REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Great features
Well-designed pockets
Good compression system
REASONS TO AVOID
Basic hydration system
Mesh could be softer
Ultimate Direction Race Vesta 5.0 - Women's Review
For its lower-than-average price, this vest offers well-designed and placed pockets with a great compression system
Credit: Ultimate Direction
Our Verdict
The Ultimate Direction Race Vesta 5.0 impressed us by offering far beyond the bare minimum requirements. Though its 5-liter carrying capacity is not huge, the pockets and bungees are all placed in such a way to truly accommodate whatever it is you need to bring on your run. We love the adjustable front closure and external compression system. The mesh is lightweight and breathable, though the seam around the neck area is slightly abrasive. If you're looking for an affordable hydration vest that can carry your goods from road runs to trail days, this is a great vest to consider.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Race Vesta 5.0 is an adjustable hydration pack that makes for a great daily running sidekick. It is made of lightweight, breathable mesh and has perfectly placed pockets so you can focus on your run, not grabbing your gels. With a decent volume-to-weight ratio, you can tote everything you need without feeling weighed down. The clasp system on the sternum panels is easy to adjust and tighten, even after you shed a layer or two. The backside also has comfort cinch straps to help secure the load close to your body for minimal bouncing.
Performance Comparison
We love the narrow shape and external compression system on the Race Vesta 5.0.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort
The adjustability of the Race Vesta 5.0 is one of the main components that makes it such a comfortable choice. The sternum straps cinch horizontally, and the backside cinch straps get secured vertically, making for well-rounded compression and comfort. The curvature of the shoulder panels towards the midline of the body also helps this vest hug your curves for added comfort. The narrow width of the main compartment on the back helps to ensure that even the most petite runners can find a good fit in one of the three available sizes.
The contours of this vest make it a comfortable choice for long runs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The Race Vesta 5.0 is not as soft to the touch as some of the other vests we tested. The mesh is lightweight and breathable, and once we had this vest on, its tougher-than-average texture was hardly noticeable. However, we occasionally noticed that the upper edge of the neck fabric felt a bit scratchy. We re-cinched some straps, and this sensation went away, but if you are highly attuned to sensory things like this, it's something to be aware of.
The collar feels a little stiff, but when it is configured correctly, it doesn't rub.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Features
The Race Vesta has all the essential features we like to see. There are designated and functional pole holders in addition to a safety whistle. These two features make it a great choice for trail runs. We also can't say enough about the intelligence of the external compression system on this vest. It works better than many others we've tested. With some gentle cinching, you can secure your load close to your body, which is optimal for running, no matter the terrain.
We love that most of the best hydration vests come with safety whistles included.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Overall, the Race Vesta doesn't provide any groundbreaking features, but it gives us everything we want in a hydration vest. It has helpful safety features, pole holders, breathable mesh, and a strong compression system so you can get your runs in with ease.
The bungees beneath the main pocket help secure this pack in place.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Hydration System
The hydration system on the Race Vesta is the one thing we felt a bit let down by. It comes with two leak-proof, BPA and PVC-free 500mL soft flasks. While the flasks can be inserted and removed easily, the architecture of the system is lacking, in our opinion. This is yet another front-loading vest that feels a bit imbalanced when the hydration system is fully loaded. We prefer the sensation of the weight being cinched close to our backs but understand that other runners might prefer the weight distribution of front-loaded soft flasks. That choice is entirely personal.
The Race Vesta 5.0 comes with standard, 500 mL soft flasks.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
One of the upsides to this vest is the versatility of the hydration system. It does not come with a bladder but is set up to accommodate one. Ultimate Direction states that the back pocket can hold a 2-liter bladder. That said, we aren't so sure that we agree. We filled the skinny, 2-liter bladder from the Nathan TrailMix 7 and could not fit it into the back pocket of the Race Vesta. We drained half a liter of water out and could then squeeze it in for a trail run. Ultimately, this worked, but since the back compartment is narrow, you won't be able to count on it fitting any old 2-liter hydration bladder.
The narrow back pocket makes it hard to stuff a full 2-liter bladder into it.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Volume to Weight Ratio
The Race Vesta 5.0 is not the most impressive in terms of volume to weight ratio, but it scored pretty well in this metric. While we love loading up bigger vests with anything we might need on the trails, this vest's 5-liter capacity hits a real sweet spot. It allows plenty of space for the essentials and a few extras, but without feeling like your upper body is cloaked in fabric. Ours weighs in at 5.26 ounces, which is light. The external compression bungees help the load stay close to the body, which also helps it feel light while running.
This lightweight vest boasts a pretty impressive volume to weight ratio.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Pockets
While the Race Vesta 5.0 does not have the most pockets out of all of the hydration vests we tested, the ones it does have are excellent. Each one offers great closures and is placed in such a way to be accessible while you run. There are more layers of pockets than we originally thought, and we enjoyed running with a full 5 liters of gear stashed between them.
The front, compartmentalized pocket is great for carrying gels that you'll want quick access to.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The front panels of this vest each have a pocket for a 500mL soft flask. They are not as deep as the flask pockets on other vests, but the flasks can be removed, filled, and replaced with relative ease. The left front panel has a bungee and a small daisy chain on top of the flask pocket. On the lower portion of the front left panel, a wide pocket extends beneath the armpit. It has a mild elastic closure and makes a great pocket for stashing extra socks. The right breast panel has a separated pocket atop the flask pocket; it is a great place to store nutrition that you'll need while you're in motion. Instead of having the elastic-closure pocket, the right side has a pocket that closes with a horizontal zipper, making it one of the two most secure pockets on the vest.
The soft flask pockets are great for hauling water, or other items if you opt to use a hydration bladder instead of the bottles.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
The backside of the Race Vesta has a fist-sized, superficial pocket with a hook inside and a vertical zipper for closure. The main back pocket runs the entire length of the vest, and while the shape of this pack is pretty narrow, this main pocket can hold a lot of gear. The external bungees are great for securing more gear, but they also effectively compress the pack against your body for a bounce-free run. With so many spacious pockets, loops, and bungees, this pack can accommodate more gear than it looks like it could.
We love the security and size of this zippered front pocket.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Value
The Race Vesta is available for less than many of its outstandingly high-performing competitors. The mono mesh and ripstop nylon make for a very durable and easy-to-clean vest. For what it offers, it is a great value.
The clasp closures on the Race Vesta are customizable and easy to use, even if your fingers are swelling at altitude.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Conclusion
The Ultimate Direction Race Vesta 5.0 is a solid and affordable choice for a running hydration vest. It is made of durable and breathable mesh and provides well-placed pockets for easy access while on the move. If you are looking to invest in a hydration pack that will be with you for trail race after trail race, the Race Vesta is a great choice.
We will happily spend our days running up mountains with the Race Vesta strapped to our backs.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
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Ally Arcuri
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