Runes - When to use them?

I had a good run last night doing quests in Borlis Pass and got 5 purple drops. Out of that I got a minor rune of vigor and a warriors minor rune. I`ve got the Yak Bend Gladiator armor and was wondering should I use them on this armor and hope I can salvage them or find another or wait till I get past Lions Arch and can get better armor? Playing a WA/MO.

You will be doing an armor upgrade soon. Either at Lion's arch, or D'Alesslo Seaboard. Id wait until then. You can always expert salvage your armor to try get them back but there is no guarantee you will get them back.

unless you are hurting and the rune will mean the difference between life and death the above is right in my opinion

put it on a better piece of armor

You can find lots of the Vigor Runes around D'Alesso and divinity Coast, myself I've found 5 of them.