My first run with my new Scott Jurek FKT Vest (review)

So I've been a gym rat as of late. First it was cold, then icy, then cold again... blah blah excuses blah blah... long story short, the weight room has been a replacement for running lately. I'm not complaining, it's still exercise, but I've been itching to hit the trail.

A couple days ago, my husband gave me an early Christmas gift - the Scott Jurek FKT (Fastest Known Time) vest! My old running pack was literally coming apart at the seams (the phone pocket was almost completely torn through), so it was time. He was so nice to give it to me early so I can put it to use already!

And I have to say - I'm impressed. Running packs have come a long way in the last few years. This thing is lightweight! And it fits perfectly. (I needed a size small, which still leaves me some "room to grow" - you know, when I get this massively wide chest from all my gym days, ha ha!)

I don't have any "action shots" yet, but here's what it looks like. The back:

And front:

It came with the two water bottles but not the (optional) bladder that can go in the back. My run today was just short of two hours, and I only consumed one of the water bottles, leading me to believe that the two bottles alone will be sufficient for a standard Sunday run (like Barr Camp). And the bottles are much easier to fill at aid stations in longer races, rather than a bladder in the back.

The bottles have good squeezability.

And pockets galore! I'm easily able to fit my phone in the front pocket in front of the water bottle (since I like to take photos for my blog when I run) and I still have lots of room for bars, gels, snacks, etc.

I'm impressed by the fit, the lightness, the utility. Really, I don't have any complaints about it as of yet.

There's even a whistle built in for those rare times you encounter a bear or mountain lion. (Hopefully not, but I *do* run in the mountains fairly often.)

A final nice touch is the small mountain pattern/design. I like the color scheme, although it's more subtle than some of the other vests I've seen. Overall I'm very happy with this vest as an ideal choice for that Sunday long run! Adding a bladder to the back will make this pack go much further, as well - making it a good option for a self-supported ultradistance adventure, as I've been known to do from time to time!

I have been marked absent for the last two club runs (OR rather not marked at all yet for the new season) so I fully plan to change that on Sunday and set out with the Incline club for another great winter day in the mountains. And give the vest a full trial run (I'm sure it'll do great). See you folks on Sunday! (Not going to skip out again like last week.)