I got the Salomon XA 25 litre pack a couple of months ago. I’ve had a chance to test it out on a handful 2-3 day fastpacking trips and it has quickly become my favourite pack for my fast and light adventures.

Read on to learn what it is about this pack that I love so much, along with a complete video review.

As trail runners, we like to carry the absolute minimum amount of gear so that we can travel as fast and light as possible. But things can change in a split second with something as trivial as a rolled ankle or simply by getting a little lost, turning what maybe should have been a 2 hour run into an 8 hour slog. You might need to hunker down to wait for help, or find yourself stopping to help someone else in need.

That’s why I’ve begun to approach every run in the same way by asking myself the same question, “what’s the worst that could happen on my run today, and what gear can I bring to help deal with it?”

In this post and video I’ll go over the 10 trail running essentials that I always carry to stay safe on the trails.

I recently got the XA water filter from Salomon. The filter cap is sold separately, or bundled with a 490ml soft flask which fits perfectly in my Salomon pack. But how does it compare to the competition, namely the Katadyn BeFree that I’ve been using for the past couple of years?

In this post, I’ll compare the similarities and differences between the two filters, including the functionality, flow rate, and compatibility with other flasks.

The Suunto Spartan Collection is the newest line-up of multisport watches, building on the success of Suunto’s Ambit series. After training for several years first with a Suunto Ambit 2, then an Ambit 3 Sport, and finally an Ambit 3 Vertical, I was pretty excited to get my hands on their top-of-the-line Suunto Spartan Ultra recently so I could put some of the new navigation features to the test.

After my recent peroneal tendon injury, my MD recommended that I get custom orthotics. I wasn’t sure at first, but my physio agreed that it could be a good temporary aid as we work to build up the strength in my arches.

It’s still not clear how my biomechanics are to blame for the overuse injury, but I’m using this whole experience as an opportunity to finally address a series of minor issues and weaknesses so that I can come back strong for the long-haul (poor tracking of the knees, weak glutes, etc.).

I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to use orthotics in my Salomon Sense Ultras though. While far from ‘minimalist’, they’re definitely on the lighter and more flexible side as a performance shoe and neutral, like most trail shoes. After a fair bit of experimenting, I’ve found them to be the absolute perfect fit. I’m a mid-foot striker and I like to feel the ground beneath my feet so I wasn’t about to put on a pair of Hokas!