I’ve mostly used two running vests in my trail running career. The first was a Mountain Hardware vest that I don’t even recall when or where I purchased it, and the second was an Ultimate Direction Mountain Vest (Anton Krupicka edition) I picked up in 2018. Those two vests have served me for me for thousands of miles, and the Ultimate Direction one saw me through some of my biggest adventures of my running life.
However, nothing lasts forever. The night before I attempted the Superior 100 in 2024 multiple zipper pulls broke and we had to fashion makeshift ones in a hotel room with zip ties. The vest still did fine during my DNF attempt, but nonetheless it made me start to think that maybe it was time to start shopping around.
In the past I’ve never been a huge fan of the Salomon vests. They fit fine, but the pocket layout and design never gelled with me. In particular I didn’t like where some of the zippers were placed and it concerned me that they would rub in weird ways. Even with a short try-on in a store I could tell that it would be a problem, so I’ve always passed on them. However, I’m always open to giving brands another try and so in my search for a new vest I decided to check out how the Salomon line had changed.
I headed to the local REI and the main vest that they had on the racks was the ADV Skin 12. I put it on and immediately realized that a lot had changed in the half a decade since I had checked them out before. The side pocket zippers were in the front (out of the way), and the majority of the pockets were simply mesh with elastic. The vest fit great and had a fair bit of adjustability to account for different clothing. I spent a few more minutes trying a couple different sizes to dial that aspect in, but I left the store with that vest. Now one year later, I’m ready to share what’s worked well for me, and what little niggles still remain.
What still bugs me about Salomon vests
Something that is a mainstay of Salomon vests is the elastic cord system that hooks the front of the vest across your chest. I love the versatility of the cord system, but in the winter time I often find the tiny little hooks annoying with bulky gloves on.
In this model of the vest there are still two zippers in the front for a couple of pockets. They’re not in the way, and don’t rub on anything, however because they’re a part of the form fitting aspect of the vest, they’re tight to the body. What this means is that they often get salty from sweat and then the zippers get difficult to operate. This means I need to wash the vest more often, but it’s a small annoyance when you realize it in the middle of a trail run while you’re trying to grab something from the pocket and the zipper just won’t move.
Overall, these are really small nitpicks. They don’t really detract from my overall enjoyment of the vest, just a couple things that I wish were slightly different. Let’s move on to what I really enjoy about the Salomon ADV Skin 12.
What I love about this vest
The very first thing that struck me about this vest was the large mesh pockets right on the front. They’re absolutely huge! They’re angled in such a way that getting into them is relatively easy, and they’re tight enough that you don’t feel like anything is going to fall out of them. I’ve managed to cram a LOT of snacks into those pockets. There are also the two zippered pockets mentioned above, and the traditional Salomon soft flask chest pockets (which work great for carrying a phone IMHO).
In addition to the front pockets there is also a large mesh pocket in the bottom back section that works great for stuffing in a shell jacket. It takes a little bit of flexibility to reach the pocket, which can be a challenge late in an ultra marathon, but it’s also super easy to ask a friend or trail companion to help.
The final pocket section is the large opening in the back where you can fit a lot of gear. I’ve stuffed a lot of clothing, hats, and gloves in this section during the inter-season periods where you’re constantly adjusting your layers. They make some smaller sizes of this same vest, but I find the 12L version is a great option because it only feels full when you actually pack things into it. It’s not a bulky pack when empty, despite having a large capacity.
Inside this large back pocket is also another small pocket with elastic which is where I keep things like my blister kit. It’s out of the way, and doesn’t interfere when you’re working in the large pocket, and has just enough elastic on it to keep some small items secured. There’s also a small clip attached to the top for holding things like keys.
Finally there’s the large bladder holder which is a full mesh material on the side facing your body. This allows for some evaporative cooling and sweat release during hard workouts. There’s the typical clip at the top to hold the bladder up. I’ve put a full 2L bladder in this section and it’s worked just fine.
Everything is held together with durable fabric and padding, and the same type of cordage system that holds the front together also goes around other parts of the vest to allow for snugging things down into place. Overall, the build quality feels solid and after a year of use it doesn’t feel worn down at all.
Final thoughts
As I said at the beginning, I had to be converted to Salomon. I know so many people who have loved their stuff for years, but it just never clicked with me, until this 2025 version of their premiere vest. It’s durable and incredibly versatile, and really speaks to my love of pockets. I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up in the long-term, but as of now, it’s a solid piece of gear that I’m super happy with. I look forward to a ton more adventures wearing this vest.
