How to Choose a Running Hydration Vest

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Keep water, nutrition and everything else you need throughout your trail day close at hand with the Nathan VaporHowe 12L vest. It's designed specifically to hug a woman's body.
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View all Nathan Running Hydration VestsBest Use | Trail Running |
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Gear Capacity (L) | 12 |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 732 cubic inches |
Reservoir Included | Yes |
Liquid Capacity (L) | 1.8 liters |
Number of Exterior Pockets | Multiple stash pockets + main reservoir compartment |
Weight | 12 ounces |
Material(s) | Nylon/polyester |
Bite Valve Shut-off Switch | Yes |
BPA Free | Yes |
Dimensions | Unavailable |
Gender | Women's |
Frame Type | Frameless |
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I am a bigger girl and have this pack in 4 colors just for fun. The vest is a lovely soft material and doesn't chafe on long runs up to 50k road/trail. I am a run/fitness leader and carry lots of support items for my team, so it is fully loaded all the time. My favorite feature is the long size zip so I can push in first aid kits and jackets with ease. I have sold several of this exact pack to ladies on my team and they love it. I love the front pockets capability of holding items securely such as gloves, hat, fuel etc. The little zipper in the front holds my keys secure so they don't rattle. There is a little Velcro tab at the top which holds the water bladder in place. I find this catches my hair and pulls and wish another option like a snap was used. This is really the only issue I have on this pack which is easily fixable. I also have this in the smaller capacity version for shorter runs but I hate switching them out. I feel it's worth the investment for the upgrade.
I bought this pack using the sizing chart from their website. I`m a 40 bust and 35 sternum, size 10-12, so the XL should have been perfect. However, it was SO SMALL. This pack is ridiculously small for the size. Like the surprise sizing difference between the Vaporairess Cosmo vs Vaporairess Cockatoo. It gave me uniboob and the compression straps compressed my ribs. There was also loose threading on the pack and flyaway threading around Velcro and other areas of the pack. Anyway, sent it back and will stick to the Vaporairess for now. They need to fix their sizing chart or make the compression straps and chest straps a little more expandable....if you have breasts (c or d cup) this pack is going to fit on the `way smaller` side.
I love this vest for both my long runs and short for my short I take my bladder out and use it to store any items I might need and I put a small flask in the front pocket for my llllonngg runs I fill her up it stays put on my back and is so ridiculously comfortable! There are plenty of pockets for nutrition and of corse camera equipment ha ha if it’s not on Instagram it didn’t happen right? I love my Nathan vests.
I bought this pack a couple of weeks ago to use on my long trail runs, in particular my long summer runs when it's hot. The pack fits perfectly and doesn't bounce at all (I purchased a size large; I'm a women's 8-10 size generally, 5'3", 158 lbs). The bladder has way less "sloshy" than other packs and my 20 oz Ultimate direction bottles fit in the front pockets perfectly. So far, loving my purchase!
I am not your typical long distance runner. I am 5'8", 145lbs, and have size C boobs. I was recently at UTMB trying on the many vests that are on the market and was utterly disappointed that all the front straps did not account for having boobs. Came home feeling as though I wouldn't be able to wear a vest until I ordered this. This sis the best for women runners with boobs! Can't say enough good about it. Absolutely live it! I went with a size larger then my typical size medium shirt and it's great. Also, it will allow me to wear the vest in the winter when I have several layers on. You won't be disappointed. Thank you Nathan for this vest!
I looked at this pack when I first started distance running but didn't try it because of the price. I tried several others and wasn't happy. I finally bought this pack and realized I should've just gotten it to begin with! It is well worth the price, for sure. You get what you pay for. There is an abundant amount of storage and it's flexible enough for any gear I want. The material is amazingly soft and doesn't chafe at all! The fit is fantastic and easy to adjust as well. I especially like the special shape of the Nathan bladder: no sloshing when I run! I wish I had gotten this earlier but it is my only pack now and I am satisfied!
This pack is great! In the past I have had problems with Nathan's packs causing chaffing on my back from the water bladder but this pack does not do that. All the little stuff pockets are perfect. The material is very lightweight. I'm afraid I might tear it on scrub oak when bushwhacking but so far I haven't. I ordered a S and a M as I was between sizes and normally prefer on the smaller size. The S was TOO small so I agree with other posts that the vest runs a little small. In both packs I saw zero evidence of poor workmanship as one person claimed. I did remove the Velcro from a couple pouches because it was not necessary for me and I didn't want to hassle with it. The webbing for the straps across the front is a silkier webbing material and I'm afraid will get snagged eventually but again so far it's fine. Overall I am very happy with this pack for being lightweight, holding lots of water, not chaffing my back, and having tons of stuff pockets.
I wish I found this vest years ago. I started training for a half marathon a few months back and it was becoming painful to carry water bottles, but was impossible to do it in the Virginia heat without them. So finally I splurged and purchased this vest. It is like it was made for my body: I am a petite 5'2'' woman who is not overly skinny (125 pounds). The vest holds a ton of water, as well as two phones (one in a zippered pouch, the other not), and extra space for water bottles. I could wear it with or without a shirt under it, and I have no problems at all. I adore this vest! It will be the primary reason I was able to successfully train through the summer!
This is my first ever running vest to own and I'm incredibly impressed with the design and functionality! It's so good to finally have something purpose-built for the activity of running. The pockets are endless, the fit is comfortable and snug, the color rocks, and the bladder minimizes sloshing. Also, best of all, the bite valve works like a dream and there is fiddling is reduced due to the genius magnetic connector. One less thing to worry about in a race can make a huge difference! Thanks for a well-designed product, Nathan! And thanks for carrying it, REI!
Most importantly, get one size larger than normal shirt size (I'm a 36D and normally a Medium size, so I got the Large VaporHowe and it's perfect). Lots of pockets and space, good fit and adjustability, minimal to no bounce issues even with two cycling bottles thrown in with zero thought to stabilizing them (one in the back zippered section and one in the horizontal lumbar pocket). I was amazed at how little things moved, but I was jogging super slow, so could get more bouncy if going fast. I decided to put my go-to water bottle in the lumbar pocket (I only have hard cycling bottles, which feel weird in the front pockets meant for soft flask bottles). It was very easy to take the bottle out, drink, and then put it back into this lumbar pocket while running. My run was not very long, so I didn't use the accompanying water bladder. Finally, the whole thing is so well designed that it was nearly like running without a vest at all: good clearance for arm swing, wide shoulder straps for good weight distribution, and soft material. Only one very minimal potential issue: the top of the stiff rods used to anchor the chest straps periodically rubbed my chest just barely enough to notice it, which is fine over a short time but may chafe over many many hours if precautions aren't taken. It was easy to adjust it by shimmying the vest slightly back into place, and may be entirely avoided if good adjustments are made initially (I was being hard on the vest and basically wanted to see how it performed for a lazy, impatient runner like me). This minor issue in no way lessens my surprised admiration for how it performed. PS. Yes, it's pricey. But, I have to say (and I don't say this often), I would pay more given all the problems it solves for me (I hate carrying things in my hands, I often run in areas without water availability, and excessive bouncing drives me crazy). Consider it a good investment if you can afford to.