Ultimate Direction SJ Ultra Vest 3.0, Unisex Adult Running Backpack, Unisex adult, SJ Ultra Vest 3.0

This was recommended to me by a friend who does a lot of ultras. I am doing Race to the stones for which it will be ideal as I can fit enough gear in without being able to overload due to the capacity. If you are doing more unsupported events you may need more room to carry the extra food/ water etc. I am well pleased with this vest just the right size for me, im 5.10 & 80kg, medium was good fit. Lots of pockets for bits, plenty of adjustment to stop it moving about and looks well made. I've only tried it a couple of times so far but forgot I had it on, nice & comfortable . Definatly worth looking at.

This is my first running vest, I bought this as I'm preparing for my first ultra and wanted something with enough capacity to carry water without having to circle around my car for water during the long training runs. I chose this as I'm going to run in May in relatively hot weather and it seemed more breathable than other brands (my runner ups were Nathan and Salomon). First I ordered a size M but it was way too big - take note of the product pages on how to measure yourself before ordering! I'm 170cm and 68kg and size S is absolutely o.k.Before this I was using belts so it was a bit weird with the weight of the bottles in the front but I've got used to it after a few runs. It's great quality, the provided soft bottles are easy to drink from, I've had not leakage problems with them either. Note that you have to take them out of the vest to be able to do so as they're too low to drink from when they are in the vest (at least my neck is not long enough for this and I don't want to risk injury :)). This is a bit of a hassle, I'm not sure how much I'd want to fiddle with it after running 30-40k so I've ordered a separate hydration bladder pack I can put in the back (other brand as the UD ones had bad reviews, till to be tested).So far I've used the vest for up to 25k runs and it has functioned very well. The capacity is enough to carry whatever I needed - my typical gear has been 2xbottles (1've tested with a third in the back as well), a couple of fruit juices & my phone in the lower back pocket (this lower back pocket is easy to use without taking off the vest too), some electrolyte tabs which I put in the front pocket, car-key in the front and sometimes a jacket in the back. Enough storage place for everything. With the soft bottles in place, my phone (samsung s8) doesn't fit well in the front so I put in the back.I haven't had any chafing problems but somehow I feel the vest has a better fit when I have something in the back as well (e.g. my jacket there), so I look forward to testing it with hydration bladder. If there's nothing in the back I found that the soft bottles are better to carry if they are not completely full. Overall it's a great product, I recommend it.

This was a gift but the recipient was very pleased with it and has used it on many runs since.

This is a briliant piece of running kit. I've had other vests/backpacks, but this one tops them all! Ultra light and ultra functional.

Had UD vests before but i cant get along with this one. All the weight pulls on my neck and the straps rub really badly.

Fantastic running equipment to kero you hydrated on long and short hot runs

Pretty slick

Un bel trail tanta corsa altrettanta fatica accompagnati dalla ultra vest migliore che ci sia.. Confortevole traspirante e via per 50km.........

Bei Größe XL mit "breiter Brust" gibt es kein scheuern oder drücken...

Tres bon produit

身長164センチ53キロでsサイズを購入しました。ロードのランでもスマホや小銭やペットボトルなどなど、結構な荷物になるので、これは本当に便利！キッチリベルトをすることで揺れないし、安定感バツグンです。これから出場予定のフルなどでも活躍しそう。買って良かったです。

ベストタイプを初めて購入。身長175㎝　体重60㎏　ちょうどよいサイズでした。Iphone6s　は後ろに入ります。頻繁に写真を撮るのには不便ですが、たまにならOKですね。

使いやすいし格好いいのだけれど、色使いの本気度が高く、「ちょっと軽く山を走りに」という時に躊躇してしまいます。そんなこと気にならないくらいのエキスパートでも無いので。。。

How does a company handle a product when their product doesn’t perform the way it should? Thats generally the marker for buying a product from a good or subpar company.I bought this product with the intent to use it for a 50 mile run the first week of June. My first impressions were great. It was lightweight, comfortable, and a great price. I had the luck to try it first at a 30 mile run in early May. I’m so glad I did or I would have been in big trouble during my 50 miler. The lower strap broke within my first 10 miles. I had to tie it for the remaining 20.Here’s where this company has the chance to exceed expectations, but instead I was disappointed. I called customer service, let them know if the issue and they said I had to return the pack to have it repaired. It was going to take 4-6 weeks to get it back. I told them I needed the pack within 3 weeks in order to make it for the 50 mile race. I asked if they would just send me over a new one and I’d return the broken one. Unfortunately, they said they couldn’t do it.So, they had the chance to make and keep a loyal customer. Instead, they have a returned pack, a one-star review, and a dissatisfied former customer.

Just back from a 42 miler in the mountains and this was the perfect choice. Light. Airy. Lots of storage. Very comfortable.Wearing this for 8 straight hours, honestly didn't realize I was wearing it and that included being stuffed with calories, 70oz bladder, both body bottles and two jackets, my iPhone and sun block. For me personally, I would probably not take this on anything shorter than 12-13 and I wouldn't take it on longer runs if I had access to water - its really great for those secluded runs.They definitely run large, Im 6'3" and 200 and the medium was cinched pretty tight and still had room.The only change I would make...I would buy the 100oz bladder instead of the 70.Love it. Highly recommend it.

Earlier in the year I was training for a 50K, as the miles started going up, so did my needs for nutrition and hydration! I started with a Camelpak, but even after squeezing all of the air out, the sloshing drove me mad (I managed one long run with it!)That same day, one of my buddies was running with this vest, and loved it, so I took a chance and bought one. I too love it, it fits great and I don't even think about when I am wearing it.I am 6'2", and about 200lbs, I went with the Large, it fits great and it's very adjustable.Typically I have waffles in on of the front pockets, a bar or two in the other, and my iPhone 8 plus, in the back. I haven't really tried to fit it in one of the front pockets, as I keep my nutrition in them!The bottles are easy to drink from, however, they are the only downside to the vest, as they slip down into the pockets as you drink from them, not enough that I would know a star off overall, but something to note.

Great vest for medium distance runs. I'm 5'9" 140 lbs and the small fits me perfect with plenty of room to go bigger. I bought this to use with the 2 bladder bottles and not for a camel back style bladder, for that I use a mountain hardwear race vest. I took it out for 2 trial runs over the weekend. One 15 mile trail run in cold weather and one 15 mile road run in warmer weather. On the trail run I had plenty of room for the 2 bottles, gels, phone, rag, chapstick and space to throw my gloves and beanie when it got too warm, with plenty of room to spare. For the road run I carried the same with a few more gels and pepper spray in the front shoulder pocket. Its a great design that has all kinds of ways to adjust for it to fit every body type. I played around with the adjustments until I was satisfied and had very little bounce. This vest is a little warm, but not more so than any other vest. The bottles tend to fall down into their pockets once they get close to empty and the plastic rim can rub on your chest. The bladder bottles are a great idea,but may be hard to refill at an aid station if you're in a hurry. The pocket on the back is a nice touch. I put extra gels in there. It takes a little getting used to and you have to be careful that something won't fall out while your taking things out, but at least its usable space that doesn't require taking the vest off to get to like my other vest does. All in all I'm happy with it and would've given 5 stars if the bottles were a little more stable in the pockets.

The SJ 3.0 managed to get me through 45 miles of a supported solo run, and in hopes of being sufficient for a 100 mile race in the Colorado Rockies (Run Rabbit Run).PROS:- Plentiful space. I fit my gels and solid food, along with trekking poles and water bottles on the front. Then put extra food items and first aid kit in the back, with enough room for a jacket if necessary (on the bungies)- Water bottles easy to access. I loved the soft flask versions so that when I went to take a drink, I didn't have to pull the bottles out, just reach bend my neck down and push on the bottle.- Great space for the poles. I ran with the Black Diamond Ultralight Trekking poles and had no issues with chaffing on the arms, nor storing the poles and putting them back.- The back itself was unobtrusive to my body's movement, which is a plus (and no chaffing), and able to get it nice and snug.CONS:- As others have mentioned, the 70 oz. bladder (when full) does not stay attached to the velcro very well at all. It falls and moves around a little once you've let gravity do its thing. I did not take a star off because I actually didn't realize the bladder had fallen until I took the pack off to refill, and just had to reach down and pull it up.- Bottles can be irritating as they don't stay in the upright position very well all the time. It's mildly frustrating, but they do stay in position for the most part and not worth taking a star off.- The velcro pocket on the top right (or is it left?) shoulder strap is kind of pointless. The pocket is useful, but I'm not sure what is expected to be put in there. I folded my map there, so couldn't close the velcro.Overall, pretty stout pack and love how much storage there is, especially compared with how small it is and feels once on my back.

I purchased this vest because it is supposed to provide me water while I run. This is the second best I have purchased it is the best reviewed. The first one was so bad I abandon it on the trail because no water came out. Apparently no water comes out of this one either so I have no idea WTF these vests are for or how to get water on a trail. If anybody has any advice I would so very much appreciate it!

BLUF: Love this vest! Rides snug and smooth. Get a size smaller than you think.Only downside: Water bottles collapse down and must be adjusted as you empty them. (4 Stars ⭐️ for this) Newer models and other vest have fixed this problem.I took it out for a run a couple times before my first ultra marathon. I have one a lot of other backpacks and a lot of other vests. This vest hold tightly to the chest and there’s minimal bouncing up and down even with the water filled. I have worn the vest 15 times in the past 2 months on runs from 8-35 miles.I have worn a lot of other backpacks and a lot of other load bearing vests during my time in the military and while adventure racing. This vest hold tightly to the chest and there’s minimal bouncing up and down even with the water filter.PRO TIP: Squeeze all of the air out of the top of water bottles to reduce bounce completely.

I've used this for a 50k, 60k, and a 50 mile. it works really well. The 4 star rating is because it bounces a little bit. Haven't figured out how to make it perfectly snug. The back pack holds plenty. The zipper back pocket is big enough to hold an iPhone XS with a case. The bottles are good. Just don't grab the nipple to pull the bottle out. It will pop off and your drink will go everywhere. Just grab the bottle.

I use this pack on my long runs as some of our longer trails don't have drinking fountains of any kind. It carries enough water to get me through (I bought a 2L bladder to use with it, though generally only fill it to the 1.5 mark). The pouch in front is big enough to hold my GUs and I generally place my cell phone in the back pouch (Iphone 6s).The only issue I've had with it is that the velcro strap to hold the bladder gives out about half a mile into each run. Not the end of the world, the bladder just sits a little lower. Also the pack is a little large. I ordered a large, but probably would have been better served going with a medium.