Gear: Patagonia Slope Runner Endurance Vest

Full disclosure: I’m a big fan of Patagonia and have been for decades. I’ll likely be writing more about that later, but suffice it to say I have a lot of their clothing and gear because I believe in the company and they build things to last.

I got back into running in July 2020 after taking a few months off. The global pandemic hit the United States and we decided to move in late May. I set a goal to run 100 miles a month and have done so every month since. In 2021, I’ve upped the goal to 120 miles and, so far, I’m on track to continue meeting those milestones.

Staying hydrated is important and so is having quick access to emergency gear (in addition to keys, phone, wallet, etc.). So, where to put all this stuff you ask? I’ve tried hand-held water bottles designed specifically for hiking and running, but in the summer months I go through liquids quickly and find myself out of water with several miles to go. I’d been looking at hydration vests for several months (because I tend to research things to death before buying anything), reading reviews, watching YouTube videos, and so on. At the end of January, I finally decided to give the Patagonia Slope Runner Endurance Vest a try. Here are my initial thoughts after running in the vest for the last three weeks.

Fit. I have to say I was worried from the get-go about fit. Listen, I’m a big guy. I’m 6’4” and just under 220 pounds, so when I saw that the largest size they offered was a large (42” - 48” chest), I was skeptical to say the least. But much to my surprise, it fits very well. It took some getting use to as it’s designed to fit like a garment and to be worn close to the body. I’ve worn it with a minimum of two layers so far this winter, so I’ll be interested to see how (or if) the fit changes in warmer weather with fewer layers.

Storage. I like to keep things simple when I’m running, so I don’t want to have to worry about accessibility and whether or not I’ll have room for what I need to carry with me. I’ve yet to experience a situation with this vest where I wish it had more storage. I’m sure that as I continue to work on longer runs, I’ll consider something a bit larger, but this fits my current needs perfectly. The vest comes with two 500ml/17oz HydraPak Ultraflasks, which fit in two mesh pockets (on the front) and a pocket in the back large enough for a 1.5 liter bladder. There are two additional mesh pockets in the front that will accommodate gels, snacks, a phone (my iPhone 11 Pro Max in an Otterbox case). The rear zipper pocket is roomy enough for essentials like an emergency space blanket, wipes, ID, headlamp, keys, etc. Lastly, the large, open mesh pocket is accessible from either side and easily handles a shell, extra layer, or other items. A few days after I got my vest, I took it on a 20-mile run and it worked just like I needed it to.

Price. Compared to other vest of similar quality, this seems like a good deal at $149. With that said, it isn’t cheap. That’s the cost of a good pair of running shoes. But if you need storage and hydration for longer runs or hikes, this is a solid buy. And if this lasts anywhere as long as most of the other Patagonia products I have, it’ll be around for a long, long time. I consider this a solid investment and highly recommend it.

Feel free to share your comments and feedback below. Thanks for reading!