Salomon Race Vest Review: Advanced ADV Skin 5l Set

I’ve been wearing my Salomon race vest (the ‘ADV Skin 5l Set’) for quite some time now, so it’s about time I reviewed it.

This little backpack has been everywhere with me since buying it around 18 months ago, including over the Routeburn Track, in New Zealand’s South Island, and through the night in the Dolomites, Italy, during Lavaredo Ultra Trail.

I was previously wearing the Ultimate Direction Women’s Vesta, but found that the version I had (since superseded by newer editions) didn’t have water bottle holders that were big enough for the 500ml soft flasks I prefer to drink from. This was the main reason for investing in a Salomon vest, as it has better storage up-front, including two bottle holders to fit 500ml soft flasks.

I’ve found the Advanced Skin 5l to be just the right size volume-wise for every big day out I’ve needed it for. It fits all the mandatory kit for mountain races and other ultras I’ve done. Salomon also makes a 12-litre version, which is very similar but has a bigger volume back storage area – however, unless you were going somewhere where you needed to carry a lot of food or spare clothing, I can’t see why you would need a bigger version. However, it isn’t that much more money to go for the larger volume one, at the expense of a relatively small amount of extra weight, so I can see why people go for it.

RELATED:

• 5 Best Hydration Vests For Women in 2019: Top Packs For Trail Running
• 5 Top Hydration Packs For Men in 2019: Best Race Vests For Trail Running

Compare prices for Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra 5 Set Pack

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See this video to see my full review of this Salomon race vest, including shots of the key features and what it looks like close-up and moving, which I always find is more helpful than seeing it in photos 🙂