Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta (Jenny Collection) Review

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Pros of the Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta (Jenny Collection)

-Mesh straps for all day comfort and breathability function well in hot conditions

-Maximum amount of adjustability through different strap configurations

-There is an amazing amount of storage for a smaller pack

-Women’s specific design – not just an XS men’s pack! Woo Hoo!

Cons of the Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta (Jenny Collection)

-Only one color option besides black (obsidian)

-70 oz bladder has to be purchased separately

-Priced a bit high to not have a bladder with

The Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta (Jenny Collection)

So, what happens when Ultimate Direction, a company for selling products geared towards ultra runners and trail enthusiasts, decides to partner with Jenny Jurek to make a lineup of items just for women? Sheer happiness, that’s what happens. Jenny Jurek helped to design a who slew of useful items made solely for women, to fit women’s frames. This isn’t a lineup of gear that’s just made for men and sized a bit smaller. It’s made to conform to women’s specific anatomy, and not just by adding a few inches around the chest and calling it good. The Jenny Collection was made by bringing together a few female runners with Jenny Jurek, and the Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta is a great example of just how good a pack can be when the girls get to decide how it’s gonna go. Sorry boys.

The pack is definitely geared towards those wanting to run long, and run often. As you can see above, just about every portion of the construction is geared towards comfortable fit. There are several ways to adjust the straps. Starting on the side, there are velcro straps that pull easily while out on the trail for micro adjustments – these are easily reachable while running, so I was able to keep them snug as I drank water out of the reservoir. The mesh shoulder straps, while not being adjustable per say (they fit more like a vest, hence the name) fit great as I made sure to pay attention to the sizing chart – there are only two options, but choose wisely for a great fit. The pack did fit a little smaller when loaded up with stuff, but they say this on their website as well. There are two snap closure on the front which slide up and down on “rails” – it’s great to be able to slide these up and down for a secure fit that felt like it was tailored just to me. They have easy to pull straps on them, so I can wear each one as tight as I wanted it. Due to the mesh straps taking most of the weight, these felt very comfortable and secure.

As you can see, storage options are not limited on the Ultimate Direction Adventure Vesta. I like to take my phone with on long runs, especially when running solo – there were several places to stash my phone and keys within easy reach should I need them. I also usually carry some chapstick, food, and even a bit of extra sunscreen with me when I run trails, especially anything over 15 miles. There was room for all of this and more – and what really sets this pack apart from other packs I’ve tested is that this was all within easy reach. I didn’t have to bury all this stuff down deep under the water bladder – I could get to each item in it’s own pocket, which was great for staying on the move.

It also carried a ton of water. I used the body bottles for a carb drink, and used water only in the big bladder. Really, my only complaint is that you have to buy this bladder separately. The folks at UD were nice enough to send the bladder with to test – and the construction of the pack is such that you could use just about any bladder with it, so if you’ve already got one, you’re set. The two body bottles just wouldn’t be enough water for me for my really long runs. I’ve been on runs of up to four hours in some hot conditions wearing this pack, and haven’t yet run out of fluids because I’ve always used it with the bladder. It’s really a great option for going long distance. I haven’t yet used additional features such as ice ax loops, but it is great to know that the pack is made for all conditions – I’ll be taking it out snowshoeing with me come winter for sure. Also, due to it’s women’s specific design it’s more comfortable than any pack I’ve ever run in. Make sure to head over to the Ultimate Direction website to check out the entire Jenny Collection.