Photo biathlon is even more comfortable with SALOMON's THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX shoes for trail running and ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG backpack.

I've started discord

"Photographing" is a hobby and job, and "jogging" is a half-work in terms of health management. I started thinking about whether I could do these two at once and then started with a photobiathlon where I run through the forest, take pictures when I encounter wild animals, and then run again. I introduced SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" and "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" as my hobby, and it was very comfortable, so I'd like to share with you all the realities.

What are SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" and "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG"?

I want to carry a super telephoto lens on my back and run around the forest!

In Hokkaido, where I live, if you take a little stroll through the forests in the neighborhood, you can discover wildlife and birds such as the Ezo deer, Ezo squirrel, Bearfish, Grey Moth, and Kingfishers. As a photographer writer, I would like to stroll around this field with a large, heavy, ultra-telephoto lens every day.

However, taking photos of wildlife is not enough to eat, and you can't spend time taking time to take your time every day. However, as a self-employed person who lives on teleworking, if I were to be a little careless, I quickly became a metabolic syndrome and I started to feel a problem with my health, so I consider jogging to be part of my job in a sense, and recently I have been particularly intentional about it.

At that moment, I suddenly came to my mind: "You can just carry a super telephoto lens on your back and just run as you go," and when you find a wild animal, you can take a picture and run again. To make this easier, we introduced the combination of the OM SYSTEM's professional OM-1, which is tough, compact, resistant to ultra-telephoto shooting, and cost-effective, plus the ultra-telephoto lens.

I was able to run quite comfortably with this OM SYSTEM professional machine, the OM-1, and the ultra-telephoto lens, but what made it even easier and more comfortable were the SALOMON trail running shoes, "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX," for 24,200 yen (tax included), and the running backpack, "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG, for 18,700 yen (tax included).

Recommended points

• (THUNDERCROSS) Highly cushioned, allowing you to run about 30 seconds faster than usual
• (THUNDERCROSS) A 5mm lug that captures the ground even on forest roads where fallen leaves accumulate and frozen
• (THUNDERCROSS) Gore-Tex is warm and highly protected even in rain and light snow with temperatures near below zero.
• (ADV SKIN) Waterproof fabric roll top adjustable to the length of the lens
• (ADV SKIN) 10 pockets and 2 large compartments provide outstanding storage capacity
• (ADV SKIN) It ​​has a large capacity of 15L and is extremely lightweight, weighing only about 320g.

Points that interest me

• (THUNDERCROSS) Made of highly waterproof Gore-Tex, it's a bit stuffy
• (ADV SKIN) The chest strap that holds in front of the chest is made of thin elastic

Main Specifications and ratings

item	SALOMON "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX"
Waterproofing	GORE-TEX
weight	300g
upper	Synthetic Materials/Textiles
Outsole	rubber
liner	Textile
insole	Textile
Heel height	31mm
Forefoot height	27mm
drop	4mm
Type of shoelaces	Quicklace
Cushioning	★★★★☆
Warmth	★★★★☆
grip	★★★★☆
Weather Resistant	★★★★☆
Cost Performance	★★★☆☆

item	SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG"
weight	320g
Dimensions (length x width x depth cm)	42 x 27 x 1
Size guide	11L > 20L
System Type	SensiFit
capacity	15.0
Storage capacity	★★★★★
Ease of carrying	★★★★☆
Ease of running	★★★★☆
Weather Resistant	★★★★☆
Cost Performance	★★★☆☆

Detailed review

I want to photograph familiar ezo squirrels and wild birds while secreting the happiness hormone serotonin

Because of my job as a photographer writer, I usually write manuscripts from home except for my time taking tests for filming or reviews. That time is longer than expected, and since I stayed at home alone, I can easily feel a lack of exercise and I don't meet people, I can easily be said to be a work environment where my mental state is easily reduced.

For this reason, I try to jog as often as possible. At first I started jogging for a diet that I could say is my life's work and hobby, but the main reason for this is that I realized that running makes me mentally stable rather than losing weight and becoming healthier. For some reason, when I run every day, I find it more positive and mentally difficult to get down.

When I looked into it, I found out that jogging to the extent that it feels comfortable will produce serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, and dopamine, which brings joy and pleasure. I'm not an expert so I don't know what's difficult, but when I'm running continuously, I can clearly concentrate on my work more positively than when I'm not running, and even if I eat what I like to some extent, I won't gain weight and I can sleep comfortably. It seems that some people are saying that serotonin, the happiness hormone, helps to produce melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep.

In other words, as I work on tasks that are often quite mood-dependent, such as writing manuscripts, I believe that running is part of work, as it is more efficient to jog continuously, even if I spend 1-2 hours a day.

As a result, I came to my current style of riding along the road through the forest with a super telephoto lens in Aoba Park, where ezo squirrels and wild birds are located.

OM SYSTEM allows for ultra-telephotos of up to 1,200mm with just a little over 2kg.

Telephoto lenses, which are said to be standard lenses for wildlife and wild bird photography, are 35mm full-size 500mm and 600mm, with a single-focus professional model weighing around 3kg, and professional models in the SLR era weighing around 1.5kg.

The author, who is smaller than the average for Japanese men, is too heavy to run on his shoulders, and it was too large. However, although it is not possible to make my body bigger now, a digital camera allows you to choose a light and compact system. As I previously mentioned in my post, "Light and small is absolute justice for the outdoors!," "OM SYSTEM OM-1" and "M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS" for two consecutive days, I've been photographing Naki rabbits with Mt. Hakuun and "To Nupukausinupuri" for OM SYSTEM, which uses Micro Four Thirds, is equivalent to 600mm, with the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO (actual price around 350,000 yen) is extremely lightweight at 1,270g (excluding tripod seating) / 1,475g (including tripod seating). Even if you combine this with OM SYSTEM's high-end model OM-1 (actual price around 220,000 yen), only the main unit, it costs just under 2kg. It also weighs less than 2kg when combined with the ultra-telephoto zoom M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS (actual price around 150,000 yen) 1,120g (excluding tripod seat) / 1,325g (including tripod seat).

I have a versatile and cost-effective M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS, but it's also a little luxurious, but the image quality is also amazing. IS PRO is equipped with a teleconverter M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 (actual price around 25,000 yen) that improves telephoto performance by attaching the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 (actual price around 25,000 yen) equivalent to 840mm F5.6 and double the teleconverter. I enjoy photographing wild animals and wild birds with a 1,200mm equivalent F8.0 with an MC-20.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 has 105g, and the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 2x Teleconverter MC-20 has 150g, so even if you carry a lens with an equivalent 840mm F5.6 or 1,200mm F8.0 with a high-end professional body, it only weighs just over 2kg. I use these in a running vest, and use them in a photobiathlon style where I run through the forest, find subjects, take photos, and start running again.

If you carry it in a running vest firmly in place with your body, the Micro Four Thirds OM SYSTEM is heavy and large enough for even a small author to run, and even women can enjoy taking photos in photo biathlon style. With a 35mm full-size version, even difficult shooting can be enjoyed easily with the compact and lightweight Micro Four Thirds, including the cost.

SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" is all about high cushioning, high weather resistance and grip.

You may be wondering what I'm talking about, but the purpose of the author is to promote the secretion of the happiness hormone, serotonin. It would naturally be nice if you lose weight, improve your muscle strength, or get faster as a result of running, but in a sense, as I say part of my work, the important purpose is to create a mental and physical environment where you can work mentally and positively by secreting the happiness hormone, serotonin, and other factors.

Therefore, jogging is the biggest risk for me. Even though I'm running for mental stability, I want to avoid physical damage and suffer damage not only mentally but also physically, even as much as possible. I run as leisurely as possible to make it less stressful on my knees and other parts. Also, as a runner, I don't have enough muscle strength and I'm heavy, so I try to select shoes that are as cushioned as possible.

However, jogging courses at Aoba Park, where you can encounter wildlife and birds, are unpaved forest roads, and in this season of autumn and early winter, it is not uncommon for fallen leaves to fall, snow, and the road surface itself to freeze. Therefore, you need shoes that provide firm grip even on rough roads.

In December, Hokkaido is already in the middle of winter days when temperatures are below zero degrees all day, so it is not uncommon for jogging to be below freezing temperatures. It is also important that the fallen leaves are often wet, and it is made of waterproof and weather resistant materials to keep you warm.

Furthermore, as a runner, I don't have enough muscle strength, and since I'm a heavy author, who runs with a camera and lens on his back, even though it's only around 2kg, high cushioning is essential. SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" is a trail running shoe that meets these conditions.

In fact, until the introduction of "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX", I used the same Salomon "XA PRO 3D GORE-TEX" and "SENSI RIDE 3" depending on the weather, temperature, course you drive, mood, etc. However, for jogging on a forest road course that is just over 4km away from freezing, carrying a camera and lens, the XA PRO 3D GORE-TEX is slightly over-spec in terms of protecting your feet, and on the other hand, the cushioning seems a little lacking. On the other hand, although the "SENSI RIDE 3" may not be a GORE-TEX model, it is not waterproof or weather resistant, and it feels a little cold at freezing, but there were many occasions where I wanted to wear it because of the cushioning of the sole.

In a sense, the "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" has a personality that is indifferent to these good points, and the sole has a high cushioned Energy Foam placed sufficiently thick, so even if you run with a running backpack with a camera and lens on your back, you will feel less strain on your knees and soles. I'm always afraid of breakdowns, so I run quite slowly and to reduce the impact, but with the "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" I get the impression that I can run safely at a pace of about 30 seconds faster than usual at about 1km.

Since you are running with a lens or camera on your back, falling not only damages your body, but also causes problems such as damage to your equipment. Therefore, one of the most important problems you should avoid is unfortunately the course you run to photograph wildlife, with fallen leaves falling and snow falling on top of it, causing the freeze to freeze. This road surface is made of "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" All Terrain Contagrip rubber, providing grip in all directions of 5mm depth, and the chevron lug, which improves traction on soft roads such as muddy roads and muddy roads, so there's no impression that you're in a hurry to slip while jogging. Furthermore, although it would be quite stuffy in the summer, since it is a GORE-TEX model, even when I ran in rain near freezing or light snow, I was able to run comfortably up to -3 degrees Celsius without getting wet or cold.

As it is a low-cut model, it may be difficult to ride with cameras and lenses on the forest roads of Aoba Park in Chitose City, Hokkaido, where snow fell during the season of full-scale root snow, but up until then, you can enjoy a photo biathlon where you can enjoy a comfortable, relaxed jogging photo biathlon even in negative temperatures at the "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX". Personally, I recommend jogging before and after freezing, which is easier than in the summer, so I would definitely recommend you try it.

We recommend SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" to everyone who wants to ride with their luggage, not just cameras and lenses.

It's unclear whether it's okay to bring up the adidas catchphrase in the SALOMON item reviews, but it's fine to just say, "I want to run." I really like the adidas catchphrase, ". I think the good thing about jogging is that you can do anywhere, anytime, as long as you have the desire to run.

However, this desire to "run" disappears very easily for ordinary people like me. For example, for me, who lives in Hokkaido, it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop below freezing in December, and if I don't have the appropriate cold weather gear that is easy to move in, my desire to run will fade in no time. It would also be fine if there was an environment where you could run comfortably with light clothing such as shorts empty-handed shorts and running, but ordinary people would at least have to run with the key to the house, smartphones, or even a small change.

At this time, if the money or keys I put in my pocket continue to move around, or my smartphone flutters and sways, my "I want to run" quickly goes somewhere. I started running to feel good, but if I was uncomfortable running, I ended up feeling like I was going to run somewhere.

For this reason, I love running backpacks that fit perfectly to the body when running. In fact, I own a running backpack that came in third, including the SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" that I introduced this time, and my overwhelming favourite is SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG".

Rather than the other running backpacks being bad, it can be said that the two running backpacks I got earlier have made it clear what I need in the ideal running backpack for me.

10 pockets and 2 large compartments for outstanding storage

It depends on what you carry around with you when jogging, but in my case, I would like at least six pockets in the shoulder harness on the front. Ideally, a larger one would be better. SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" comes with a zipper and has two large waterproof fabric pockets, two large pockets for storing a 500ml soft flask, two large mesh pockets, and two small mesh pockets, and as many as eight pockets as possible with the shoulder harness.

In my case, I put the OM SYSTEM compact digital camera TG-7 in separate pockets so that they don't bump into each other in their pockets, so they need at least five pockets. And if you have extra space, you'll need six pockets. With this equipment, it is possible to somehow fit items that are just normal jogging, and each item is guaranteed to be able to run comfortably without shaking or flapping.

I had a lot of trouble finding a running backpack that could comfortably store this minimum amount of luggage, but in my case, I have a very special request to store an ultra-telephoto lens worth 600mm or more in the main compartment on the back, and a camera with it on it.

In the case of running backpacks, they are not intended to be carried with precision equipment such as cameras and lenses, so they do not contain cushioning materials or other materials. Therefore, I roll up a relatively inexpensive outdoor silver mat, which is available for outdoor use, attach the bottom, create a cylindrical cushioning material, and store the telephoto lens and camera in it in a running backpack.

Adjustable waterproof fabric roll top "doesn't shake and fits firmly"

I thought there would be no major problems if I put cushioning material and stored the camera and lens in a running backpack, but in fact, there were two problems that I hadn't noticed before I actually ran with a traditional running backpack.

One thing isn't every time, but when I run with my lens and camera in my running backpack, the camera and lens sway from side to side. If this shaking occurs properly with the zipper in the main compartment of the running backpack, the mouth of the running backpack may open. Incidentally, this is what caused the camera and lens to fall. It's a big problem.

Another problem is that if the size (mainly the length) of the main compartment of the running backpack matches the length of the lens, camera, and cushioning material inside, the shaking when running will be small, but if the camera inside is short compared to the length of the main compartment, there will be room inside, making it easier to sway, increasing the risk of the shank opening.

I was looking for a running backpack that would fit a telephoto lens, camera and cushioning material to solve these two problems, but I can't find it on the Internet. The size and capacity of a running backpack is listed, but in the first place, you won't know if the lenses, cameras, etc. are actually in the first place, until you actually put them in, and there are quite a few running backpacks that have sufficient capacity other than the Faisner, which opens and closes the main compartment. When you live in a regional city in Hokkaido like me, it is extremely difficult to examine the entire lineup of each manufacturer of running backpacks in real life.

However, I found this while searching for a running backpack online. Salomon Store Sapporo Experience Base a direct store of SALOMON, is located in Sapporo. I actually visited with a camera, lens and cushioning material, even though most of the products are available here. And SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" was selected as an item that meets the requirements from almost all of SALOMON's running backpacks.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO and OM SYSTEM OM-1, and the large main compartment that can store cushioning material, but the main compartment is opened and closed with a dry bag style roll top instead of a phisner. There is no need to worry about the camera or other device shaking inside and the zipper in the main compartment opening. This is a big point. Furthermore, since it is a roll top style, you can adjust the length of the main compartment by adjusting the number of times it rolls (entangles) to suit the total length of the stored lens, etc. This is the ideal running backpack for me, who enjoys photo biathlon.

Although it has a large capacity, it has a very sophisticated and compact design, so when you spot a squirrel or something similar on the forest road in Aoba Park, and take out a set of lenses and cameras equivalent to 840mm or 1,200mm from your back from the SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG", many people are surprised, saying, "You can fit such a compact bag with a super telephoto!"

Plus, it's super lightweight

The ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG has a large pocket and is quite large for a running backpack at 15L, but in fact, the body weighs only 320g. When I bought my first running backpack, I chose a small, minimal running backpack with a very small capacity, even though I didn't have any plans to play in races, but even though the weight remains the same by 100g, even if I go shopping in the middle of a jogging, I often end up not being able to store it and end up running in my hand, which makes me regret it a little. In contrast, the SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" has quite a bit of room in it, so the other day I stopped by a delicious supermarket in Sakana while I was jogging and ran home with sashimi salmon on my back. The large capacity and lightweight, compact SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" is convenient for everyday use.

SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" is extremely convenient for everyday jogging or photo biathlons where you run around the forest with your camera on your back, and it will be quite difficult to find anything better. This is my favorite running backpack that I recommend to many people, but the only thing that bothers me is that the chest straps that hold the left and right shoulder harnesses in front of the chest are made of thin elastic strings. In fact, I have experienced the sewing of thin elastic cord parts in a running backpack from another company that could not withstand the pulling force and fall off, so I am a little worried about the durability of this part. However, even after using it for a few months, there are no particular problems, so it may be too much of a concern.

Summary: SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" and "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" that will encourage you to run

SALOMON trail running items that will give you a pleasant boost to your reckless "want to run"

As I run along the forest road in Aoba Park with a camera fitted with a super telephoto lens in the SALOMON "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" and in a sub-freezing temperature, people who are also photographing Ezo squirrels and wild birds often say, "I often think I'll run with a camera and lens."

As someone who runs, I say, "Because I feel like I want to run, so there's nothing I can do about it," but for me, it feels good to run while photographing wildlife surrounded by natural environments (it's probably also secreting the happiness hormone serotonin...). However, if you look at it a little objectively, carrying a few kg of luggage on your back and running through the frozen forest can be almost a punishment game in a way.

Still, I regularly put M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO and OM SYSTEM OM-1 in SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG", wear SALOMON's "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX", run and take photos, and enjoy the photo biathlon where I run, because each tool provides strong support for the desire to run.

The image quality of the photos produced by the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 300mm F4.0 IS PRO and OM SYSTEM OM-1, which are compact in size, gives you a beautiful and high satisfaction, while SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" holds your luggage firmly and supports the desire to "run." Furthermore, the SALOMON "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" has excellent grip and hold, providing a bouncy ride. This makes driving along the frozen forest roads fun.

For me, who aims to "run" by promoting the secretion of serotonin and other substances by running, and to regulate my physical and mental state, all of which are enemies, such as cold, heat, pain in my legs and knees, and the discomfort of shaking luggage, which atrophys the desire to run. Running items that protect the desire to run from such enemies are extremely important, and we plan to continue to introduce a variety of items depending on the situation and situation, but at the moment, I believe that SALOMON's "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" and "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" are the best choices for photobiathlon companions, carrying an OM SYSTEM OM-1 and a telephoto lens on my back. There may be a minority of people who want to drive with a camera and telephoto lens, but if you're interested, why not give it a try? It feels very good.

Details and purchase of SALOMON "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" and "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG"

For more information on the product, please see "THUNDERCROSS GORE-TEX" and "ADV SKIN CROSS SEASON RACE FLAG" from the official SALOMON website

Saito Titoce

Former monthly camera magazine editor. While pursuing the spectacular views of Hokkaido and the wildlife, I was completely hooked on the outdoor life of camper vans and sleeping in my car. While traveling the entire country with his 2-year-old son and wife, he is a photographer writer who photographs and writes everything he has experienced, not only cameras and lenses, but also outdoor camping, child-rearing, PC gadgets, cooking, and dieting. OUTDOOR GEARZINE plans to write a variety of articles, focusing on the QOCL (Quality of Camping Life) Improvement Committee, which will improve the quality of life in camping and camper vans.

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