CamelBakApex Pro Run Endrance Racing Vest with RECCO Technology - Soft Flask Hydration and Trekking Pole Quiver - 4 Sizes, Large - Black

* edited to add I returned the item. I chaffed all on my back when using a large bladder. And not a little chafe but large amounts that were painful! Also, another Bungie cord broke! This costs way too much to have all these problems. I decided to return the item and hunt for another ultra running vest for self supported 30+ mile adventures.I need an ultra racing pack. I also needed a pack that I can use for self support 30 miler. I already have a nice racing pack for anything 50K and under and a 18L fast pack for wilderness Adentures. I saw Sally McRae mention this one on her page. She is a pro ultra runner. I wanted to like this pack but it doesn't really have a good 2L water bladder area with a nice secure pocket. It's mesh and you can hook a bladder in but it also really makes the pack tight so it's hard to put anything else in the front zipper pocket. And the straps in the front always loosen when running, I have to constantly pull it tighter on the upper and lower straps. The two bottles that come with this vest are awful. Hard to get water out. And it has a lock mechanism for some reason on an already bite rubber mouth piece? Seems pointless. This pack is nice, and I'm going to use it on my first 100K if I can rig the straps from slipping. For the cost of this pack, there shouldn't need to be rigging. It is worth purchasing for half the price as it was listed. It cost MORE than my 18L fast pack! So it should be better in design and not have kinks. I didn't use the quiver bag as my up coming race doesn't allow poles so I can't say if it is good. Overall, I like the pack but camelback needs to fix a few things on it. Also the Bungie cords are really cheaply attached one has already broken. Again, shouldn't be the case with a highly priced pack.

I never do reviews because I tend to have the opposite experience as most 1 star reviews however.. this time I should have trusted that this thing has bad ratings for a real reason. There is at least one other review on here that had the EXACT same thing happen as did with me. It got its first real use during a 50k race.The top chest strap snapped off within the first 10 mins of my run. I had to use a safety pin to hold it in place for the rest of the race. Plus the straps don’t stay tight. Over time I had to keep tightening down on them again. I gave up after a few hrs. The red bungee the Secure the flask in the pockets snapped immediately. I went to remover it to take the flask out and it just snapped. So I’m returning for a refund and going with Solomon Adv Skin 12

Like others here I wanted to like this vest as it ticks all the boxes, especially the mesh that is used. I often wear my vest without a shirt so the wider mesh against my skin is important. The first issue is the closure, it won’t stay put, I was having to retighten it about every 1/2 mile. The second issue is the bungie to secure the water bottle. About 3.5 miles into the first run my water bottle came out and I realized the bungie had broken where it was sewn in. This pack is like a home run where the batter forgot to touch a base. It could have been really good. The main materials are nice, the mesh against your skin is really comfortable but there are some serious issues. I’ll be reaching out to camelback about an updated version or something but I’ll probably be returning it and moving on as I don’t think I’ve gotten a one off defective one because so many reviews have similar issues.

The media could not be loaded. Ordered this endurance racing vest though the Amazon Camelbak store to use for 100 mile ultra marathon training.When unboxing the pack one of the chest straps broke and the caps on the 2 quick stow flasks fell off immediately and would not fasten back on the hydration system. Upon testing the pack further, both of the water bottles leaked, the zipped pockets were not water resistant, and the material of the pack frayed and came apart easily when attempting to adjust and zip the pack.I would advise not ordering this product!

I really wanted to like this pack. It has a few things that are positive, thus the 2 star rating. The Recco technology, the quick clasps across the chest and the quiver. But overall this pack is not as good as I wanted it to be. It is boxy and sits too far out on the shoulders making movement difficult. It bounces with the quiver on when running, the water bottles are the worst part, if not threaded exactly they leak (seriously the most frustrating part). Once water bottles are inserted, the front pockets are nearly useless since they do not have enough stretch in them to add even the smallest of items. The key fob holder gets in the way and pops out of the pocket every time I got in the pocket to try to get something out. Would not recommend this product

The media could not be loaded. Likes - Fits me, I’ve got a 42” chest so I struggled with some other vests.- It has zipped pockets where I need them.- I like the styling- comfortable, doesn’t really move around, especially if I keep the front straps tight. I’ll figure out a workaround to stop them loosening.Dislikes- Red cords aren’t secure enough. 1 of them wasn’t even attached on delivery, this was one of bottle restraints inside front pocket.2 more have since detached, this may be deal breaker, may have to return. Undecided currently whether to attempt to fix this as I like this vest otherwise.I read about quality issues with Salomon equivalent so bought this.Maybe there is no ideal solution as yet, maybe I just have to make best of it? Either way I’m letting Amazon and Camelbak know.