QT: Is It Worth It? Feetures Elite and Freetrain V1

---

One of the perks of my job is that, from time to time, companies will send me goodies to use/try/have in hopes that I’ll give a glowing review of their products either here, on the podcast, or on the social medias.

I appreciate getting to try some stuff, but one thing that I’m 100% firm about is that I will only speak honestly about the products that I receive.

If a company wants me to talk about their product favorably? Make a good product.

Send me something that sucks? I’ll tell my audience it sucks.

Pretty straight forward, eh?

Get ready, because I’m about to unleash some truth today y’all.

Feetures Elite Socks

I have mixed feelings about running socks.

On the one hand, I really like quality socks.

On the other, I’m cheap AF and struggle to open up my wallet to pay a premium for socks.

As fate would have it, the people from Feetures reached out to me about testing/reviewing their new line of elite socks when I was hemming and hawing about buying some new socks.

Perfect timing, eh?

Talk about best of both worlds: four new pairs of quality socks that didn’t cost me a dime!

So what’s my take?

These socks are legit, no doubt about it!

Comfortable. No issues with them sliding down. I haven’t had any blister issues.

They work in wet or dry conditions. Don’t stink after multiple wears.

I don’t know what else to say about them!

There are different cuts and different levels of thickness, so you are almost certainly able to find a style that suites your taste.

If you’re in the market for some good socks, I’d definitely recommend something from the Feetures Elite line.

 

Freetrain V1 Vest

One of the biggest frustrations many runners have is how to carry all of the things on our runs.

Phone. Keys. ID. Fuel. Water.

There are no shortage of options available, but very few of them, in my view, check all the boxes.

When I was first contacted by the folks from Freetrain and I looked at their offerings, my initial response was one of intrigue.

In all honesty, the V1 isn’t something I would probably consider buying but why not give it a shot when the price is right, right?

Right.

When the V1 arrived, I was cautiously optimistic that I might actually really like this product for carrying my phone during my regular mid-week runs.

Sadly, that hasn’t proved to be the case.

To be clear, that doesn’t mean I think the Freetrain V1 is a bad product, because it’s not. It’s just not the right product for me and my running needs.

The Good:

Let’s start with the positives, shall we?

The Freetrain V1 provids a snug, yet comfortable, fit with zero bounce while running.

Anyone that has ever run with a phone in a belt or an arm holder has likely had to deal with some unwanted movement/bounching/jostling.

The last thing I want to deal with during a run is my phone bouncing around with every step, and I have experienced absoltely none of that while running with my phone in the Freetrain V1.

Another positive of the V1 is the ease of messing with your phone.

Need to select a new podcast to listen to? Reply to a text message? Or anything else on your phone?

No need to pull it out of the vest, just unsnap the clasp and you’re looking right at your phone and able to do whatever needes to be done.

The Bad:

The Freetrain V1 doesn’t exactly provide a lot in terms of carrying capacty.

Sure, you can fit your phone in the phone pocket, which I guess is the big thing.

In that phone pocket, you can easily slide in an ID and any other similarly sized things you may need for your run.

And there are a couple of small pockets on the shoulders for a key or a gel.

But outside of that?

To be fair, the Freetrain isn’t marketed as a “do everything” kind of pack.

That said, it kind of feels like a bit much in terms of something that basically only carries your phone.

The Ugly:

According to the website, the V1 will fit most phones up to and including some plus size phones.

I have an iPhone XR, so I assumed that I’d have no problem with my phone not fitting into the pouch.

The issue that I have is that my phone doesn’t fit when I have it in the case.

I have a lifeproof case on my phone, and I have little doubt that said case has saved my phone on mulitple occasions.

In order to use my V1, I have to strip my phone out of the case everytime.

In theory, that isn’t a big deal. But if I’m going to use my V1 for 4 or 5 times per week, is that more of a pain than it’s worth?

Perhaps.

If you have a thin case on your phone? Or if you’re one of those daredevils that doesn’t use a case at all? The V1 will likely work without an issue.

But if you’ve got a bit of a beefier case? Not ideal.

Another issue I have is the V1 is that in order to take a picture with the phone you have to remove it from the case.

Since I try to take a #seenonmyrun shot during every run, this isn’t optimal since I’ll have sweaty hands and no case on my phone.

That’s a recipe for a dropped and cracked phone, if ever there was one!

Final Word:

If you get the sense that I’m really down on the Freetrain V1, that isn’t completely accurate.

I like it. And I can see some ways that I may use it going forward.

Strength training would be one such way. Also, perhaps, when doing yard work or other things around the house.

But I just can’t see a situation where I will use it for my runs.

I want to, but having to take it out of the case every day just isn’t going to happen.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Well, there you have it.

My take on the Feetures Elite Socks and Freetrain V1 Vest.

If you have any questions or would like further clarification on either of these products, just let me know!

Leave a comment below, holler at me on social, or shoot me an email with your questions and I’ll be happy to help you understand each of these items more completely.

---

***Legalese: I received four pairs of Feetures Elite socks and a Freetrain V1 with the expectation of an honest review. The thoughts/opinions/reviews of each product are 100% my own. My reviews have been in no way influenced by anyone associated with any of the companies or products discussed in this post/episode.***

---

Reviewing the Feetures Elite Socks and the Freetrain V1 Vest: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly! #runchat Click To Tweet

Have You Used Either of These Items Before? What Are Your Thoughts?

---

Want to Support the Continued Growth & Production of the Show?

Check out the support page for ideas and suggestions of ways you can help me grow the show. And remember, not all support involves money. Some of the best ways you can show your support are 100% free.

Subscribe to the Show

Never miss another episode of the Diz Runs With podcast by subscribing to the show, and for my fellow Apple fans out there, it’s never been easier now that the podcast app is native on the new operating system. iPhone/iPod/iPad users click here. Android users click here. SoundCloud users click here.

Please Give Me Some Feedback!

Take the 6 question listener survey to help me shape the future of this podcast.

Register for a Free Race Training Plan

Every month, I’m giving away a FREE training plan for the race of your choice. For details/information, and to sign up, just click here.

Join The Tribe!

There’s always room for more members of the tribe! Both the Facebook group and the email group provide opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. The Facebook group is still small, but it is a great way to connect with fellow runners and foster community amongst like-minded individuals. The email group is THE way to stay up to date about future guests on the show, as well as getting some other freebies and offers that aren’t available to anyone else. If you’ve got questions about either/both, just let me know!

More Legalese:

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This simply means that if you decide to make a purchase using one of the links, I get paid a small commission at no extra expense to you.