Gear Review: Ultra Vesta Women’s Running Vest

April 8th, 2015 • BY Morgan Tilton

To stay hydrated on runs, I used to wear a fuel belt. It buckled around my waist, held two 10-ounce water bottles, and had a zip pocket with reflectors on it, too. The drawback was that the pack wasn’t the sturdiest. I couldn’t quite find the right spot below or above my hips for the belt to rest on, and it’d bounce back-and-forth as I zipped around town or up the trails.

The Ultra Vesta was an answer to all of my problems—with some additional perks sprinkled in. Created by Ultimate Direction, this utopian trail running pack is designed specifically for women by women.

Winner of the 2014 Trail Runner magazine Gear of the Year Award, the women’s running vest is contoured and streamlined. It fits like a glove with three separate spots to tighten it down: the arms straps, and two horizontal buckles across the chest and ribs.

It is super lightweight yet has über-mega pocket space—my Number One favorite feature.

Pockets, pockets, pockets

The pack’s arm straps have a zippered pocket and a Velcro-close pocket. There’s a horizontal pocket at the top of the pack, and the 4-liter central body has a front compartment that’s separate from the bladder space (which can carry a 70-ounce reservoir.) Plus, there’s an external bungee cord to stabilize the load—which I’ve actually used to hold down a stack of clothing articles including a rain jacket, beanie, and long-sleeve shirt.

Super smart design

We love that this pack is designed to accommodate the needs of the runner—whoever she is: professional or recreational, sprinter or jogger.

There’s a load of pocket options, so you can distribute the weight evenly. You can carry a bladder or fill up the 10-ounce water bottles that slide into the arms. Plus, it’s moisture wicking—which really does help to lift the sweat off your back. Not to mention (heads up, trail and night runners) there are loops for trekking poles, an ice axe, and reflective accents for low-light visibility.

Choosing the right size

When you’re picking a size, consider the diameter of your rib cage separately from your chest. I went with a small, but I didn’t consider how far my rib cage expands when I’m inhaling, so I would rather go with a medium next time. Alternatively, you can wear the pack without buckling the bottom strap and it remains stable.

Designed by Jenny Jurek and the Women’s Collective

When Ultimate Direction decided to produce a running pack for ladies—as a part of the first-ever line of women’s specific hydration gear—they nominated lead designer Jenny Jurek to spearhead the project. The product creation wove in lots of feedback, so Jenny and on-staff designer Erin Doubleday were paired up with women from the local community to test out the designs.

“It was really fun! Ultimate Direction rounded up a diverse group of women that I could speak with including Michele Yates—who is a champion ultra runner—and then there were everyday runners completing runs on their lunch breaks,” said Jenny.

Getting on-the-ground feedback allowed the designers to nail down the features before producing whole batches—which is sustainable, smart, and economic. With a down-to-earth, dynamic approach, Jenny would show off the prototypes, the ladies would test those on group runs, and then they’d chat about the product’s performance.

 

“I don’t ever want to make products that are only for elite runners and the Ultra Vesta covers a broad range of needs, shapes, and intensities. A lot of companies have me take the men’s piece and change it for women—but this was from scratch,” explained Jenny.

“Sometimes, if you have a panel of women talking about clothes you cannot agree on anything—apparel is so emotional and people have their tastes and aesthetics—whereas for gear and products it’s less visceral and more functional. So, having a panel of women talking about the gear and products was super helpful for me. I thought the approach worked really well.”

To hear more about the pack’s design and how it was made, check out this video featuring Jenny Jurek:

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