We’ve been using Nathan Sports hydration packs for the last decade and recently had a chance to test out some of their new products. This is a review of the TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Race Pack which we think is one of the best women’s running vests on the market.
Specifications of the TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Multi-Adventure Vest
Sizes
First off, there are two sizes to this race vest. The One Size Fits Most (OSFM) vest fits 22″ – 46″ inch sternums (right below your chest). The Expanded Size fits 22″ – 61″ inch sternums. We tested the OSFM and it fit us great. Though each side of the vest has two sets of adjustable straps to make the vest bigger or smaller, we kept them at their original setting and simply adjusted the straps in front to make the vest snug to our chest.
Colors
Nathan’s TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Multi-Adventure Vest comes in two colors: Angel Blue/Tiger Lily and Sangria/Magenta Purple/Sky Blue. We like both of the colors but opted for the latter.
Weight
- Without Bladder: 7oz / 200 g
- Weight with Bladder: 11oz / 312 g
- Storage Capacity: 427 cu in / 7 Liters
This vest is super lightweight and comes in at only 7oz without the bladder and 11oz with the bladder. It’s lightweight design is part of what makes it a great vest for racing.
Why We Love the Nathan TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Multi-Adventure Vest
Multi-purpose
As the name suggests, the Nathan TrailMix 7 Liter vest is good for multi-adventures. Though we primarily tested it while running, we can see how it would also be good for day hikes and cycling.
Fit for a Woman
One of the main reasons we give this running hydration vest two thumbs up is because it fits great. It was specifically designed to fit a woman (hooray for a company that recognizes that you can’t just slap the color pink onto a product designed for a man and expect it to work for a woman!) This race vest is adjustable and tightens comfortably around our chests so that whatever we’re carrying in the vest doesn’t bounce nor interfere with our run.
Storage
In addition to the fit, we love the storage options on this vest. They make sense to us. There are three on the front (two larger pockets that rest on each shoulder and chest and a smaller one on the right hand side.) We typically carry our Pixel phones in one of these pockets so we can snap a photo when we see something cool on our run. We also, on longer runs, carry a gel or a few sport beans to snack on.
On the back of the vest are two zippered pockets which are great for carrying your car keys, ID or wallet. One of the pockets is dedicated to the bladder but if you don’t fill it up, there is still room to carry other stuff in it. You can easily stuff a shell in there if it seems like you may encounter unpredictable weather.
Thoughtful Design
The Nathan TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Race Vest is one of the best women’s running vests on the market due to it’s design. There’s a daisy chain on the vest that allows you to hang a light from it when you go running in the dark. We also really love the bladder hose sternum attachment which keeps the piece that you drink from, in place. It really helps keep the hose from moving around during the run. It’s there when you want to take a sip. This might not seem like a big deal until you’re late into a run or race and you’re tired and don’t want to fidget with the hose to get a drink. Lastly, we love that you can wear this vest with just a sports bra and not have to worry about chafing thanks to the soft touch binding on this vest.
Reflectivity
Last but not least we picked this vest as one of the best women’s running vests on the market because of it’s nod to safety. It’s got reflective areas on several surfaces and gives you 360 degrees of visibility. We can’t stress the importance of being able to be seen by motorists and other runners when running in the dark. These reflective strips can give you peace of mind and as well as increased safety when running in low-light situations.
Where to Buy this Vest
You can purchase this vest on REI.com or on Amazon.
Review of the TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Multi-Adventure Vest Recap
This versatile vest by Nathan is good for both training runs and racing. The is one of the best lightweight women’s vests on the market. It’s also got reflectivity, fits great, allows you to easily carry water and is designed specifically for a woman’s body. If you are in the market for a new race vest, we recommend the TrailMix 7 Liter Women’s Race Pack by Nathan.
Like this? Be sure to check out some of our other women’s running gear recommendations.
The Nathan VaporHowe 4Liter 2.0 Women’s Ultralight Race Vest
Hoka One One Clifton 6 Running Shoes
Hoka One One Challenger ATR 5 Trail Running Shoes
