Nathan Women's Pinnacle Hydration Vest Review

The Nathan Women’s Pinnacle Hydration Vest offers a supportive, customised fit and plenty of storage capacity on race days and longer trail runs. Now 20% lighter and more breathable, the pack features a newly redesigned shape that extends slightly longer down the back to evenly distribute weight for a balanced feel and a comfortable ride. Constructed with a body-mapped fit, the soft pack moves with a woman's body, allowing for maximum range of motion for unhindered performance, while dual sternum straps adjust for personalization. With 360¡ reflective details and an emergency whistle inside the left shoulder pocket, safety is also a key feature in the Women's Pinnacle Hydration Vest.

This pack comes in 4 or 12 liters of storage capacity for extra clothes and gear and includes two soft flasks with straws or a 1.6 L insulated bladder with an hourglass shape for hydration. There are two new kangaroo pockets: one on the side for easy access and another for convenient storage of trekking poles or other large items. Additionally, two water-resistant chest pockets provide secure storage for a phone or salt capsules. And with multiple exterior pockets around the vest, there is ample room for a day's supply of gels, capsules, accessories, and extra bottles.

Kaitlin: "The Nathan Pinnacle pack provided a comfortable and supportive wrap around my body, however, the material did not feel as breathable as other packs I've worn."

Liz: "The pack fit well and comfortably hugged my body with no bouncing while I ran. While the fit is women’s specific, I felt like the front of the pack was cut straight instead of tapered, so it didn’t feel quite as secure at the bottom, below my chest. Those with larger or smaller cup sizes may appreciate the straighter cut, but I found that it caused a bit of gaping below my C-cup chest. I prefer the tapered cut of the women’s Salomon vests for my body type. Overall, the material was soft and stretchy, which kept the pack from feeling restrictive, and it was comfortable and secure enough for longer adventures."

Liz: "The Nathan Pinnacle pack has ALL the pockets you need, and those who want to organize their gear are going to love this aspect. The front of the vest has two large zippered pockets that comfortably and securely held my phone, and additional stash pockets on the front for easy storage of nutrition and other essentials. The three drop-in rear pockets accommodate a large amount of gear, and two of them have easy access from the bottom, which made it convenient to stash a jacket while on the run. I do have mixed feelings about the bottom access pockets. While a jacket would be secure, the velcro opening would easily allow smaller or heavier items to fall out. Thankfully, there is a secure zipper pocket in the rear as well."

Kaitlin: "The two front zipper pockets were great, but I would have liked more secure storage options. There are velcro pockets both on the front and back of the vest, but I prefer having tighter mesh pockets or more secure zipper ones."

Kaitlin: "For the 4L vest, the larger opening of the flasks made it easier for filling and cleaning, and it did not have a plasticky taste. The bottles I received had some issues with leaking or getting a tight seal, and the shank in the bottle did not make it easier to get into the pack. I did like the straw flasks in the Pinnacle more than in other vests because of the straws' tips, which conveniently fit into a little holster while I was running."

Liz: "With the 12L vest, the bladder was easy to fill and clean, and the quality was very good. There was no weird taste, and I never had to worry about leaking. I especially loved the insulated reservoir that kept my water from getting too hot when sitting against my back. The hose did have to be trimmed down, but the magnetic holder on the chest strap held it in place while running. My one complaint was that the reservoir didn’t have a baffle in the center. Even though this makes it easier to clean and dry, I did feel a bit of sloshing around when the reservoir was full."

Liz: "This vest displays very high quality in both craftsmanship and materials. I feel that it will last a long time, and the fabric offers the perfect amount of stretch, support, and resilience that allows this pack to compare to the other top-of-the-line packs on the market."

Kaitlin: "I do have some concerns about the velcro closure for the back storage in terms of its longevity. Additionally, this pack does get saturated with sweat, so I imagine it would need to be washed, which might cause durability issues unless properly cared for."

Liz: "While I think this pack is still a good investment for those looking for specific features and longer-lasting durability, the high price point of the Pinnacle vest is a downside for me. I feel that you could get the same quality of product with something like the Salomon Advanced Skin pack, but at a much lower cost. For those who prefer a larger hydration bladder, it may still be worth the extra money."

Kaitlin: "I don't think the features or material of this pack were comparable to other hydration vests at the same price point. The material was not very breathable and there was not enough secure storage for me to justify the higher price point."