winners of La Sportiva’s Winter Running Grand Prize giveaway, for whom Christmas has just arrived a few days early. After the announcement, I’ll have links to buy any of these items separately, but for the time being let’s get to it …

Women’s winner: Chris Grove

Men’s winner: Richard Ferron

To Chris and Richard: Congratulations! Send me an e-mail, which I’ll forward along to La Sportiva so that you each receive one pair of Crossover GTX shoes, one pair of Wildcat GTX shoes, and one hobnail kit.

To everybody else: Thanks very much for participating in this contest, and especially for giving all of us such great inspiration with your crazy winter running photos. Here are links to the individual items that were featured in this giveaway:

La Sportiva Crossover: $150 with free shipping from Wilderness Running Company, and a 10% discount for using coupon code R&R10.

La Sportiva Crosslite: the high-performance shoe that the Crossover is built upon is also available for $90 with free shipping from WRC, with the same coupon code discount available.

La Sportiva Wildcat GTX: This shoe was something of a second banana in this giveaway, but it’s a standout shoe in its own regard. See my review of the shoe here at FeedTheHabit.com, and purchase the shoe for $125 at TravelCountry.com.

La Sportiva hobnail kit: $45 from Wilderness Running Company, minus 10% with coupon code R&R10.

Finally, I owe an enormous thank you to La Sportiva for being such generous sponsors of this giveaway. If you’re ever looking for a company that is doing all the right things to promote the sport of trail running, La Sportiva should be at the top of your list.


Happy Winter Running to everybody!

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Gear of the Year 2010; Surprise Holiday Giveaway

If you’re new to these parts because you’ve recently subscribed to get in on all the great giveaways, I’d like to point out a couple of things …

1) Welcome! It’s great to have you on board. It will be even greater if you decide to stick around after the contest frenzy dies down in January - but that’s a bridge to cross when we get there, I suppose. I do periodic giveaways throughout the year, but they’re just another part of the ultrarunning / minimalist / outdoor adventure / family life collage that makes up this website. Please stick around for a while, and maybe you’ll find something you like. Also …

2) I do a lot of product reviews. Most are for this website, others are for FeedTheHabit.com, and the vast majority are focused on trail running gear. Yes, it’s a great gig, and gives me opportunities to test and try products that I wouldn’t normally think of purchasing. It also gives me a point of reference to highlight some of the items that really stand out for one reason or another, and make recommendations for your own gear decisions.

Accordingly, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite gear over the past year – products that I’ve used over and over again, long after the original review was published. On the list that follows, the first links take you to my original reviews, followed by links to purchase the product from various vendors (disclosure: some of them are affiliates), along with a brief description of why I’m so crazy about each item.

I’ve divided the list into three sections - apparel, gear, and footwear – but since this is December and we’re in the middle of a contest frenzy, I’m also including a cool little giveaway at the end to make sure you make it to the bottom of the post. Sound good? OK then. Let’s get started!


Apparel:

GoLite Manitou shirt: Their Wildwood shirt got most of the press this year, but the slightly thicker, super-comfortable Manitou was my shirt of choice for foggy morning runs and day-long hikes. Retails for $29 from Amazon.com.

GoLite Mesa Trail 7” shorts: Comfortable, lightweight, durable … everything you want in a trail short. Retails for $40 from the Golite website.

The North Face Apex ClimateBlock jacket: A perfect combination of style, comfort, safety, and protection from the elements, I use this for early mornings trail runs and after-work neighborhood runs. A bit pricey at $159 from Gear.com, but this may be the only jacket you need for cold-weather running.

Mountain Hardwear Geist vest: Provides enough warmth to get you through pre-dawn chill, and is small and light enough to easily stuff into your hydration pack when the morning gets warm. Retails for $90 from Gear.com.

Drymax socks: I’ve gone on and on about these, so I won’t belabor the point here. They’re simply awesome. Try either the Lite Trail model or Regular Trail model for 9 bucks from Wilderness Running Company, and thank me later.

*Note: as with all WRC purchases, remember to use my coupon code R&R10 for an additional 10% off.


Gear:

Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp: bright LED in front for visibility, blinking red LED in back for road safety, lightweight construction for comfort, and a rechargeable battery to be eco-friendly. It’s the complete package, and it's discounted to $60 at Wilderness Running Company.

Black Diamond Icon headlamp: This is an ideal headlamp for running through the night, and with the rechargeable NRG battery pack (sold separately), it’s green as well. It's also discounted to $45 at Wilderness Running Company, which is an outstanding deal, or you can wait and try your luck with a giveaway at the end of the month.

Petzl Tikka XP2 headlamp: When I need something bright enough to run trails in the dark but small enough to fit in a waist pocket after sunrise, there’s no beating this lamp. New for this year, it’s compatible with a rechargeable battery pack, which I’m currently testing and will review in January. The headlamp is currently on sale for $44 from TravelCountry.com.

Nathan HPL 020: The ultimate victor in my extensive hydration pack reviews last year, this one has proven its worth over and over again. Amazon.com sells them for a crazy discount price of $56, and this should be any new ultrarunner’s first investment.

Ultimate Direction Uno: For any run between 1 and 2.5 hours, this is mandatory equipment. I love the upright bottle position and dual pockets that are actually big enough to keep stuff in. It's currently discounted to $23 from Wilderness Running Company.


Footwear:

Soft Star RunAmoc: My favorite everyday minimalist trainer, because it captures the essence of trail running better than anything else I’ve ever worn. $87 from Soft Star, or you can enter my giveaway drawing through December 16th.

VIVOBAREFOOT Evo: Who says minimalist shoes can’t be high-performance? For race days and epic adventures, these are my first choice. $160 from Amazon.com.

Vibram FiveFingers Bikila: Awesome ground feel and amazing comfort; for pure road running, minimalist footwear doesn’t get any better than this. They are so popular that Vibram has trouble keeping up with demand, but TravelCountry.com has a great supply of them at a retail price of $100.

New Balance MT101: If you’re not quite ready to go completely minimalist, this is the next best option: lightweight, low to the ground, comfortable and durable. This would also be an ideal off-road race shoe, and sells for $75 from Endless.com.

Sanuk Boardroom sandal: OK, it’s not a running shoe … but remember how I’ve mentioned a few times that the VIVOBAREFOOT Oak is one of my favorite work shoes? The Boardroom is the other. It’s lightweight, flat, flexible and super comfortable – and stylish enough that your boss won’t look at you funny. $85 from Amazon.com.


And now for our special surprise category …

Race nutrition: The clear favorite here is GU, which I started using as my sole fuel source in my ultras last spring. I used to have fairly frequent stomach distress during ultras, but this year it hasn’t been an issue at all. I will probably supplement this with real food during a 100-miler, but for 100K or less, all I need is a steady supply of GU – especially the Roctane formulations specifically designed for high-endurance activity – along with some fluids to keep rolling right along.


GU also shows its holiday spirit this time of year, with limited-release flavors that I described in this giveaway post from last year. They’re stepping up big for my website again this winter, and this is today’s secret giveaway prize: three winners will receive one box of each of GU’s holiday flavors, vanilla gingerbread (incredibly delicious, in my opinion) and mint chocolate. This will be a straight “one comment, one entry” system, so sign in below by 5PM PST on Friday, December 17th, and I’ll announce the winner later that night. Big thanks to GU for sponsoring this giveaway, and good luck to everyone!




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Salomon Trail III Tights Winner; Salomon Trail III Tights Discount Sale and Coupon Code

Quick post tonight to announce the Salomon Trail III tights and WRC gift card winner ...

Audrey: e-mail me - you've won the giveaway!

To everyone else: thanks very much for playing, and remember that these tights are still discounted to $64 at Wilderness Running Company, where you can save another 10% with coupon code R&R10, and you'll get free shipping since your order is over $50.

And of course, stay tuned for the next giveaway coming soon.

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Salomon Trail III Running Tights Review and Giveaway; Wilderness Running Company Gift Card Giveaway

I know this is getting to be a habit … but let’s start this post by keeping everyone in the loop with ongoing contests:

* You’ve got until 5PM PST Thursday to enter the Manzella and Saucony glove contest.

* The VIVOBAREFOOT (remember - all caps!) work shoes giveaway closes on Friday at 5PM PST.

* Keep sending me winter running photos to enter the LaSportiva Crossover GTX and Wildcat GTX giveaways on December 22.

Also, if you didn’t win the Drymax socks contest and missed the follow-up announcement of the awesome Drymax sale at Wilderness Running Company, you can still purchase their socks at a sweet discount: less than 9 bucks per pair, with an additional 10% off by using coupon code R&R10. You can pick up some lite trail socks or regular trail socks for this winter, and also earn my gratitude for supporting WRC, because they’re good people - so good, in fact, that they’re sponsoring the following giveaway.

**

I don’t often find myself hoping that the weather would turn colder, but that’s exactly how I felt back in early November, after visiting Wilderness Running Company’s global headquarters in St George, Utah.

More specifically, Stacy (WRC’s owner) set me up with a pair of Salomon Trail III tights to try, and I knew as soon as I put them on that they’d end up in the heavy rotation of my cold-weather apparel. But since our morning temperatures back home in California hadn’t yet dipped to my “too cold for shorts” threshold (typically 40 degrees or lower - insert laughter here), I had to keep the tights in the drawer for a little while.

Salomon Trail III tight

Thankfully – and I can’t believe I’m writing this sentence – a cold spell came our way during Thanksgiving week, and the tights saw extensive duty. Now that I’ve logged an honest amount of mileage in them, I can confirm what I initially suspected about the Trail IIIs when I first tried them on: they’re super comfortable, and an ideal piece of gear for cold-weather trail running.

The main panels of the Trail IIIs are made from actiLite, Salomon’s soft stretch moisture-wicking fabric that rides very comfortably against the skin, with flatlock seam construction to minimize chafing in key areas. Behind each knee is a panel of actiLite mesh that provides some ventilation without sacrificing warmth. Overall weight is 260g (9.17oz), making the Trail III ideal for moderate winter chill; the coldest run I’ve used them in was 30 degrees, and I’d estimate that they’d be comfortable for another 5 degrees or so lower.

There are a few nice accents such as a drawstring adjustment, reflective brand accents, a securely zippered rear pocket, and calf zips on the ankles. The ankle area is my only minor critique of the pants, as they are noticeably looser than most other tights – in fact, I’m easily able to put my feet through the openings without unzipping. One other caution worth mentioning is the sizing of these tights, which tend to run big. I’m 6’2” with a 32” waist, and sized down to a medium Trail III after the large proved too long.

Overall, I’ve been very pleased with the Trail III; they’re not awesome enough to make me love winter weather, but they sure help me deal with it a lot better. They normally retail for $85, but they're currently on sale for $64 at Wilderness Running Company, and one reader (male or female - there's a women's version) will get a chance to try them for free by winning today’s contest. And to sweeten the prize even further, we’re throwing in a $25 WRC gift card to use on anything else from the website.

The ground rules for this one are similar to others lately: you get one entry for a comment below this post, one more for a link to this contest page from Facebook or Twitter, and a third for a blog link to this contest page. Let me know how many entries you deserve (remember, I’m doing random checks) by Monday, December 13 at 5PM PST, and I’ll announce the winner shortly thereafter. Good luck to everybody, and thanks very much to Wilderness Running Company for sponsoring this giveaway.

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Drymax Sock Winners; Drymax Trail Running Sock Sale

I'm making this quick tonight so I can knock out another giveaway post after my normal bedtime, so here goes: the winners of the Drymax trail running socks contest are:

3rd place (one pair of your choice socks): Eddy in Los Angeles

2nd place (one pair of each trail running model): Karen M.

1st place (two pairs of each model): Jesse (Run to the Border)

Congrats to all three of you! Drop me an e-mail at info@runningandrambling.com with your mailing address and shoe size, and I'll pass your information along to my Drymax rep who will take care of you.

For everyone else: thanks very much for playing and for all the positive feedback about the socks. You can also get the Drymax regular and Lite Trail models at a great price from Wilderness Running Company, with a combination sale price and coupon code offer. Use the links below, where you'll find discounted prices on both models. Then enter coupon code R&R10 for an additional 10% off. If you order $50 worth of product, you also get free shipping, so this is a great time to stock up.

Here are the links:

Drymax Lite Trail sock

Drymax Trail Running sock

Happy shopping!

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The Running Life Book Release (and Discount!)

A couple of administrative notes before today’s post …

1) Apologies for skipping the standard Random Shots of Beauty weekend post. The past three days were something of an experiment, as I wanted to see if I could go completely unplugged for a while. The good news is that I only had about half the number of anxiety attacks I anticipated; the bad news is that by midday today I had the same kind of tension headache I get whenever I try to limit my caffeine intake. Fortunately, it wasn’t anything a couple of Advil couldn’t handle – so I’m considering the experiment a marginal success.

2) Speaking of the weekend: it was amazing. A small group of us ran to our heart’s content in Zion National Park, thanks in large part to Stacy at Wilderness Running Company, who bent over backwards to plan all the logistics, make all the necessary arrangements, and provide all of the support we needed down to the very last detail. All the rest of us had to do was show up and run – and I’ll have that report later this week.

In the meantime, if you haven’t done so already, keep WRC in your bookmarks for the next time you need trail running gear (and if you buy anything, remember my coupon code R&R10). Stacy’s good people, and his company is 100% committed to serving customers who are passionate about trail running. I kind of always knew that, but this weekend eliminated any shadow of a doubt.

As for today’s post, it’s one that’s been in the works for a while …

**

They’re here! At long last, The Running Life is available as a real-life, good-old-fashioned paperback book – and for the next week, you can get it at a discounted price.

The Running Life book!

Mike and I announced the book’s release in our newspaper column last week, and that article follows below. But if you’re the type who prefers to skip the window shopping in favor of just grabbing what you want and checking out, I’ve got you covered: simply click here to jump to the book's website, and click the PayPal button at top right to get your copy.

Otherwise, you can proceed to the article that provides a brief synopsis of the book, then click any of the links that will take you either to our dedicated Running Life website for direct purchases, or to the book’s Amazon.com pages. (For the record, it's cheaper from our website, and we make a higher percentage from direct sales - but honestly, the site you choose to buy from doesn’t matter to me one bit; I’m equally grateful either way.) The PayPal method has a section for special instructions to the seller, so if you've inquired about signed copies or other requests, that's the way to do it, and I'm more than happy to comply.

The timing of the release happens to coincide nicely with next weekend’s Big Sur Half Marathon, so we made some arrangements with the race and with our local running shop to share a booth and sell our book at a 20% discount for race participants. We’re extending that same offer to everybody, so from now through November 13th, you can get the exact same discount without running a step. But if for some reason you happen to find yourself in Monterey next weekend, feel free to stop by the Conference Center and say hi. I’ll be the guy wearing the moccasins.

**

Running Life 11/4/10 “The Running Life Book”

It seems hard to believe that we’ve had this column for more than six years; you could say the time has sort of raced past us.

We hope to continue for many years to come – but in the meantime, we thought it was time to take a look back at all the roads and trails we’ve traveled thus far, and compile them into a collection we can share with everybody.

The result is The Running Life: Wisdom and Observations From a Lifetime of Running, our new book which was officially released this week. It's effectively a "greatest hits" collection of our writing over the course of six years, organized into sections that represent the topics we most frequently write about: the benefits of running, basic training guidelines, inspirational stories and motivational boosts, social commentary, and accounts of our running and racing adventures.

Click photo to go to book webpage

Our goals in starting this column back in 2004 were to promote the sport of running in Monterey County, be an informative resource for runners, and give non-runners a glimpse of what the running life is all about. The content of the book reflects this as well: whether you are an advanced runner, a novice, or even a non-athlete, we’re confident that you’ll find something in this collection that you’ll enjoy.

Much of our writing has a local focus, but the articles in the book have been revised to be applicable to anybody, anywhere. However, we haven’t lost our appreciation for the best of what’s around us – in fact, there’s a special 40-page section on the Big Sur Marathon and Half-Marathons featuring all our coverage of the events over the years, and training advice for runners who hope to complete those events someday.

It shouldn’t surprise you to hear that there’s a fair amount of silliness as well, as a healthy portion of our columns are only peripherally about running. Letters to Santa, Wizard of Oz metaphors, sexual activity of Olympians, Kenny Rogers lyrics … you’ll find it all in the book. There’s even an article that was deemed too scandalous to print in the Herald – and no, it’s not the sex one. You’ll just have to read and guess for yourself.

While publishing a book is a nice accomplishment for us, we recognize that it never would have happened without an enormous amount of support from multiple allies. Sports editors Dave Kellogg and Scott Forstner have been extremely supportive of our efforts – really now, how many newspapers even have a running column? – and the Monterey Peninsula running community has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement for us. And obviously, our families deserve some kind of medal for putting up with our nonsense all these years, but that should go without saying.

The Running Life can be purchased directly from our website at www.montereyrunninglife.com. It is also available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle versions, as well as Barnes and Noble and other online booksellers. To celebrate the release, and in conjunction with next weekend’s Big Sur Half-Marathon, the book is being sold for 20% off the cover price (on website or in person only, not on Amazon.com) from now through race day on November 13th.

You can also look for us at the Big Sur Half-Marathon race expo next weekend, where we are sharing a booth with The Treadmill running store to sell the books in person. We look forward to meeting you there, hearing about your plans for race weekend, and sharing a few stories of our own.

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Check out the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.

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On the Zion Train

"Oh children, Zion train is comin' our way - get on board now!
They said the Zion train is comin' our way -
You got a ticket, so thank the Lord!"
- Bob Marley and the Wailers, "Zion Train" (video after post)

If you want to get specific about it, it's really a Zion plane that I'm getting on today, but the feel-good vibe is exactly the same.

I'll be spending most of Saturday scampering around Zion National Park, thanks in large part to the unbelievable support of Wilderness Running Company in making all the arrangements for a small group of like-minded souls to enjoy some epic trail running. I've never seen the park before, but I'm pretty certain I'll find something to my liking.

Needless to say, a full report will follow next week. Until then, I've got my ticket, and I thank the Lord.

*

Video disclaimer: the exact lyrics above are from the studio version of the song, but they aren't in the concert clip below. When you've got a chance to include a live Bob Marley classic, you don't worry about the details.

Bob Marley and the Wailers, "Zion Train" (click to play):

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Buy the Running Life book for a collection of our most popular columns.

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Black Diamond Bonanza; Random Shots of Beauty

Have you noticed that it’s getting darker in the mornings?

Have you also noticed that your old lighting systems might be in need of an upgrade? If so, Wilderness Running Company is having a Black Diamond Bonanza right now just for you.

The short version is, from now to October 19th, all BD lights are on sale for 25% off. As always, if you use my customary coupon code R&R10, you’ll get an additional 10% off. And if your total purchase is over $50, you get free shipping as well. You'll have a hard time finding a better deal than that.

If you want the long versions, I can help there as well, because I’ve already reviewed all of these items for you. So if you’re interested, the reviews are linked below, with a short update blurb about each:

Black Diamond Spot: I called this the most affordable high-quality lamp available last year, and that was BEFORE they upgraded the lumen capacity from 47 to 60. Your best value by far for basic lighting needs.

Black Diamond Sprinter: The best combination of safety, illumination, and lightweight construction on the market. This is a must for frequent road runners, and best of all, its rechargeable battery makes it very green.

Black Diamond Icon: True story: when I paced Gretchen through the night at Tahoe this summer, I wore the Icon on my head and carried a handheld light. About five hours into the night, I turned off my handheld to see if there was any difference … and I never used it again. The Icon was bright enough to flood out my handheld, and held its charge through the night with no problems whatsoever.

Black Diamond NRG battery pack (see Icon review): I use this all the time in my Icon. It’s lightweight, convenient, super-strong, and Earth-friendly; what more can you ask for?

Pretty good stuff, huh? In particular, the opportunity to grab an Icon plus NRG pack, shipped to your door for just over 60 bucks is a crazy awesome deal – take my word for it. So here are your purchase links from Wilderness Running Company:

Black Diamond Spot: on sale for $30
Black Diamond Sprinter: on sale for $60
Black Diamond Icon: on sale for $45
Black Diamond NRG pack: on sale for $22

Remember to use code R&R10 for another 10% off. Prices are good until October 19th.

And since it’s the weekend, here’s your Random Shot of Beauty:

Daybreak in Fort Ord, taken just above the fog line and approximately 15 miles into my final long training run before last weekend's Firetrails 50M. Coincidentally, I used a Black Diamond lamp to get me there.


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Salomon XT Wings 2 Sale

Hopefully it goes without saying that big, rugged trail shoes aren't especially my thing anymore, but since it's a slow weekend, I thought I'd pass along an offer that some folks might want to jump on while it's available.

Salomon's XT Wings have a very large, very loyal following - and before I went all minimalist, I gave them a spin myself (see my full review here). They're the kind of shoe that users buy over and over again - and from now until Sept 23rd, Wilderness Running Company is making it easy to stock up. They're offering a steep discount on the XT Wings 2, plus a handful of other shoe deals described on this e-mail flyer:

click to enlarge

As with all other purchases from WRC, the deal is even better if you use my coupon code: enter R&R10 to get an extra 10% off the sale price listed above. So, Salomon fans ... grab 'em while you can get 'em.

Regular programming resumes tomorrow night.

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Ultimate Direction Solitaire Review; Ultimate Direction Uno Review

Prior to my 50-mile race last month, when Stacy at Wilderness Running Company offered up an Ultimate Direction waist pack for me to test out, my immediate thought was, “It’s not going to be as good as my Uno pack.”

The truth was, I already had an Ultimate Direction waist pack that worked pretty well for me. I wear it for pretty much every run that’s in the 1 to 2.5-hour range - three hours or more, and I switch to hydration packs – which means that my Uno pack has seen a LOT of miles on the trail over the years. In fact, on a strict miles-per-dollar scale, the Uno is probably the most worthwhile investment I’ve ever made, second only to the $40 Timex that I use every single day.

Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical that something new would win me over – so in the spirit of compromise, I decided to review both packs: the one I received from WRC, and the one I already had.

Ultimate Direction Solitaire

The new pack I tested is the Ultimate Direction Solitaire, which combines a low horizontal bottle holder with 100 cubic inches of storage space on top. It’s a good option if you need a little extra cargo capacity for long trail runs.

Positioning of the bottle is somewhat unique in that it’s completely horizontal, laying across your backside instead of being angled upward. The pack comes with a 26-oz bottle featuring Ultimate Direction’s famous kicker valve, which seems to be a “love it or hate it” innovation (I’m not personally crazy about it). The holster is wide enough to hold standard 20- or 24-oz Specialized bottles as well as the factory UD bottle.

Above the bottle holster is a horizontal cargo compartment that is large enough to stash a jacket, a few gadgets, or even another full 20-oz bottle. There’s also a small mesh pocket on the outside of the pack for energy gel (or gel wrappers) or other small items. The whole pack weighs 9.5 oz, so you get a decent amount of storage without sacrificing too much weight – especially when you consider that it’s only 1 ounce heavier than the Uno, but provides about 40% more capacity.

The Solitaire has closed-cell foam padding on the backside, and moisture-wicking padding that stretches around to the front buckles of the stability belt for improved comfort on the run. I have to say that I found a fully-loaded pack to be a little bouncier than I like, and the horizontal positioning of the bottle does take a bit of getting used to. On the other hand, maybe I’m just too accustomed to using the Uno pack for so many years.

Ultimate Direction Uno

And why do I like the Uno so much? For a lot of reasons. At 8.5 oz, it’s fairly lightweight but durable enough to take a beating. I like the upright bottle position that’s equally accessible with both hands; I’ve never been a big fan of angled holsters, and the Uno is one of the few models on the market that isn’t angled. The holster is also compatible with any standard 20- or 24-oz bottle, although the taller size is a bit more noticeable against your low back at times.

I also like having two separate pockets – so I can keep my gels and wrappers separate from my tech gadgets - that are each big enough to hold one or two key essentials. The storage capacity is only about 65 cubic inches, but the contoured zipper pockets allow enough space for the basics. I can fit either a cell phone, or a compact headlamp (most frequently my Petzl Tikka XP2), or four gel packs, or even my compact camera into a single pocket. While the Solitaire would probably be able to carry all that stuff together, I generally don’t need all of those things at once – or if I do, I’m in the “over three hour” category where I’d probably step up to using a hydration pack anyway.

Most of all, I love how the Uno just settles comfortably into the small of my back, almost to the point where I forget it’s there sometimes. It has the same ultra-wicking, foam padded back panel as the Solitaire (although the waist straps aren’t padded), but for me the comfort comes more from having a smaller-profile pack in a natural resting position that remains close to my center of gravity for more efficient running.

In case you haven’t guessed by now, I ended up sticking with my Uno pack during this month’s 50-miler. I carried my camera in one pocket, and energy gels in the other. Between the Uno and my QuickDraw Elite, I had up to 42 oz of fluids with me at all times, and access to everything was a breeze. My goal coming into the race was to carry lighter gear without skimping on fluids or storage, and I felt like those two items accomplished the task wonderfully.

However, my ongoing affection for the Uno isn’t meant to take anything away from the Solitaire, which would be a better choice under different circumstances. From my experience, the Solitaire is a nice option if you need a high volume of fluid but don’t want to add a hand-held pack or upgrade to a hydration pack, or if you’re looking to carry additional water or gear than you can fit into a standard waist-mounted pack, and if you’re comfortable having a somewhat bulkier pack across your backside. The Uno is an almost unbeatable option if you’re looking to travel light and/or fast and only need one or two bare essentials along for the ride.

As I’ve said a few times already, Wilderness Running Company was instrumental in providing these products for me to compare and review – so if you’re in the market for new hydration gear, you can do me a favor by doing some business with WRC. You’re doing yourself a favor as well, since you can save 10% on anything by using coupon code R&R10 at checkout. And to make it even easier, I’ll save you the trouble of scrolling back through the post:

The Ultimate Direction Solitaire retails for $42.

The Ultimate Direction Uno retails for $30.

Previously: the Nathan QuickDraw Elite retails for $25.


*Solitaire and QuickDraw Elite provided by Wilderness Running Company.
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runingandrambling.com.

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Nathan QuickDraw Elite Review

Before today’s review, let’s take care of some business … fgump and msimpson, email your address to me at info@runningandrambling.com – you’ve won the GU sampler pack! To everyone who didn’t win … better luck next time, I guess. I’ll try to keep these sorts of giveaways going periodically.

Today’s post actually ties into the story I told as part of the GU giveaway, in that my nutritional strategy for ultras this year has changed compared to 2009. Last year, I felt like hydration packs were a necessity for me; I didn’t want to face long, hot stretches of trail without a lot of fluid on board at all times, as well as adequate cargo space for any layers or random accessories I might want along for the ride. The timing also worked out rather nicely in that I happened to receive a lot of packs to review last spring, so I figured it was just a matter of finding my favorite one, and I’d be ready for anything on the trail.

For the most part, the approach worked fairly well, with a few exceptions that I noticed in races:

1) Hydration packs add a bit of extra weight (over a pound, in some cases) that takes some accommodation to wear comfortably.

2) No matter what kind of fluid reservoir you have, the amount of time required to remove your pack, hand it to an aid station volunteer, explain how the opening works, pack everything back up while double-checking to make sure there’s no leaks, and get on your way is significantly more than with standard water bottles. And …

3) You often end up carrying more fluid weight than you need between each aid station.

Item #3 I experienced quite vividly during Western States last year, when I couldn’t stomach any fluid whatsoever, but kept a half-filled pack on throughout the night so I could keep attempting sips whenever I got brave enough to try again. There’s a good chance I carried the same 40 ounces of fluid more than 30 miles that evening. As if I needed to make the race any more challenging.

So this year, I wanted to travel lighter, a philosophy that tied in rather well with the whole minimalist thing I’ve been doing. Less shoe, less gear, less weight, less complication … and hopefully, more enjoyment. At Quicksilver last month, I also knew that my moccasin-wearing stunt would handicap me somewhat from a time standpoint, as I wouldn’t be able to fly down the descents like I do with standard shoes. So part of my “less is more” strategy was to spend less time at the aid stations than I did the year before, to make up for the time I was giving away on the course.

Enter Wilderness Running Company. I told Stacy (the owner) about my plans, and he set me up with two key pieces of equipment: the Nathan QuickDraw Elite handheld, and an Ultimate Direction waist pack that I’ll review later this week. These two items together provided all the fluid and cargo capacity I needed, and helped me move lighter and quicker through the 50 miles.


Nathan QuickDraw Elite

The QuickDraw Elite looks pretty basic, although it’s officially an upgrade to the QuickDraw Plus, which is Nathan’s bare-basics hand-held model. The Elite costs $8 more ($25 compared to $17), but the advantages in comfort and performance are well worth the extra dollars.

(Plus, as with all items from WRC, you can save 10% by entering coupon code R&R10 at checkout. And you get free shipping on orders over $50. Every dollar counts, right?)

Nathan’s primary intent with the QuickDraw Elite was to eliminate the need to actually “hold” the bottle in your hand, which is accomplished with a technical hand strap that keeps the bottle secured to your palm even with your fingers relaxed or extended. Security of the strap is adjustable with a Velcro attachment on the bottom, and the fabric is a ventilated, moisture-wicking Wall Mesh material that feels comfortable even with multiple hours of use.

On the “body” side of the pack is a zippered pocket with key clasp, as well as a mesh trash pocket to stash your gel wrappers between aid stations. The zipper pocket is an ideal size for gels, or in my case, my “pharm bag” of Tylenol and electrolyte pills that I was reaching for once per hour. Between the pocket and the hand strap is an elastic collar that holds your bottle securely; the Elite comes with one of Nathan’s patented BPA-free 22-oz bottles, but it can be used with any standard-width 20 to 24-oz cycling bottle.

The whole pack weighs just 6.4 oz, and the convenience of having a bottle at hand during a race is impossible to beat. Access to fluids on the run is easy, and refills at aid stations are a breeze. Running with a hand-held takes a bit of getting used to – and I did have a mild knot in my left shoulder the day after the race - but the learning curve is pretty steep, and the performance benefit of having the Elite was definitely worth making the adjustment.

As I mentioned, the Elite was only one half of the fluid equation; the second part (my waist pack) will be discussed later this week. In the meantime, the QuickDraw Elite is available at Wilderness Running Company, with a 10% discount for using coupon code R&R10.


*Product provided by Wilderness Running Company.
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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La Sportiva Fireblade Review; La Sportiva Coupon Code Sale

La Sportiva has steadily become one of my favorite companies, as much for their contributions to the ultrarunning community as for their high-performance footwear. I’ve been happy with three different models I’ve tested - see reviews of the Wildcat here, Crosslite here, or Wildcat GTX here on FeedTheHabit.com – with the Crosslite being my “If you had a 50-mile race coming up and only one pair of shoes, what would you pick?” model of choice.

So when Wilderness Running Company wanted to do a promotional sale with La Sportiva footwear, it didn’t take much convincing for me to play along – especially since there was a concurrent opportunity to review a prominent La Sportiva model I hadn’t yet tested. Information on the coupon code sale is at the end of the post, and a review of the La Sportiva Fireblade follows below.


Truthfully, a lot of my homework for this review was already done by Stacy at WRC, who posted this excellent comparison (complete with groovy pop culture reference point - he's good people) between the Fireblade and La Sportiva’s more popular Wildcat model in terms of build and performance. The Fireblade’s construction is such that it gives a firmer overall feel and promotes a slightly different running style than the Wildcat, with an outsole that is a bit more versatile for the everyday trail runner – all of which will be explained shortly. As usual, we’ll start from the top …


The Fireblade’s upper is pretty standard La Sportiva design: AirMesh material that keeps dust out but provides good ventilation, synthetic leather overlays, and a scree guard on top that also helps anchor the foot to the midsole of the shoe. There’s a rubber cap in front for toe protection, which I’ve personally tested (unwillingly) a few times – it works quite well. Another item of note is that one color option for this model is a very bright orange and black … in case you’re worried about getting shot by hunters, I guess.

Where the Fireblade distinguishes itself from the other models is the midsole, which features a triple-density EVA in comparison to single-density EVA in the Wildcat and most other trainers. Thickness is 26mm in the heel, and 16mm in the forefoot; the “delta” (height difference) of 10mm makes it relatively flatter than most trail shoes on the market as well (12mm delta is typical, although La Sportiva’s Crosslite also has a delta of 10).

These two structural differences – firmer and flatter – are what gives the Fireblade a unique feel, and influences the way you run in them. Although the high-density EVA is exceedingly durable – theoretically, it should last three times as long as single-density EVA before wearing out – it’s not super-cushiony to begin with. Instead, you feel a solid platform underneath you on all kinds of terrain. This diminished cushioning, combined with a relatively flat delta, have another fringe benefit: it discourages heavy heel strike in favor of a more forward impact area. In other words, if you happen to be a minimalist or barefoot runner and want to maintain a midfoot strike when wearing traditional trainers, the Fireblades accommodate this very nicely. (Hooray!)


The underside of the Fireblade features La Sportiva’s FriXion AT/Racing outsole, which is noticeably less knobby than either the Wildcat or Crosslite. The lugs are somewhat shallow, giving you strong traction on hard surfaces like sandstone or granite, and pretty decent grip on other types of terrain. I found them to be a bit slippery on a recent wilderness run that turned into a long bushwhacking session on steep slopes (separate post coming soon), but for your standard-fare fire roads and single track, they are more than adequate.

Shallow lugs also allow the shoe to function as something of a hybrid that you could use for a 3 or 4-mile run to the trailhead before heading into the dirt. In that regard, they could meet a similar need as Salomon’s XT Wings, but in a style that’s slightly lighter and noticeably lower to the ground, and quite a bit more affordable. Overall weight of the Fireblade is 366g (12.9 oz), which is on the heavy side compared to La Sportiva’s 350g Wildcat and 336g Crosslite – so while this is officially categorized as a racing shoe, it would be equally useful as a durable high mileage trainer for everyday use.

I can’t say that the Fireblade is my new #1 shoe – the lighter weight and more aggressive tread of the Crosslite still win me over – but that’s the nice thing about the promotion currently offered by Wilderness Running Company. From now through the end of February, they’re offering a $20 discount on ANY La Sportiva shoe in their inventory. Try the Fireblade for yourself, or grab a good deal on the Wildcat or Crosslite or any other model. Since your purchase price will still be over $50, it qualifies for free shipping, so you save a few bucks there as well.

But here’s where things get tricky, so pay attention: the coupon code for this one is different than my regular one. This time, type in lasportiva to apply the $20 discount at checkout, and enjoy getting to know your La Sportivas.


(Of course, if you like, you can do more shopping and use my R&R10 code for a 10% discount on a separate order. Just a suggestion.)


*Product provided by Wilderness Running Company
**See other product reviews on sidebar at right. If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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