Orange Mud, LLC
Pickup currently unavailable
Version 3.0 is out with changes to a solid nylon front dual adjustment chest strap, oversized chest pockets for plus sized phones and flask, and a dual layer pocket design that holds the phone on the outside, flask on the inside. It holds 1L/35oz of fluids in the bladder yet can be loaded up with flask up front for much larger adventures. The rear shock cord is great for jackets or a base layer. The pack size is tiny and rides high on your shoulders for maximum breathability when it's scorching hot. Tackle everything from a lunch time run, marathon, triathlon, gravel ride, mtb ride or on the slopes!
What's different with version 3.0 over 2.0? 3.0 has:
The key to fit, cinch the sides first, not the front, until you feel the pack anchor on your shoulders. Then adjust the front harness as needed so you can breathe during movement.
During any sport the Gear Vest is extremely stable to torsional, up and down, and fast movements. It tracks with your body and is very comfortable to wear. Storage up front is designed around 500ml or 600ml soft flasks.
| Times Used |
Rated 3 out of 5
|
| Quality |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 4 out of 5
|
Just the right size. Phone and keys accessible.
| Times Used |
Rated 2 out of 5
|
|---|---|
| Quality |
Rated 4 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
200+ miles using this kit, after owning it for a couple of months. I went with teal because I like the color and I find it easier to clean/take care of lighter color equipment… personally would be unable to keep a white vest white, so teal works great. There are plenty of features to this vest, but ultimately my impression is that it isn’t flashy-selling me with too much going on or promised. The material is sturdier than what I have experienced with other brands - there are no film-type fabrics used on this product that are a blunt branch away from an absolute blow out. I like that, and yet the vest is thought out and designed in such a way to still be very light.
I’d like to see taller external pockets on the bottle sleeves, might as well go all the way up - could change to looser mesh, or keep same fabric as is now. Additionally, or as an alternative, adding elastic or a draw string to that external sleeve would be great. I don’t use them honestly because anything will quickly fall out on a trail run, for example. Love the key lanyard… simple, light, no broken or opened zippers to blame for losing my car keys.
Finally, I wore this for the JFK 50-miler (pictured), and wanted to wait on reviewing until after putting the vest through a race. I loved it. Water bottle with drink mix in one chest sleeve, gels in the other. I took the back bladder out for the race (plenty of water points on the course), but that was a great feature for training and is nice to have options for…
| Times Used |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|---|
| Quality |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
This pack works the best if you want to use the back bladder for liquids and the front pockets for your phone and/or snacks.
I tried to use the front pockets for the bottles and the straws slap me in the face when I run trails. So, I cut down the straws. Then the flask slipped down in the pocket as I drank and I couldn’t reach them. Not to mention it’s kinda hard to get into the pockets while running. They are a bit stiff.
So, I have given up trying to use the flasks up front.
But I still use my pack because I really LOVE that the OrangeMud packs are high on your back (helpful when you have a short torso like me), but in order for me to get more use out of the pack for trail running I would recommend some adjustments for future versions. You could also just apply these suggestions to your trail runner pack.
1. Make the front pockets more usable for trail runners. Easy to get the bottles in and out of the pockets quickly, and higher placement of the pockets so we don’t need the straws.
2. Add in a pole quiver pocket option to the back of the pack so we can easily take out and put the poles back when running. Bungees are too hard to mess with when running. A back pocket that I could reach over my shoulder to take the poles out of would be ideal.
3. Make the trash pocket deeper or with some type of zipper closure. I’d like to use that little front pocket for chapstick and salt tabs, but stuff just bounces right out of there since it’s not a tight pocket.
With these…
| Times Used |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|---|
| Quality |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 3 out of 5
|
Thanks for the feedback Nicole! One tip on the flasks is to cut them a hair shorter from full length that they come. Then be sure to have the hose/bite valve under the elastic keeper which will keep it from falling down.
Second thing is the outside trash pocket. I totally agree that the shorter pocket isn't as ideal and we've been phasing in a new design that is the same front pocket height on all new builds coming in for all of our designs, so that one is fixed! Then for rear storage, we stripped this pack down to the basics, but the Gear Vest Pro has rear cargo storage, or you could consider the RFP or the Endurance Pack. And for poles you can mount up front with these on the front chest loops by the harness. https://www.orangemud.com/products/multi-use-trekking-pole-hardware
Thanks!
Josh
I have a couple of packs (the oldest from about 2021 (or, earlier)) and the newest purchased in the last year. All packs going strong with the oldest having been used hundreds of times for short and long distance SUP racing (now passed on to my son for many more years of use). Lots of storage for gels, bars and other snacks as well as for 2.0 L hydration pouch. My pack needed a zipper repair recently and I reached out to Orange Mud to see what my options were. Beth at Orange Mud responded quickly. Returned cleaned pack for repair and received back quickly. Good as new! Thanks Beth!!
| Times Used |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
|---|---|
| Quality |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 5 out of 5
|
I love this vest. I love how high it rides on my chest and how small it feels. it is not bulky. I do wish and maybe can suggest putting velcro on the two pockets, I am having a friend do this for me. Overall, I am happy with my vest and more importantly no chaffing!
Run Happy!!
Tracy
| Times Used |
Rated 2 out of 5
|
|---|---|
| Quality |
Rated 4 out of 5
|
| Function |
Rated 4 out of 5
|