Reddit reviews SE 3" x 4" Self-Locking Bags (100 Count) - ZB34

• Tips on tailwind: Don't buy the single packs, they never ever tear easily or correctly. If you have a Salomon pack, upgrade to the latest water bottles. The wide mouth makes it so much easier to pour in. A form fitting ziplock bag works the best for easy pours, since you pull it open and pinch the sides to create a perfect pouring spout. Also carry the amount you'll need into the aid station, prior to getting more from dropbags. If you have it on hand, you can task volunteers to fill your bottles with them while you get more from your dropbag for further aid stations. It's only a couple of extra oz's of weight. If there's no one there to take the bottle, pop the top off the bottle and keep it in your mouth. Then pour in the mix, fill with water, and put the top on. Should be quick if you already have the top popped coming into the aid station. I recommend and use these bags for all my races (holds up to 3 scoops, get all the air out while you close them to prevent movement in a pack): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VV2G14
  
• The new Speedgoat2's have almost an identical foot print to the Challenger ATR3's. From what I can tell the only big difference is the vibram sole (they line up perfectly). The upper on the Speedgoat2's also takes a bit longer to break in. I also couldn't wear the Speedgoat1's, just cause they never could fit right (narrow awkwardness). The heel design is idential to the Challenger ATR3's as well. The ATR2's still has the better heel design.
  
• The med team there said it was maceration, I think it was mostly the sand paper action from the dirt in my socks in general though. But again, I trust his/their opinion over mine. If they saw maceration, then that's what it is. I had changed my socks once and thought mine were fine at that point, but the sweat and "car washes" attributed more moisture to them than expected. Hindsight 20/20, I should've carried an extra pair in my pack or had a set in every drop. I also had a spare pair after Rucky Chucky, which was too little too late at this point.
  
• I thought the canyons were fine, and that was my most enjoyable section of the race. It was registering 102F when I asked an aid station volunteer, but the constant soaking and ice made it feel like 80F. I think for those that found it grueling, they either didn't do enough heat training or didn't know how to stay cool. I know a couple of elites who couldn't handle it. Perhaps VA's humidity helped me here as well. My earlier 50 miler was under 95F temperatures and high humidity -- so that also was nice for testing out strategies.
  
  Other notes on TW now that I'm thinking about it. The flavor (I use naked during races) tastes terrible after awhile. It gets really sweet. To combat this have one bottle with the TW, and chase it with water from a second bottle. It rinses the flavor our of your mouth quickly then.
  
  Whew, great questions! Thanks for the awesome comment!

>the mouth still wasn't wide enough for the tailwind scoop to fit inside so I ended up using a funnel anyways.

>Do you do a lot of mid-run refilling of the bottles? What do you like about the wider mouths?

Initial filling with TW is a little dicey even with the wider mouth openings, but they are such that I can manage it with the scoop via a careful pour at home.

I do end up doing a lot of mid-run refilling, yes. Out on the trail, I find them much easier to refill than smaller ones because of the wider opening, pouring from the bags I put TW in. Also, I've had fewer issues with getting a good seal with the larger bottles, so it's faster, easier, and more reliable all around for me.

The only downside, which really is more a TW downside, is if I am having to filter and then fill with the filtered water. That makes the whole process take a lot longer, but I've mostly gotten over the time I lose to that on training runs.