The following review was written by Sarah Barber, a lifetime resident of Boise, Idaho. Barber has been a Life Flight Paramedic for seventeen years and currently works in a dual capacity as a clinician and a Quality Manager. When she’s not flying in helicopters or collecting data for continuous quality improvement, she can be found trail running with her dog and camping with her husband in the mountains of her home state and throughout the northwest. The vest reviewed was provided at no charge from Nathan.
Research has proven that decrements in athletic performance begin with dehydration levels as little as 2% of one’s total body weight. That alone might be reason enough to strap on Nathan’s newest iteration of the VaporAir/VaporAiress hydration vest which is version 3.0. But it also looks super hip! If the goal is a fashion statement, the VaporAiress is shouting. Its periwinkle base with magenta and cobalt accents and multi-colored bungees convey enthusiastic energy without being clownish. Meanwhile, the reflective hits will wreck a game of hide-and-seek in low-to-no-light conditions, but as the saying goes, “Safety first!”
In my opinion, the best hydration vest is the one I forget I’m wearing. I’m not asking for ani-matter, but I am asking for something so delicate that it doesn’t add much to the weight of the liquid and calories it carries. At the same time, I want this second skin to be durable enough to tolerate drenching perspiration and thunderstorms, withstand a tight squeeze between rocky crags, and survive an occasional tuck-and-roll or tumble on uneven terrain.
My favorite feature is the zippered, water-proof pouch large enough for a smartphone and a wad of Charmin for that unanticipated, uh, rumbly gut.
My first test drive of the VaporAiress 3.0 was a dry run—literally a waterless jaunt in the foothills to see how the empty vest felt. It felt like…Vapor! Or Air? Either way, it was a silly move, given that I could have toted not only 2 liters of water in the bladder but pretty much anything else I wanted with the exception of the kitchen sink. Boasting a 7-liter total capacity, the VaporAiress is the U-Haul of compact hydration vests with eight different pockets and pouches to hide enough Picky Bars and Gu for an apocalypse. If the half-gallon tank in the back isn’t sufficient, the deep and stretchy front pockets are designed to accommodate bottles or flasks that hold up to 22 oz. With too many loops and straps to count, I started thinking beyond trekking poles. Would a chainsaw be too heavy? Probably, but where most hydration vests inspire militant practicality, this one inspires imagination.
Although Nathan’s marketers highlight the “body-mapped” fit and wider size range of the VaporAiress 3.0, my favorite feature is the zippered, water-proof pouch large enough for a smartphone and a wad of Charmin for that unanticipated, uh, rumbly gut. Along the lines of hygiene, the quick-release valve on the bladder’s hydration hose makes for easier cleaning and filling. The double-layer moisture-wicking mesh upper is washable, too, but thanks to its quick-dry breathability, it might not need more than an occasional rinse—even for the sweatiest of endurance beasts.
Nathan has over forty years of experience designing and deploying its no-nonsense trail running gear, so the slam dunk of the VaporAiress 3.0 comes as no surprise. It’s not so much innovation as it is the advancement of a company’s already successful product line. In the long run—or the short jog—finding ways to refine and perfect the process of keeping runners hydrated, fed, protected, and accessorized will help push the limits of performance. Hydration doesn’t just keep us alive. It keeps us running. Thanks, Nathan, for stepping up the pace.
You can find the VaporAir and the VaporAiress at https://www.nathansports.com/ or by using the store locator.
