Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS Review; Patagonia 50% Off Sale; VIVOBAREFOOT 20% Off Fall Sale

A few unrelated odds and ends before today’s product review …

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This month VIVOBAREFOOT is launching its Fall 2012 line with a 2-week promotional offer for me and for you.  I get a new pair of shoes to review, which will be posted next week.  You get 20% off of any item in their catalog – even the super-lightweight Ultra water/running shoe and the popular Ra dress shoe – when you use coupon code RUNNINGANDRAMBLING20.  The sale ends on November 1, so get moving.

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The response to my CLIF Bar Meet the Moment giveaway contest has been somewhat lukewarm so far – meaning that your odds of winning are pretty good if you take the few minutes to enter.  The contest runs through October 31, so head back to this post for full details.

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A couple of weeks ago I introduced Massey's Outfitters as a new affiliate sponsor, and mentioned that they carry the entire line of current Patagonia apparel.  And now for a limited time, they’re offering a significant portion of that catalog at up to 50% off; click the banner below to go shopping.

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Back in June my friend Mike and I wrote a Monterey Herald article about how a past winner of the Big Sur Half Marathon later tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, and how the race took extraordinary measures to award the proper prize money to other top-5 finishers whose awards were impacted.  Well, guess what?  It turns out that the 5^th place runner in that same race was also using drugs at the time, as this week’s New York Times article describes.

What stands out most about this article are two points:  1) the runner in question has one of the most matter-of-fact “Yup, I did it, I got busted, life goes on” mentalities that I’ve seen from a drug cheat thus far – which in itself may indicate the extent of the problem in amateur racing.  Also, 2) the drug enforcement business, as well as any efforts by race organizations to do the right thing, is getting trickier and more complicated every day.  

That's all for now.  On with the review!

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GPS reviews are few and far between around here, primarily because I have the same minimalist philosophy about gadgets that I have about shoes: the simpler, the better. 

I don’t place much stock in the number of bells and whistles, or even in the computer interface for uploading workouts (which I almost never do).  Rather, I want something that’s comfortable, easy to use, and accurate.  Like I said: simple.

You may recall my favorable review of the Soleus GPS 1.0, a small and simple device that gives basic time and distance, and comes at a very affordable price point of under $100.  By comparison, today’s product offers a significantly expanded range of features for a price point that is marginally higher - $225 retail, but currently discounted to $190 at Amazon.com, where I've periodically seen it priced even lower - and is an extreme value for what you get.  It also comes from one of the biggest players in the endurance sports industry.

Timex Run Trainer GPS; photo from Timex website

I started testing the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS in early summer, and it immediately became my preferred GPS for long training runs and family hikes.  It’s easy to operate, and for my preferred use includes one key feature that my Soleus device doesn’t: an altitude setting that tells you your current elevation as well as how much vertical climbing you’ve done.  For obvious reasons, those are nice stats for an ultrarunner to have while training for Leadville.

Truthfully, the Run Trainer is also chock full of options that I don’t use – and as I typically do when reviewing a GPS device, I’ll refer you to DC Rainmaker’s detailed breakdown of the Run Trainer if you want in-depth information for everything this watch can do.  Trust me, you’ll be impressed.  I’ve also included a how-to video from Timex at the end of this post for further information.

L to R: Timex wristwatch, Soleus GPS (with dead battery), Timex Run Trainer 

I’ve only experienced two downsides of the Run Trainer in my testing.  The first is that it’s substantially larger than my regular Timex watch, and noticeably larger than the Soleus GPS that I first tested last winter.  However, it doesn’t feel cumbersome while running, and I’ve worn it for multiple high-mileage outings without any discomfort from the size.  

Side view, top to bottom: Timex Run Trainer GPS, Soleus GPS, Timex wristwatch

The other (and most frustrating) problem that I had in testing was that I had all kinds of trouble making the device compatible with Windows 7.  I followed all of the instructions for downloading the Training Peaks program and transferring data from my watch to the computer, but kept bumping into the following error message:

"TP Device Agent has stopped working"

I asked my Timex rep about the problem, and was told to try the “uninstall and reinstall” strategy.  When that didn’t work after a few tries, I was referred to Timex tech support, who referred me to Training Peaks tech support, who referred me back to Timex … basically, nobody wanted to own the issue, other than to tell me it was a known problem for Windows 7 users.  I never did get the device to work on my home laptop or desktop, and finally used the oldest computer in our house which runs Windows Vista, which is where I eventually got the program to work.

If you’re inclined to do so, you can download workouts to your computer and dissect them pretty much any way you’d like to.  And if you’re one who uses Training Peaks for your daily workout log, the Run Trainer will integrate seamlessly with that program.

However, since I don’t download workouts, I’m mainly focused on how the Run Trainer works as a daily use GPS, and on that basis I’ve been very happy with it.  I love how the numbers are large and easy to read, even with four lines of data.  I like the option of customizing different display screens that can be scrolled during your run.  And with an 8-hour GPS battery life and water resistance to 50m, the Run Trainer functions equally well through a 30-mile training run or a driving rainstorm.

Large, easy-to-read numbers at mile 25.  In a related story, I used to be in pretty decent shape.

Most importantly, the GPS and altitude measurements are super accurate.  The Run Trainer uses SiRFstar IV GPS technology, which is reportedly among the fastest and most reliable signals (note: I have no idea if this is true; that’s just what the ad copy says).  It maintains its signal in canyons and under tree cover, and the altitude readings are usually within a few feet of marked elevations on almost every landmark I’ve encountered.

At the top of Clouds Rest in Yosemite, which my map says is 9930'.  Pretty darn accurate!

Until recently, if you wanted a GPS with the number of features that the Timex Run Trainer has, you’d have to shell out 400 bucks and wear a device the size of a deck of cards on your wrist.  It’s great to see both the price point and physical size of these devices decrease as technology has improved, and the Run Trainer is a very attractive choice for an affordable feature-dense GPS for high-demand everyday use.

The Timex Run Trainer GPS retails for $190 from Amazon.com.

“Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS: Getting Started” by Timex USA (click to play):

*Product provided by Timex USA.  Affiliate sales support Running and Rambling.

**If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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CLIF Meet The Moment Giveaway Contest; Random Shots of Beauty

I’m back from Zion this weekend … and as the lack of posts here this week would indicate, I’m also a little behind on my blogging schedule.

Accordingly, I’m combining a couple of regular staples – a Random Shot of Beauty and a giveaway contest – into a single post this weekend.  However, the subject matter of each is somewhat related, as I’ll explain shortly.  First, our newest RSOB:

Another shot from Zion National Park – this one showing my family ascending the spine of Angels Landing, one of the park’s most famous destinations.

As for the giveaway, it’s the first of what may turn out to be three separate contests from my friends at CLIF Bar.  And if you’re wondering what this has to do with Zion, allow me to explain: Our family did three days of pretty intense hiking last week, all of which were fueled by CLIF products.

Many of our breakfasts consisted of Builders Bars on the way to the trailhead, and our lunches each day included some combination of CLIF Bars and MOJO Bars (and for whatever it’s worth, the mountain mix MOJO flavor has become my absolute favorite trail snack).  Most importantly, however, was that our energy levels on the trail were easily maintained thanks to CLIF Bloks – especially for my 8-year-old daughter, who is the littlest hiker in the photo above, not to mention one of the youngest we saw in Zion.

I’ve described before how my wife and I have relied on CLIF blocks to rally our tired little hikers on long treks through Yosemite, and we employed this strategy again in Zion last week.  Whenever our youngest began to lag behind or get discouraged, a few block-sized doses of sugar and electrolytes (as well as a half-shot of caffeine) proved to be the perfect remedy. 

Throw in the fact that CLIF products are among the healthiest snacks you can bring on long road trips, and our family is basically a bunch of CLIF groupies.  But that doesn’t have anything to do with you or this contest – so let’s get to what’s in this post for you.

This fall CLIF is doing another installment of its Meet the Moment contest that it first introduced last spring.  It’s essentially a photo contest where you submit an entry that reflects your love of the outdoors, and CLIF donates $5 for each uploaded photo to one of five non-profits dedicated to protecting outdoor recreation.  Visitors to the website will select the 25 finalists (based on the number of likes and shares – I believe those are social media terms, yes?), and then a panel of CLIF folks will choose one winner who will have $10,000 donated in their name to one of CLIF’s non-profit partners.

It takes about 5 minutes to submit a picture; here’s the one I did this morning:

(Yes, it's from Leadville - I'm having a hard time moving on.) 

And if you want to vote for me, you can see my official entry page here.

But as I said, this contest isn’t about me – it’s about you.  In conjunction with their Meet the Moment contest, CLIF has agreed to provide a cool prize pack to one of my readers who submits an entry.  I don’t know exactly what’s in the prize pack, but if CLIF says it’s cool, I believe them.

The instructions for this contest are different than my usual ones, so here’s what you do to enter: go to CLIF’s Meet the Moment page and upload your own photo on the site.  Then come back here and leave the URL of your Meet the Moment page in the comments field, and I’ll pick one of them to receive the prize pack.  I’ll pass your contact info along to CLIF, and they’ll mail your prize pack.

My criteria for choosing the winner doesn’t have anything to do with likes or shares or anything digital - rather, it will be a purely subjective ruling by Running and Rambling’s distinguished panel of judges: me, along with the hikers you saw in the first photo.  Score high marks with us, and enjoy some CLIF love as your reward.

So, to recap: you enter the contest, CLIF makes a donation to a non-profit of your choosing, and you also have a chance to win a prize pack from me and a $10,000 donation from CLIF.  If anyone sees a downside to this, I’d love to hear it.

CLIF’s Meet the Moment contest closes on October 31^st, and my own contest winner will be announced the following weekend (November 3 or 4). Remember to copy your contest page URL here in the comments so I can find them.

Very big thanks to CLIF for sponsoring this contest, and good luck to everybody!

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Random Shots of Beauty

It’s late on Sunday night, which means it’s still technically the weekend, which means I’m just barely in time to post a Random Shot of Beauty:

(click to enlarge)

The Virgin River winding through the valley below The Watchman at Zion National Park, as seen earlier this evening at the end of a 12-hour driving session.  Which also explains the late post.

The first time I was at Zion, it was a whirlwind one-day tour that gave me a sense of just how magnificent this place is – and it also made me realize that one epic run isn’t sufficient to take it all in.  So this time around, I’m doing a couple of things differently …

1)   I’m leaving a bit more time to explore some areas of the park I didn’t get to experience the first time around, and …

 2)  I’m sharing it with my family.  Because places like these just seem meant to be appreciated with others.

Needless to say, posts may be somewhat sporadic for a while, but I actually do have an agenda of unrelated topics penciled in, so we’ll see what I can do.  I also want to put together at least a couple of Zion photo tours at some point, but in the meantime my trip here might be presented in periodic snippets.  I really don’t know, and it’s honestly the farthest thing from my mind.

More importantly, it’s autumn in Zion, and my family and I have wondrous places to explore.  Happy trails!

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Doc Waddel's Barefoot Training Sandals Review; Patagonia Fall Apparel Sale

Before today’s post, a sale announcement: I’m trying out a new vendor affiliate called Massey's Outfitters, who initially attracted me based on the strength of their Vibram FiveFingers inventory.  It turns out that they also carry the entire Patagonia catalog on their site.  That’s current stuff, not last year’s holdovers.  They also offer free shipping on all orders over $75, and to kick off the fall season, they’re offering savings of up to 20% on a huge selection of Patagonia gear.  Check them out by clicking the banner below, then come back after you’ve done some shopping.

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One of the most interesting developments in the whole minimalist running phenomenon is the increasing number of do-it-yourselfers: plucky individuals with an abundance of both ambition and time who decide that they’d rather create, use, and (in most cases) sell their own hand-made products than settle for the more mainstream offerings available.

Over the past few years I’ve received many requests to review footwear made by some random dude or another, but for various reasons I’ve always been reluctant to comply.  That resistance ends now – not because of dissatisfaction with other products on the market or any other intuitive rationale, but for a far simpler reason: I happen to know the guy who makes them.

Les "Doc" Waddel, with raw materials for Barefoot Training Sandals 

So in case it isn’t obvious, let’s slap an enormous disclaimer on this review: I’m friends with Les Waddel, more commonly known as Doc Waddel for his professional exploits as a chiropractor to both animals and humans.   He was one of the first health care providers to embrace the minimalist movement, and in the years since he launched Barefoot Training Sandals, he’s been spreading the word online, at race expos, and with every one of his patients (the human variety, that is – most of the animals are already shoeless).

The backyard workshop; note all the surfboards

Doc is pretty much the epitome of California cool: he’s laid back, super friendly, and is an avid surfer who seldom wears more than a Hawaiian shirt and beach trunks.  He also happens to be one of the founding fathers of Monterey County endurance sports.  Les was a collegiate swimmer who read about a crazy new sport called triathlon in 1980, and eventually became a regular at the Kona World Championships while logging insane training mileage in all three disciplines.  Along the way he operated a running store, was an original member of an open-water swim club, running club, and triathlon club on the Monterey Peninsula, and mentored one of his daughters in her own path to becoming a professional triathlete.

The garage workshop ... and still more surfboards

Now in his 60s, Les’s running-related aches and pains were increasing and his mileage was dramatically decreasing until he converted to minimalism in the wake of Born to Run and noticed that his injuries disappeared.  However, he didn’t like the construction of Vibrams, and wanted to develop something on a flat platform that still provided a bit of impact cushioning for transitioning to full-fledged barefoot-style running.  Soon thereafter, Barefoot Training (BFT) Sandals were born.

To say that BFT is small-budget operation is an understatement; it’s quite simply a one-man show, and the manufacturing takes place in any room of the house where Les can find vacant space – which, considering that his sales have been steadily increasing, is getting harder and harder to come by.   Les is completely self-taught in the methods of shoe construction, and is constantly tinkering with various tools and equipment to make the process more manageable.

Some of the equipment is scavenged, such as the dies he scored from a retired shoemaker in Santa Cruz (probably after a surfing trip). 

What the company lacks in size, it makes up in commitment; everywhere you look around Doc Waddel’s house - at least, everywhere that's not already occupied by triathlon gear - there are gadgets and raw materials and various staging areas for one step of the process or another. 

Although Les is an experienced craftsman (he’s especially gifted at building surfboards and ukuleles), there was an extensive trial and error process in getting the right materials and prototype design of BFTs established.  Les attempted six different prototype models, and is still experimenting with various materials that will improve either comfort, performance, or ease of construction.  Perhaps predictably, the current product looks something like a Frankensandal, but has some unique design and construction points that make them very interesting.

For example, even though the sandals were inspired by classic huaraches, BFTs eschew the traditional strap between the toes in favor of one that goes over the top of the metatarsal heads.  This is a comfort feature for many users, but also prevents anterior slippage of the foot on downhills, in similar fashion as the strap across the top of New Balance’s first Minimus Trail shoe.

The ankle closure is a combination of a backpack-style strap on top of a soft neoprene layer that sits across the top of the foot for comfort.  In my testing, BFTs are a significant improvement over classic huaraches in staying comfortably connected to your foot.  However, the last is somewhat narrow for me through the forefoot, so if you have wide feet you’ll probably need to ask Les about custom sizing.

Another pleasant surprise is the outsole, made from a Vibram rock-climbing compound which has no visible traction knobs at all, but is remarkably durable and grippy, even in off-road conditions.  I’ve only logged about 75 miles in my pair, but Les has over 1000 miles* on one of his own pairs without wearing through the outsole.

(*ADDENDUM: That's not 100% true ... Les corrected me to say he put some LiquiSole on the metatarsal area at 600 and 800 miles on his way to 1000.  The durability is still pretty impressive, though.)

Overall weight of one BFT is roughly equivalent to FiveFingers or moccasins at 5 to 6 oz depending on size.  Standing height is roughly 12mm, with a midsole layer composed of pliable EVA.  In true minimalist fashion, there is zero drop from heel to toe, however, there is one difference in the midsole design of BFT …

… at the front of the toe box area, where the material tapers upward from ground level to just a few millimeters thick at the big toe.  I happen to think this is a brilliant stroke, in that it significantly decreases the risk of my biggest pet peeve about running in huaraches: accidentally scuffing the big toe against roots or rocks on the ground, which as anyone who has done it can tell you is extremely painful.

Les in action at the Big Sur Marathon expo

As a one-man show building sandals in his spare (that is, non-surfing) time, Les doesn’t have any grand aspirations to become a millionare by hawking BFT sandals.  Rather, he sees his role as a health and fitness ambassador, and is dedicated to teaching as many people as possible the benefits of natural running.  When I first started seeing him at race expos, he made a point to tell me it wasn’t about making sales, but simply spreading the word.  This fall he’ll be at several race expos, preaching to anyone who will listen, and making sandals for anyone who wants to buy a pair.

BFTs are probably best suited for people who want to combine the biomechanics of huaraches with the comfort of a moderate midsole, or for those who have trouble with the fit of traditional huaraches.  They are available for purchase from DocWaddel’s Barefoot Training Sandals website, where they retail for $90.

*Product provided by Doc Waddel

**If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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Llamas and Moccasins and Masculine Fairies: Leadville 100 Post-Race Q&A

Shortly after returning to the Internet after my post-Leadville hiatus, I mentioned that I would do some sort of recap post to answer a few questions and other points that were raised in the comments section or in my e-mail inbox afterward – and then in classic slacker fashion, I proceeded to put that idea on the back shelf for a few more weeks.

So maybe I haven’t fully put Leadville behind me – and perhaps finally getting around to the post I promised will help close the book and move on.  Or not … I really have no idea.  But I do owe you a post.

However, before we get to it: if for some reason you missed either this Salomon Running Leadville video that I embedded in August, or my almost embarrassingly long race report, check them out for the background to this post.  We’ll do this in Q&A fashion, starting with an easy one:

Q: Is this a new thing: every time you come across a llama, it’s going to make the race report?

A: Absolutely.  Longtime readers may recall an earlier proviso to my personal race report manifesto: if there are cows on the course, they’re making the report.  It seems only proper that the same recognition should be given to llamas.  I’ll call this the Leadville Proviso.

And if you can get your picture taken WITH a llama, that's a no-brainer.

Q: Do you win the award for most minimal footwear that day?

A: I’m not sure.  In the first half of the race, I yo-yoed back and forth with a couple of guys wearing Luna sandals, which are significantly thicker underfoot than my Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Lites 10mm to 5mm, respectively), but the huarache-style upper leaves your foot a lot more exposed.  I also saw a couple of people in Vibrams; I couldn’t tell what model, but I think one was KSO Treks and the other might have been Spyridon LS. 

The problem is, I have no idea if any of these people finished.  I lost track of the Luna guys somewhere on Hope Pass, and I didn’t catch either of their names to check the results.  Both Vibram guys were inbound toward Winfield quite a while after I had started making my way back, so I have a feeling they didn’t make the halfway cutoff.   If anyone can fill me in on this one, I’d love to hear about it.

Q: What kind of hydration system do you use?  How do you carry food / gels / gear, etc?

A: My normal preference for ultras is to wear an Ultimate Direction Uno on my waist and a Nathan Quickdraw Elite on my hand, and that’s what I ended up using at Leadville as well.  However, I gave this one a lot of thought beforehand, because Leadville has longer than usual distances between aid – up to 13 miles in some cases – and some stretches that are shorter but can take in excess of a few hours due to the terrain (see: Hope Pass).  I considered wearing a hydration pack instead, but ultimately I decided to trade weight (or lack thereof) for fluid capacity.  It worked well for me, but I also saw a ton of people with hydration packs, and I certainly wouldn’t suggest that was the wrong choice.

Outside Fish Hatchery at mile 25

For food and gear storage, the Uno is really ideal, as I can zip 5 gel packs into one pocket and a compact headlamp into the other.  I also carry food in my hands a lot – in particular when walking away from aid stations with a few PB&;J squares in tow.

Q: That is no “her” with the wings.

A: OK … this isn’t exactly a question, but a remark that hit me like a hammer when I saw it in the comments section.  The reader was referring to this picture of someone’s pacer that was forced to dress as a fairy with angel wings while running for 50 miles.  In my race report I (understandably) called the fairy a girl, but a reader in the know corrected me.

Here’s the funny part: when I passed the fairy in person, I seriously thought it was a guy.  But I was above 12,000’, with more than 45 miles on my legs, and as I’ve mentioned several times before, ultras do bizarre things to your head.  So when I looked at the photo afterward and realized that I only had a couple of seconds to make sense of what I saw on the trail that day … it definitely wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that I had things mixed up.  I mean, the dude is wearing women’s shorts … and upon closer inspection, appears to have shaved legs.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that.*  But I’m certainly happy to have some closure on this topic, which was starting to develop a creepy Crying Game element to it.  I think for everyone’s sake, it’s best that we never speak of this again.

(*Coincidentally, taken from another post-race Q&A from several years ago, after one of my very first race reports.)

Q: What will you remember the most?

A: This one’s pretty much impossible to answer, because I brought home a ton of memories that will stay with me forever – or at least for as long as my website remains live and Google’s web storage remains intact.  Most of them were described in the report, but there is one small moment that wasn’t included there but is growing more memorable in hindsight.

In the Salomon video I posted a while ago, Leadville’s race director comments, “It’s going to get to a point … no matter how good a athlete you are, it’s going to really hurt, and it’s going to transcend the physical, and become about the mental.”  His quote was bouncing around my head off and on early in the race, but hit me like a bolt of lightning when I saw this sign in a meadow at the base of Hope Pass:

(click to enlarge)

It says “Transcend the Physical,” and more than anything else I saw or heard on the course, drove home the fact that You’re here – and this is The Moment. There are very few points in life when there’s so much clarity about preparation (and anticipation) meeting opportunity, and very few experiences where I’ve been as completely at one with the moment as I was when going back and forth over Hope Pass.  And if that sounds bizarrely spiritual … well, it was just that kind of race.

But now it’s probably time to leave it behind – and on that subject, one more question …

Q:  What’s next?

A: I truly, honestly, sincerely have absolutely no idea.  There are plenty of adventures out there, but I’m simply not at the point of giving any of them an ounce of consideration.  I feel like I might run another 100 next year, or I may never race again – at this point, both scenarios seem equally likely.  I’m sure I'll settle in some sort of middle ground, and that something will capture my imagination someday … I’m just not in a hurry to actively seek it out on my own. 

And trust me: that feeling’s not a bad thing at all. 

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Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover Review

In recent years a new category has become popular in outdoor active wear: ultralight down jackets that are thin enough to be layered and compressible enough to be stowed into a day pack.  Patagonia was at the forefront of this development with their nano puff technology, a synthetic insulation that blocks wind and traps heat without excess weight or bulk.

Patagonia Nano Puff pullover; photo from Patagonia.com

Patagonia has a variety of nano puff options to choose from, including a zippered jacket, a hooded jacket, a vest, and a hybrid fleece/nano puff jacket.  This summer I’ve been testing the original of the series: the men’s nano puff pullover, and it has become one of those items that is a must-have for any outdoor excursion.

At Yosemite High Sierra camp

Although I tested the jacket during the summer, I had several opportunities to test its insulating capacity in cold weather, particularly in trips to Yosemite, the High Sierra, and the Colorado Rockies where temperatures routinely dropped into the 30s at night.   I’ve worn it in active and casual settings, and it has proven much more durable than its lightweight construction appears.

Here’s a quick rundown of some features: the entire pullover weighs just over 10 oz (10.2, to be exact), and the insulating material is called PrimaLoft One, a microfiber material that is hydrophobic and highly compressible.  The fabric maintains thermoregulation even when wet, but since the external polyester ripstop shell and interior lining are both coated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR), you have significant water resistance in a sudden storm before getting soaked. 

True to its green construction principles, the shell is made from 100% recycled materials such as soda bottles, old carpets, and worn out clothing.  There’s a single vertical zip chest pocket to store something light like sunglasses or a trail map – and when you need to store the jacket …

… the entire thing compresses into the aforementioned pocket and zips closed into a hand-sized pack that can easily be crammed into a duffel bag or backpack.  And if for some reason you can't fit it in your pack, there also a carabiner loop if you want to clip it on the outside.

All of Patagonia’s nano puff tops have elasticized cuffs and hemlines to further trap warmth, and the pullover version I’ve tested has a deep collar zipper to help ventilate when the weather gets warmer.  Considering that it’s essentially a down jacket, I’ve been impressed with the nano puff’s comfort across a wide temperature range; it breathes reasonably well during light aerobic activity like hiking or slacklining, and it traps body heat quite well after the sun goes down.

Early morning hiking in Yosemite; nano puff sitting comfortably under backpack

Without question, the most attractive aspect of the nano puff is its versatility as stand-alone outerwear, or as a middle layer for seriously cold outings.  The jacket is thin enough and straight enough that you shouldn’t have to size up on your outer jacket, and it fits very easily under a backpack.  The exterior surface is pleasantly slick, allowing the sleeves to slide underneath an outer layer very easily.

The only minor tweak I’d suggest for my own preference – not to mention my 6’2” height - is to make the trunk length slightly longer.  It falls just above my waist line, which is ideal if used for layering under a jacket - but since I’ll probably use mine as an external layer for the vast majority of my use, I’d prefer a couple more inches of length in the trunk.

I wouldn’t use the nano puff for running, because its ventilation is relatively limited compared to Patagonia’s outstanding fleece and lightweight breatheable shells.  However, for pretty much all other activities, and for all-purpose outdoor recreational use, the nano puff pullover has become the first thing I grab, whether I’m headed up to the mountains, or just out into the neighborhood.

Patagonia’s nano puff pullover retails for $169 from the company website – and here are the other varieties the company has available for both men and women:

Nano puff full-zip jacket - $199

Nano puff full-zip hoody - $249

Nano puff vest - $149

Nano puff hybrid jacket - $249

Nano puff kids full-zip jacket - $99

*Product provided by Patagonia

**If you have a product you’d like reviewed, contact me at info@runningandrambling.com.

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Random Shots of Beauty

What my running has lacked in quantity lately - and believe me - there's a lot lacking - it has more than made up in quality; case in point is this weekend's Random Shot of Beauty:

A scene from a sunset 5-miler I took with my 11-year old daughter in Point Lobos State Reserve this week.  It occurs to me that I've never done a photo tour of this area, which is one of the most spectacular in all of  the Monterey Peninsula.  Perhaps some day I will ... but in the meantime, to make up for the past few weekends of Internet silence, here are some bonus shots from the same run.

Low mileage, beautiful scenery, and magic moments with my daughter - this is the kind of training I could really get used to.

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