Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set | Black

Great vest. Plenty of storage and minimal bounce while running.

This trail vest is a favourite of mine, with the number of pockets for storing the essential whether I'm out running all day or an in an event.
I do miss some of the features from the older version, but still, there are plenty of new features that work well.

My vest is very comfortable and love the updated design compared to my original vest

As someone who runs "Milers" on a regular basis the Adv Skin 12 with hydration pack has until now offered the versatility for any long distance race providing ample storage, hydration and comfort.

I used this new iteration at the Val D'Aran UTMB Major this weekend having used Adv Skin 12's for a number of years. I won't be using it again and will be trying to go back to the old one or another brand.

GONE - The handy quick access pocket in the top which was great for housing stuff like a jacket, hat etc to grab without opening the pack. This is now inside so you have to remove the pack to get anything out of it. They say there is a huge storage "tunnel" in the back. With the hydration pack installed this is unusable as this is where the bladder goes.

GONE - Thermal insulation for the hydration pack if you add it is no more. So after about 5 mins of running the water is upto body temperature or warmer. Not great on hot races which is when you would need it the most.

MOVED - The little clip next to the right hand side bottle has been moved inside the pack into a completely unusable pocket. I used this clip to attach my cup which is mandatory gear for most races these days. This pocket inside the pack i feel is ment to replace that quick access one on the top of the old pack. I found it completely unusable and again, to access it you need to stop and remove the pack. A major design flaw for a racing pack.

The side pockets that wrap around the body are also stitched closed in the middle. Meaning I once again had to remove the pack to put things into this section and they were then not easily accessible on the run. So ultimately on a long race this pack costs you time and again feels like I couldn't even get half of the amount of gear into this wrap around section.

On the plus side the colours are good and it feels more compact... probably because they have cut down alot of the storage. Also the handy little securing clips on the bungees are good.

So I wouldn't buy it, instead go for the previous model, or look at another brand.

After measuring my chest I followed Salomon’s size guide and purchased a size small. This was a bit too snug so I bought a medium to compare. For me, the medium wins hands down. The trail co. had the best prices around for the vest I wanted and when I was late returning the small vest due to being with my daughter in hospital for over 2 weeks Megan was very understanding and still gave me a refund. I’ll definitely be returning here when I need more trail running gear. The vest feels brilliant even when fully loaded, can’t wait to see how it goes in The Archie next year.