CamelBak Zephyr Pro and Nano Vest Review [Ultrarunner Tested]

Best for Hot Weather

Overall83

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CamelBak Nano Vest and Zephyr Pro Vest

Our score8.3/10

• Capacity: Nano 3.5 L, Zephyr Pro 11 L
• Weight: Nano 120 g, Zephyr Pro 200 g
• Hydration: 2 x 500 mL Quick Stow soft flasks included
• Best for: Summer speed work (Nano), hot long runs (Zephyr Pro)

Bottom Line : The Nano is our hot-weather pick. It covers so little of your back that it barely adds any heat. The Zephyr Pro brings the same cooling idea to a full-size vest.

Pros

• Nano leaves most of your back open to the air
• Zephyr Pro mesh dries fast
• Side webbing adjusts the torso fit

Cons

• Nano doesn't stretch past 3.5 L
• Zephyr pole quiver wobbles on fast descents

Running Hot

For hot-weather marathons and summer speed sessions, the Nano was our first pick. It covers very little of the back, so more of you is open to the air, and that helped keep core temperature down in serious heat.

The Zephyr Pro takes a similar idea to a full-size, 11-liter vest. Its body-mapped 3D poly mesh dried quickly and didn't hold sweat weight, and side adjustment webbing let our testers dial in the torso fit over different shirt layers.

Which One?

Buy the Nano for short, fast, hot runs where you know exactly what you're carrying. It holds 3.5 liters and not a millilitre more: the main rear cavity has no stretch, so an unexpected extra jacket won't fit.

Buy the Zephyr Pro for longer hot runs where you need layers, food and poles. Its clip-on trekking pole quiver sets up for left- or right-handed access. On fast technical descents it wobbled side to side unless it was cinched completely tight.

Spec Sheet vs Our Test

• Capacity and weight: Nano 3.5 L and 120 g; Zephyr Pro 11 L and 200 g.
• Hydration: both come with two 500 mL Quick Stow soft flasks.
• Nano stretch: CamelBak lists a stretch overflow pocket for rain gear. The main rear cavity on ours had no give, so don't plan on squeezing in bulky items.
• Women's version: the women's Zephyr Pro has an S-curved harness and a shorter torso.

Should You Buy a CamelBak Vest?

Yes, if heat is your biggest problem. The Nano is on Amazon here, and the women's Zephyr Pro here.

Compare With

• Salomon Active Skin 8: our best value training vest.
• UltrAspire Alpha 5.0: our most breathing room on climbs.
• AONIJIE 5L: our best budget vest.

See all ten in our best hydration vests guide.

Our Testers

This review was edited by Sean Williams and tested by our ultrarunning team.

• Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. Sean built the team of researchers and testers behind our reviews and edits every guide. His rule: we say what we actually found.
• Annie Brown, Tester. An ultramarathon runner, Annie tested our vests through 100k and 100-mile race preparation.
• James Brown, Tester. An ultramarathon runner, James ran the same block of self-supported mountain long runs, hot-weather tempo sessions and technical scrambles.