Ultimate Direction is not afraid to think outside the box. Borrowing technology from award-winning running vests and fastpacking gear, UD now makes ski packs that let you move fluidly. But the Adventure Vest is much more than a big running vest with a ski carry attached to it. Starting from the top, the Adventure Vest features a roll-top closure and nylon-compression straps that zig-zag down the side. This means the 32-liter pack is quiet, secure, and only as big as what you put in it. The main compartment is accessed by way of the roll-top closure. Two huge zippered compartments in the front house food, camera, phone, keys, or strips of bacon. The majority of the pack is made of durable rip-stop nylon that will keep your gear safe and sound. Ultimate Direction’s Adventure Vest is a textbook example of a large volume, highly customizable pack getting the light ‘n fast treatment.
- Primary ski carry loop is adjustable internally, while the secondary ski carry for partner races is removable.
- Both ice axe loops are girth hitched, bar-tacked, and removable.
- Shoulder-straps and sternum-straps feature easy height-adjustment to fine tune the fit.
- Hip-belt is height adjustable and removable.
- Zippered crampon pouch features a cut-out to allow for a full-length shovel handle in the main compartment.
- Dedicated rope pouch is zippered, fits a 30m rope, and has a riveted hole to allow for fast feeding without removing the pack.
- Breathable shoulder straps are padded and allow for maximum airflow.
- Zippered back panel quickly accesses the hydration bladder without removing the pack, but can also be used to house a tarp or lightweight bivy sack.
| Specifications | |
|
Weight |
631g |
| Volume | 32L |
| Access | Back, Side |
| Hydration | Front flask, 2L reservoir |
| Ski Carry | Race hook |
| Shovel / Probe | Inside |
| Ice Axe | 2 loops |
| Stash Pockets | 2 mesh strap, 1 phone, plus flask |
| Security Pocket | Yes |
| Team Tether | No |
| Whistle | Yes |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Long races and adventures |
| Notes | Dedicated pocket to hold 30m rope |
| Bottom Line | Big volume with low bulk |
| Compare to other Backpacks | |
Questions & Reviews
This was my primary pack for most of last season. There is a lot that love about it and only a few things I wasn’t crazy about. The weight/volume of the pack is really nice, especially compared to more traditional packs, but it still carries a full load well. Even when loaded up for booting the harness system does a great job distributing the weight. The fabric has held up great and isn’t showing wear yet. The two downsides for me are the bottle holders and the ice axe attachments. The bottle holders on the shoulders are really small and I was never able to figure out the best way to fit a 500 ml soft flask, even the UD Body Bottle. To get it to fit I had to not fill the bottle completely, and I’ve dropped bottles because the zipper didn’t close enough around them to hold them in place while skiing. I may try a smaller bottle but I really appreciate having 1L easily accessible for long tours. My other minor issue with the ice axe loops is that they’re removable so the loops seem to be a little longer than they need to be, which allows for a little more bounce than I’d like. I’m going to try to shorten the loop with a knot or make a new smaller loop prior to the start of this season.
Comment on this review:
12/19/2019
Can you elaborate on the 70 oz reservoir? Is that a bladder type water holder?
12/19/2019
Correct, here is a link to the 70oz Reservoir product listing!
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2/7/2019
I've been using this pack for about a month and love it. My only problem is the bottle holder. I use a standard cycling bottle and struggle to slide it back into the holder. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Thanks!
2/7/2019
Hey Andrew, I can see how that would be a problem. We have Ultimate Direction flasks which are designed to be used by these packs. Hope this helps.
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1/1/2019
How does the ski carry work with this pack? Can you do an A-frame carry?
1/2/2019
Hey Aaron! It's designed around having the option to avoid an A-Frame carry thanks to the quick carry options, but an A-Frame carry is an option if you need it.
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4/21/2018
Is this basically the new version of the Skimo 28, or is this an altogether different pack?
4/21/2018
Hey Mark!! Although similar in volume, it's a drastically different pack. I think they intended it to be a replacement for the Skimo 28 but it really ended up being a pretty different pack altogether and your choice of which pack should be dictated by how you'll be using it (mountaineering, overnights, long races, traverses, carrying camera equipment, etc). Just because the Adventure Vest exists doesn't necessarily mean the Skimo 28 is outdated, just kind of a different approach to a 30ish liter pack from UD.
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1/5/2018
Is there two different versions of this pack available since there seems to be velcro pockets for the crampons and rope pocket in these photos and zippered pockets in UD website? Is the race hook detachable?
1/5/2018
Hi Joel, good catch! The production packs definitely have zippers on both compartments. This imagery must have been shot with a pre-production prototype. We will be updating the imagery to show the zippers asap!
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