Nathan VaporAir 3.0 Review [Ultrarunner Tested]

Best Bladder Vest

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Nathan VaporAir 3.0 / VaporAiress 3.0

Our score8.5/10

• Capacity: 7 L
• Hydration: 2 L bladder included, with quick-release hose and sternum magnet
• Fit system: CinchFit straps hidden in the front pockets
• Best for: Runners who drink from a hose, not flasks

Bottom Line : Built around the bladder. The hidden CinchFit straps let you re-fit the vest mid-race as your body and your layers change.

Pros

• Rides high, no lower-back rubbing
• Rib and waist adjust separately
• Water-resistant pill pocket

Cons

• Heavier than minimalist race vests
• A full 2 L bladder eats the back compartment

Why a Bladder Vest

The VaporAir is built for runners who would rather drink from a hose than juggle chest flasks. It rides high on the upper back, which keeps weight off the lumbar spine. Our testers had no lower-back rubbing at all.

The Feature That Matters in a 100-Miler

Hidden inside the front pockets are the "CinchFit" straps. They let you tighten or loosen the ribcage and the waist separately.

That sounds minor until mile 70. Over a 100-mile race your body swells, and you add and shed layers as the night comes and goes. A vest that fit at the start line may not fit at dawn. With CinchFit, you can re-fit it without stopping.

A smaller favourite: the water-resistant "pill pocket" on the chest kept electrolyte tablets dry and free of sweat all day.

The Cost of All That Hardware

Empty, it is noticeably heavier than a minimalist race vest, because of the adjustment hardware and padded spine board. Fill the 2 L bladder to the top and it takes up a lot of the main rear compartment, so plan your kit around it.

Spec Sheet vs Our Test

• Capacity: 7 L.
• Weight: Nathan lists 8.8 oz without the bladder and 13.0 oz with it.
• Fit: one size fits most, with adjustable front and side straps.
• Generation: we tested the 2.0. Amazon sells the 3.0, which Nathan describes as the next generation of the same series.

Should You Buy the Nathan VaporAir 3.0?

Yes, if you drink from a bladder and care more about a fit you can adjust mid-race than about saving grams. If you prefer flasks, the Nathan Pinnacle is the better Nathan. The women's VaporAiress 3.0 is on Amazon here.

Compare With

• Nathan Pinnacle 12L: our best women's fit and easiest access.
• Osprey Duro 6: our most stable vest under heavy loads.
• Salomon ADV Skin 12: our best vest for 100-mile races.

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.