WISE Running Vest by Ferdinand "The Magic" Airault. One of the best recommendations for ultra running gears.
Posted on August 31 2026
Ferdinand Herold (a trail runner/magician) drops by a shop after running the Hong Kong 100. He reports a strong result—8th place—with a time around 10:05. He emphasizes how Hong Kong is special but requires acclimatization, especially for climate and stairs, even if you’ve lived there for years.
His lead-up to HK100 through a chain of races and training: he started trail running in Hong Kong and sees HK100 as important in his life. After an early issue with The North Face (TNF) caused him to miss a checkpoint in a previous attempt, he shifted to Shenzhen 100 (shorter distance), then returned for marathons in Hong Kong (including an event connected to EvoHK), using these races to build confidence and fitness for bigger goals—particularly an upcoming race called Black Canyon in the US.
For the marathon shortly before HK100 (about six days), he says he didn’t push recklessly at the start and focused on steady execution. He notes his training blocks in Hong Kong included lots of long runs (~40 km) on the Maclehose to help him hit race pace and handle the terrain. He also mentions running with friends/teammates (including Alex, who finished one place ahead) and frames HK100 as a good competitive battle.
A major portion of the conversation then focuses on gear, especially a Wise/WISE backpack/vest setup. Ferdinand says he chose it for practical reasons: it’s light, holds lots of fluids/gear, and is adjustable/ventilates well (so it doesn’t fully open when loosened). He contrasts “big vs light” options, suggests buyers lean toward the bigger one, and comments that while the product feels premium, it can be expensive and somewhat fragile if used heavily (he mentions his own item being slightly damaged).
Finally, he looks ahead to Black Canyon (100k), saying he has two weeks to prepare. He’s fortunate to have Will Murray (who placed 2nd last year) as his pacer. He describes Black Canyon and HK100 as similar: both are major, fast, internationally attended regional races where top finishers chase extreme times (like sub-9). He ends by inviting questions about training and gear, sharing where to contact him (shop “gunring,” and social handles like Strava/Instagram).
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