I picked this vest up three years ago and it has been sold. Pocket placement is on point. Unfortunately I bought a large and I swim in it. Lessons learned about online purchasing.
I know Salomon has been mentioned already, but I have the Salomon active skin 8 set. It's the less expensive alternative to the advanced skin series. It is absolutely incredible. A little large for what you might want, but they do make the active skin in a 4 liter (rather than my 8 liter) and the advanced skin comes in a 5 liter as well as a 12 liter. The construction is such that it is like having pockets in your skin. You can cinch the vest down super tight if you like and the whole vest stretches and flexes with your body as you breathe and move. The only other vest I've ever owned was a 5 liter vest from aoniji (about $25-$30 on amazon) and while it was a great vest and did what is was designed to do, it is not even recognizable to the salomon. I know the ginger runner had very good things to say about the new north face vest as well. You may not be in the market for another vest, but if you have issues with the fit of vests, you may want to look at the salomon series in the future. Good luck on that 50k!
Lack of side adjustments makes finding a good fit difficult. Zephyr is overall much more secure and, in terms of using a bladder, is also much easier to refill bladder. Also zephyr has a decent trekking pole attachment, ultra’s pole location will hit your elbows. If the ultra pro had a side adjustment built in, it would make the side pockets worthwhile. Edit: Circuit for shorter, zephyr for longer, ultra pro lost in the middle
Indeed, one of the smaller sizes will be good for his 50km race (12 is a bit too large). The packs are very comfy, but my only issue with them is thet run a bit hot.
I agree that the sizing is not quite right for you - for vests I think it's wise to go in an actual shop and look for the best fitting one. Perfect fit is crucial when it comes to longer distances. At the moment I use the Salomon Agile 2, a very minimal and leightweight vest with a good fit (lacing is a bit too long, though).
Looks way too big for you! Looks like you should be small/medium for your build. Also, the bottles falling problem - use the elastic loop that you use to tighten the opening and loop it in the the gap between the bottle and it's cap. It'll hold your bottle up, even as it empties.
The pack looks really good. I like the number of pockets, not too many. We are similar size Mike and I would always choose a medium in a running vest or pack. It looks just right for your upcoming race.
When they sent it to me, I didn't realize that this particular model came in a variety of sizes (many Camelbaks are one-size-fits-most). Otherwise, I would have requested the M
I got this and after my first run I had to return it. I just could not get it snug on my body and it would just bounce. So, I bought the Camelback Circuit vest 50oz and I am happy with it. It is very similar to this one but the only difference is the Circuit has side straps that can tighten. Now I don't have a bouncy vest.
Try one of the Salomon advance skin in med or those vests are tight (literally can be tightened on the sides). Same liquid storage and the soft flaks have banda that keep bottles from sinking . U kinda drink like I ate milking yourself.. it’s weird but works great. 😁
You need a smaller vest - it should definitely not be bouncing like that. You will end up with terrible chafing. It should be snug and not bounce at all. I have the women's version and really like it, but the bottles are up higher. Also I prefer using Ultraspire's ultraflask 550 bottle which I think fits better and is easier to refill. Bladders are a pain to keep clean.
Agree with what you're saying about bottles on the front, hence I'm sticking with my Camelbak Octane Dart. That being said, I wish it had dual straps like this rather than the single chest strap it has.
I don’t know how any of these pack companies can do it, but if we can have the refillability of front bottles but with the security and comfort of a bladder, that’s the innovation we need
Nice review, I just bought a small and I'm bigger than you and it seemed to fit perfectly so I think the small would have been perfect for you. The big disappointment here is the zip pocket which is ridiculously small. An average phone could never fit in there. I'll probably run with a single bottle and use the other cinch pocket for my phone, the weight distribution may actually be better with the phone there. I have a 2L bladder and unfortunately it doesn't work at all. The lid is too big to be practical and the tube is far too long. Where does the tube fasten to the front of the vest?
Hi Mike, I've had the CB ultra pro for awhile now med size is perfect fit , like a glove once the straps are dialled in, I'm 5'10 and about your build , run with front flasks and straws works well
Timely vest video. Just tried out my Salomon Active Skin 8 on a ride. Bladder (was extra) worked great and I got used to the pockets for gels, phone, etc. Should work better, with more drink capacity, than my belt. Next test will be on a long run. After cleaning, any bladder/hose/bottle drying out tips?
@michaeldwilson have you tried this tip for the sloshing issue: once you’ve filled the bladder, seal it up and turn it upside down, and then suck out the remaining air in the bladder. That tip has helped me reduce any sloshing in my Osprey bladder.
Ko, do you think this would work well without a shirt? I tend to run shirtless in the summer time, and would like a vest that is comfortable in that regard. If not, do you know one what would?
Hi Mike - which soft flask did you show in the video? I like the fact that you can open/close the flask to prevent leaking, but it's unclear from the images on the CamelBak website whether I am viewing the same ones you had in your video
If it bounces up and down you have a bad vest or poorly fitted. With a good vest it bounces way less then when I fill my camelbak up with 1-1.5l in the back :)
I'm not sure how it became standard either. the more I use hydration vests, the more I like the reservoir in the back. but maybe it's the distances that I am (or perhaps am not) running that make my preferences idiosyncratic
@@kofuzi If you just fill it once and go for a 2h run then its ok. But in a race where you would fill up your bottles every 2h (I drink about 0.5l / 1 bottle per hour) its WAY faster with the flasks. Pro's get prefilled bottles at checkpoints and just exchange them. Also you can check anytime how much water you have left. And when you have some mandatory gear in the back it balances out nicely with the bottles in front
a Large size is way too big for you. This (or any kind of these vests), has to be really stretchy. The wrong size compromises your fit hence your review.
I’m 6’ over 200lbs with broad shoulders and a large isn’t even that tight on me so no wonder you were struggling!
Gorgeous shots! The sky looked surreal.
a great day for a long run
I picked this vest up three years ago and it has been sold. Pocket placement is on point. Unfortunately I bought a large and I swim in it. Lessons learned about online purchasing.
I know Salomon has been mentioned already, but I have the Salomon active skin 8 set. It's the less expensive alternative to the advanced skin series. It is absolutely incredible. A little large for what you might want, but they do make the active skin in a 4 liter (rather than my 8 liter) and the advanced skin comes in a 5 liter as well as a 12 liter. The construction is such that it is like having pockets in your skin. You can cinch the vest down super tight if you like and the whole vest stretches and flexes with your body as you breathe and move. The only other vest I've ever owned was a 5 liter vest from aoniji (about $25-$30 on amazon) and while it was a great vest and did what is was designed to do, it is not even recognizable to the salomon. I know the ginger runner had very good things to say about the new north face vest as well. You may not be in the market for another vest, but if you have issues with the fit of vests, you may want to look at the salomon series in the future. Good luck on that 50k!
Lack of side adjustments makes finding a good fit difficult. Zephyr is overall much more secure and, in terms of using a bladder, is also much easier to refill bladder. Also zephyr has a decent trekking pole attachment, ultra’s pole location will hit your elbows. If the ultra pro had a side adjustment built in, it would make the side pockets worthwhile. Edit: Circuit for shorter, zephyr for longer, ultra pro lost in the middle
You might want to try the Salomon advanced skin 12 or one of the vests from the advanced skin series.
yeah my Salomon pack has never moved anything like his is in the video.
I was going to say the same thing. I have the adv skin 12 as well and it doesn’t move at all while I’m running
I have advanced skin 12, it has served me well. Until the elastic string at the back start to breaking up.
Indeed, one of the smaller sizes will be good for his 50km race (12 is a bit too large). The packs are very comfy, but my only issue with them is thet run a bit hot.
I agree that the sizing is not quite right for you - for vests I think it's wise to go in an actual shop and look for the best fitting one. Perfect fit is crucial when it comes to longer distances.
At the moment I use the Salomon Agile 2, a very minimal and leightweight vest with a good fit (lacing is a bit too long, though).
Thank you.. Kofuzi .. Love your VLogs you make it easy and clear
Looks way too big for you! Looks like you should be small/medium for your build. Also, the bottles falling problem - use the elastic loop that you use to tighten the opening and loop it in the the gap between the bottle and it's cap. It'll hold your bottle up, even as it empties.
Vest definitely too big.
The pack looks really good. I like the number of pockets, not too many. We are similar size Mike and I would always choose a medium in a running vest or pack. It looks just right for your upcoming race.
When they sent it to me, I didn't realize that this particular model came in a variety of sizes (many Camelbaks are one-size-fits-most). Otherwise, I would have requested the M
I got this and after my first run I had to return it. I just could not get it snug on my body and it would just bounce. So, I bought the Camelback Circuit vest 50oz and I am happy with it. It is very similar to this one but the only difference is the Circuit has side straps that can tighten. Now I don't have a bouncy vest.
Try one of the Salomon advance skin in med or those vests are tight (literally can be tightened on the sides). Same liquid storage and the soft flaks have banda that keep bottles from sinking . U kinda drink like I ate milking yourself.. it’s weird but works great. 😁
Good timing for me. Signed up for 50k in South Dakota October of this year
You need a smaller vest - it should definitely not be bouncing like that. You will end up with terrible chafing. It should be snug and not bounce at all. I have the women's version and really like it, but the bottles are up higher. Also I prefer using Ultraspire's ultraflask 550 bottle which I think fits better and is easier to refill. Bladders are a pain to keep clean.
Agree with what you're saying about bottles on the front, hence I'm sticking with my Camelbak Octane Dart. That being said, I wish it had dual straps like this rather than the single chest strap it has.
I don’t know how any of these pack companies can do it, but if we can have the refillability of front bottles but with the security and comfort of a bladder, that’s the innovation we need
Nice review, I just bought a small and I'm bigger than you and it seemed to fit perfectly so I think the small would have been perfect for you.
The big disappointment here is the zip pocket which is ridiculously small. An average phone could never fit in there. I'll probably run with a single bottle and use the other cinch pocket for my phone, the weight distribution may actually be better with the phone there.
I have a 2L bladder and unfortunately it doesn't work at all. The lid is too big to be practical and the tube is far too long.
Where does the tube fasten to the front of the vest?
Maybe it fit an average phone back when the pack was originally designed?
Hi Mike, I've had the CB ultra pro for awhile now med size is perfect fit , like a glove once the straps are dialled in, I'm 5'10 and about your build , run with front flasks and straws works well
I'll have to try the M
Hi there bro, just a quick one. Did you fully extend your invicible selfie stick while running?
Looks like the L size is a bit big for you, telling you this as a trail runners who uses vests all weekends :)
it's a bit big, for sure
Dope Wu socks! Tiger Style!!
Definitely looks too big, a smaller size would definitely help with the excess bouncing around. But great review.
i have salomon advanced skin 8 and it is super comfortable to run
Timely vest video. Just tried out my Salomon Active Skin 8 on a ride. Bladder (was extra) worked great and I got used to the pockets for gels, phone, etc. Should work better, with more drink capacity, than my belt. Next test will be on a long run. After cleaning, any bladder/hose/bottle drying out tips?
Kofuzi with bright color shoe instead of dark or grey one!😂
I don't like how the Camelbak bladder sloshes so much during a run, but it's much preferable to carrying bottles.
@michaeldwilson have you tried this tip for the sloshing issue: once you’ve filled the bladder, seal it up and turn it upside down, and then suck out the remaining air in the bladder. That tip has helped me reduce any sloshing in my Osprey bladder.
@@sun.2801 I will definitely try that! Thanks for the tip!
Imho you need to go down S like I did. Or go Zephyr :)
the zephyr works well for me
Ko, do you think this would work well without a shirt? I tend to run shirtless in the summer time, and would like a vest that is comfortable in that regard. If not, do you know one what would?
Hi Mike - which soft flask did you show in the video? I like the fact that you can open/close the flask to prevent leaking, but it's unclear from the images on the CamelBak website whether I am viewing the same ones you had in your video
They are camelbak bottles with quarter turn tops. Same as the podium bottles.
@@warrenl3545 Thanks
I have an ultimate direction 5.0 ultra 7L vest. Much nicer, you can adjust the size in the back. I would not buy the camelback.
From your descriptions, there seems to be a lot of design flaw
I do not understand how water in the front became standard. It is so uncomfortable to have the pack bouncing up and down like that.
If it bounces up and down you have a bad vest or poorly fitted. With a good vest it bounces way less then when I fill my camelbak up with 1-1.5l in the back :)
I'm not sure how it became standard either. the more I use hydration vests, the more I like the reservoir in the back.
but maybe it's the distances that I am (or perhaps am not) running that make my preferences idiosyncratic
@@kofuzi If you just fill it once and go for a 2h run then its ok. But in a race where you would fill up your bottles every 2h (I drink about 0.5l / 1 bottle per hour) its WAY faster with the flasks. Pro's get prefilled bottles at checkpoints and just exchange them. Also you can check anytime how much water you have left.
And when you have some mandatory gear in the back it balances out nicely with the bottles in front
a Large size is way too big for you. This (or any kind of these vests), has to be really stretchy. The wrong size compromises your fit hence your review.
seems like you need to tighten it
Windy city
That vest is to big for you. It's all about having the right size.
First boiiiiiiii
yo!
For sure too big on you