The front of the vest boasts two fist-sized zippered pockets and two mesh pockets!

Finally, secure pockets I can actually sink my hands into. This may not seem like much, but let me explain. When I am on the move, say in an ultra race, I want to access the stuff I deemed necessary enough to drag along pretty frequently. That can entail a gel every 45 minutes, salt tablets every hour, lip balm every 15 minutes, and a camera to document my suffering every 5 minutes. For a 100 mile race, I may need to carry 6 gels between re-supplies. Let me tell you, I do not want to take my pack off and hunt for those items. I don’t want to empty the contents of a pocket to find the thing I was looking for. Nor do I wish to risk losing the stuff I am unloading during the search. I just want to reach into my pocket and put my hand right on the thing I need. The more fuss, the more time I waste, and the more opportunities I have to take a tumble. The Wink’s pockets allow me to carry my cell phone and camera where I might actually use them.

There is a nifty innovation in the Wink’s bladder design. Like an oil tanker, it has a baffle to divide the bulk of water. I was excited to see that this actually made a noticeable difference in how the water “rode” during a run. The bladder closure is novel, too. The ridged top is rolled together, then fastened shut with a Velcro tab. This allowed easier access to the interior for filling and cleaning without the stress of wondering if you got that darned ziplock really closed. The unique closure even handled the challenge of being purposely overfilled. That is until I stuffed my jacket into the pack and then it offered only a small leak in protest. By the way, the tow loop is really strong. For fun I had my husband (a 5.13 climber in his youth) give it a hard pull. The wimpy loop is much stronger than it looks! They even thought of the perfect size for an additional zippered pocket located on the top. Not too big, not too small. It is just right.

I do have problems with this pack. For one, the side straps used to adjust the fit and ride are engaged by an awkward shoulder wrenching, tug to the rear. I just hated this aspect of the design. It would be better to be able to adjust the pack by pulling gently forward. That way the wearer can fine tune the pack fit as the volume of water decreases. Second, I think the padding on the shoulder straps is superfluous and ineffective. It is superfluous because it isn’t necessary to pad a shoulder strap for the amount of weight the pack can carry. And because of the way the padding is sewn into the strap, it never touches the shoulder it is designed to protect. Lastly, I think the material and padding used to construct the vest of the pack is too heavy. It would be best to ditch the padding altogether. In my perfect world, the material would be as light and breathable as air.

Overall, I am very happy to add this pack to my arsenal of play toys. Ultimate Direction did a great job in designing usable secure pockets that make organizing and finding all of my little necessities a breeze. With the ice axe loop and insulated water hose, this pack would be just as comfortable climbing California’s 14er’s as it would be training for the Badwater Ultramarathon. Next weekend, I am taking the Wink skate skiing in Yosemite!

Jacqueline Florine lives, climbs, and runs in northern California. She holds records on El Capitain, the John Muir Trail, and Califonia’s 14’ers. This July she will run the “world’s toughest footrace”, the Badwater Ultramarathon.