The following review was written by trail runner Sarah Barber and features the Nathan Pinnacle FeatherLite 1.5 liter Hydration Vest. The vest was provided at no charge for the test and review.
Temperatures are climbing, trail race season is well underway, and somehow runners need to figure out how to stay hydrated. Personally, I find it challenging to carry fluids on high mileage days, mostly because I don’t want anything weighing me down.
In fact, I recently raced almost 30K on the desert trails outside of Moab, UT, and chose not to carry water because I felt there were enough aid stations on the course. What I didn’t plan on was working hard to keep the two leaders in sight, and simultaneously feeling pressure from behind: the fourth-place competitor was steadily closing the gap I’d put between us in the first half of the race. The predictable consequence? I didn’t stop at any aid stations. I didn’t think it was worth precious seconds on the clock!
As it turned out, I cruised to the finish line on fumes with chocolate GU coating my teeth and crusty white streaks on my face (I’m a salty sweater). I had lost no time stopping at aid stations, but I was risking physiological shut-down as a result of dehydration. Because it was early spring, I got away with it, but on a warmer day, the consequences could have been much more dire.
Lesson learned
My lesson from that event came from observing the women who finished ahead of me and immediately behind me—they all had carried some form of hydration during the race. The winner went with a hand-held bottle, to which I say, “Nope.” Full stop. I don’t want to carry something in my hand for more than two minutes, let alone two-plus hours. The woman behind me had a bulky, heavy-looking hydration vest. Again, “Nope.” I mean, that’s probably why she was behind me. The solution had to be somewhere in the middle.
Storage and hydration with the Nathan Pinnacle Featherlite.
Hydration and storage
Nathan is an outdoor gear company that focuses on hydration and smart storage options for long-distance runners, so it’s no surprise that they had the answer. Nathan’s new Pinnacle FeatherLite Hydration Vest is everything you’d expect from something called “Pinnacle FeatherLite.” This inconspicuous vest is designed to get a self-supported runner to the summit with the buoyancy of a helium balloon.
The main front pockets are designed for flasks up to 20 ounces each, and there’s just enough space in the smaller anterior pouches to stash a few gels or bars. One zippered pocket in the back can hold a phone and a squished up lightweight jacket…and that’s it! Any extra bulk is the fault of the runner who attempts to overstuff a vest that’s trim and slim and ready to race.
Weightless and breathable hydration vest
The upper back and shoulder panels are made of a translucent “power mesh” that molds to the wearer’s body like a weightless and breathable second skin. The stretchy fabric has both side and sternal adjustable straps to make unisex sizing simple and bounce-free. Meanwhile, perspiration evaporates through the pores with each passing breeze.
While minimalism works great for minimalists, anyone who wants the option to tie on trekking poles or slurp through a hands-free straw connected to a bladder on their back will be disappointed. If you put the freight in “freight train,” I’d suggest you visit Nathan’s online store for one of their vests with a little more payload. But not me. I’d rather run dry for the final few miles than finish with more than a sip of water left in my pack.
Sarah Barber on the trails sporting Nathan hydration vest.
Choose speed and performance
What began as a spring flirtation for me now shows every sign of evolving into a summer romance. This vest and I are becoming inseparable. When seconds count and the stakes are high, the Pinnacle FeatherLite is the obvious choice for speed and performance.
Editor’s Note: To read more of Sarah Barber‘s reviews and articles, click here.
