Nathan HPL 020

First, the facts. The 2 liter bladder holds the same amount of fluid as 3 standard hand-held bottles, so refills are few and far between. The rear of the pack has two zippered pockets outside the bladder sleeve to stow items you don't need to access frequently. Up front are two holster pockets -- one zippered, one not -- for easy access to gels and other small, frequently used items. Like all Nathan running vests, the HPL 020 is constructed of ultralight, airy mesh with soft perimeter binding, and features a 3-way propulsion harness and vertically adjustable sternum strap for max comfort. So what does all that mean on the trail? It means you can comfortably go hours at a time without support. It means you barely notice you're lugging a small pantry holding all the essentials. And it means your hands are free to do all the wonderful things hands can do. Women should opt for the Intensity, which is essentially the same pack, modified to better fit the female form. (See above right.) Nathan ID #: 5015N Weight: 6 oz.