Switching hydration vests is a tricky proposition. My first vest didn’t fit me very well, but it still took weeks to convince me to try another option. Two years later, when presented with the Nathan Women’s Vaper Howe Running Hydration Vest, I was still not psyched about the idea of breaking a new vest in. Sure, my current vest wasn’t perfect, and was far too small for a few of the bigger plans I have for adventures this summer, but it was the vest I was used to. So, I admit, it took a few weeks of staring at the vest before I was willing to put it on for a run. I am SO GLAD that I did.
Most of my running friends swear by this vest, and since they run as much as I do, I was ready to believe them when they said it was worth the $200 price tag.
At first, I was concerned that it was a little too loose and felt like I had a lot of extra fabric flapping around. But my friend who had the same pack showed me the side straps and how to adjust them (and keep adjusting them throughout the run as you drink the water in order to keep the pack close-fitting). It was a simple thing to do that made a huge difference in feeling and comfort. The front straps with their diagonal placement are actually fantastic for not feeling like your boobs are being compressed. And the fabric of the pack is SO MUCH softer than any of the other packs I have, so I wouldn’t be stressed about wearing this with a tank top. No chafing issues!
The first run I did with this pack was a whopping 22 miles of trail, and to say that I had zero issues with it is a huge deal.
The amount of space and stretch in the simple pack design is great: I had room on a long run for a ton of extra snacks, a first aid kit, a windbreaker, and even a spare water bottle that has a filter attached (this Katadyn bottle in case you were wondering). And the front pockets can stretch to fit water bottles, but don’t feel like they’re too big if all you stash in them is a phone and snacks.
My only note would be that I didn’t totally love the bladder, and have since swapped it out for another one I had in the house. But that is a strictly personal preference, everyone else I know really loves it. And the other note would be — and this is backed up by Nathan Sports — that the sizing tends to be a little on the smaller size, so you may want to size up if you’re between sizes.
Last thing: good news, this is extremely machine-washable. I’ve run it through the washer three times now and the dryer once, and it’s still in great shape!
