Living in Colorado, runners are blessed with an abundance of mountain and paved to explore. Whether or not you are looking for the beautiful natural scenery or a flat urban run, we have it all. And, one of the biggest things to worry about while you are out is how to stay hydrated thinks to our dry, high altitude weather.
I used to be old school and map out my runs to make sure I ran past public water fountains. But over the years, I have learned that those or only reliable about two to three months out of the year.
So, I started using a hand held water bottle. This was nice because it had a small pouch I could stash my car keys in and maybe a gel. But it was limited on the amount I could take so I could never really go much more than an hour or so on a hot day.
Then I started trying different things so I could spend more time out in the mountains. I tried hydration belts (the bottles always seemed to bounce around and I hated the feeling of something on my waist) and hydration packs (they always ended up hurting my back).
Then, I came across hydration vests. I was a little skeptical at first because the packs didn’t seem to work for me. So I never really tried one.
However, after a few years of these being on the market, I decided to give on a try – the Nathan VaporKrar 2.0. This vest was designed by Rob Krar, a champion ultrarunner and minimalist (which I like to be), so I thought it would work well for me.
Here are all of the features of this particular vest:
- Includes a 1.6L Insulated hydration bladder, with an hourglass design to reduce sloshing
- Insulated bladder keep water cooler 38% longer than non-insulated flasks
- Apparel-like fit with a lightweight, breathable structure
- Internal compression system tightens the load against your back for stability
- Zippered water-resistant chest pocket for smartphones
- Large front stash pockets for quick access to on-the go nutrition and essentials
- Back kangaroo pocket for stashing flasks, layers, and other essentials
- Zippered pocket plus two large storage pockets on back
- Shoulder pill pocket and safety whistle
- Reflective hits for 360-degree visibility
The storage capacity is 12 liters and weight with the bladder is only 15 ounces!
Once I got it and tried it on, I couldn’t wait to give it a spin. I took it for a few short runs and then I really put it through the paces when I wore it for the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, AK (my 50th state marathon).
The pack has a super tight fit, high on your back, with multiple adjustment points. This helps to prevent that “sloshing” feeling you get with most hydration packs. The bladder is also specially shaped to help with that. There are also four pockets on the front if you want to carry more water bottles or a lot of food.
The back has three different storage areas where you can stuff your hat, gloves and jacket (and some other items of need) mid run. There is also a zippered pocket on the front made specifically for your phone. I have an iPhone XR with a LifeProof case and it fits in this pocket perfectly. While Nathan claims that this pocket is waterproof, I found it to be more water resistant – meaning that my phone got a bit wet from my sweat after a few hours of running.
After the marathon was over, I realized that I had forgotten I had the vest on (which is a good thing). It had done everything I wanted it to and I had no ill effects from it (IE – chafing on the shoulders, pain in the upper back, etc…).
During the marathon, I did notice a few things that could be improved on the design of the vest, but these are minor.
- There is a magnet on the front that attaches to the bladder tube, keeping the tube in place. This is a great idea, but it would help to have two of those (one high and one low) to really keep it in place.
- I didn’t carry bottles in the large front pockets. Instead I carried a couple of cliff bars. Those seemed to inch up as the run progressed and I had to push them back in a few times. It would be nice if there was a way to close these (the two smaller pockets have a Velcro closure).
- I would also like to see a key clip in one of the back pockets.
- This vest is only available for men (BOO!). Nathan has released a sister vest called the VaperHowe which is designed for women.. We also did a review on the VaperAiress pack that is also specifically designed for women. You can find that review here.
The Nathan VaporKrar is not cheap ($200), but it is well worth the money. Because of the extensive testing done by Rob Krar, the durability of this vest is top of the line. The materials used in making it also make it feather light for a hydration vest. And, it can be used for more than just long runs – like climbing a fourteener.
If you are looking for ways to keep hydrated on long runs without having to constantly grab water from a gas station, carry a water bottle in your hand or even run in the remote wilderness that Colorado has to offer, this vest has you covered. It will also hold all of your other essential items in place with its storage capacity and pockets.