The North Face Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 Overview

By mid-June, it dawned on me prefer it does yearly — summer time is hotter than ever. As sweat poured down my face and I caught my breath on the prime of a dusty path climb, I used to be grateful to have two comfortable flask water bottles alongside for the run. I can’t get away with skimping on water like I can within the spring and fall on the roasting trails round Eagle, Colo., throughout the summer time.

Nothing plummets my will to go working like a scorching scorching day. I’ve been rigorously deciding on my path working equipment this season to enterprise deeper and longer on the more and more frequent 90-degree days. The North Face’s Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 has been a near-constant companion primarily as a result of it’s so mild and ethereal. That’s nice as a result of these scorchers are precisely once I want further water to go the additional miles. 

I’ve put some wholesome mileage into the as soon as pearly white vest and included comfortable flasks. Regardless of one oddity within the match division, we’ve gotten alongside effectively on brief, medium, and lengthy path runs alike.

Briefly: The North Face’s new Path Run Vest 5 is a minimalist path working vest constructed to fulfill the calls for of elite ultramarathon path races. The vest is constructed on an ethereal mesh chassis with various ranges of stretch in strategic places. Two included comfortable flasks in devoted pockets trip securely on the shoulders. Underarm pockets present simply sufficient house for snacks and packable layers. Regardless of an annoyingly excessive neckline, the Run Vest 5 packs in simply sufficient versatility and storage for longer runs, however retains its breezy character on the forefront. 

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Summit Sequence Path Run Vest 5 Overview

Path working vests have exploded in recognition for good purpose. Slightly further water goes a great distance for runners on the street and within the mountains. The North Face’s Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 is hardly its first crack at it, however it’s certainly essentially the most refined. 

This 5L-capacity vest is designed for top-level path working athletes. Nevertheless, I’ve discovered that these design traits translate effectively for on a regular basis runners and racers alike. It’s TNF’s most minimalist vest, accompanied within the Summit Sequence line by the Path Run 10.

Construct

The Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 is exceptionally mild. It’s a mere 169g on my kitchen scale with out flasks. That’s no shock once you have a look at the vest’s chassis, which is a mosaic of panels of various stretch materials. The again panel is a sturdy 86% nylon, 14% elastane warp knit mesh that gives simply the slightest quantity of give.

Transferring from prime to backside, the over-the-shoulder panels look almost equivalent to the again. Nevertheless, they’re really a lot stretchier. Apparently, the hem alongside every edge is kind of static. So functionally, they don’t bounce or stretch vertically, however moderately horizontally or diagonally. I assume it’s designed to help the burden of the water flasks whereas permitting for some give throughout a working movement.

The vest straps reattach to the vest panel underneath the armpit with notably stretchy mesh panels. These, once more, are supported by static strips alongside the margins. This strategic stretchy structure not solely minimizes bounce but in addition provides a custom-feeling match.

Match 

The Massive Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 suits naturally on my 6’1”, 195-pound body. The vest drapes properly, and either side are far sufficient aside up entrance to supply vital adjustability. I felt that I might transfer, crouch, and stretch with out the vest limiting me. I had more room between my collar bones and the vest than I anticipated, however that didn’t find yourself being a problem on the transfer. The vest is available in unisex XS to XL sizes.

Adjustability is dealt with up entrance by two self-equalizing inexperienced elastic cords that hook to loop ladders on the within of every vest panel. It creates a zigzagging elastic wire down the entrance of the vest that pulls pressure inward. Every of the elastic cords might be adjusted with stealthy toggles which might be hidden contained in the stash pockets on the aspect of the vest.

It was very straightforward to regulate the strain on the transfer. I didn’t have any points with them loosening over time, which is all the time a priority with this sort of system. The vest acquired tight sufficient and stayed tight on a couple of rowdy mountain bike rides, too.

I like that the elastic cords are girth hitched to the loop ladder moderately than sewn. Meaning you possibly can change the elastic cords of this vest in minutes with none specialised tools or expertise. You may additionally change the wire with a heavier-duty model for an much more safe match.

Pocket Format

Flask Pockets

Essentially the most crucial pockets in any working vest are the comfortable flask pockets. The Summit Sequence Run Vest 5, like most different working vests, has two of them, and the 500mL Hydrapak comfortable flasks are fortunately included.

I appreciated that the pockets completely swallow the comfortable flasks. They stick out the highest simply sufficient to drink from, however not sufficient to flop round. For additional safety, elastic bands stretching throughout the within of every pocket wrap across the nozzle of every bottle to lock them in. It’s nearly not possible for them to bounce out of there.

Final, zippers on the edges of every flask pocket zip down about 3 inches, revealing an increasing gusset that makes it simpler to slide the flasks out and in. 

Pockets for Snacks and Keys

Moreover the 2 comfortable flask pockets, there’s one zippered snacks and keys pocket on the wearer’s left flask. There are additionally 4 stretchy underarm snack pockets that develop to carry extra bars and gels than I might probably want on a run. 

The again panel has three large pockets. One is a reservoir pocket with an anchor level on the prime that opens the total size of the again panel. One other is a stretchy pocket panel on the highest half of the again. Lastly, there’s a horizontal pass-through pocket alongside the underside of the again panel designed for storing trekking poles. 

I had no downside stuffing the pockets with snacks. They felt safe sufficient, even throughout one shock tumble into the bushes. I used to be additionally ready so as to add extra gear for longer backcountry runs. I caught my Garmin inReach Mini, a packable rain jacket, a water filter, and light-weight pants in there.

The vest held all of it seemingly securely, although my iPhone and inReach needed to compete for a trip within the one safe zippered pocket (my cellphone gained out). I wouldn’t complain about having yet another zippered pocket someplace.

Trekking Pole Pocket

I don’t usually run with poles, however I examined the pole sleeve anyway. Whereas it carries collapsible poles out of the way in which, it’s not absolutely the best system to make use of whereas sporting the vest.

It may be a slight problem to slip the poles in with out them snagging on the mesh. However as soon as they’re in, they’re moderately safe. 

Simple to Overload

Carrying heavier hundreds deep into the backcountry isn’t the Summit Sequence Run Vest 5’s area of interest. It lacks the construction and pockets to help that weight in comparison with one thing beefier like CamelBak’s Apex Professional Run vest or Black Diamond’s Distance 8. It’s extra of a lightweight and quick specialist.

Working Movement

I put a ton of miles into the Summit Sequence Run Vest 5, simply ready for some chafe. However actually, we meshed fairly effectively. The vest is so dang mild and breezy. That’s what tickled my curiosity within the first place, on condition that a number of of my path runs have pushed previous 95 levels these days.

The Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 carried out very effectively on the paths. If it hadn’t been for a creeping neckline (extra on that subsequent), I might have forgotten that I used to be sporting it.

The entire thing felt prefer it was elastically suctioned to my higher physique (in a great way). It moved with my working movement. I didn’t must time the pack’s bounce with my stride like I’ve needed to do with poorer becoming vests previously. I can infer that very quick runners would additionally benefit from the bounce-free agility. 

It’s a low bar to clear, however I used to be additionally in a position to entry my snacks, water, and additional gear stashed within the entrance pockets with out slowing my tempo. It was additionally straightforward to tighten the elastic zigzagging cords with out slowing down. 

The North Face’s New Path Run Vest 5: The Rub

Working vests, by their very nature, face a giant impediment — they should carry weight, disperse it throughout your physique, and never chafe your pores and skin after many lengthy, sweaty, bouncy miles. The Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 was strong general. This vest was comfy and match my physique properly. 

However I had one concern within the match/rub division. The again panel crept up excessive on my neck until I used to be carrying loads of weight within the pack. For my day-to-day runs underneath about 10 miles, I acquired used to it. However it acquired annoying quick on longer, hotter runs.

At occasions, it crept as much as what felt like the center of my neck. And whereas the hem was comfortable and pleasant on the pores and skin, any sweaty cloth rubbing on the pores and skin goes to trigger issues over time. 

Match is, after all, subjective. My again and neck are usually not like your again and neck. And my higher physique is slightly bit meatier than a typical path working athlete’s. So I can’t say for certain who will face this match concern apart from me.

May my poor posture be a offender? My mother would in all probability say so. Nonetheless, if I have been to make an adjustment to this vest, it will be a deeper cutout across the again of the neck to maintain the hem beneath my T-shirt’s neck gap. 

Comparability

Over the previous few seasons, the Rab Veil 6L has been my favourite working vest. It’s a stellar vest that’s slightly bit sturdier in nearly each means than the Summit Sequence Run Vest 5. It additionally packs in additional pockets (not that I ever felt that I wanted extra) and makes use of a singular mono mesh chassis instead of mesh.

Each vests cinch right down to your physique with elastic equalizing connection programs that create a superb comfortable really feel. They each lower the bounce to a minimal. The key variations? The Summit Sequence Run Vest 5 is slightly bit breezier on scorching days, and the Rab Veil 6L could be my selection for carrying extra gear into the backcountry. It suits my physique barely higher, too.

The North Face Summit Sequence Run Vest 5: Conclusion

The North Face’s new Path Run Vest 5 is about as breezy as path working vests get. This vest is a superb choice for runners preferring simplicity and minimalism over every thing else. It has the options for path working and racing — comfortable flask pockets, plenty of snack pockets, and a trekking pole sleeve — and never rather more. 

The match will not be as dialed on my body as a couple of different vests I’ve tried, primarily resulting from a creeping neckline that’s downright annoying. However I’m unsure that may impression each runner on the market. 

Greater than something, I’ve loved its breathability on actually scorching days. The place I’d normally skip on a vest for path runs underneath about 6 miles, I’ve discovered myself throwing it on simply in case for shorter jaunts within the blazing solar. Slightly further water by no means hurts, and there’s barely a tradeoff. 

Whereas the Summit Sequence Path Run Vest 5 was designed for the UTMB and different extremely races prefer it, it also needs to meet the wants of most different path runners. It’s mild, breezy, and easy, with room for tons of snacks, a lightweight jacket, and extra.