Distance 8 Backpack

Rugged vest

I was pleasantly surprised with the materials and construction of this vest. I’ve been able to carry small loads without meaningful bounce, and the internal sleeve/pocket serve to provide great organization and stability. The flask pockets have a second elastic tensioned band that serve as a pretty decent alternative to a loop that would secure the top of the flask to keep it from sliding down. My main/only gripe so far is that the pocket layout on the front, for some reason, doesn’t seem to have any single spot that is large enough to easily fit my (average sized) phone. I put it in the zippered pocket for quick access, but the corners are bulging out and it barely fits. Otherwise, the layout is totally fine for gels/bars, etc. I’m excited for summer so I can get this vest out for some longer, more gear-intensive efforts. This includes using the pole sleeves, which I am expecting to be a nice convenience. One note about sizing: I think it runs slightly large. I am 5’10” and ~145 lb and the small fits pretty well. With the vest mostly empty, it feels borderline (almost) too big. If I had it more fully packed, that might change, but I feel like I normally don’t have that same thought in a small.