Which large bumbag?

[Will_B]

I tried the large OMM bag but the water bottle began to pull away as its stitched to a mesh pocket.

I currently have a Lowe lightflight aqua thing. The water bottle (standard) fits in the middle of your back. It also has mesh pockets u derived a hunger cord to hold gels. Not sure how well the relatively flimsy bungees will hold up. It is made up of 2 pockets to separate gear but they are interconnected meaning you could get a full size map in there al either not 'to hand'.

I looked at the new Inov8 race elite 3.5 but it uses a proprietary bottle and no little mesh pockets

[foggon]

I have the inov8 one with the water bottle, it is a good size for longer runs but it rubs on my back after runs of around 3 hours my lower back has quite a few sores from the bag, so will have to change it!

[Mark G]

My OMM Ultra was on its last legs, I'd restitched the bottle holder a few times, replaced various cords etc and it was starting to wear out. I've just gone through the process that Will has above and ended up with the Lowe Alpine - I'm fairly pleased with it but its not quite as stable as the OMM was, is quite a bit smaller and is wearing through a little on the back mesh after half a dozen runs. I find it a bit tight to get a full set of gear in - it will fit but bounced about quite a bit when full so I have usually had my cag outside the bag around my waist which improves things a lot.
Plus points - mesh pockets meaning you eat when you should instead of when you can be bothered. The provided bottle is good and if/when you lose it you can stick an ordinary bike bottle in to replace it.
Minus points- The gap between the pockets does mean you can get more gear in but pushes the bottle further out, away from your back which probably adds to the bounce.
But its £22 in Keswick as opposed to the asking price for the Inov8 of about £35 - Pete Blands had some of the old version of the Inov8 on offer on the van.

[old un]

ive got an omm also and find it good , i stitched a peice in the bottle holder when it ripped off the mesh to take a larger bottle and it works fine

[L.F.F.]

Plus points - mesh pockets meaning you eat when you should instead of when you can be bothered.

I was thinking of getting a bigger bumbag and the quote here struck a chord. I really like my basic Lakes Runner bumbag, amazingly stable and you couldn't get much more simple, but sometimes during longer races when you should be eating more I find it a bit of a pain to be digging around for gels when the bumbag's packed solid. I was thinking of going for the OMM as well.

Montane are doing a bigger bumbag (Batpack), which looks really good, but it's definitely heavier and probably more suited to proper ultras - slower paced, more kit.

[Mark G]

I was thinking of getting a bigger bumbag and the quote here struck a chord. I really like my basic Lakes Runner bumbag, amazingly stable and you couldn't get much more simple, but sometimes during longer races when you should be eating more I find it a bit of a pain to be digging around for gels when the bumbag's packed solid. I was thinking of going for the OMM as well.

Montane are doing a bigger bumbag (Batpack), which looks really good, but it's definitely heavier and probably more suited to proper ultras - slower paced, more kit.

Its the same with having a bottle to hand - lift it out as you approach a beck, open the top, scoop as you cross, carry on.......