First ultra - running pack advice

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Gooner Sep 2016 9:39pm, 5 Sep 2016 14,012 posts	0 Gooner Ok, so thanks to Foxy and his charity raffle a while back I've got entry into a 40 mile run in Wales starting at midnight in March of next year and having never run anywhere near that far before nor having any experience of running with anything but a bergen back in the day, I was hoping for some advice. I know I'm going to need storage for the mandatory kit and food/drink but I'm completely at a loss with regards of what level of pack I'm going to need. I obviously want enough space but would also like to have the most compact kit I can. Money isn't exactly freeflowing for this but as I have time to save, I can spend what's necessary to get decent kit. So far I've eyed up the following, are they any good? Any other recommendations? https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/sal1188/salomon-skin-pro-14-plus-3-set-running-pack-~-aw15/# sportsshoes.com sportsshoes.com TIA. G.
zolluppepe Sep 2016 9:49pm, 5 Sep 2016 15 posts	0 zolluppepe Quite a range of sizes there, depending on the kit list you might struggle to fit it in a 5 or have it rattling around in a 14. Both decent though, very popular. I had a similar Salomon Skin pack (too bouncy for me though) and sometimes use a 10L inov-8 Race Ultra (not a fan of the hydration system). Best bet is to go somewhere you can try on a bunch, packed with mandatory kit. They're not exactly one size fits all
alpenrose Sep 2016 10:24pm, 5 Sep 2016 20,382 posts	0 alpenrose Someone posted a link to a video not very long ago of some guy packing all the necessary into a back pack that wasn't very big. Sorry, I'm no help otherwise.
Velociraptor Sep 2016 11:00pm, 5 Sep 2016 34,450 posts	0 Velociraptor There is a video online of a man packing the mandatory kit for a 100-mile race into one of these ultramarathonrunningstore.com and I found this pack more than sufficient to hold everything I needed for an off-road 44-mile race last weekend as well as being very comfortable to run with. It's worth shopping around, as previous years' models are often heavily discounted. I use 500ml soft flasks on the front rather than a hydration pack in the back as it has less impact on my centre of gravity.
zolluppepe Sep 2016 11:26pm, 5 Sep 2016 16 posts	0 zolluppepe https://youtube.com/watch?v=URBDZC6C1vM Here we go
FenlandRunner Sep 2016 6:08am, 6 Sep 2016 9,962 posts	0 FenlandRunner I've moved from Inov-8 to Montane, I have a Fang 5 for short ultras and a Dragon 20 for longer ultras. Front loading bottles are brilliant.
Gooner Sep 2016 6:32am, 6 Sep 2016 14,014 posts	0 Gooner Thanks folks, appreciating all of the knowledge. That video os quite helpful too!
Gooner Sep 2016 10:46pm, 6 Sep 2016 14,019 posts	0 Gooner Any more advice from the endless knowledge contained in Fetchies?
Ndwdave Sep 2016 12:07pm, 10 Sep 2016 212 posts	0 Ndwdave I've done a few ultras and the main choices seems to be the ultimate direction or salamon ones with a dusting of inov8. I've gone UD Scott Jurek 2.0. Has enough room for 100 miler kit but not too big so you fill it with crap. I would recommend using front bottles rather than a bladder as bladders are a faff at aid stations and you don't know how much water you have left