In past due February, I ran my first long term of 2023 within the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack ($160.) I began the 14-mile run at nighttime from Smith Rock State Park in Oregon, the place it was once two levels Fahrenheit on the trailhead. What a approach to kick off coaching for the Western States 100!
Making ready for the run, I’d crammed the hydration pack’s 2-liter bladder with water. Inside two miles, the bladder was once frozen cast, so I were given to apply operating whilst quite dehydrated with a large ice dice on my again. Whilst it made for a memorable enjoy, I couldn’t blame the pack for this one — in unmarried digit temperatures, I will have to have identified higher.
I persevered dressed in this hydration vest on virtually all of my lengthy runs throughout the spring. As temperatures grew warmer and my coaching runs were given longer, I used the vest’s 7-liter garage to carry the morning’s layers, gloves, and sufficient meals to apply fueling at my 100-mile tempo. I additionally carried further hydration on my remaining couple lengthy runs, since Smith Rock State Park is an arid atmosphere with out a lot color or any water assets.
This pack is neither ultralight nor in particular heavy. I respect Nathan’s use of sentimental, clean fabrics and a quite streamlined design that doesn’t have too many “dangles” — a gripe I’ve with every other packs. I’ve used different Nathan hydration packs ahead of, and this one met my expectancies in keeping with the ones stories. I typically want Nathan packs sat slightly upper on my torso, however except that, this can be a cast pack that met my wishes whilst feeling comfy for hours on finish, and was once clean to make use of even after fatigue set in.
Store the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack
A entrance view of the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack. All pictures: iRunFar/Alli Hartz
Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack Building and Have compatibility
The Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack is thoughtfully built, with easy-to-reach wallet, a lot of garage, and quite a lot of adjustability. I respect that this pack is to be had in ladies’s sizes from XXS to 3XL, which incorporates sternum circumferences from 26 to 50 inches (66 to 127 centimeters). I measure 28 inches (71 centimeters) and examined measurement XXS. I don’t call to mind myself as in particular small-framed up height — I steadily put on measurement medium tops — however I admit that I battle to seek out hydration vests that are compatible snugly on my torso and don’t soar or hold closely on my shoulders.
This hydration pack, like different Nathan packs, can also be adjusted two tactics. First, via the use of the 2 straps at the entrance of the again that buckle in combination, which can also be tightened or loosened, and so they slide up and down. And 2nd, by means of the inner Adaptive Have compatibility straps within each and every of the entrance zippered wallet. I really like how clean it’s to regulate the entrance buckle straps and slide them up or down mid-run. I tended to stay those straps cinched as tight as conceivable, and so they stayed put after I made my changes.
A detailed-up entrance view of the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack.
I had slightly extra hassle with the inner straps. On a number of events I realized my pack sliding and bouncing, so I ended and cinched them tighter. This did the trick. But on a minimum of one different instance, past due within the spring, when the pack was once totally loaded with 2 liters of hydration and a number of other hours’ price of meals, I tightened the inner straps, and so they quickly was free once more. I ultimately knotted the stretchy straps to lend a hand stay them from loosening, nevertheless it was once a irritating enjoy.
I realized that the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack are compatible me higher all through early spring operating, when I used to be dressed in extra layers beneath and sporting quite much less water and meals within the pack. When I used to be all the way down to only a tank height and sporting much more water, I skilled extra motion with the pack and felt the load on my shoulders. On the identical time, I acknowledge that I’m at the smaller finish of the scale vary and am further delicate to bouncing packs. I respect Nathan’s wide variety of sizing and typically easy adjustment gadget.
I additionally love the fabrics Nathan makes use of in its packs, together with this one. Each and every Nathan pack I’ve had has felt clean and cushy towards my pores and skin and I’ve by no means skilled chafing in a Nathan hydration pack.
This pack sits slightly decrease on my torso than I would love. I desire hydration packs that take a seat up slightly upper on my higher again and shoulders, and I’ve discovered that Nathan hydration packs, together with this one, attain to my decrease again. I don’t thoughts this as a lot on 15- to 20-mile lengthy runs in gentle climate, the place I’m now not sporting as a lot or desiring most air flow. And I wouldn’t cross as far as to name it uncomfortable. Different runners might desire this are compatible, particularly the ones with a protracted torso.
A again view of the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack.
Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack Garage and Hydration
Relating to garage and hydration choices, the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack has greater than sufficient capability for a protracted journey run whilst keeping up a swish and streamlined design. It’s most definitely were given extra garage than you want for an extremely race, relying at the frequency of help stations at the direction, nevertheless it additionally wouldn’t really feel like an excessive amount of for many runners. Plus, when it’s empty or simplest evenly loaded, it suits carefully and remains put. Then again, it would possibly not have rather sufficient garage for a extremely concerned mountain run the place you’re sporting a number of layers plus a water filter out, first help equipment, and different tools. But it surely’s easiest on your six- to eight-hour coaching run or summertime mountain journey.
At the again of this hydration pack, a big, zippered pocket is easiest for containing a jacket, gloves, or beanie, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, backup headlamp, or some other must haves for a protracted day within the mountains. It doesn’t have a ton of room, however it could hang a couple of small pieces. There’s additionally a bungee twine at the again and at the shoulders for sporting a jacket or poles at the outdoor of the pack. My inclination is to forget about the bungee — I’d quite elevate a jacket throughout the pack the place I received’t chance it coming free and getting misplaced — however I will see the ease to having a layer shut to hand in fickle mountain climate.
A facet view of the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack.
On that word, the pack additionally has a kangaroo pocket alongside the bottom that’s perfect for stashing a jacket, gloves, or further meals — the rest you may need to ditch or be capable to get right of entry to at the transfer. In the end, the again of the pack has two extra slender wallet, despite the fact that one is in point of fact a hydration sleeve for the integrated 2-liter bladder. This can be a excellent hydration gadget, the place the hose comes out the highest and over the shoulder to connect with the entrance of the pack by means of a magnet. I just like the design however spotted that the hose indifferent from the magnet slightly too simply. I’ve a identical setup on my mountain motorcycle hydration pack and for no matter explanation why, that magnet holds the hose significantly better. Additionally, the hose is lengthy and calls for some fiddling in order that it’s now not flopping round. As I proceed the use of this pack, I’ll imagine trimming the hose quite shorter.
At the entrance of the pack, the pocket choices are improbable. There are two zippered wallet, and 4 further top-loading wallet. I normally retailer my telephone and different small necessities like ChapStick and packet of salt chews within the zippered pocket whilst stuffing the others with gels, waffles, chews, and different gas. I really like having my meals shut via, and the multitude of wallet lend a hand me stay it arranged so I will temporarily seize what I would like. The highest two wallet — which can be the private — too can hang 22-ounce cushy flasks, which can be bought one by one. I used the wallet this manner on a in particular scorching, sun-exposed long term in early summer time. The shallower entrance wallet have cinch closures to stay issues from bouncing or falling out.
The writer trying out the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack in early spring.
Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack General Impressions
General, I respect that the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack is thoughtfully designed with out being overbuilt. Except for a couple of events on which I had hassle securing the are compatible and my private desire for a quite upper are compatible on my torso, I believe this hydration pack provides a flexible are compatible that can paintings smartly for lots of runners. I particularly like this pack’s vast vary of sizing, easy buckle closure, and clean adjustability.
I additionally suppose that Nathan did an ideal task with the pocket design. On lengthy runs and ultras, we wish our meals and different provides to be securely stowed but simply out there. Nathan completed this with its 4 stash wallet and two zippered wallet at the entrance of the pack, and a zippered pocket and kangaroo pocket at the again for a jacket or different pieces that you simply don’t want to get right of entry to as steadily all through a run. I might have long past with out the bungee cords at the again, however to each and every their very own. This pack has a properly streamlined design, whether or not it’s evenly packed or totally loaded.
In the end, it’s price noting that Nathan’s hydration packs, together with this one, are made with clean, cushy fabrics that really feel comfy towards the outside. I’ve run in quite a lot of climate and environmental stipulations whilst dressed in this pack and had no problems with chafing. Moreover, I really like the sunshine pink colour of this hydration pack. I’ve worn different packs over time that temporarily discolored as they absorbed sweat and path mud, and this one has maintained its gentle pink colour even after many hours on dust underneath the recent solar.
To discover different packs, see our article at the Absolute best Hydration Packs for Operating, which incorporates any other Nathan possibility.
Store the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack
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The writer trying out the Nathan VaporAiress 3.0 7 Liter Girls’s Hydration Pack in summer time.