Weighing in at 11.5 ounces for a women's size XS/S, the Ultimate Direction Mountain Vesta 5.0 can lug an impressive 12.7 liters of gear, plus an additional liter of water. Comprised of ripstop nylon and plenty of secure pockets, this vest is a clear winner for backcountry runs that require a bit more gear.
The shape and customizable nature of the Mountain Vesta are what make it such a comfortable choice. It truly fits like a hydration vest, not a miniature backpack.
The entire liner of the Mountain Vesta is made of nylon mesh, which allows for great heat dissipation as your body warms up. The piping around the edges is soft and fleecy, which prevents chafing. The more contoured design helps the weight of your gear settle into biomechanically correct places on your body, provided that you adjust the straps properly.
The sturdy front straps can be vertically adjusted on the breast rails to best suit your body. They securely snap together, and while the snaps are large, we never had any trouble with anything digging into the front sides of our bodies. Under the arms, the panels are connected via a zig-zagging cord that is anchored to an unmoving center strap. The cords are threaded through a spring-loaded clip and dangle at the base of the back. Having access to the cords is awesome since it allows you to adjust the fit while in motion. The spring ensures that the cords stay snug where you want them to. To loosen the straps, you push the spring in to release the cord. One of our favorite things about the comfort of the Mountain Vesta is that we didn't need to readjust it while we ran. This design element certainly added to this vest's overall comfort score.
The Mountain Vesta 5.0 has some great features — one of our favorites is the security of each cord and bungee, most of which have locking devices to help them stay in place. The bungees at the top of each flask pocket, the compression bungee, and the adjustment cords all have locking devices that require two hands, or exceptional dexterity, to loosen. These secure touches are part of why the Mountain Vesta became a fast tester favorite.
The logos on the Mountain Vesta are reflective, which is another added safety feature we appreciate. The trekking pole holders are not our favorites, but they do the trick and allow large trekking poles to be easily accommodated. The lateral edge of each flask pocket has thick bungee loops you can thread your poles through, and the ends fit into correlating bungees at the base of each underarm panel. If you prefer to stash your poles on the back, the extra-long external compression bungee is a secure place for back storage as well. The safety whistle is secured to the left breast panel and tucks behind a Velcro-closure pill pocket and into its own little loop to prevent bouncing. The curved shape of the whistle makes it one of the louder ones we have tested, further adding to its safety.
The hydration system of the Mountain Vesta is basic but super functional. This vest comes with two 500mL soft flasks that fit comfortably in the front pockets of the pack. They are standard in that you pull the mouthpiece for water and then push it down to lock it into place when you are finished.
The flasks ride a bit higher than in other vests, making them more accessible while you run — we like the placement of the flask pockets a lot. The large back pocket of the pack can easily accommodate a 2-liter hydration bladder. We ran a few testing runs with a full hydration bladder and found that we prefer using the soft flasks instead. Using the bladder wasn't uncomfortable, thanks in part to the loop at the top of the back pocket that allows you to secure it in place — we simply preferred the flasks over the bladder. Much like with other hydration vests made by Ultimate Direction, the Mountain Vesta is an epic choice if you want to tote a ton of water on your runs. With the capacity to carry three total liters of water and a strong external compression system, this is the hydration vest to consider if your focus is on the word “hydration.”
With a weight of 11.5 ounces and a carrying capacity of over 12 liters, the Mountain Vesta has a pretty exceptional volume-to-weight ratio.
While 11.5 ounces for a woman's size small is pretty hefty, the ruggedness of the materials used and carrying capacity make up the difference. If a strong pack with ample capacity and a plentiful amount of bungees is what you're after, this vest will inspire you to go the distance.
The amount of securely closing pockets included on the Mountain Vesta provides added security for taking on techy rock scrambles or bombing down flowy descents.
Each front panel has a small pill pocket with a Velcro closure and pass-through behind it; one has an overlay to provide extra protection to the small items you may stash in this pocket. Below that are flask pockets, both of which have secure bungees built into their edging to hold the bottles in place. Layered on top of each flask pocket are nutrition pockets. None of these pockets have true closures but, instead, have light elastic at their tops for a bit of safety. Each fist-sized pocket is split into two sections, so you can keep all of your snacks separate and easy to grab.
Even the underarm panel space is intelligently used on the Mountain Vesta. The right side has a horizontally zippered pocket that is a fantastic place to keep your smartphone if you want it accessible but not too accessible. The ripstop nylon isn't completely waterproof, but we found it water-resistant enough to keep our phones safe while running through fog and light sprinkles. The backing of the lower pockets, however, is comprised of mesh which is most definitely not water-resistant. The left underarm pocket has a light elastic closure but nothing else, so we used this one for our emergency pepper spray –- we love to have it in a super accessible pocket.
The back of the Mountain Vesta 5.0 is mainly one big clamshell pocket with a huge capacity for hauling all of your goodies. Inside the back-facing panel is a fist-sized pocket with a carabiner and a zippered closure, the most obvious choice for safely carrying keys. Atop the main compartment is a long, narrower pocket that is perfect for stashing an extra layer. It doesn't have much in the way of closure, save for some gentle elastic and a loop that attaches to the main compression bungee via a plastic hook.
If you want a vest that can haul a ton of gear in a comfortable and vest-like manner, then yes, you should buy the Mountain Vesta. This vest is our go-to when we know we will carry more than just the essentials. If you want a pack that fits like a vest due to an awesome compression system but holds as much as a pack, you will love the gear-hauling prowess of this mountain running superstar.
