Home » Gear Reviews » Running » Running Hydration Packs » Salomon S/LAB Sense Ultra 5 Set
Salomon S/LAB Sense Ultra 5 Set Review
December 23, 2017The Good
- Comfortable to wear
- Lots of places to store stuff
- Two flasks are ideally positioned
- Very lightweight
The Bad
- Doesn’t fit well over layers
- May not fit all body types
- Hard to get bladders into sleeve
- No hydration bladder included
Stability
The secret to class leading stability, even hopping around in a boulder field, is all in the super stretchy soft shell exterior of the Sense Ultra. Rather than filling a gap created in the vest, the pockets are just slits that expand the fabric. The snug material provides the stability, holding anything stashed inside in place. Add two chest straps – again with lots of stretch – and nothing ever moved.
Hydration
The Salomon Sense Ultra comes with two soft flasks that ride in dedicated pockets on the shoulder straps. They’re at just the right height for drinking out of without using your hands. There’s a sleeve in the back that is hydration-bladder ready (up to 2 liters would fit) but one is not included. The pack can carry a 2-liter bladder and two 500 ml flasks up front for a total of 3 liters, or 102 ounces.
Storage
While the Sense Ultra can’t brag about a lot of volume it can claim to be expertly laid out. Salomon set out to make this a piece of clothing, not a pack, as such every pocket is accessible without having to take the vest off. We’d need more shoulder flexibility to really be able to pull the hydration bladder out, but could easily get into every other sleeve and pocket.
Multisport
You could wear the Sense Ultra mountain biking or hiking, but it would feel out of place and wouldn’t work that well. This is a purpose-built tool made for long runs.
Comfort
It’s worn like a piece of clothing and it feels like a piece of clothing. The mesh fabric on the inside of the vest is soft, wicking and fast drying for good comfort in a range of conditions. Even without a shirt on this vest never chafed or scratched.
Ryan Stuart
- Hiking, Biking & RunningRyan Stuart is freelance writer and jack of all sports—trail running, mountain biking, whitewater paddling, surfing, climbing, skiing and mountaineering—based on Vancouver Island. Follow his testing on Google+.
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