Arc'teryx  Norvan 7 Hydration Vest - Women's

My favorite feature about the vest was the ability to cinch the vest tight to your body. Being a petite and slender individual, in the past, I have constantly had to readjust vests and backpacks while running, hiking and cycling, however, the Arc’teryx vest stayed snug against my body during 2+ hour trail runs and hiking adventures involving scrambling and rock climbing. I was also impressed with the compressive ability of the chest pockets which held items such as sunglasses, watch and power bars snug without bouncing or shifting even while negotiating uneven trail terrain. While I typically do not run with a cellphone, I did try it and was impressed it did not weigh down the delicate vest. I loved the lightweight material and breathability of the vest as one prior running vest I had felt more like a life preserver. The water bottles were fairly easy to extract and return while trail running, yet did require a bit of practice. The only thing that I missed was a hook to hang a water bladder from in the back pouch as I prefer to use a water bladder while hiking and running and a 3L bladder did not fit well and smaller ones were a bit awkward. Overall a solid and well made product.

Great vest with a great fit. I used this vest for a 90 minute hike in the desert and a half day canyoneering excursion. I got it fully submerged and it dried quickly in low 70 ish temperatures. The fluid capacity was adequate. There is always a trade off. More water equals less space for other items or adding bulk. I did not experience any chafing but the vest did not touch my bare skin on my outings. I love the ease of movement with this vest. It fit snugly and kept out of my way. Very easy to adjust the fit as you drain down your reservoir or add items to the vest with cinch closures. For reference I am 5’3” with a 34C chest and the medium fit great. Room for a snack, keys and a few other essentials in the pockets both in front and on the back of the vest. In the back pocket you could fit a very lightweight layer if needed. There are other bungies on the vest if you needed to pack additional gear but for running you would want to stick with the pocket storage I think. There is also a loop on the back of the vest that you could use to attach gear. Overall a great item for lightweight hydration and hands free gear storage for a run, hike, climb or canyoneering.

The Arc’teryx Norvan 7 may be my favorite piece of gear at the moment. I have been looking into upgrading my run hydration situation so when this came along I had to jump on it! I love the adjustable fit and the pockets are amazing! I love the large back pocket for snacks and sheddable gear/layers and the stretch pockets under the hydration bottles have amazing stay power, nothing shifted my entire run day one or during trail maintenance swinging a pickaxe. The small zip pocket inside one of the side pockets makes a great spot for keys and small sensitive items. And the bungee storage cords are super convenient for the extra gear long runs outdoors in remote spaces. The fit was great and the mesh back made it breathable and i never noticed any shifting or chaffed spots at the arms like some other vests have given me as a busty girl. The bottles themselves are great too, easy to clean and dry (perfect length for a chopstick to hold them open on your drying rack!) and they are super lightweight and flexible. The only thing that I would love to see added is some form of reflective markings on the black model for those long runs out at dusk or early morning that don’t interrupt the sleek style Arc’teryx is known for.

Product is great. However, it’s a little small for me and I should have gone up a size. The straps rubbed the inside of my armpit causing irritation. The reservoir was a good size. I liked the reflective touches. The mesh was breathable. I used this both for a run and a hike up the mountain.

I've used this vest for quite some time now and love it! I've used it for two 50km races, local trail runs (1-5hrs), and medium size alpine adventures (2-8hrs). The 7L is roomy for even my bigger days. It fits snacks, hydration (I usually carry 1L and bring a filter), layers (including a cerium puff), plus my safety kit (inreach mini, space blanket, etc). The pockets are all easily accessible and the pole storage (putting them in or taking them out) can be used while running. One of the best parts is the water bottles are actually easy to get in and out! This saves so much frustration, especially when racing. There is also a special pocket for garbage (front right) and a zipped one for your key (front left). I like to put all my warm layers and/or anything I want to stay dry in a dry bag and in the big pocket at the pack and this has worked well for me. Lastly, I can wear this with just a sports bra when moving at a slow to a moderate pace and have minimal chafing. The material is comfortable and you can adjust the fit so that the vest says snug. Faster downhills I usually will add a layer just in case.

I bought the Norvan vest at the beginning of the summer and it might be one of my favourite purchases! At first, I was a bit concerned it might be too small for big days, but the stretchy material allows you to fit seemingly endless items in it (for day trips of course). On a recent run I was able to pack two bottles, snacks and a sandwich, Squamish Hoody and a long sleeve base layer, headlamp, InReach, and a small first-aid kit. The material is nice and stretchy, so it doesn't feel constricting when you have it fully loaded. Theres also plenty of pockets for snacks, phone, keys, etc. I have also worn it mountain biking and it works great.

This vest is amazing!! It has a lot of awesome features that make it worth the price point. First, the mesh material is stretchy and really breathable. There are minimal seams/trim that touch your skin, so no chafing. Since I was wearing the vest for 8-10 mile runs in 80+ degree temps, this was key. It's super easy to adjust, and there is a small internal zipper pocket in the front. On my previous vest, the only zipper pocket was in the back- so I had to lock my car before putting the vest on. Being able to put on the vest and lock the car last is honestly so nice (and being able to unlock the car, and get the cold water stored inside faster after the run) The water bottles each have a little loop that holds them in place, and it is easy to drink from them. I also like having 2 bottles, vs a reservoir- one with caffeine electrolyte and one without caffeine ( or 2 diff flavors to change it up..). Since it is so hot out now, I didn't need to store a lot in the back pocket other than sunscreen and snacks. But in the winter, I could easily stow an extra layer, hand warmers, extra socks etc. depending on the weather and the stretchy fabric keeps it all safe without bouncing. This vest is perfect for summer training and races up to half marathon without refilling- more than that and I might need to stop for more water. In the winter, I would use this for up to 20+mile runs without any stops.

The Norvan 7 has been a game changer for me in so many ways. TBH, this is my first running vest, I was either running with out supplies on short runs or doing more of a hike with run sections approach and having the vest with room for water, bear spray, a layer, a snack and a few other bits and bobs while feeling super secure on my torso has enabled me to explore more and go further with faster. Big fan of the fit, feel and design.

I got this vest in August and it has become a new staple. I have been using it instead of my backpack more often because of the weight distribution and fit.

I love this vest and wear it multiple times per week for my marathon training runs. I can easily fit all the gels/snacks I need in the pockets, along with two drinks bottles, my keys and phone (although a dedicated phone pouch would be great). However, even with the cords pulled as tight as possible I do find it slightly too big, meaning that it bounces around a bit. I have to make sure I wear a T-shirt underneath to stop the movement irritating my skin, which isn't ideal in really hot weather when a vest or crop would be much cooler. I'm a UK size 8, so expected the S to be a good fit, but I'd say it's more of a 10-12. There needs to be an XS for those of us who are size 6-8.