The Perfect Pack
Race Pro™ 12
It’s hard for a girl not to get excited about shoes and bags. So when Chris posted about the Inov8 RocLite 315 shoes on MST just a few days ago, I simply couldn’t help myself but tell everyone about the gorgeous matching bags that are also available in the Inov8 range.
So there I was one day doing a bit of shopping therapy in an outdoor store when I happened upon the Race Pro 12 . It was sleek, lean, mean, black and green – how could a girl even resist! I wore it on the Great Lakeland 3 Day and soon fell in love with its features.
Race Pro™ 12
The bag itself was spacious enough to hold clothes and compulsory gear. On top and to the right side, mesh pockets galore held my chocolates, bars and gels ready for easy access. The left side-pocket was of different material, with a stiffer zip and a key holder: into this I paced my valuables, namely compass and punch card. On the outside, more mesh held whatever I needed to stuff but might still want in a sec: somewhere to hold my map to free up my hands for scrambling or eating.
It’s also wonderfully petite: just right for five foot four little old me. It curved into my back thanks to the easily adjustable straps, helping it to feel fairy-light on my back even if the bag was heavy in the hand. I was excited too with the waist and chest clips: lightweight yet durable, with a built-in whistle for when a girl needs a little bit of attention.
Horizontal Bladder
But I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw the H2Orizontal hydration system. Gone were the days of stuffing a bladder down the back of my bag, having to remove all my gear so the fecker would get in. No, now just flip the exterior rear lid and the pouch pops out. Water filling was eased with its wide-open mouth, with the tube threading seamlessly through a special hole in the bag and being held in place on the shoulder strap.
My obsession with my Inov8 bag does not stop there however. As any self-respecting females would always figure, why have only one bag when you can have three for different looks and occasions? Since my magical moment with the Race Pro 12, I’ve subsequently bought myself a Race Pro 30, perfect for mountain marathons and when you need to carry that extra bit of gear. And for short mountain training runs or for 2-4 hour races, I use the Race Pro 4 that has all the pocket and water features neatly compacted together with 4 litres of storage.
Race Pro™ 4
The Inov8 Pro pack range is definitely the Louis Vuitton of mountain running. No self respecting mountain running girl would ever leave home without one!
SRP: £40 Race Pro 12
