If you’ve spent much time around trail and ultra running, you may already know UltrAspire. The brand has been part of the trail and ultra-running world for years, building a loyal following with hydration packs, race vests and running gear designed for people who understand what it means to spend a very long time on your feet.
And now, UltrAspire is joining the Mountain Adventure range.
We’re stoked to take on the New Zealand distribution of a brand with such a strong connection to the world of trail and ultra running, and to make UltrAspire’s gear part of what we offer to Kiwi runners heading out for their next big adventure.
But UltrAspire didn’t become a name in the ultra world overnight. There’s a good story behind the brand, its founder and the thinking that went into creating gear specifically for runners who go long.
A trip down memory lane
The brand has been making hydration and carrying systems for endurance athletes for more than a decade under the UltrAspire name, but its story goes back much further than that. In fact, a lot of what we now take for granted when it comes to carrying water and gear while running can be traced back to one bloke trying to solve a problem on a mountain.
That bloke is Bryce Thatcher.
Back in 1979, Bryce was running in the mountains around the Tetons. He loved moving fast through the mountains, but the backpack he was using wasn't great.
He'd run with the pack held tightly against his back, pushing on until he needed a drink. Then he'd have to stop, take the pack off, get to his water and guzzle an entire bottle of water or apple juice which would slosh in his stomach and ultimately slow him down.
For someone interested in moving quickly and efficiently through the mountains, it was a fairly obvious problem. An idea was born: what if he could reach his water without ever taking the backpack off? That simple thought would go on to influence the way endurance athletes carry and access their gear, and ultimately help shape modern trail running hydration.
It started with a custom-made backpack
Using his grandmother's sewing machine, he built a pack that allowed him to access his water without taking it off. It was a simple idea, but it changed the way he thought about running with gear.
At the time, trail running as we know it today was barely a recognised sport, and the idea of purpose-built hydration systems for runners was certainly not mainstream.
Bryce kept experimenting. In 1985 he founded Ultimate Direction, where he continued developing packs and hydration systems specifically for runners. Through studying biomechanics, ergonomics, and how the body moves, he was able to make a larger-volume pack that you could still run with.
The Godfather of running hydration systems
He later worked with Nathan Sports before eventually starting UltrAspire in 2012. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he's been responsible for a long list of innovations in running hydration and carrying systems, including hydration belts, handhelds, race vests and other gear that has helped shape the category.
Bryce's influence on the sport has gone beyond product design, too. He's been a mountain runner himself for decades, setting fastest-known times and records in the mountains. His Grand Teton ascent record stood for almost 30 years before Kilian Jornet broke it in 2012.
So when UltrAspire talks about being “inspired by athletes”, it's not just a nice line on a website. The company was built around the idea that the best gear starts with a problem experienced out there, rather than a feature dreamed up in an office.
What makes UltrAspire different?
There are plenty of hydration packs and race vests on the market these days, so what makes UltrAspire different?
Well, it’s safe to say that UltrAspire products are not just ‘another solution to hydration’. They sit much closer to the intersection of running, mountain travel and problem-solving.
The design philosophy is about how the whole system works while you're running. Where the weight sits, how the pack moves with your body, how quickly you can access your water and nutrition, how easily you can get to the gear you need, and, importantly, how comfortable it remains several hours into a run.
A pack that works perfectly for a short, smooth trail run isn't necessarily the pack you want when you're six or ten hours into a mountain ultra with extra layers, food, water and equipment. UltrAspire has been developed by people who actually understand long days in the mountains. Every running system is about making the load feel like part of you, keeping everything stable while you move, and putting the things you need most within easy reach.
UltrAspire items are crafted from strong, solid and durable fabrics to withstand the demands of the endurance activities they’re designed for. They stand up to the elements while remaining comfortable and lightweight.
Why UltrAspire is a great fit for adventurous Kiwis
New Zealand running often involves being self-sufficient. A quick trail run can turn into a few hours in the hills. An ultra might mean being out there all day and well into the night. Head into the alpine environment and what you need to carry changes again. You might be a long way from a road, support crew or an aid station. Being able to access your essentials without stopping or taking your pack off can make a surprisingly big difference over a long day.
Being able to carry what you actually need, having it where you can get to it, and not having your gear constantly bouncing, rubbing, shifting or getting in the way, that's the sort of problem UltrAspire has been working on for a very long time. And that approach is one of the reasons we're particularly interested in bringing UltrAspire into the Mountain Adventure range.
We're still finalising our UltrAspire range, so we'll save the product deep dive for another day. But it’s safe to say we’re pretty excited to have UltrAspire joining the Mountain Adventure range, and we reckon it’s a cracker fit for the Kiwi trail and ultra scene.