Different
meets will run in different ways, but the most common way to run a meet
is to move from one location to another, while stopping at each location
and practicing some moves before moving on to the next. The goal of a
backpack thus is to keep your items and personal effects together and
provide a way for you to transport them easily place to place. In this
case you can easily get along with grabbing your favourite backpack (or
alternatively any form of bag that will do the job) and loading it up
with whatever you wish to bring with you. If you share the same
situation as this keep in mind that any bag can suffice, or
alternatively you can go with the ever popular “fanny-pack” for smaller
loads.
If you are
wearing a backpack for increased weight and resistance while training,
please note that this is dangerous and detrimental to your health and
safety. While I don't like telling people to buy things, if you really
want that much to add resistance and weight, do yourself a favour and
buy a proper weight vest.
If you
intend to run and actually perform parkour moves with your backpack on,
it’s a different story. You don’t want to be wearing a regular backpack
while doing a roll or an under-bar. In this situation a really small bag
is the better option, something minimal so as to restrict how much it
limits your movement. Any emptied camel pack style hydration bag is a
really good option in this situation as it holds everything close to
your body, comes in many sizes, doesn’t restrict movement or range of
motion (provided you picked the right fit) and is comprised of a
relatively strong material. Alternatively if you have a larger load it
is in my opinion essential to find an ergonomic back pack that will help
distribute the weight as research shows that exaggerated movements with
a larger load can greatly increase the risk of back damage.
The other
cases would be that you have either decided not to bring a backpack for
lack of need et cetera, or you are looking to invest in a parkour
specific back pack. If you fall into the second class, chances are
you’ve already looked around and are aware that you are most likely to
find a parkour specific backpack on the internet. I have also looked
around a little bit, and would like to offer these brief reviews on some
of the more popular parkour backpacks.
Urban Tool Designs
Urban Tool
hosts a variety of different holders and other products that are meant
to keep effects on your person and has been considered and used by a
great deal of traceurs, but only two designs caught my eye as being
functional in a parkour environment
The sportHolster
Style: The mesh back gives it a very fresh and sporty look to the already sleek, minimalistic and overall cool factor. It is currently available in three sizes and comes in either yellow or black. 5/5
Fit: The design allows for a very snug fit and the material is very comfortable. The pockets are arranged in a way that doesn't interfere with vaults, leaps or running, though the contents of the back pocket are vulnerable when doing rolls. 4/5
Weight: The minimal design coupled with the incorporation of mesh and other light weight materials allows for full marks. 5/5
Durability: It appears that the material is quite strong, though the mesh back may give way to frequent rolling within a year of regular use (hypothesis, not actually tested). 4/5
Value: The fact that the back pocket is rendered useless when practicing rolls takes away from the value as only one pocket remains. What would normally seem a little high priced becomes a little pricer when function is taken into consideration. While your personal effects may be valuable, you can not hold many items reasonably and this option becomes greatly overpriced for its functionality. 1.5/5
Overall: If your intent is to keep one object safe while looking fashionable, this is for you. However if you are looking at practicality, you may consider that the sportHolster is for sports as opposed to parkour. 3.5/5
Style: The hipHolster is very fashionable, and while it may not hold the sportier look associated with parkour, it looks like something I could wear on a daily basis (provided my wardrobe matched). The hipHolster is a one size fits all deal and is available in five colours (black, fango, camouflage, aubergine, and earth). 5/5
Fit: The hipHolster appears to hug your leg when coupled with the optional leg strap. The straps do not in any way look constrictive, but comfortable, and the one size fits all option means that it will be a perfect fit every time. 5/5
Weight: While the overall weight is dependent on how many pockets you fill, the material is one of those used throughout the Urban Tool products and is very light and nearly unnoticeable. 4/5
Durability: Provided correct technique is used, the hipHolster will rarely if every come in contact with any objects aside from one's leg, and it strong enough to hold up to the elements. While I was unable to locate any comments on longevity I expect that with proper care this option could last a fair few years. 5/5
Value: The cheap man that I am normally could not fathom spending fifty dollars on a backpack; however if the price is compared to the price of every day backpacks, it does not seem too much at all. Though I wouldn't mind a few dollars being shaved off, I could see myself purchasing the hipHolster without a glance back. 4/5
Overall: This option seems highly functional, comfortable and many other adjectives. I would eagerly purchase it if the chance arose, though I may try and bargain for a slight discount. 4.5/5
Urban FreeFlow
Urban Freeflow is regarded as the leading parkour and freerunning community online. With their mass popularity, they have decided to market by selling shirts and DVDs, and now a back pack.
Style: The backpack is available in only black and features the well known glyph of Urban Freeflow. While the compact pack may look silly to some, looking like a child's backpack painted black with a pretty stencil, however I believe that the backpack looks alright. The backpack does not seem to have any real advantage or disadvantages in a beauty contest and remains a solid three. 3/5
Fit: This backpack is very compact and the straps will adjust to fit almost any traceur, however the straps may not be as comfortable as some alternatives. 4/5
Weight: While the overall weight is dependent on how many pockets you fill, the material is one of those used throughout the Urban Tool products and is very light and nearly unnoticeable. 4/5
Durability: The material of the backpack seems durable enough, however a great deal of it comes in contact with the ground during rolls and has the potential to wear out within the first one or two years. 3/5
Value: Forty dollars is a fair bit to pay for this backpack in my opinion. While regular backpacks can still go for quite a bit, I would suggest that Urban Freeflow shave five or ten dollars off of the selling price. 3/5
Overall: The overall impression is that this backpack appears to be a only smaller version of a regular backpack, however it's compact nature gives it an advantage over some of the similar alternatives. 3/5
TraceHQ is a smaller parkour related online community. Their website is still under construction, but their community extends offline and appears to be doing quite well. In their store alongside a small assortment of clothing is their Traceur Bag.
Traceur Bag