Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Set Review: Still a Top Race Vest, With a Few Odd Changes

Introduction

Trail and ultra running has boomed over the past several years, and with it the race vest has become a core piece of kit for most runners. Few vests have been as consistently popular as the Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Set, a fitting-and-function benchmark that has been a race vest of choice for many long-distance runners for the better part of a decade. The latest update, however, has drawn some criticism, so it is worth a close look before you buy.

Who This Vest Is For

This is a vest for trail and ultra runners who want accessible storage, a secure fit and a hydration system they barely have to think about mid-race. If you are buying your first running pack, or upgrading an older carrying system, this sits squarely in that sweet spot of everyday training and race-day use.

Fit, Comfort and Construction

The Advanced Skin 12 Set retails for £40 on the Salomon website and comes in four colourways, including a very bright Neo Flame option and the Flame Scarlet red version tested here. It weighs 247g and is available in five sizes from XS to XL. A medium fits a 6’1”, 80kg frame well, which is a good reminder that sizing matters more than usual here: too big and the vest bounces, too small and you risk rubbing and irritation. If you can, try one on in a good running store with the back compartment loaded up, because a vest fits very differently when full.

Salomon’s SensiFit technology uses lightweight, stretchy, highly breathable fabrics for fit and stability, while the Y-shaped back design uses strategically placed stretch and supportive fabrics to stabilise the load in the main compartment. Inside, a honeycomb mesh two-way construction with a thin foam insert lifts the vest away from the body to aid air circulation, and the foam under the front pockets and flask holsters feels slightly deeper than before, a welcome touch for longer days out.

Storage and On-the-Move Access

Total capacity is 12 litres, hence the name. Up front near the shoulder straps there are two small stuff pockets, much better designed than on the previous version, ideal for electrolyte or salt tablets, with an improved, noticeably louder emergency whistle inside the left pocket. Below those sit the two included 500ml soft flasks, designed specifically for this vest, each pocket with a small bungee and pull tab that hooks over the flask top to stop it slipping down as you drink.

Under the flask pockets is a double-pocket system: a large stuff pocket for gloves, buffs, hats, head torches and phones, topped by a secure stretchy zip pocket for gels, bars and other race-day treats. All four front pockets are easy to reach on the move, which is exactly what you want from a race vest. At the back, the main zipped compartment swallows mandatory race kit, ideally cinched into a dry bag since the DWR coating will not hold out heavy rain, and a bungee cord system either side compresses the compartment down when you are carrying less. A full-width kangaroo pocket along the bottom, accessible from either side, is a good spot for a waterproof jacket, and there is still a bladder compartment with a clip-in loop if you prefer that style. Runners who use poles get multiple carrying options via bungee cords or a separately purchased Salomon pole quiver that attaches to the shoulder strap loops.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Adjustment uses Salomon’s Quick Link system on the front: clip in the elasticated cord, pull to fit, slide the toggle down and go. A small new clip on the cord end stops it flapping while you run, and the anchors can be positioned in nine different locations to personalise the fit.

Not everything in the update makes sense, though. The small rubbish pocket that used to sit inside the front stuff pocket is gone, which is a real loss for anyone tired of sticky gel residue ruining pocket contents. Salomon has also removed the stuff pocket at the top of the vest that was one of the best additions to the previous version and made stashing a waterproof jacket easy. The kangaroo pocket partly compensates, but losing two useful storage options is a genuinely questionable call. On the plus side, finishing quality has clearly stepped up: cleaner seams and stitching, more premium fabrics, and more solid, durable zips.

Buying Advice

For £40 this remains a strong buy. The redesigned soft flasks, with a flattened top that sits flush against the chest and an angled nozzle that is easier to drink from on the move, are a genuinely clever improvement. Add in the louder whistle, the cord clip, better materials and a QR code on the tag linking to setup guides, and much of the update genuinely improves the vest. The lost pockets are the main reason to hesitate, but they are unlikely to be dealbreakers for most runners.

Conclusion

The latest Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Set is still a great vest to run in: comfortable, stable with minimal bounce even fully loaded, and full of storage you can actually reach while moving. The removal of two handy pockets is a strange decision and keeps this from being a clean sweep, but for a first hydration vest or an upgrade, it remains easy to recommend.