Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest

Review by Erin Trail

Initial Impressions

The Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest is a lightweight running pack that has a lot of options for storage while remaining comfortable and flexible.

Detailed Review

I am the type of runner who always runs with a running pack, no matter the distance, mostly so I can bring things (inhaler, phone, snacks, water) with me.  I’ve been a loyal wearer of another brand of pack for TEN YEARS but was curious about the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest due to its versatility and volume.

Features

The Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest has so many options for versatility that it really needs a better instruction manual or video to explain what all the odds and ends are for. This vest has an advertised carrying capacity of 5 liters, which includes both hydration and soft goods, consisting of:

• Front right and left pockets that fit a 500 ml soft flask (in each pocket)
• Front left zipper pocket
• Rear inner pocket with a secure clasp for a hydration bladder (I tested a 2 liter capacity bladder)
• Rear outer pocket for stashing layers or tools
• Right and left lower pocket (opens to the front and extends around the lower back) with plenty of room for a phone, snacks, and an inhaler

There are also a lot of strap options on the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest:

• Straps that loop around the tops of the soft flasks, to hold them in place
• Front straps for storing trekking poles
• Rear straps for storing trekking poles or stashing a jacket

These straps, with some work, are removable from the pack. Each strap unclips and also unties from the pack.

And then there are a few more features to the pack:

• Whistle (hidden in the upper left front strap)
• Lanyard (hidden in the upper right front strap)

There are also several small loops with reflective strips on the pack, presumably either to help hold the pack or just for visibility.

The pack fits as a vest (available in sizes XS through XL) and is secured into place with a zig-zag pattern stretch cord across the chest, anchoring to the chest straps.  The attachment points for the cord slide vertically along the chest strap, allowing the wearer to customize where the straps cross their chest.  The stretch cord can also be made smaller by pulling on the cord to the preferred tightness and using the button cord lock to hold the position.

Performance

Testing conditions:

• Many 60-90 minute runs (road and trail)
• Temperatures ranging from 35 degrees (long sleeve + vest) to 70 degrees (tank top)
• One 2.5 hour cross country mountain bike ride

Front Hydration

Getting the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest on your body and fitted is a very simple process.  The pack goes on like a backpack and adjusting the tightness is done simply through the front stretch cord and button cord lock.  The 500 ml soft flasks are easiest to insert into the pockets when they are completely full.  Empty or slightly empty flasks are wobbly and are a bit harder to insert than when they are full.  Once the soft flask is inserted into the pocket, you hold the flask in place with a stretch cord loop that goes around the circumference of the flask cap, and you’re good to go.

I do really appreciate all of the pockets on this vest.  The front pockets are all easy to access while wearing, and since the pocket material is stretchy but tight against the body, there is no bouncing or shuffling once things are inside the pocket. The pockets are generously sized enough to hold a cell phone, inhaler, and several chews/gels with both 500 ml soft flasks filled. Since the vest is stretch and fits tightly against the body, none of the items protruded out and rubbed up against my arms as I ran.

Running with two full 500 ml front pockets takes some getting used to. I did have to cinch the front stretch cord down a lot to get a secure, non-bouncy fit. When the flasks are completely full, the liquid inside does create a slight bouncing sensation that takes some getting used to (my other hydration pack stores everything on my back).   Drinking while running takes a bit of practice, as you have to grab the soft flask (while still in the pocket) and guide it up to your mouth to drink.  It’s not hard to do, but it does feel a bit awkward, especially as you’re running. I do like that the front pockets makes my hydration VERY accessible.  And with two soft flasks, you can have different drink mixes in each flask and you can very easily tell how much liquid you’ve drank.  Replacing the soft flask is simple (even while wearing the vest): you can unscrew the lid and refill or just swap out to a completely new soft flask.

On a few occasions, I overdressed for my run and needed to stash a layer in the pack.  The rear pockets are very roomy and I had no problem storing a cold weather vest securely in the back pocket.

Rear Hydration

I am getting ready for a really hard off road triathlon race and wanted to try the  Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest for mountain biking.  This pack is appealing because it is very lightweight compared to MTB-specific hydration packs and offers both a snug but flexible fit and storage. The pack easily fits a 2 L bladder and some bike tools + snacks for race conditions.

I filled up a 2 L bladder that I already owned and placed inside the inner back pocket on the vest, securing it in place with the provided clip.  My tools (a small pouch of misc tools and a hand pump) fit into the outer back pocket.  Both back pockets remain open at the top (i.e. do not zipper closed), but the elastic at the top is enough to secure contents without worry.  The vest front pockets held my phone, my car key, and snacks. (I did not use front soft flasks for my ride).  There are no clips for the hydration bladder hose, but I tucked the hose under the first of the front zig-zag stretch cord across my chest for easy access while riding.

My MTB ride test was on a cold, windy day and I wore a winter cycling jersey and wind vest. The Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest fit well, even with those layers.  I was able to easily reach my snacks in the front pockets and to drink from the bladder hose without issue. I didn’t notice my tools or bladder bouncing around in the back.  Because of how light this pack is, I think the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest makes a solid option as a race hydration vest for cross country MTB races or longer gravel races.

I did not test running in the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest with a 2 L bladder in the back, mainly because I didn’t want the extra weight.  I imagine running with the bladder would be fine, due to how form fitting and stretchy material of the pack is.

Wearability

I wore the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest with a variety of layers and in a variety of temperatures.  The main thing I noticed was that the vest kept me warmer than expected on colder runs.  The vest material is very light but it still is an additional layer around your core.  On days where I would normally need a cold weather vest, I found that I was too hot with the cold weather vest AND the running vest.  I only had one “warm” run in the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest (70 degrees) and my temperature was fine.  I do wonder how warm the vest would be in 80 and 90 degree temperatures (although I won’t get an answer to that question for another 3 months).

I was also curious about chafing, so on the first 70 degree day of fake-spring, I headed out on a 60 minute run with a tank top under the vest and ZERO anti-chafe cream. Once the run was done, I was happy to see that I didn’t have any pack-related chafing.  On longer or more sweaty runs, I still think I would slap some anti-chafe cream on my skin where the pack edges contact my skin, especially at the neck and at the back/underarm area.

I’ve been running in the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest twice a week for 6 weeks now, and I have observed some decent salt buildup on the pack.  Unlike my other pack, the Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest seems like it would be relatively easy to wash, either with a quick dunk in the sink with some soap or maybe even in your washing machine on gentle.

I have two minor dings on the pack. The first is the key lanyard. I don’t know if your key is supposed to fit inside the sleeve on the chest strap or dangle into the hydration pocket.  I couldn’t get my key to not be annoying (it moved as I ran and rattled). I ended up storing my car key in the zipper pocket (I also wish that there was a lanyard was inside that pocket).  My second minor complaint has to do with all the straps on vest.  I imagine they are necessary if you run with trekking poles.  I don’t and the front cordage just flapped around and was annoying.  I wish the cordage either had a way to secure it down so it didn’t flap around when not in use.  The alternative is to remove the cordage (which is possible by undoing a clip and unknotting it from an anchor point), but then you also have to store the cordage in a place where you’ll remember to find it when you do finally need poles.

Closing Thoughts

The Salomon ADV SKIN 5 Running Vest is a comfortable and lightweight running (and cycling) vest that is stacked with options to give the wearer a lot of flexibility during use.  There are plenty of pockets that securely hold small and large items, all with easy in/out access. The front hydration storage is best for running (due to weight), but a larger hydration bladder can easily be secured in the back vest pocket, for those running long or even cycling. My main complaint is that there are SO many options to this vest that the website needs to have a better video or photos describing what each feature is for and how to properly use it.  Even with my engineering degree, it took me a month of use to figure some things out.

Where this vest really shines is in how comfortable it is to wear and how it can be used for a variety of activities.  This pack is great for runners of all kinds (road, trail, all distances) and even cyclists who want a light and streamlined hydration option.

Erin Trail

Erin Trail’s hobby is collecting hobbies. She’s a 5th Generation Coloradan and grew up exploring the outdoors on family camping trips and hikes.  Her first backpacking trip was at eight years old to Grizzly Reservoir – she proudly carried all of her own gear those 3 miles from the main parking lot to the Reservoir.

Erin is an adult-onset athlete who started as a Masters Swimmer and then developed into a triathlete.  She completed 5 Ironman races and nearly 20 x 70.3 distance Ironman races, including the World Championship in Lahti, Finland, in 2023.  Somewhere along her triathlon journey, she picked up a deep love of cycling.

Cycling encouraged her to see landscapes in a new way, learn new skills and to develop self reliance; now she often goes and does Type 2 rides just to see if she can do it.  She’s got all the bikes: gravel, mountain, fat bike, time trial and road.

She is even known to combine her love of camping and cycling and go off on solo 24 hour overnight bikepacking trips in the mountains of Colorado. In addition to bikes, she teaches yoga, lifts weights, skis, SUPs and has recently purchased a campervan.

Erin is a former Montana park ranger with a degree in environmental engineering.  She loves getting into technical details while putting her gear (and herself) through the paces. She shares her home in Colorado with her husband, Will, and her 3 cats (Zipper, Brewtus, and Simcoe).

2025 brings some exciting things.  Erin has qualified to be on Team USA for USA Triathlon and will be competing in a World Championship off-road triathlon in Pontevedra, Spain in June. To prepare for this event, she’s got several mountain bike races and training weekends planned in the months leading up to the big day.  Additionally, she’s racing Ironman Boise 70.3 in July.  Once her race schedule closes out in July, she’ll be moving to more adventure based activities (bikepacking, vanlife, and mountain bike festivals).

When not adventuring, she can be found on a sunny patio somewhere, drinking beers with her husband.