For 2015, the winner of MyOutdoors Running Editor’s Product of the Year, goes to Inov8 with their Ultra 10 Pack.

Over the past 12 months we reviewed several packs and the Ultra 10 stood out due to its comfort, ease of use and feature set. Though on appearance it may appear lacking of obvious tech features, it is only when you load it up and hit the trail that they become apparent.

The soft flasks with tubes are brilliant. Yes the tubes may sway around unless you secure them, but they allow you to hydrate on the move unimpeded. Along with the soft flask tubes, locating the flask lower on the body, reduced bounce and kept the chest clear for other essential kit.

As simple as it may be, the stand out feature is the large rear compartment. It’s big, spacious and does the job it was designed for. Whether fully loaded or carrying the minimum of essentials, it holds the contents securely, and the large top zip allows easy access.

The expandable side pockets are great for on the fly gear changing and the harness pockets have small top covers which aid securing nutritional products.

All in all, this subtle black bag does what you want, when you want. Think of it like that fine suit, the devil is in the detail.

As mentioned at the beginning, narrowing down a year of testing to one product is a nightmare of a task. Garmin’s Fenix 3 was a close contender for the top spot, as since picking one up in July, it hasn’t left my wrist. The blend of dynamic data capture and design make it a GPS watch that looks as home on the high-street as an Alpine trail. A rarity in sports computers. It’s a joy to use. The surprise of the year was Saucony’s Xodus 6.0. Given their road heritage, it was a surprising to see how well their off road choice tackled Chamonix’s trails.

2015 was a great year for running products. As the trail and ultra scene continues to expand, brands are budgeting more cash into innovation and development. Whereas once there existed a Pro and Amateur level of product, we now find ourselves with products catering for all personal budgets, aspirations and applications.

Well done to Inov8 on taking the 2015 title with their Ultra 10 Pack, 2016 promises to be a great year for new products.