Zephyr Pro Vest

The CamelBak Zephyr Pro Vest is a 12 L trail running hydration vest built for ultras and long mountain days, with 11 L of storage, two 0.5 L Quick Stow soft flasks in the front pockets and a quiver that carries your trekking poles across your back until the climb. It fits chests from 86 to 110 cm and cinches down with dual sternum straps and four-point compression.

Who it's for

Runners heading into the long stuff: a long race day in the Blue Mountains, a hilly marathon in the Victorian high country, or a Saturday of big climbs in the Gold Coast hinterland with a full load of layers and food on board. The Zephyr Pro carries the jacket, food and phone that a race or a remote trail asks for, and keeps poles ready for the moment the gradient turns steep.

Capacity and fit

The vest holds 12 litres in total, 11 of them storage, spread across the back and front so the weight sits close. There is room for a rain shell, a warm layer, gels and bars for hours of running, and stretch overflow pockets take the extras you strip off as the day warms up. A secure pocket keeps your phone close to your body, and a safety whistle is built in.

Fit covers chests from 86 to 110 cm. Two adjustable sternum straps set the front, and two compression straps on each side pull the vest in against your ribs, so a full load and a half-empty one both sit still when you run. The back panel is engineered knit mesh, body mapped to let heat escape where your back runs hottest.

Carrying poles

The quiver stows flat when you do not need it and comes off completely when you do not want it. On a long climb, reach back, pull the poles out and keep moving; at the top, slide them back in without taking the vest off. Separate pole attachment points give you a second way to carry them.

Drinking and refilling

The two Quick Stow flasks sit in the front pockets, 0.5 L each for a litre on board, with a one-piece silicone bite valve you can drink from mid-stride. They are soft and collapse as you drink, so an empty flask stops bouncing. For long unsupported sections, a tube trap lets you add a reservoir and grab the hose without unbuckling anything.

Cleaning and mould

Rinse the flasks with warm water after every run and let them dry fully, open, before you pack them away. A flask that goes into a cupboard wet is where mould starts, and a quick rinse at the end of the run is all it takes to stop it.

Looking after it

Hand rinse the vest after a sweaty or salty run and hang it to dry in the shade. Reflective details on the vest help you be seen when a long day runs into the dusk, so keep them clean too.