Following the end of a five-year relationship, eager for a healthy distraction, I began ultrarunning. The moment my mileage crossed into double digits, I visited my local gear shop to pick up a vest large enough to carry water, layers, and (still my trail fuel of choice to this day). Not sure what I was really looking for, I tried on a handful of packs and went with the one that fit my long torso and narrow shoulders the best: the women-specific ($140).听That was almost four years ago, and though I upgraded from the 3.0 国产吃瓜黑料 Vesta to the slightly larger听4.0 Ultra Vesta model in 2018鈥攁nd that one was discontinued for the 5.0鈥擨听will always swear by Vestas.
With a capacity of 12.4 liters, the Vesta 4.0 is big enough听to fit snacks, an extra outer layer, sunscreen, and a nearly full听. (The 5.0, which I haven鈥檛 tried yet, has a 10.3-liter volume, which means I鈥檇 need a smaller bladder.) But even when it鈥檚 stuffed to the brim for an all-day adventure in听the mountains, its sternum straps keep my load secure and ward off chafing. The stretchy nylon-elastane mesh that lines the pack reduces back sweat, and padded edges on high-friction areas, like where the material meets my arms, keeps rubbing at bay. This was vital for an especially rainy 50K in Wyoming, when any kind of recurring movement would definitely have resulted in blisters. This pack just feels good and stays put.
It鈥檚 also a Type A runner鈥檚 dream. I can reach five pockets of varying sizes without taking it off. I use them to stash gels, lip balm, my phone, sunglasses, and dog treats鈥攂asically anything I may need to grab on the go. In back,听a large zippered听pocket holds my extra layers, and my bladder gets its own designated compartment. A bungee system straps down any sweat- or rain-soaked layers that need to air out.听I don鈥檛 run with poles, so I rely on the upper trekking-pole loops to keep my bladder tube in place for easy access. At an especially hot Arizona 100K, when temperatures hit 90 degrees and the only shade came from skinny cacti, I used the lower pole loops to hang a neck gaiter that I refilled with ice at every aid station. (It didn鈥檛 save me鈥擨 DNFed after 67K.)
I have yet to try the , which comes with a more minimalist sternum strap and a weather-resistant pocket. But after running over 2,000 miles in ten different states with the 国产吃瓜黑料听Vesta 3.0 and Ultra Vesta 4.0, I鈥檝e added the newest version to my must-try list. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever run with a different brand of vest again.