Nathan Pinnacle Race Vest & 12L Hydration Pack with 1.6L Bladder, Water-Resistant Pockets, Lightweight & Moisture Wicking

Nathan almost has the perfect hydration vest. However, one CRITICAL design and construction flaw renders this vest practically useless from the very start.The hydration bladder is attached to the vest by two small Velcro straps. The problem is that the straps are sewn into the vest without ANY backing support. The seam is directly in the super lightweight fabric. The weight of the water simply rips the Velcro strap out of the seam. In the attached picture you can see the result - AFTER ONE RUN.This was my second attempt to purchase and use this model vest. I didn’t notice the ripped seam on the first vest until after my 3rd run (trail marathon). BOTH straps ripped on on that day (or before and I didn’t notice). I didn’t understand why my water bladder was shifting around so much (very uncomfortable ).I returned the first vest and decided to give Nathan’s QuickStart a second chance. The next one had a seam rip out on the very FIRST run (pictured).All Nathan needs to do is to add some backing material to the seam in order to provide additional support. That’s all. Simple. It would be a 5 star rating then.Until that construction update happens, the best I can give this vest is a single star.

TL;dr: Best for hauling a bunch of stuff that won’t fit in a traditional running belt; people who like a sling pack and also like the idea of switching to a waist pack as needed; people who want their gear organized; those who don’t want to have to replace their bag every couple of years. There is very minimal bounce but if you need zero movement try a running vest or minimal running belt.I needed a versatile pack for running, walking and hiking, something that would fit a water bottle and have a few pockets so I could keep my phone and money separate from open energy goo etc. I love my everyday walking/hiking sling bag but it was a little too big, not really for running and didn’t have the option of being worn around my waist.This Nathan pack is just about perfect.First, it is very well constructed. Nathan puts out a quality product, and doesn’t cut corners. I used to use their running belts and bottles when I was doing distance running and they were comfortable, durable and the bottles didn’t leak. Second, the design is intuitive and works. You can use this as a cross body/sling pack, or as a waist pack. I was dubious that the additional red strap would do anything and I was wrong. It provided a lot of stability when running and hiking and you can place it through whichever loop works best for you for an optimal fit. Keep in mind that depending on the smoothness of your gait and the trail/road there will be a little movement with any kind of pack other than a cinched down running vest or super minimal running belt.The material, stitching, webbing, buckles (new design—less pinchy, very secure) double zippers, and red lining are all high quality. There are 3 internal pockets, one with velcro, and then on the back side of the pack there is a smallish zippered pocket with a key clip. The contents are easy to find due to the bright contrasting interior.The included 14 oz collapsible water bottle is great for short runs or hikes. The pack can fit an extra bottle and I have been adding another soft bottle on longer outings. The bite valve on the included bottle works well and there was no plastic taste or odor even on the first use. The bottle is BPA and PVC free and did not leak. Note that the bottle is hand wash only. Initially it was a bit of a trick to get it to air dry, because it collapses when empty. Then I read the instructions, which said dry it upside down with the cap off, and that worked well.The bottle fits in the middle pocket really well. I didn’t have an issue getting it out while moving but I use a sling bag most days so am practiced at sliding it around to the front and opening it.Out of curiosity, I rigged it with a liter water bladder, bringing the tube out between the zippers. The key was using a bladder with a smaller fill opening so it fit into the pack and I clipped the tube to me with an extra clip I had on hand.Size: The pack is around 13” long, 7.5” tall and a few inches wide.I recommend this pack!

I’ve been looking for a sling with a water bottle to use while riding my bike for a while after my old one has been stolen off the bike and when this guy came available I couldn’t resist.So far has been doing great, nice quality material and durable, nice sized with good amount of space to hold my EDC ( wallet/ phone/ keys etc ) and absolutely i love the water bottle to keep my favorite hydration drink always handy. I just wished that it came with bigger bottle than 14oz.I love the included removable strap that fits around my back to ensure no bouncing or flapping around while riding.I took star off mainly because I think it’s on the pricey side in my opinion .. there’s a lot of competitions with this price tag and cheaper.

The cloth straps that hold the water bladder aren't properly enforced. The material securing them to the top of the pack rips after only a few hours of running with just the filled water bladder inside the pack. I replaced this item after this happened once, and the new product had the same flaw. Now it is too late to return.

I love the convenience of the pockets, water bladder and grateful for the reflective print and stripes.