The Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 confirms my love-hate relationship with Salomon products. I’ve used a number of Salomon products including the Salomon SpeedCross 3 shoes, the Salomon S-Lab Speed shoes, Salomon socks (worst socks I’ve ever hiked/run in) and a Salomon Agile 12 bag which was terrible for running. I bought the The Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 at GoneRunning.com, and wish I had bought it sooner. For shorter hikes/runs I’ve been using the CamelBack Dart which carries 1 1/2 litres of water and has a couple of pockets for your phone and wallet and that’s been ok, nothing to write home about but it did the trick. After using the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017, I’ll never use the Camelback again even on shorter runs, the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 is extremely comfortable and the materials seem to move with your body. Even packed up with a 2L Hydration pack and with both of the 2 x 500ml soft flasks fill, you can run in this pack, or rather vest, with comfort. Well as much comfort as possible with that amount of water on you.
The Salomon Agile 12 pack I used to use for longer hikes/runs (4-5 hours) has now been put in the bad boys corner in the back of my car with some spare clothes and togs. What stopped me from buying the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 was some less than acceptable performance issues with other Salomon products and the fact that most of Salomon products come with a high price tag. With the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017, this is worth every cent and I’m using it pretty much for every run/hike regardless of distance or time. I feel a bit of a dork wearing it for a 1 1/2 hr run/hike but when it’s 30 degrees and 90% humidity with no wind, I drink a lot of water, at least a litre in that short time. It’s a bit of overkill wearing it but it’s so damn comfortable I don’t think I could go back to the Camelbak for shorter runs. Actually I did, and it felt like driving a 1982 Honda Civiv after driving a Ferrari. I mean, the Camelbak was fine for over a year, I didn’t know any better, until I wore the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017, and then you realise what you’ve been missing.
You can find all the specs and basic info on the salomon website, as usual, I just tell you about my experience with it and how it actually performs in real life. One negative is that I reckon it’s actually better suited for just a couple of the 500ml soft flasks in the front. You look like a bit of a perv bending your neck down to suck out of the top, but it’s actually surprisingly easy and you can get all the water/liquid from them without having to take them out of their pockets. Speaking of which, there’s loads of pockets to stick phones, wallets, keys, jackets and anything else you like to take with you.
But back to the negative, I bought a 2L Soft Reservoir, (which is also much better than the Camelback as it doesn’t have that yuk plastic taste you have to get rid of like the Camelbak), that doesn’t fit in the insulated sleeve that’s supplied with the pack. No big deal, but when you’re half way through the 2L reservoir, the water really starts to move around. perhaps that’s true of any reservoir but I must say I did notice it more than the Camelbak. You can stick the water pipe thing under and out the bottom and up, or up and over your shoulder, but if it’s up and over the shoulder, there doesn’t seem to be a place you can stick the nosel that allows for quick and easier access without it flapping all over the place. Apart from those issues, the Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 lives up to all expectations and probably the most important factor of any running pack (comfort), is where it excels and delivers big time.
The Salomon Adv Skin 12 Set 2017 comes in different sizes so you can be sure you get the right fit. It’s got just the right amount of pockets, most of which are accessible without having to take the pack off, is made from light weight, stretchy materials and after using it, makes me wish I hadn’t bought it years ago.
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