I’ve been testing three models of Camelbak’s new running backpacks. Here are my thoughts.
Camelbak Women’s Zephyr Pro Vest 12l
Features include:
- Women’s specific fit.
- Fully removable, stowable trekking pole quiver
- ENGINEERED KNIT MESH: With body mapping technology. Specific pattern for women, based on which parts of the back are heated
- Secure phone pocket
- Dual adjustable chest straps
- Torso adjustment straps.
- 11 l of storage space (plus 2 500 ml water bottles)
- Zipped top main compartment
- Stretch overflow pockets
- reflective details
- safety whistle
- Tube Trap – A clip for a hydration tube should you choose to use a bladder
- 2 x Quick Storage Soft Flasks
- Price: £140
- See Camelback and Amazon (I earn a small commission on sales through Amazon. This helps keep this website running.)
Camelbak Women’s Zephyr Pro Vest 12l Pros and Cons
Advantages:
- Great fit for petite to medium runners.
- Easy to put on and take off thanks to the elastic mesh fabric.
- Plenty of adjustability in the chest and around the torso.
- Comfortable and light backpack with a nice ventilated mesh on the back and on the shoulder. chest straps
- The pole quiver is a great addition and works well (if the pack is full).
- The perfect amount of space for a summer run, where you need to pack light raincoats, a warm midlayer, water, food, map, phone and emergency bivi bag.
- Large, easy-to-use soft flask pockets at the front back, plus the pockets have elasticated clips at the top to prevent bottles from slipping out.
- Useful extra space for the hydration bladder plus a clip to stop tube movement.
- Useful zippered phone pocket on the front of the pack that is large enough for an iPhone Max size.
- Useful elastic pockets on the back of the backpack.
- Useful extra pockets on the front of the pack, including a small stretch pocket on the front of the pack for small things like snacks.
- Large, easy-to-use zipper pulls, even with gloves.
- Easy to use chest clips.
- Sold with two soft flasks.
Cons:
- It is not ideal for women with large chests because the front pockets are located on the upper part of the chest.
- The fit might not be enough for smaller women. I am a UK10 and small chested and it was close to the minimum fit of the chest strap.
- Lots of long loose straps if you are smaller.
- It’s not easy to pocket your phone when you have a full soft flask in the pocket behind you.
- If the package is not full, the quiver moves annoyingly.
- The back pockets are not as easy to access when using the pole quiver.
- The package cloth is a bit noisy.
- The chest straps can be a bit tricky to insert into the fabric loops when setting up the pack. (However, once in place, they stay in place.)
- The beads on the edge of the pack are quite large and this rubbed a bit on the top of the pack and under the arms on first use. It was a hot and sweaty day and I was wearing a vest. My advice is that the package should be used a little.
- The light color means that the backpack tends to get dirty.
Conclusion:
A really nice vest pack that’s easy to adjust and has all the features and details you’ll need for a race day, especially in the summer. I like that it is women’s specific, although it would also be nice to have a smaller size. It’s not a cheap pack, but it seems to be durable enough and the price is similar to many other brands.
Camelbak Women’s Trail Run Vest 7l
Features include:
- Women’s specific fit.
- 3D Mesh Ventilation – Designed to maximize airflow
- Secure phone pocket
- Dual adjustable chest straps
- Torso adjustment straps.
- Stretch overflow pockets
- 7l gear storage
- Trekking pole accessory
- reflective details
- safety whistle
- Tube Trap – Allows you to grab your hydration tube without having to unzip or unhook it
- Price: £90
- See Camelback either Amazon.
Pros and Cons of Camelbak Women’s Trail Run Vest 7l
Advantages:
- Light and easy to use.
- Great women’s specific fit.
- No chafing or sore parts of the package, even on first use.
- Nice set of zippered back pocket and open top pocket.
- Ideal backpack for a daily run or a shorter run where you only need to carry a few essential items.
- Hydration tube clip useful if you choose to use a water bladder.
- Two soft canteen pockets with adjustable elastic stops.
- The pole carrier is useful, though see the downsides below.
- Large, easy-to-use zipper pulls.
- Easy to use chest strap clips.
Cons:
- I could use a smaller pack size because I’m on the minimal end of the straps for adjustment.
- The pack may not suit larger chested women.
- Lots of long loose straps due to adjust to fit.
- It is not so easy to use the left soft flask pocket and the phone pocket at the same time.
- An extra elastic pocket in the back would be useful.
- The cane carry straps are fine, but I prefer the cane quiver setup. Because the pack is lightweight, the poles can be felt against the shoulder through the pack. However, this is similar to other packages.
- The light color will end up very dirty.
Conclusion:
A great vest pack for shorter runs. Fits well, easy to wear and use. There are a lot of nice features and details. The price is quite high although you can find it cheaper on websites such as Amazon.
