I have been testing the new Rab Veil 12l running vest pack. I also lent it to a friend, also called Fiona, with a larger bosom to see how she fared with the pack, too.
Features of Rab Veil 12l running vest pack
- Mono Mesh Chassis
- Sternum-fit system
- Large rear compartment with U-shaped zipped opening
- Variety of other pockets
- 2 x 500ml soft flask front pockets and flasks (included)
- Bungee storage
Harness pockets
Water bladder compatible - Front and rear Z-pole holders
- Built-in emergency whistle
- Fluorocarbon (PFAS) free fabric
- Price: £145 from Rab and £130 on Amazon.
My thoughts: Rab Veil 12l running vest pack
Rab state that the Mono Mesh Chassis has been designed to “support, reduce bounce and contour to your body, giving you complete freedom of movement over bumpy terrain”.
It is definitely a comfortable pack to wear, although it’s a unisex design, which means that as a slim female with a small chest, the sternum system needs to be reduced to almost the minimum to give a neat fit. I’d really like to see a female-specific fit vest pack.
Meanwhile, my friend Fiona has a larger chest and she found the pack fits well.
The sternum system is formed of elastic cords and clips that fit over hoops. The clips stay securely in place but they are a bit of a hassle to clip on and off the small hoops, especially if you are long-sighted (so many older people are long sighted!). I prefer clip fasteners because you can use these without looking at what you are doing.
The two front harness pockets hold long soft flasks that take 500ml of water. This is great volume of water for hydration but women with a larger chest might find the bottles, on top of their chest, are a bit cumbersome. There is not easy solution to this but other packs have smaller bottles, which creates less bulge at the front.
The Rab bottles are some 28cm long, which is at the larger end of any soft flask bottles I’ve ever had. They can;t be used in any other pack that I own. More water is good, but the bulks of the two long bottles is a lot at the front of a pack on top of bosoms.
An alternative is to use a hydration bladder in the rear of the pack.
Also, if you have two full soft flasks in the front pockets, it’s not easy to properly utilise the front zipped pocket. This is where I want to stash my phone and that means I can only really make use of one soft flask on the other side of the pack.
A useful alternative would be a zipped pocket under the arm.
General storage is quite good and 12 litres is a volume that I would class as for “basic summer kit”. I can fit in a small lightweight insulated jacket, a lightweight waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, emergency bivvy bag and food and water. This is a tight squeeze and I would prefer a few extra litres of space.
There are some useful stretchy pockets at the side and under the arm pits. However, it would be good to have a larger stretch pocket at the rear. Then bungee rear system is less useful, in my opinion, than a large stuff pocket.
The u-shaped top zip is great for access but it is a bit too large. When you open it, the kit at the top of the pack has a tendency to fall out. It’s really useful to have both a front and rear securing system for carrying poles. The best poles are those that fold into three, rather than two parts, such as Komperdell Carbon FXP Trail Running Poles.
The main part of the pack is a light grey fabric, so I imagine it will get dirty quite quickly.
Rab also states that the mesh of the pack is “form-fitting and highly breathable”, adding “it is 50% lighter and retains 70% less water than alternative spacer mesh constructions, keeping moisture to a minimum”.
It’s difficult to prove the latter statement because you can’t test another pack in exactly the same conditions. I found the back to be easy to wear and I didn’t sweat too much so that is a big positive. It feels quite hardwearing as well.
The pack is a good option for summer running and fast-packing. If you are female around a UK12 to UK14, or a UK10 with a larger chest, or a small man it will give a good fit. For smaller framed women with a small chest, the pack is likely to prove too large. There is a medium sized pack for larger people.
The price tag is quite high but not unusual for running vest packs. Other brands sell packs at similar prices. I like Rab as a brand and I trust that the kit will be long lasting.
Fiona told me she really liked wearing the pack and found it comfortable and very useable. She liked all the different pockets, places for water and for carrying poles.