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Sometimes you can’t carry everything you need in your hands. That is especially true in a long run. Calories, fluids, phone, keys, coat, snacks. No waist belt is going to support you the way the Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12L race vest will. For over 40 years, Nathan has designed products to enhance the running experience and support your performance.
Oh, How Far We Have Come, Nathan
I bought my first Nathan Vest 10 years ago when I was training for my first ultra. But even before that, I ran with their bottles and belts to get me through my runs fueled and hydrated. While the materials and designs have changed throughout my time with Nathan, their dedication to runners has not. The Pinnacle Pro 12L vest is sure proof of that!
The vest is designed with six power mesh pockets on the front and 3 secure pockets on the back. Side power mesh pockets pass through to the front. This really helps equalize the weight and accessibility to all your needs.
The Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest Pocket Rundown
The Pinnacle Pro vest has 6 pockets on the front off the vest (with a bonus 7th zipper pocket). The pockets are tiered down the front for easy accessibility. The top/closest to body pocket is deep and designed to fit flasks (not included). There is a retention loop inside of these top pockets to prevent your flask from sliding down into the pocket once it is empty.
The next tier of pockets is a deep pocket great for a phone, larger gels, bars or taller items. The lowest pocket on the front is a wrap around pocket that is also accessible on the side near your ribcage. I like this pocket because I can store quite a few gels and bars for my long run without feeling like I am being weighed down in the front.
The last pocket is a vertical zipper pocket to secure your valuables. Inside this pocket is a small pill pocket, a clip for your key and a whistle. The one downside to this pocket is that the storage is between your body and your hydration flask (if you use bottles in the front). This can make storing bulky items like an inhaler or cell phone a bit uncomfortable. For that reason, I reserve the zipper pocket for flatter items like my I.D. and car key.
Back Pockets and Storage
The Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest has a whopping 12L of storage. On the back side of the vest, there is a large sleeve pocket for the insulated hydration bladder that is included with the vest. The secure storage is provided by a large storage pocket with a diagonal zipper. This is a great place to store your jacket or maybe other gear that you wont need to access often during your run.
The lower back zipper pocket is a great place to store things you will need on the go.
My favorite pocket on the back in the smaller zippered pocket on the small of the back. It is a great place to secure smaller items that you don’t want to fall to the bottom of your pack. This pocket is great for your headlamp, toilet paper (I know, it happens), or extra nutrition. This pocket is possible to unzip while wearing the pack and you can retrieve your items will still on the go.
Lastly, there are 4 elastic attachment points what allow you to store trekking poles diagonally across your back or horizontally across the lower back. The versatility in this vest makes it a great choice for a 1/2 marathon or for a 300 miler, and any distance in between. Nathan combined excellent storage options with a minimal weight of only 8 ounces!
The Ultimate Fit
The Pinnacle Pro series comes in both women’s and men’s fits. I ordered the women’s version, which is designed specifically to conform to a woman’s shape and fits like a second skin. The exterior combines buttery-soft stretch fabric with silky, stretchy panels. The interior features breathable mesh on the front and back panels for cooling comfort.
The adjustment straps across the front of this vest, surprisingly, were not elastic. They are a cord material each with their own attachment point and adjustment. The advantage of this design is that the vest can be easily adjusted to fit a larger or smaller bust and still feel snug around the ribcage. While the adjustment cords aren’t super easy to adjust on the fly as your pack gets empty, Nathan added in a Quick-Fit adjustment to the sides that are easily accessible while in motion. These small elastic adjustments are just what you need to snug the vest in as your needs change throughout your event.
The Quick-Fit adjustment allows you to easily adjust as you are running.
The neck area of this vest is wide with no fear of chafing at the base of your neck. Roomy arm-holes allow for easy, natural movement without chafing points in your underarms or shoulder blades as you move for an extended period of time.
Hydration Options in the Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest
Included with the Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest is a 1.6 liter insulated bladder. The hose is removable with a plug-n-play attachment point for easy cleaning. The bladder is super easy to fill with a slide closure at the top and a wide mouth for quick fills. The vest can accommodate up to a 2 liter bladder. There are small openings on the shoulders for the hose to slide though around to the front. On the front, there are retention loops and a plastic attachment that the hose snaps into keeping the hose from flopping around.
Nathan designed the Pinnacle Pro with adequate space in the front flask pocket for up to 20 ounces per pocket. Nathan’s flask fit perfectly, but it looks as though just about any soft flask will work. The flask’s are not included, so find what works for you and they are sure to work in this vest. For flasks with longer straws, there are retention loops on the left and right, so the straws are close by when you need them.
Technical Specs
- Gear Capacity: 732.2 Cu. In/12 Liters
- Weight w/o Bladder: 8.0 oz/226.0g
- Weight with Bladder: 13.2 oz/372.8g
- Women’s sizes: XXS-XL
- Unisex Sizes: XS-XL
- Women’s Colors: Lilac Breeze/Reflective Silver OR Black/Lilac Breeze
- Unisex Colors: Sage Green/Reflective Silver OR Black/Reflective Silver
Small adjustment bungies at the ribcage make adjustment easy on the go.
Final Thoughts on the Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest
As long distance running increases in popularity, so does the need for improved race vests. Nathan really took the time to design the Pinnacle Pro 12L Vest with the serious runner in mind. You don’t have to be a “pro” to appreciate the variety of sizes ranging from XXS-XL. The lightweight materials make this vest truly feel like a second skin. Minimal bounce and secure storage of everything you need to complete your next challenge is here.
It may be hard to stomach the $200 price tag, but once you feel this light-as-a-feather vest in your hands, you will be glad that you didn’t sacrifice the quality. You can check out the Nathan Pinnacle Pro 12L vest (women’s or unisex) at nathansports.com, rei.com or amazon.com. You will have luxury and comfort to take you across that finish line!