The Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12. All images: iRunFar/Eszter Horanyi
For those who look across the begin line of almost any ultramarathon, particularly these with a major required gear record, you’re most likely going to see lots of people sporting the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 ($165), and for good motive. You’ll additionally discover iRunFar’s Editor-in-Chief, Meghan Hicks, becoming every part she wants right into a earlier model of this vest for a three-day fastpack by way of the Italian Alps that concerned stays at refugios every night time. Along with taking this vest out on lengthy days, I ceaselessly shove two mushy flasks and a windbreaker in and exit for regular on a regular basis coaching runs with it.
It’s a vest that may do all of it.
When Salomon up to date this vest, it wasn’t stunning to see that the adjustments have been principally refinements as a substitute of main overhauls, as a result of why repair what isn’t damaged? This 12-liter vest has been a go-to alternative for a lot of as a result of it comfortably carries loads of gear when wanted, but it surely wears equally properly with only a set of flasks within the entrance pocket and a windbreaker within the again. Briefly, it’s an important do-it-all vest for individuals who don’t need a pack for each event.
Salomon dialed in most of the main options of this vest within the earlier model, together with a pocket structure that provides ample storage, easy accessibility to gear, and group alternatives. For probably the most half, the pockets are unchanged each on the entrance and the again of the brand new model of this vest. Its stretchy materials can nonetheless maintain every part however the kitchen sink, and it looks like its precise capability exceeds 12 liters. You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the earlier model of this vest in our 2023 Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 evaluation. The pack is mild, with an precise weight of 8.7 ounces (246 grams) for a dimension medium with out the 2 included Salomon 500-milliliter mushy flasks.
Whereas the bones of the vest have stayed principally the identical, Salomon has made upgrades in some key areas, together with the supplies, the pole attachment system, and the rear pass-through pocket. They’ve additionally modified a couple of smaller issues, like shifting the important thing clip from the entrance shoulder into the primary pocket, eradicating the little baggie-thing that was within the aspect pocket that the iRunFar staff might by no means discover a use for, and making small changes to bungee places.
This vest is available in each a unisex and ladies’s model, and I examined the unisex for this evaluation. Up to now, many feminine testers at iRunFar have most well-liked the unisex model, and it looks as if Salomon has modified up the brand new girls’s model to extra intently mirror the unisex when it comes to pocket placement and structure.
The flexibility and performance of this vest have earned it a prime spot in our Finest Working Vests information.
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Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 Building and Match
A entrance view of the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12.
The match of the brand new Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 is actually the identical because the earlier model of the vest. The Sensifit building hugs the physique with out feeling overly constrictive.
One of many standout options in regards to the match is that it doesn’t really feel like it’s good to have it overly tight by way of the chest space to be able to preserve it from bouncing. In truth, the small bungees over the sternum are skinny and stretchy sufficient that they will’t bodily be overtightened. The M-shaped entrance bungee system, which is made from a single strand, hooks onto two quick-link clips and adjusts with a single pull-through clip. Of all of the hydration vests I’ve tried, that is probably the most seamless design I’ve used, and it avoids having to fiddle with small clips when fingers are drained and chilly. It’s equally as straightforward to unhook the bungees from the clips as it’s to hook them on.
Salomon upgraded the liner materials of the pack, each on the again of the pack and on the shoulder straps. The mesh materials on the again has a lot greater perforations than earlier than, rising its breathability. It’s additionally a bit softer than the earlier model, which is a plus because the older materials had a fame for being a bit scratchy, particularly if worn subsequent to the pores and skin. Salomon additionally removed the nylon interior panel within the bladder sleeve to extend the general breathability of the vest. Which means that when you’re utilizing a bladder with this vest, it should solely have one layer of mesh between it and your pores and skin, so any liquid will warmth up sooner than earlier than. The interior materials mesh of the shoulder straps can also be totally different and as soon as once more mushy in opposition to the pores and skin.
The again of the Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12, with poles within the up to date carry system.
The fantastic thing about this vest is that it matches simply as properly when it’s totally loaded down with a day’s value of meals and kit because it does once you’re simply going out for a few hours and have to take some water, vitamin, and possibly a jacket. Compression bungees on the aspect safe a great deal of any dimension and are straightforward to regulate with pull-through clips which might be accessible with the pack on.
Different constructive adjustments Salomon made to this vest embrace a key clip that’s now conveniently and safely tucked into the rear pocket as a substitute of on the entrance shoulder, a location that previous iRunFar testers didn’t like.
Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 Storage and Hydration Choices
The Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 entrance pocket configuration, with hydration bottles.
The Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 can carry loads of stuff and is an ideal vest for all-day adventures the place you need to carry additional layers, security gear, snacks, and loads of water. Its pocket structure additionally makes it good for lengthy races the place you need to have easy accessibility to every part whereas on the transfer. With 12 pockets, this vest has a spot for every part.
The entrance of the vest has the normal structure of two flask pockets, particularly sized for the included longer and narrower Salomon 500-milliliter mushy flasks. Two top-loading snack pockets overlay the flask pockets and are made from stretchy materials, to allow them to maintain loads even when the opposite pockets are full. Over prime of those are zippered pockets which might be large enough to hold a telephone. I typically use one among these pockets as a everlasting dwelling for my chapstick, sunscreen, and anti-chafe cream. Additionally they simply match a Garmin inReach for extra distant backcountry adventures.
Two small pockets sit on the highest of the shoulders, which I suppose might match a gel or one thing related. Nevertheless, I don’t discover them large enough or safe sufficient to be helpful for a lot.
The again of the vest is dominated by a big foremost pocket with a vertical zipper. The edges of this pocket have a good bit of stretch, whereas the primary again panel is much less stretchy. This ends in a pocket that may increase to carry loads of gear, but it surely doesn’t bulge weirdly with the extra structured again panel. Salomon added a small additional pocket inside the primary pocket to assist with group. It’s good for protecting a hat and gloves separate from the remainder of your gear within the pocket. It’s additionally the brand new location of the important thing clip.
The Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 has an ample and safe telephone pocket.
Behind this foremost pocket sits a bladder sleeve that simply matches a 1.5-liter bladder however will begrudgingly maintain a two-liter bladder as properly. The hose comes out from the highest of the bladder pocket, and there’s a hose information on the appropriate shoulder strap to maintain it from bouncing round. One of many small adjustments Salomon made to this vest is altering the clip used to maintain a bladder from slipping down into the pocket. The brand new clip is smaller and simpler to string by way of the highest of a bladder than the earlier model.
Like earlier than, the vest has a mesh pass-through pocket on the underside. Salomon made the edges of the pocket greater for simpler entry, and the center of it’s wider as properly. The result’s a pocket that may maintain extra stuff, and that each one that stuff is simpler to achieve with the pack nonetheless on. The pocket is large enough to carry a windbreaker, gloves, and a hat, but it surely’s additionally safe sufficient to carry onto treasured snack cargo.
Lastly, Salomon additionally refined the pack’s pole-carrying system by altering the angle of the bungees and placing the adjustment level on the backside of the bungees as a substitute of the highest. Which means that you tighten the straps by knocking down as a substitute of pulling up, a a lot simpler means of doing issues. You may as well connect one among Salomon’s quivers to this pack when you want to hold poles that means. As somebody with out the shoulder mobility to make use of quivers, I admire how straightforward and easy the built-in pole carrying system is. For those who want to drag on the bungees upward and from the aspect, it’s straightforward to change their route as properly.
Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 Total Impressions
Meghan Hicks match every part she wanted for a three-day fastpack (with refugio stays) in a earlier model Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12.
It’s at all times a bit worrisome when a model updates a well-loved product, however the latest Salomon Adv Pores and skin 12 addresses most of the annoyances of the earlier model of the pack with out altering any of its good options. It was an important pack earlier than, and it’s solely gotten higher.
The upgraded interior liner supplies repair potential pores and skin irritation points whereas staying breathable and stretchy. Pockets galore carry every part, and the 12-liter capability is large enough for almost any required gear record for an extremely. Salomon has lengthy set the usual with the pocket structure and general high quality of this vest, they usually listened to runner suggestions to make small however useful enhancements with this one.
If I have been to personal a single vest that might do all of it, this might be it. It really works for every part from European fastpacks, the place evenings are spent at refugios that present bedding and all it’s a must to carry is a sleeping bag liner, to all-day outings with additional layers, first-aid equipment, and copious quantities of meals, to ultras the place your load could range relying on the time of day or size of time between support stations.
There’s a motive this vest has been a mainstay within the extremely world and our Finest Working Vests information for a very long time, and this latest replace signifies that it’ll most likely keep there for a superb whereas longer.
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