With the big selection of substances and layers required for the day by day run, it’s laborious to beat packs with ample storage choices in that small-but-not-tiny vary that collapse near the physique when not carrying a lot and preserve a full load cosy at operating speeds. The Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest ($160) is true in that candy spot of capability, and should you pack it proper, it holds greater than appears attainable given the claimed dimension. Are you doing a 50-kilometer or 50-mile race with three to 4 hours between assist stations? It’s not an issue with this hydration pack … except the required gear checklist is intensive.
The six-liter pack weighs solely eight ounces (240 grams) with out delicate flasks in a unisex dimension medium or 11 ounces (320 grams) with the 2 included Hydrapak 500-milliliter delicate flasks. The pack simply holds as much as a two-liter hydration bladder (bought individually) should you want further fluid capability.
This unisex vest is available in three torso sizes: small (34 to 37 inches), medium (37 to 40 inches), and enormous (40 to 44 inches). It is a surprisingly slender vary, particularly on the smaller finish.
Rab, initially a scrappy mountaineering and alpine journey gear firm with roots in Sheffield, England, has continued to evolve and now creates gear designed for gentle and quick mountain exploits that enchantment to ultrarunners and mountain adventurers alike. Rab created this vest with a streamlined, environmentally acutely aware, and elements-tested perspective. It’s thoughtfully designed with a precedence on performance in order that your focus will be on the journey.
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The Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest. All photographs: iRunFar/Kristin Zosel
Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest Development and Match
I’d like to handle the unisex match of the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest proper from the start. I put on a 34A bra dimension and a girls’s medium shirt and I’ve a tough time getting the vest to suit with no bounce if I’m solely carrying one skinny shirt, significantly if all I’m carrying is 2 bottles, a pair hundred energy, a telephone, and keys. Regardless of the graceful brushed materials edging the perimeter of the higher-riding pack, I are inclined to develop a chafed spot close to my neck on one or each side. With extra gear or a skinny fleece layer added in cooler climate, the match is safe and I don’t expertise any chafing.
Extending the scale vary to the smaller finish could be wonderful for the various people with extra compact higher our bodies, and my guess is these past the higher finish of this dimension vary would additionally respect choices in that course. This apart, it’s a very well-designed pack.
An in depth entrance view of the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest.
The Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest is constructed with what the model calls a Mono Mesh Chassis. It’s a fabric that’s easy, sturdy, and densely constructed, but virtually see-through, with extra stretch on the diagonal than the vertical or horizontal planes. This serves to scale back the bounce with the vertical translation of operating, particularly with heavier hundreds whereas staying comfy because it contours to the physique.
Facet panels product of barely extra stretchy fine-pore mesh enhance the snugness of the match and add breathability. Very similar to some sports activities bras, I do discover I must method donning this pack with a little bit of care to forestall an inadvertent shoulder tweak. What the Mono Mesh Chassis lacks in flexibility and stretchiness, it makes up for in sturdiness and performance as soon as I begin operating.
I do discover it tends to entice some warmth and sweat in opposition to the torso after an hour or two, significantly as soon as the temperatures are above 70 levels Fahrenheit. The fabric doesn’t take up the sweat, which retains contents dry, but it surely leaves moisture to your base layer to dissipate. Whereas it’s not the most well liked operating pack I’ve worn, it does trigger me to achieve for lighter-feeling, extra breathable packs on hot-weather days. On cooler days, and even in winter, it’s not a difficulty and maybe is even welcome.
The customizable sternum match is one among my favorites available on the market. It consists of a sequence of loops down the left facet of the sternum and two sliding bungee loops with two adjustable hooks offering the attachments. One of the best a part of this method, in addition to the adjustability, is that the hooks face outward. All firms must be aware of this as a result of it’s infinitely simpler to snag the loop with gloves on or within the low-dexterity state later in a long term or race if the hooks face out somewhat than in towards the chest. It’s an excellent element I respect each time.
An in depth again view of the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest.
Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest Storage and Hydration
Storage capability is the place the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest actually excels and all praises will be sung. Any pocket and little function I’ve ever wished for is included on this little pack, and they’re functionally accessible even for sturdy fingers. The again panel sleeve closest to the physique can maintain as much as a two-liter hydration bladder with a Velcro suspension tab on the prime to maintain the bladder from slipping. The pocket is totally unobtrusive or useable for different gear if no bladder is used. No routing tunnels information the hose, so you may ship it in both course and finally by means of a loop that may maintain the hose in place simply above the bottle pockets on the entrance facet of the pack.
Overlying this again sleeve is a second full-length stretchy mesh pocket massive sufficient for an outer layer, a filter bottle, many energy, a headlamp, and so many different issues. A small wallet- or headlamp-sized zip pocket is suspended atop this sleeve to maintain necessary issues protected and safe. A 3rd stretchy, fine-mesh, horizontal pass-through pocket can also be connected on the base of the pack that’s massive sufficient for a wind layer or skinny insulation layer. I like this pocket as a result of it doesn’t require gymnast-level shoulder mobility to make the most of whereas the pack is on. I can retrieve or stuff an additional layer whereas shifting down the path with out eradicating my pack, and nothing has ever fallen out.
A rear view of the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest.
The entrance of the pack has the identical pocket arrange on each side, which retains issues easy — a key idea when the mind will get hyper-focused on the path or alternately, fortunately dissociated. Either side has a delicate flask pocket that simply accommodates the 500-milliliter cylindrical or tapered delicate flasks. Overlying the complete size of these pockets and the whole entrance of the pack on all sides are massive stuff pockets accessed from simply outdoors the bottle pouch. These are just like the magician’s magic hat — in a position to maintain my gloves, meals, beanie, and possibly even a magic rabbit.
If that isn’t sufficient storage, hid full-length zippered stretch mesh pockets lay flat over prime of the entire setup and might maintain massive telephones or any mixture of energy and necessary stuff you need to preserve safe. These pockets are significantly designed to maintain awkward issues, like these 300- to 500-calorie pouches with twisty lids, safe and never digging into the chest.
Adjustable bungees on both facet of the bottles can stow collapsed poles. They’re simple to handle within the chilly. Take word, iRunFar doesn’t suggest stowing poles vertically on the entrance of the physique because of the threat of significant harm in a fall.
The final pockets on the entrance facet of the pack sit over the collarbones simply above the bottles. These are extra helpful than on different packs because the stretch mesh materials folds like a pouch so as to add extra stability to the gel or buff you would possibly stash. I’d put low-priority issues right here with one exception — keys. Amazingly, Rab included a key attachment and security whistle on one facet, so something with a little bit loop, like a key or a mini GPS security system, will be secured.
Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest General Impressions
In my expertise, the design of the hydration and storage choices on this svelte Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest ranks as one of many absolute best. There may be maybe a little bit of a studying curve to steadiness the load entrance to again to maximise the soundness whereas operating. Although I’ve tweaks I’d make to the match and temperature regulation as mentioned, you merely can’t beat the scale, location, and performance of all of the pockets and pouches included on this pack.
For those who solely need to have one pack, and you slot in the scale vary supplied, that is an distinctive possibility that may outperform your expectations of what adventures a small-capacity hydration pack can facilitate.
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Name for Feedback
Have you ever used the Rab Veil 6L Light-weight Operating Vest or one among Rab’s different Veil packs? What did you consider it?
What options do you rank as most necessary in smaller hydration vests?
