Review of the UltraSpire Basham Race Vest

Review of the UltraSpire Basham Race Vest

UltrAspire Basham Race Vest

Listed Weight:
6.4oz (w/o bottle) 9.4oz (with bottle), Shop-Scale Weight 7.3 (w/o bottle), 9.2 (w/ bottle) Volume:4L

Storage Breakdown:
7 Pockets

• 3 in rear
  • Horizontal lumbar body bottle compartment
  • Drop in pocket over bottle
  • Top drop-in
• 4 on front
  • Right chest large enough for phones
  • Left chest zip for nutrition
  • Two lower chest drop-in

Features:

• Angled shoulder straps reduce vest center of gravity and as paired with sculpted “Ergo-Fit” makes for more secure fit
• Dual stretch-cord sternal straps, with sculpted attachment points (Max O2 Sternum), for unrestricted breathing

Hydration:

Comes with one 550ml (18.5 oz) bottle (can hold two 550ml bottles), NOT Reservoir Compatible

Pole Attachment: No

Price: $90

Pick one up and support the Trails Collective here!

Wear Test and Review from Sheena Heise

When Ian asked me to review this vest I was super excited. The first hydration vest I ever wore was an old UltrAspire a friend lent me and I ended up using it for several races and training days that season. I was curious to see how the universal fit would be. At first sight I wasn’t thrilled, the vest is super minimal and has one 18oz water bottle which is carried sideways on the lower back of the vest, even if the vest fit great, it was lacking storage, pockets and hydration space and would not be able to handle longer unsupported efforts. There are 2 front storage pockets, one with a secure zip closure and the other pocket fit my phone perfectly and the bungee w/ toggle closure makes it easy to use headphones that connect with a cord.

To my surprise this vest was super comfortable. Very lightweight and breathable. I took this vest out on a very warm and humid afternoon and it was extremely cool and comfortable. The water bottle was difficult to remove from the back sleeve while moving and more than once I opened the top on the bottle, I didn’t mind getting wet but since that is the only water you have losing even a few ounces was a bummer.

Overall I really liked this vest. If its hydration capacity was larger and there was more storage it would have likely been my top pick of all the vest’s I tried. The versatility however just isn’t there for the type of running I like to do. This vest would be great for shorter distance or well supported long distances.

Pros: Light weight, minimal footprint, cool and breathable
Cons: Minimal hydration capacity, difficult to access bottle while moving, minimal storage capacity