LF 2L Operating Belt ($149)
The LF 2L is a really excessive capability, zero bounce (confirmed in check) working, mountaineering, and journey journey belt. Raide is a really small “boutique” developer of ski mountaineering packs and equipment from Carbondale, Colorado.
Kyle Siegel Its founder and developer is a veteran of each Area X and The North Face and can be an avid path runner. Pissed off by present working belt choices with their bounce and comparatively low capability and never a fan of race vests, he got down to develop the LF 2L belt which we check and evaluation right here. He succeeds!
Professionals:
Substantial, completely safe and bounce free, snug
At the very least 2 liters of storage together with capacity to hold 2 x 500+ ml comfortable flasks with no bounce
Cons
Vast inside webbing belt contained in the entrance pocket is overdone in its present implementation as a full over the entrance 2 velcro loops belt
Official Options:
Kyle Seigel’s Product Options Walkthrough
The principle material is UHMPWE riptsop from Dyneema. The one really stretch parts are on both facet on the hips in addition to in fact the mesh pocket on the rear. The rear again panel has a foam insert and a couple of very plastic stays with to the within beneath the very stout mesh rear pocket a key/card sized zip pocket
The entrance has a full attain by sort pocket with a middle stitched space.
On the internal facet of the entrance we now have 4 gel sort pockets.
The internal webbing belt is padded with some mesh on its internal floor and loops by plastic loops on both facet. I solely connected one facet and loosely at that sticking the opposite facet to the outer mesh.
Whereas the vast belt doesn’t intrude with storage entry, I feel it’s overdone and might be simplified ending additional in direction of the hips as even with it solely partially connected the non stretch nature of the supplies and again pad hold every thing completely bounce free.
We’ve got back and front reflective highlights and an easy to make use of rear pole or ice ax twin slider cords.
Match
My waist dimension is about 32” (81cm) and match is ideal: snug and safe. On first strive on till I loosened the belt is was a bit too comfortable however undoing on belt finish fully and laying it flat throughout the entrance whereas maintaining the opposite finish calmly looped and velcroed did the trick.
The belt slides up over the legs and whereas a contact exhausting to tug on as soon as in place is tremendous safe and cozy. I’ve a 32” waist with the pattern medium and the match is ideal. There’s by no means any movement or bounce and whereas the supplies in opposition to the pores and skin will not be “comfortable” I’ve by no means had any irritation throughout multi hour runs and hikes in vital warmth.
Storage and Efficiency
This belt is excessive capability! Beginning with the rear, one can simply carry 2 comfortable flasks. My pattern didn’t embrace the 650ml flask so I substituted a 500ml Hydrapak flask with locking cap and filter. It suits and stayed put both fully stuffed into the stout mesh or standing up.
The flask standing up was simpler to achieve.
I added a second flask, a Salomon 500ml with no points additionally standing. As a substitute of a second flask a lightweight jacket may have simply gone within the pocket with a solo flask.
Then trekking poles. The poles had been a bit tough to stuff on the go along with 2 flasks however not a problem with one flask. Within the picture above I didn’t fairly have the precise wire as tightly cinched as I may have.
Upfront I simply put my iPhone Professional 15, pockets and passport, headband, and a few diet. Maintaining the indifferent belt finish velcroed in opposition to the entrance made entry straightforward.
I’ve extensively run and hiked with the belt and it has been incredible in all respects for its huge capability, completely bounce free trip, and surprisingly good consolation.Simplifying the entrance inside belt is my solely minor minus remark.
I additionally see it as a superb extra mellow journey carry possibility as it might hold paperwork safe and hidden underneath a shirt with some water alongside be it comfortable flask or plastic bottle. And in winter for snowboarding, be it nordic or alpine/ski mo, it might carry a couple of straightforward to achieve necessities with out the fuss of a pack.
Comparisons in short
Bare Operating Band: It is available in many sizes and even then I discovered it snugger and fewer snug than the Raide. In its favor it’s significantly inexpensive at $48-$55
Salomon S/Lab Race Belt (RTR Assessment): Far lighter and extra minimal it is going to carry a single flask and a telephone and a few necessities in its zip entrance pocket. It’s fairly safe however not practically as safe because the Raide with the load above and over time because of its lighter supplies has stretched. It’s a sensible choice for a couple of naked necessities for each day runs and races with the Raide, whereas heavier and dearer, much more versatile and sturdy thus far.
Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Street Path Run. He’s in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th 12 months of working roads and trails. He has a many years outdated 2:28 marathon PR. Nowadays he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week largely at average paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, mountaineering or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he isn’t having fun with too many positive New England IPA’s.
The LF 2L Operating Belt is accessible at Raide HERE
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Samples had been supplied at no cost for evaluation functions. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and should earn fee on merchandise bought by way of purchasing hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are fully the authors’.
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