This is a personal choice and can depend on distance to be covered, kit list and even a bit of tradition. Many people like the simplicity of a WaistBelt, leaving their back free to ‘breathe’ and most of their torso unencumbered. Others prefer the convenience of a vest, keeping all your snacks and essentials close to hand. For longer distances, it can be nice having capacity for flasks or a bladder in a RaceVest, with the weight evenly distributed over the torso whereas on a fell race where only kit list needs to be carried (and this is where tradition comes in) a WaistBelt is the first choice for many. 

Yes! Its a good idea to occasionally wash away all that sweat, dirt and oil that accumulates through regular use of your RaceVest. Just check all the pockets for forgotten jelly babies and fivers and undo the zips. Use a quick cycle and a specific outdoor wash then line dry; done! More Info Here

And when is a pack a vest!? A pack normally uses a more traditional shoulder strap system, alongside a waistbelt and/or sternum strap fro stability. A RaceVest is more like a piece of clothing, with fabric wrapping around the torso, both for stability and also allowing for extra pockets and storage. Packs are generally suited to larger loads as they can have more padding on the straps and weight through the waistbelt. However, the benefits of a vest, with its accessable storage on the move, we have tried to incorporate some of those features, alongside the fit and stability to larger loads in order to create VestPacks such as the Phantom 25.

You can find our RaceVest Size Guide via the link on each product page, this includes measurement ranges for each size of RaceVest. RaceVests are unisex so it is often worth checking the size guide to ensure you get the right one.