The short version
Buy for the biggest race on your calendar, not the average one. A 5 litre vest carries flasks, food and a light shell and is enough for most aid-supported 50Ks. A 12 litre swallows a full mandatory kit list: waterproof, spare layer, headlamp, first aid, phone, cup and food for hours. A 12 litre vest carried half empty is fine. A 5 litre vest that cannot hold required kit means you do not start.
Common questions
How should a vest fit when loaded?
Snug enough that it does not move when you run with full flasks, loose enough to take a deep breath. Try it loaded, not empty, because an empty vest tells you nothing about how it will sit at mile 40. Most vests run small for the chest measurement people expect.
What is on a typical mandatory kit list?
It varies by race and is usually published months ahead: waterproof jacket with hood and taped seams, spare warm layer, headlamp and spare, phone, whistle, emergency blanket or bivvy, cup, and sometimes food and water minimums. Read your specific race's list, because kit checks are enforced and turning up short means no start.
Can I wash it?
Yes, and you should. Rinse it after salty runs, hand wash it occasionally, and air dry it out of the sun. Salt destroys the elastic far faster than the miles do.
At a glance
| Salomon ADV Skin 5 Set | Salomon Advance Skin 12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5 litres | 12 litres |
| Holds a full mandatory kit list | Rarely | Yes |
| Weight empty | Lighter | Slightly heavier |
| Bounce when half full | Minimal | Minimal, with the straps cinched |
| Best distance | Up to about 50K | 50 miles and beyond |
| Flasks included | Usually | Usually |
Choose the Salomon ADV Skin 5 Set if…
Your races are aid supported and short enough that you are carrying water, food and a light shell. A smaller vest sits closer to the body and there is less material to get hot in. If your longest day is four or five hours between aid, this is the right size and the larger one is dead weight.
Check Salomon ADV Skin 5 Set on Amazon
Choose the Salomon Advance Skin 12 if…
You run anything with a mandatory kit list, or you train in the mountains where the weather changes. Twelve litres holds the required gear without compression straps digging in, and a vest that is not stuffed to bursting is easier to get things in and out of at three in the morning. Cinch the side straps and it does not bounce empty.
Check Salomon Advance Skin 12 on Amazon
Full reviews at both sizes
For the detail on fit, pockets and what each one includes in the box, see our Ultimate Direction Race Vest 6L review at the small end and the Salomon Adv Skin 12 review at the large end.
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.