Introduction
Finding the perfect trail running vest, especially for a woman, can be a tall order. Ultimate Direction, having made hydration packs since 1985, has proven themselves a reliable brand and I tested the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest 12 in size small, in white colour and ran in it over the summer on UK trails.
First Impressions
I was excited! Straight out of the box, the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest was made of lovely light material. From the moment I put it on, my face just broke out into a big smile. It fit beautifully; snug enough not to bounce, roomy enough not to restrict movement or breathing and is fully adjustable. Importantly, although it’s a unisex design, the fit was comfortable around the breasts and waist.
Features
The Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest looks smart and is Iight, weighing in at 255 g, available in 6L and 12L capacities and black or white colour options. I chose the 12L version due to the versatility it would offer over various distances, seasons and terrains. The outer part of the vest has reflective logos on the left front bottle pocket and on the back. Included with the vest are two HydraPak 500 ml bottles with regular bite valve tops (their previous vest bottles featured stop-start water flow control).
The vest is secured with two chest straps made of fabric with plastic clasps – these are adjustable and can be moved up or down for a customised fit. At the base of the vest, there are two fabric pole loops. There are elastic cords at the front of the vest, presumably to attach small gear like a compass. Within one of the pockets is a whistle. There is a hook on the back at the top of the vest which could be used for it to be hung to dry.
One of the most pleasing things were the many (11) accessible pockets. The bottle meshes have cords to secure the HydraPak bottles. The vest has the well sought after feature of a large stretchy exterior pocket around the back underneath the main compartment which is accessible from both sides. A unique feature of this vest are the two zipped chest pockets – valuables including keys and phones fit into this sweatproof pocket and, if like me, you find valuables often go missing on a run, they certainly won’t now! In front of the water bottle pouches are two stretchy stash pockets.
The main compartment is roomy and contains a mesh for a water reservoir. There is a zippered pocket on the outside of the main compartment, perfect for smaller essentials like bank cards. Given the stretchy pockets, and an elastic cord at the back that can hold a jumper or a waterproof, the vest probably boasts more volume than the stated 12 litres.
Testing
I really enjoyed using this Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest for medium-long runs. The vest adapted easily to my body shape and did not bounce even with two full water bottles. The material felt pleasant over a running top and eventually I barely noticed I was wearing it. The vest was never fully filled given testing in the summer but despite this, did not bounce around. The front pockets were stretchy enough to carry a large amount of food including bars and gels.
The zipped pockets safely held my now not lost keys and phone. Sandwiches would go in the stretchy passthrough exterior pocket – which I found extremely easy to reach on the move. In the main compartment, I would put in a dry bag containing a light waterproof jacket, gloves and a first aid kit. To access this compartment, I would stop and remove the vest. The outer material seemed reasonably water resistant during light showers but I always keep my kit in waterproof dry sacks anyway.
To test the vest’s capacity, I decided to see how it would fare carrying a load of winter kit – I managed to pack:
- a large down layer
- waterproof jacket and bottoms
- a mid-layer
- two pairs of gloves, hat, buff
- headtorch
- first aid kit
- microspikes
- a fair amount of food.
Though I did not run with all of this kit, the vest was still comfortable to wear whilst stationary and offers space to carry a sufficient amount of kit for safe winter running.
Generally, the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest was comfortable to run in and did not restrict movement or breathing. Over shorter distances up to 10 km, the bag was comfortable and did not chafe. Over longer distances around 20-30 km, I found chafing more an issue over the neck, collarbones and chest.
The vest comes in black and white colours. The white colour was partially chosen for sun reflection to keep cooler in summer and to avoid the white salt stains I’d frequently find on my previously owned darker vests. Unfortunately, the front pockets do stain yellow over time, but it is not noticeable from a friendly running distance and this does mostly wash out.
The vest has a hook on the back of the neck which can sometimes catch hair if it is styled down or plaited but less of an issue if styled in a high ponytail. The pole loops were made of fabric that was sturdy but not stretchy. Though I didn’t test this feature myself, I’d probably still opt for a pole quiver for ease of use. As for the elastic cords on the front, they were not particularly useful for me and I found they mostly bounced around and occasionally would whip my arms and/or face when I was running.
Pros
- Fits comfortably on a woman despite unisex design
- Soft non-scratchy material
- A roomy adjustable vest suitable for carrying FRA mandatory kit
- Would be good for shorter ultra events, medium-long (10-30 km) races and single days out
- Stretchy pockets including passthrough pocket, so volume probably more than 12L which are very accessible
- Likely good for winter running when you may have to carry more kit
- No chafing over shorter distances
Cons
- The vest is not a true women’s specific design
- You may still prefer to carry a pole bag / quiver
- Probably too small for multi-day events
- Hook catches hair and the long elasticated cords can be a nuisance
- Front pockets started to yellow over a short time
- Does rub around the neck / collarbone over longer distances
Conclusion
This is an excellent and well-designed vest by Ultimate Direction. A very comfortable fit, suitable for running medium-longer distances though perhaps a bit small for very long ultras or multi-day events. Chafing over longer distances would be irritating however. A few minor niggles with straps and hooks but overall didn’t detract from my enjoyment with its use over the summer.
About the author: I started running as a way to boost recovery and get fitter after breaking my ankle ice skating. Fast forward 10 years and I’m still loving the sport, I’ve cherished the friendships it’s brought and discovered a sense of freedom through exploring trails and mountains UK and abroad. I am local to the Peak District and run with Dark Peak Fell Runners.
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