The Montane Gecko VP 12+ is made for major missions: , adventure racing and big training sessions where you need to carry not just plenty of water, but also a range of kit to keep you safe and sated out on the trails. It achieves this while being simultaneously tight-fitting and capacious. I started using the Montane Gecko 12+ hydration pack while training for the in Cumbria.
This event was the longest competitive race I’d ever taken on, so I needed to find a hydration pack I could have complete faith in before I wore it for the run itself. Would it shape up? Read on to find out. The vest comes with two top-quality 500ml / 17 fl oz soft flasks, which are housed in a pair of pouches – one on each side of your chest.
There’s also a compartment complete with a velcro hook where you can house a large , if you prefer to carry water in that way. If you opt to stick just with the bottles, you can use this space to increase the carry capacity, but there are so many storage options on this pack, most people won’t need it. The main storage compartment zips securely shut and can easily swallow the sort of stuff specified in the compulsory kit lists of most ultras and long-distance events, such as emergency , and , plus some food, spare , a and , a reliable and plenty more besides.
Whistles often feature in these kit lists, and the Gecko 12+ comes with one, attached to a cord in one of the zip pockets. There are also reflective flourishes on the back, to keep you safe when runnin.