Deep into my training block for the 13 Valleys Ultra in September, the George Fisher Tea Round provides a perfect route for distance and climb. Not only was this a good opportunity to get some miles in my legs, I was also fortunate enough to be given an Osprey Duro Pro 10 Litre running pack to test out.
A first look at this pack gave me enough confidence to take it for its first outing on the Tea Round. I found the pack to be very comfortable with help from the dual adjustable elastic closure on the front to find that perfect fit. I noticed instantly the soft feel to this pack, which is a combination of 75D polyester outer and the internal fabric constructed from 30D polyester airmesh which helps with moisture management.
Personally, what I look for in a running pack is simplicity. I like being able to stash things I need to reach quick and easily in the front/side pockets and have things I don't need to reach for regularly in the back out of the way. This pack does that for me. It is equipped with 2 zipped front pockets perfect for a phone, gels/bars and buffs, it also has 2 generous stash pockets that are great for other snacks or hats/gloves etc. To the side of the pack it has a spacious lumbar pocket that stretches from each side of the pack all the way through the back, perfect for extra layers such as a windshell or a waterproof.
Included with the pack is 2 Osprey Hydraulic 500ml bottles. The bottles are fit with detachable WingStay stabilizers which are just genius. The WingStay stabilizers run lengthways down the bottle to help keep the bottle rigid enabling it to be placed easily back into the pack. I also found they helped when getting the last drops out of your bottle as they don't scrunch up.
The pack also comes with a detachable pole quiver, which at first I was pretty sceptical of as I had never used one before, my go-to is a waist belt with a pole attachment that I keep aorund my front. I found the quiver to be easier than I thought and after a bit of practice was fairly easy! I do believe in the phrase "If it isn't broke, don't fix it", so I personally won't use the quiver regularly, but I wouldn't oppose giving it another go in the future.
The weekend I planned to do the Tea Round was the weekend after all this glorious weather we have been having lately, so me and Andy were left facing 30mph wind with 50mph gusts and a forecast full of rain, brilliant. Throughout the day as we dipped below the fells the wind wasn't much of an issue and the rain was not as bad as predicted either. When on the tops, especially High Pike above Buttermere, the gusts were pretty strong and would blow us off balance when navigating the technical sections full of wet slippery rocks which was less than ideal.
Despite the weather, we managed to finish the Tea Round in 8:56:53, only 5 minutes slower than our last round where we had considerably better weather!
Overall, my verdict on the pack was I found it perfect for this route and other similar big days out on the fells. I could stash food and gels within reach so I could keep myself fuelled all day, my phone was easy to get out and put back in so I could take pictures and videos, and the back compartment fit my insulated layer, first aid kit, spare layers and 2 butties for when we found a place out of the weather for some lunch. Whilst the pack has slightly more pockets than other packs I own, it didn't feel at all overwhelming and I actually found them useful to segregate snacks from gloves and so on.
The main big features that stood out for me:
- This pack is comfortable and does not bounce at all
- Simple storage for gels, food and layers
- The 2x Hydraulic 500ml bottles - genius!
- Attachable/Detachable pole quiver - This feature isn't one I will be using but definitely worth the mention!
Thank you Osprey for allowing me to give this pack a go! I found it to be perfect and I'm looking forward to taking this out on more adventures!