Salomon Salomon Adv Skin 12 Women's Hydration Pack Review

The Salomon ADV Skin 12 Women's pack is one of my favorite accessories I used while training for a 50k race. It's light and spacious, with well placed pockets and an adjustable fit system. There are a few design flaws, but this is an overall great pack.

Fit and Comfort

I have a hard time finding vests that fit, but the bungee closure system and many adjustment points keep this vest dialed in, even when the volume of the pack (and my body) changes over the course of a run. The bungee cords keep things from feeling too restricted.

This pack is a bit long on and comes up kind of high on my neck. While the mesh material is light and wicking, I can't wear it over bare skin without getting chafed. If you train in crop tops when it's hot out, beware of this vest.

Storage

You can fit a ton of stuff into this pack. Here's what I brought for a 4-hour run: 3 liters of fluid split between the bladder and my flasks, several snacks, a jacket, first aid supplies, keys, and my huge phone. The pockets are placed well so it's easy to access and organize everything on the move. I especially love the pass-through pocket on the back. 

Hydration System

During my 50k race, I did find it difficult to take the flasks in and out because they get wiggly when full of water. The tapered flask design helps a bit, but doesn't totally solve the problem. The little bungee loops to hold the bottles up are genius.

I also struggled with routing the bladder hose through the bottom of the pack. The shape would cause my hose to kink and restrict water flow - not ideal in a race situation. I ended up running the hose up and through the shoulder instead.

Y SHAPE:
 Salomon says that the back of the pack is built in a Y-shape with stretch panels and supportive fabrics to stabilize the weight in the main compartment. I think it works! The pack isn't bouncy, even when it's loaded up with all my maximalist stuff.