Running Vest Packs
Find Your Feet athletes on our Gone Running Tour to Alpine Tasmania
Not sure where to start when it comes to selecting a vest pack for trail running? This advice is here to support your decision making.
What is a Vest Pack?
A vest pack is a pack that clasps around your chest without a waistband. This ensures there is no bounce in the pack when you run and helps prevent any chaffing or discomfort from the waist strap. There are a variety of trail running vest packs on the market.
How to choose a Vest Pack?
When choosing your vest pack, it is essential to keep in mind a number of factors:
- The distance of your event
- How much mandatory gear or storage is required for your event
- The hydration capacity required to complete your run
- Whether you prefer soft flasks or bladders/reservoirs
Use our comparison chart to help you select your Vest Pack:
This is our list of the best vest packs available on the market. We have described:
- What race distance they are suitable for
- The hydration capacity of the vest pack
- What we feel are their best features
Our list is ranked by mandatory gear storage size of the vest pack, from the LARGEST storage size to the SMALLEST storage size. Please note, storage size is not a reflection of fluid carrying capacity, but rather a reflection of how much gear the vest pack can hold.
| ITEM | SUITABILITY | HYDRATION OPTIONS | BEST FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Direction Fastpack 35 | This is NOT a race appropriate pack. A vest pack most suited to longer adventures such as multi-day missions. Storage capacity - 35L | Plenty of space for your own bottles and even an Ultimate Direction 2-3L Reservoir. Total Capacity - >4L | Largest volume vest pack on the market. It has an adjustable waistbelt for heavier loads. |
| Ultimate Direction Fastpack 25 | This is NOT a race appropriate pack. A vest pack most suited to longer adventures such as long single day or very light multi-day missions. Storage capacity - 25L | Plenty of space for your own bottles and even an Ultimate Direction 2-3L Reservoir. Total Capacity - >4L | Large volume vest pack for longer personal missions, including running, cycling & hiking |
| Salomon S-LAB Peak 20 | This is the largest vest pack made by Salomon. It is NOT a race appropriate pack. A vest pack most suited to longer adventures such as long single day or very light multi-day missions. Storage capacity - 20L | 2 front hydration elastic pockets, compatible with 500ml Salomon Soft Flasks with side space for extra Soft Flasks. Total capacity - up to 2L | Stretchy, customised fit for long adventures. |
| Ultimate Direction Fastpack 15 | The best run commute pack ever! With laptop storage and plenty of space for clothing & accessories. Storage capacity - >20L | Can add Ultimate Direction 2L Reservoir. Total capacity - up to 2L | The best run commute pack ever! We love the laptop sleeve and front pockets for all your personal items. |
| Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Set (2017) | Largest pack available for racing. Ideal for 80km - 100 miler distances which have larger mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity- 12L | Comes with 2x 500ml Salomon Soft Flasks (1L total) and can store a 1.5L Salomon Soft Reservoir. Total Capacity - 2.5L | Ideal size for longer races and the fabric is soft against skin. |
| Ultimate Direction Jurek FKT | Ideal for 80km - 100 miler distances which have larger mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity- 11.6L | Comes with 2x 600ml Flex Form Bottles (1.2L total) and can store an Ultimate Direction 2L Reservoir. Total Capacity 3.2L | This pack is an evolution of the immensely popular SJ Ultra Vest. New ergonmic bottles too. Front access pole holders for steep terrain. |
| Ultimate Direction AK Mountain Vest | Ideal for 80km - 100 miler distances which have larger mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity- 11.5L | Comes with 2x 500ml Ultimate Direction Body Bottles (1L total) and the ability to carry Ultimate Direction 2-3L Reservoir. Total Capacity - up to 4L | Perfect pack size for longer distance races. Easily accessed storage of bulky items and large fluid capacity. Plenty of pockets on the front of the pack. |
| Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta (Women's Specific) | Ideal for 80km - 100 miler distances which have larger mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity- 11.2L | Comes with 2x 500ml Ultimate Direction Body Bottles (1L total) and the ability to carry an Ultimate Direction 2-3L Reservoir. Total Capacity - up to 4L | One of the only women's specific trail running race vest packs on the market. Ultimate Direction have used softer fabrics and tailored to the women's body shape. |
| Ultimate Direction PB Adventure 3.0 | This pack holds 10L of storage so will easily fit all your mandatory gear in it for the longer ultra distance races. | Comes with 2x 500ml Ultimate Direction Body Bottles (1L total) and the ability to carry an Ultimate Direction 2L Reservoir. Total Capacity - 3L | Perfect pack size for longer races when you stil want to keep things to a minimum. Plenty of pockets and softer seams next to your skin. |
| CamelBak Ultra 10 (2017) | Large pack suited to 80km - 100 miler distances or races with large mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity - 10L | Bladder only (2L). Can add 2x500ml Quick Stow Soft Flasks. Total Capacity - up to 3L | Highly versatile pack. Setup would be ideal for mountain biking too. Very durable fabrics (makes it a little heavier though). |
| Salomon S-LAB Sense Ultra 8 Set | The perfect vest pack for individuals who can pack very light for a 80-100km distance or a great 'normal' option for the 25-50km distances. Storage capacity - 8L | Comes with 2x 500ml Speed Soft Flasks. Total Capacity - 1L | Perfect for very light weight racing or training where you don't want a bladder. Easy to wash in the washing machine and non-chaffing light-weight fabrics! |
| Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta 3.0 (Women's Specific) | For light weight 100km events or events such as the Ultra Trail Australia 50km which have larger mandatory gear requirements. Storage capacity - 7.2L | Comes with 2x 500ml Ultimate Direction Body Bottles (1L total) and the ability to carry an Ultimate Direction 2-3L Reservoir. Total Capacity - up to 4L | This vest pack is lighter weight, uses softer fabrics, has a phone compatible pocket and adequate front-of-body storage for race fuel & valuables. |
| Salomon Advanced Skin3 5 Set | Ideal for events under 50km or as a training vest. Storage capacity- 5L | Comes with 2x 500ml Salomon Soft Flasks (1L total) and can store a 1.5L Salomon Soft Reservoir. Total Capacity - 2.5L | Ideal size for shorter races where you still would like a bladder. |
| Salomon S-LAB Sense Ultra 5 Set | Very light-weight pack for racing. Ideal for 50km distances or races which do not require large amounts of mandatory gear. Storage capacity- 5L | Comes with 2x 500ml Speed Soft Flasks (1L total). Total capacity is 1L | Really great, less-abrasive fabrics. Light weight. Easy to clean in the washing machine. |
| CamelBak Ultra Pro | Small pack carrying a 2L bladder and 2L volume for gear. Ideal for short trail races up to 40km where minimal gear is required. Storage capacity - 4L | 2x500ml Quick Stow Soft Flasks. Total capacity - 1L | Ideal as a multi-use vest pack such as utilizing it for mountain biking too. |
| Salomon S-LAB Sense 2 Set | Lightest pack on the market. Designed for races where no mandatory gear is required. Ideal for road races and short trail events. Storage capacity - 2L (in pockets on chest area and a very small back pocket) | 2x 500ml Speed Soft Flasks. Total capacity - 1L | Ideal for marathons and events where you just need to carry fluids, nutrition or personal essentials such as, keys & phone. The extra 1L capacity is really helpful to carry more nutrition too. |
REVIEW: Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra 8 Set Trail Running Vest pack
By Hanny Allston
Finding a shoe that will meet most of our requirements as a trail runner is really difficult. Not only do races throw multiple challenges at us - single tracks, rougher terrain, roads - so too does the weather! What happens when the rocks get slippery or the scale of muddiness increases? Then of course we all partake in training or ‘missioning’. Whilst I enjoy the freedom of the trails on my daily jaunts, there are times when I find myself cruising the roads and footpaths too, be it for recovery, long runs, speed or access to new trails.
Asking one shoe to do all this for us is quite a challenge! However, I honestly believe that the all new Salomon SLAB Sense Ultra trail running shoe gets damn close to achieving this for me. Details and technical specs is not my strength so here is my ‘layman's' review of this shoe.
