Bumbag review: OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L: UPDATE

Back in August 2013 I wrote a review of the OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L bumbag. Since then the bumbag has been my main pack for carrying stuff on the hill. I still love it. It's versatile, has enough room for most days out fell running (even in winter with extra kit), is still just as comfortable and I've learnt to live with the niggles. I've recommended it to loads of other people and loaned mine to others to try before they buy themselves. I know others have bought one on my recommendation.

But, I am wearing a vital component of my lovely yellow OMM bumbag out. I first noticed the issue about a few months ago. The stitching on the right hand strap is slowly coming away from the main part of the bag. Oh no! I have used it tentatively since, keeping a watchful eye on it whilst also having my sewing kit on standby. In the last few weeks however I'd refrained from using it and have reverted back to my Osprey 5.5ltr rucksack - I just can't have the strap fail on me, especially if I'm out leading a group or private client on the hill. I do wonder what has caused this issue - me adjusting the straps regularly perhaps? (they have a slight tendency to work lose as you run, but this would be the case for any strap that doesn't have a locking system). But then surely adjusting a strap is something that is going to happen all the time, so it should be robust enough to cope. Could it be I have a bag with faulty stitching?

Sewing seems like the only option...I've had it too long to return it to where I bought it from, and no doubt OMM won't deal direct just like most manufacturers. So, I reckon it's a hand stitching repair that's needed as my little domestic sewing machine wouldn't cope with going through the fabric of the strap plus the material of the bag. I'm a reluctant-not-very-good-sewer, so the needle and thread have sat to one side waiting patiently. It's either that or I'll have to pay someone to spend about two minutes stitching it for me on a commercial grade machine. Any local offers?

All those lovely positive things I said about the bag last year still stand. It will get repaired one way or another, and soon; I miss using it.

Shoe care

Unless you've got loads of money you are going to want to look after any shoe you buy to prolong it's lifetime. Here's how I do that:

1. If they get muddy I always wash them, either in a stream at the end of a run, or with the hose pipe in the garden. It's important to spend a few minutes giving the shoes a thorough wash. A small stone wedged somewhere will rub the fabric and could eventually lead to a hole forming. Some foot beds have tiny holes in them and mini-pebbles can get lodged in those - that could easily lead to a blister. Mud and peat pressed into fabric will abrade, so washing all the minuscule particles out can reduce that risk.

2. Dry and air shoes every time they are used. Take out the foot beds and dry those separately. Then stuff the shoe with newspaper - push it right down to the toes. I tend to get three pieces of paper in each shoe. For particularly soggy shoes, remove the paper after an hour or so and replace with dry paper. Repeat that every few hours to keep drawing the moisture out of the fabric.

Even if you've not got particularly damp feet on a run, moisture will have come off your feet so shoes should be aired anyway. No newspaper needed if they're virtually dry, just don't shove the shoes in a closed cupboard or bag until your next run.

3. Air dry the shoes away from direct heat - i.e. do not place on a radiator. However tempting it is to dry shoes quickly this will only cause more harm by drying out the fabric and stitching too quickly. Your feet are likely to get wet on a fell run anyway, so putting on damp shoes is something you quickly get used to if you only own one pair! Drying your shoes out naturally allows all the fabrics to dry evenly and they won't have that stiff crispy toasted feeling when you next put them on.

What's in my bag?

Some people love the freedom of fell running, being able to head out with no kit and just go run. I like the freedom too, but I'm a bit of a stickler for being prepared. It has nothing to do with being a girl guide (which I was), but everything to do with being self-sufficient on the hill, come what may. So, you might wonder what I take out with me on a run. If you do, read on.

Unless my run is only half an hour, in good conditions and staying low, then I'll always take out a full load of kit as shown below. Even on short runs I still take a bivi bag, gloves, buff and phone, and a jacket to suit the day. I'll also be wearing my Suunto Ambit watch and have some money/credit card if on a long run or away from home, and of course the house/car keys. For runs in warm weather or over a couple of hours I take a bottle of water, and more food to keep me fueled for the duration. This is all in addition to what I'll be wearing - often a pair of gloves or a buff will be worn but soon taken off and added to the bag contents.

Here's extra equipment I take on longer runs, or when the weather is a bit gnarly (or if rain forecast). 

On all guided runs I always have a first aid kit with me and a 2 or 4 person bothy bag (a group shelter).

I've reviewed a couple of bits of gear shown here, if you want to read more then click on the links below:
Mountain Equipment Ultratherm Jacket - review just after it was bought.
Mountain Equipment Ultratherm Jacket: Review
The Humble Buff - equipment review
Bumbag review: OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L

The Humble Buff - equipment review

I've been a massive fan of the humble buff for a long time. In fact on checking my driving license to see when I passed my motorbike test (2001) it transpires that my very first buff would have been bought for my bike lessons in the autumn of 2000. That's a total of 14 years that I've owned this one....

My very first buff

and I still use it.

If you don't know what a buff is, the simple answer is a neck warmer-come-head-gear-item that will quickly become an indispensable item of your gear for the outdoors (and sometimes indoors if you're saving on heating bills).

Since 2000 I've steadily grown a collection of buffs....

standard buffs

headband buff

peak-cap buff....and a bit I chopped off to make another headband
I won this one for coming 2nd in my age category in the Dark & White Mini Mountain Marathons in 2012

I've also got a couple of special buffs too...a winter one with fleece (red/black one shown on left below) and a windstopper one which has a panel at the front to keep really gnarly weather off you (blue/black one on right).

This pair are too hot to run in!

The beauty about buffs is their versatility. I have long hair, and when running I really don't like any of it flapping around my face, so on with a buff and it's all held back in place. There are loads of options for wearing your buff....here's my usual options:

My default option...I start with one as a neck warmer and within 5 or 10 mins of starting my run it's folded over to make a headband...which can then easily be pulled over my head/ears when it's really cold.
Pictured here on the 2013 Glossopdale Christmas social run....hence the tinsel around my bumbag.

Worn as a cap with my long hair tucked up at the back during Kinder Downfall fell race 2012. After the climb up William Clough and onto the Kinder edge path the buff was pulled over my ears to keep the wind off.

Headband keeping the sweat off me on a hot run
Pictured here with friend (also wearing buffs as headbands) at Mermaids Pool near Kinder Downfall

My collection definitely has a red and grey theme going on, though I don't deliberately set out to buy red things! If anyone wishes to help me balance out the colour scheme with purples, greens or other colours I won't object ;-)

Here's the official Buff image for the various ways you can wear your buff:

As you can see, I'm a fan. Recently I discovered the slim fit buff and will be buying this version where possible as it is a much better fit for my little head, especially when worn as a balaclava. I think the diameter of standard buffs is my only critique. After using one for a while (I'm talking months and years) they do start to go a little baggy....I'm hoping the slim fit ones will remove this minor issue! Apart from that, I love buffs :)

Frozen Glory

Today dawned crisp and clear. A great day for a long run. I'd pondered going to Pendle with Tim and doing my own long run version of the full tour but decided I'd like to be home by lunch rather than spending time travelling.

My plan was to set out from Glossop, go up to Chunal cabin, Mill Hill, then around the Kinder Downfall fell race and return home whichever way took my fancy. Being icy and crunchy underfoot I thought today was a good opportunity to break the Orocs out of the box. They've patiently been waiting in the cupboard since May. The temperature was set to stay around freezing until mid morning, and setting out at 8.30am I reckoned on the ground staying hard all the way round. It did. Great.

Wormstones catching the morning rays, taken near Chunal cabin

Looking down on Mill Hill as I climb up onto Kinder edge path

James Thorn and Higher Shelf Stones in the sunshine, distant right horizon

What's not so great is that I had to abandon my run in Hayfield. I'd felt a small niggle in my left heal fairly early on but dismissed it as a new-shoe-twinge. Sadly by Kinder Downfall it was a hot spot verging on blister but I didn't want to look. I didn't want it to be real.

Kinder Downfall...a little ice but mostly white foam 

I could have gone back home from the downfall, but took a big swig of HTFU and continued. I ignored the growing pain, tightened my laces and carried on running on what otherwise was an absolutely amazing run. I was going slowly, but this was a planned 28km run so no speeding required. The views were stonking. So so clear....I could make out distant chimneys and power stations on the west coast easily. Looking eastwards there were smoke stacks I couldn't place...Nottingham perhaps? Certainly in that direction by a long way.

Kinder Low trig point with Hope cement works chimney in the distant right

Mount Famine and South Head

I paused briefly at the LuvShack (those of you who know this place know where I mean) to beg a plaster...cheers Andy!! I was now seriously contemplating bailing in Hayfield and had been doing so but shutting out those thoughts since Kinder Low trig. Damn. Such a good day. Feeling so good about this long run. Perhaps the pain will bugger off now I'd put on a plaster. Would the magic of a 5cm bit of sticky plaster work? Running from Bowden Bridge through the campsite I swiftly turned across the river and up the hill to test the heal pain 'going up' a short stretch. The route I had planned would involve probably another 400-500m ascent and about 13km. On the tiny uphill section my heal screamed at me to stop. Damn. Bailing it was.

After loitering around Hayfield for about half an hour I got the bus back to Glossop (£2.60 if you ever need this option). The wait gave me plenty of time to wonder...how would it have been if I'd carried on? Did I make the right decision? Well yes I did. But sitting here typing in my fluffy slippers and no pain with the sun still beaming down on the hills I so so wish I could have continued. I'll do the route again soon, this time maybe not wearing new shoes. Perhaps that was a foolish error, not to worry, I'm keen and human! Plus, I'm home and safe.

I've written a short blog on the equipment I used/carried today here.

Bumbag review: OMM Ultra Waist Pouch 6L

Packed and ready to go...see picture below for what's inside

I already own various rucksacks and a small bumbag for when I'm out running, but with a trip to the Swiss Alps planned I was after something that was in between the sizes I already have. I considered getting the same rucksack as my other half, as I needed my new purchase to be lightweight and compress down nicely for when I was travelling and had all my stuff in my large rucksack (he has the Adventure Light 20L).

But, the Adventure Light was a bit over my budget, especially as I don't need another 20L rucksack. I soon came round to the idea of a larger bumbag, partly so that I didn't have to deal with having a sweaty back all the time - the Swiss Alps can be very hot in summer. Plus my Osprey 5.5L rucksack is more than suitable for most running days (and I swear that it can hold 10-12L of gear anyway), and my 22L sack works perfectly for when I need to carry more stuff. Narrowing my selection down I settled on the OMM 6L bumbag. My only concern was the bottle being on one side - would that make it sit unevenly? Everyone I know who owns one didn't have a bad thing to say about it so that was that.

The bumbag is advertised on the OMM website with the following text:

"A larger waist pouch with innovative ‘quick stash’ single handed bottle holster, supplied complete with OMM Ultra Bottle. A favourite with Ultra runners who need to carry that little bit extra, or for longer training runs. A great size to get all fell race approved items plus your essentials in without having to move to a rucksack."

It sounded just what I was after. Having now used the bumbag on the Swiss trip, and a few runs around the Peak District I have some comments about this bit of gear:

POSITIVE POINTS:
bungy cord/compression strap on top: great for attaching an extra item (eg. rain jacket or dry bag with extra stuff in). Even with additional items strapped on the bag was comfortable and didn't bounce up and down any more.

Side pocket without a zip

side pockets: good for quick access to food/phone - something I miss when not using my larger rucksack

inside organisation: there's a separate internal pocket with a couple of divider bits so I can store emergency cash, compass etc and can find them easy when needed; it's got velcro on it so there's little chance of bits of stuff falling out if you go into the main area whilst on the move.

comfort: it sits really well around my waist, no digging in, no points that rub. With the compression straps and bungy cord tightened up there is no bounce, even with it stuffed as full as I could get it. I've even set off running with it full and forgot to do the straps up and there was little bounce - it took me a few kilometres to realise I'd forgotten. There's plenty of padding around the whole bag so it really is very comfortable.

space: there's loads; enough to get in waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, spare buff, hat, gloves, cash,
phone (only waterproof pouch shown), food, spare food, compass, (it has an integral whistle on the zip), ultratherm jacket stuffed in a dry bag, arm warmers, emergency bivi bag, headtorch....a few other bits and pieces. That's a decent amount of kit and all I could need for a full day on the hill - in winter or summer.

Contents of the bag unpacked: black item at back left is a windproof beanie; inside the green dry bag is my ultratherm jacket; black item is waterproof trousers; blue rolled up item is OMM smock; white item are arm warmers. Only 2 bars shown - I could easily fit in a couple more in the side pocket plus spare food in the main bag.

The bag also sits well around my waist with virtually nothing in it, as the compression straps and bungy cord really compress it down very well.

NEGATIVE POINTS:

my solution to stop items falling out

Right hand side pocket - this is the one which doesn't have a zip. I use this for my food and bars so they're handy to eat on the move...but...items tend to work out of it over time, so I was forever checking that I'd not lost anything - food is quite important! Also, when you take the bumbag off there's a tendency for items to actually fall out of this pocket - you can see in the photograph above that the top edge isn't very tight. I've overcome this issue by putting a sweat band around this bit of the bag. I think a longer term fix would be a compression cord or tighter elastic around the top to hold things in better.

Bottle - this is my biggest grip with this bag, and it annoys me - for such a good bit of kit the bottle is proper rubbish! The drinking nozzle is useless; it has a tendency to close as you're drinking so the flow isn't great. When I'm running and drinking I have to time my breathing too, so this issue just throws my breathing out and having a drink takes up more time and effort than it should.
On a couple of occasions I've actually pulled out the nozzle as I've tried to drink while running - the result is water just pours out everywhere.

deconstructed bottle

Putting the bottle back in the holder is easy enough if the compression cord isn't done up too tight, and there hasn't been any issue with the bottle falling out which is good.
My initial thoughts were that the bottle could be slightly larger; but, surprisingly it does hold 500ml of liquid (if you literally fill it to the brim). However on longer runs I've ended up taking another bottle and putting it in the main compartment.

holes in bottle pouch are for...?

You can't actually get last bit of fluid out of the bottle unless you take the lid off - and that just isn't possible when running. When you stop to take the lid off and drink out of the wide bit it tends to spill
very easily. Not great if you're relying on that fluid to get you to the end of a run or race.
Holes in the bottle pouch - not sure why they're there but it does mean you can't use that pouch for any small items if you don't have a bottle with you.
I do find my hand catching the bottle sometimes as my arms swing through, but I'm really pleased that having it on the side doesn't make the bag feel lopsided.

Waist straps - this is a common issue for rucksacks and bumbags of any type I've used recently; the waist strap is just way too long and there's no-where to stash the extra length. OK so there's a 1cm wide bit of elastic, but over time that will stretch through constant use - it's already showing signs of wear. For my 9 stone body there's an additional 20-24cm (on each side) that I just don't need and even tucking it back on itself under the elastic I still catch it with my arms/hands, or it works loose, then flaps around until I can tuck it in again. That's just faffage you don't need when you are out running.  In colder weather I'll have an extra layer on, but that won't make 40-48cm gain around my waist!

spare waist strap folded and tucked into elastic

spare waist strap unfolded

elastic for stowing spare waist strap, it's already going baggy

Whistle: absolutely great that one is provided...but it's on one of the main zip pulls and it rattles and tap-tap-taps on the bag as I'm running along. Tapping and things rattling is one of my pet hates!! I end up tucking that zip pull inside and closing the zip with the other puller. Ideally I'd have the whistle on a short cord inside, you are after all unlikely to be running and blowing your whistle at the same time.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really do like the bumbag; I dislike the bottle. I'd buy the bag again, but I've already swapped out the bottle for another.

The bag in action in the Swiss Alps - climbing up from Bettmeralp to the ridge overlooking the Aletsch Glacier

Heading down to the Aletsch Glacier

High above the glacier on Bettmerhorn-Eggishorn ridge