Silva Running Poles Carbon and Strive Light 5 Vest
Silva Running Poles Carbon
Silva running poles carbon are made from 100% 3K carbon and weigh 396 grams per pair. As someone who is let's say ‘larger’ (95kg) I was slightly worried about putting my full weight through the poles. Being so light, I was amazed by the strength of the poles. Not once did I feel any bend and I had full confidence pulling down as hard as I could
Silva Running Poles Carbon come in 7 different lengths to match your height with the most suitable pole length. Available lengths are 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130 and 135 cm. So there is a fit for anyone. The pole is also adjustable, which makes it super easy to make detailed adjustments to your height.
The poles are easy to attach to your running vest or running backpack thanks to the clever Z-fold, which means that the poles are folded into 3 sections. It takes seconds to fold them up and seconds to put them back together. It is very well designed and easy to use. The handles are ergonomic and comfy, and didn't slip once.
The quick release gloves allow for freedom of movement and are made of breathable material which worked well. I did get some slight rubbing but that was after a 9 hour run. So all in all not bad.
My one and only concern with the poles was the rubber attachments at the end. I was running along a woodland near me and noticed I lost one of the "paws" which is what Silva call the attachments. Not quite what I would of wanted as the paws are used to protect the carbide tips for when our running on harder ground like tarmac. So if you run on multiple surfaces on one run it's best to keep a eye out for losing them.
First time I have tried Silva Poles and I am super impressed. I have used other major brands and Silva stand toe to toe with them all.
Strive Light 5 Vest
Lightweight Baby!!
Strive Light Black 5 is an incredibly light (251g) vest. It's the first thing you notice when you put it on. It has space for 2 bottles on the chest; it came with 300ml bottles but my 500ml fitted nicely.
It is made of lightweight breathable 3D mesh fabric for optimal ventilation and sweat transport which I found super breathable and great on warmer days.
It has a large number of pockets and compartments, including a battery pocket and a key hook in one of the pockets. The main compartment is made of stretch material so that you can carry clothes if necessary. One of the pockets is weatherproof and suitable for your keys or phone, which I found incredible. Especially as I love taking photos and it kept my phone lovely and dry. It would be great for keeping those key items nice and safe.
The dual entrance quick access pocket in the back lets you stow away and access e.g., a wind jacket or rain protection with ease, which was great for quick access during showers.
To vest also features a bracket to attach a visibility light to the back and one of the straps has an integrated whistle which is great as most races require a whistle and a backlight, so it saved a struggle to attach both comfortably.
My two main concerns are with the chest straps, which seemed to have a mind of their own and would move up along the runners. This caused the bag to move slightly while running. Not enough to get in the way, but enough to notice. Which leads me into the other issue. Chafe. The bag rubbed my neck a bit, but that may be down to the sizing. I have hoped it was just from wearing a new vest.
If you want a small bag for racing anything up to a half marathon this bag is a brilliant choice. Extremely lightweight, nice amount of storage and super breathable, then this bag is for you.
