Rab Veil 12L Lightweight Running Vest review: load up everything you need for the trail and run all day in comfort

Rab Veil 12L Lightweight Running Vest: first impressions 

There's a certain genius to this hydration pack from British outdoor brand Rab in that it's built to hold all your gear for long adventures and races, yet it works just as well when all you're carrying is a running jacket and some water.

What Rab calls the 'Mono Mesh Chassis' framework turns out to provide a really neat (and adjustable) fit that's so comfortable you forget you're wearing it, even when it's loaded up.

Speaking of loading up, you can certainly do that with ease here thanks to 12 pockets where you can stash two soft water bottles (included), extra layers, your phone, snacks, and whatever else you need to get the miles in and stay safe. Some of the pockets on the shoulder straps aren't as useful once you're carrying full bottles, but we've never run out of spaces to sneak in our gear.

In addition to all the small pockets, the main compartment is reasonably roomy and can handle a hydration bladder or lightweight jacket, rain pants, hat and gloves if you're getting up high. It's accessed via a U-shaped zip, which makes it easy to reach your gear, but be warned that gear in the top pocket does tend to fall out when you unzip the main pocket.

There are also pole attachments that provide a couple of different options for carrying running poles horizontally on your back or vertically on your front.

The ripstop fabric is tough, but also light and breathable, and it never seems to hang onto moisture, no matter how wet the weather or how sweaty your body, and the added stretch doesn't seem to affect the stability of the pack whatsoever.

The pack comes in three sizes that should work for all but the smallest bodies, and it fastens at the sternum with bungee cord hooks, which are a little fiddly.

The main addition we'd like to see is a waterproof pocket of some kind, to protect electronics in wet weather, and it is quite a pricey pack considering others in the market are the same price with more bells and whistles. But that said, if you need something extremely comfortable, robust, and versatile, this is the pack for you.

Rab Veil 12L Lightweight Running Vest: in the field 

British mountaineering brand Rab has been inching into the trail running scene over the past couple of years and this summer I've been trail running in a full Rab kit, including the Talus 2-in-1 shorts and this vest. That means I've put in around 100 miles wearing this vest, from hour-long lunchbreak jaunts in the hills near my home to longer days out in the Lake District and the Swiss Alps.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing and fit

Sensibly, this vest comes in three sizes, and the stretchy material and bungee cord adjustability make it a functional unisex design.

I received a small size to test, and that should be perfect for me as I have a small build and am a small-chested woman. I do have to pull the bungee cords at the sternum as tight as they will go to properly secure this vest, so if you're an XS or smaller, I think this may not work for you. For the vast majority of bodies, however, I think you can find a size that works for you.

Once I have it secured, it fits neatly so I have the impression of wearing my kit rather than carrying it, and it sems to fit well whether I've loaded it up with extra layers, water, my phone, charger and snacks or I'm just bringing along my running jacket and sunglasses (yes, you need both in Scotland at all times). The kit stays stable, so there's just no bouncing around while I run.

Comfort and breathability

For me, the litmus test of comfort is whether I notice I'm wearing something, and I'm pleased to report that I can wear this pack all day and totally forget about it. It's one of the lightest hydration packs we've tested and doesn't rub or chafe anywhere, at least when I'm running over a few hours (though I can't speak to hundred-mile races).

Unusually, I've had lots of opportunities to test this in warm weather since we've had plenty of it this year, and while obviously I do get sweaty, this doesn't make me any sweatier than when I run without it. The mesh fabric seems to breathe really well and, crucially, it doesn't hold onto moisture, so it doesn't get heavy or uncomfortable in heavy rain or sweaty conditions.

Storage and hydration

So far, I've counted 12 pockets on this pack, though there may be more I've yet to uncover. There's the main compartment where you'd keep a bladder if you use one, and I can just manage to squeeze my first aid kit, jacket, rain pants, hat and gloves here. Above that is a smaller unzipped top pocket with an even smaller zipped pocket inside, where I tend to keep my car key and credit card for safety.

The pack comes with two soft bottles that fit into two harness pockets, and it's reasonably easy to pull these out while I'm on the move and have a chug, then get them back in. There are zipped pockets on top of these, which are easily big enough for any phone, although they're a little harder to use if you've got two full bottles of water. Never mind, though, because there are more pockets behind them and underarm mesh pockets which work for gels and snacks, and I tend to use the pockets on my Talus 2-in-1 shorts for my phone anyway.

I use running poles a lot, and when I'm not using them, I just carry them in one hand, but there are various options for attaching your poles for longer adventures; however, there's no pole quiver.

The main pocket that I think is missing is a waterproof pocket for my phone which would help protect it in wet weather.

Value

This hydration pack exceeds expectations when it comes to storage and comfort, and that goes a long way. It's also quite robust, and while the bungee cord fastenings are a little fiddly, I'm the first to admit that they're more durable than clip fastenings.

However, it's the same price as my Camelback Apex Pro, which has a waterproof pocket and a RECCO reflector. I'm not saying it's not worth the price, as it really is a versatile pack, but be aware that you could get more for the same price.

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