While there are so many options available on the market for a Race Vest, how do you choose which is best for you? There is no reason to settle for something that doesn’t fit right or that you don’t totally love when you have options at your disposal so today we are going to talk a bit about how you fit your race vest. In a training or racing scenario it is imperative that your gear sits as a bystander almost unnoticed until it’s needed, and in order to do that you must be sure that the vest you are wearing fits and is secured properly so here are a few steps you can take for fitted or universal vests to ensure you are ready to tackle anything that comes your way.

 

 

First:  Is the vest you own or desire to purchase, a fitted race vest, meaning sized, or is it one size fits most?

If it is fitted: 

There are two measurements that are changed when going from a one size to the next in a race vest.  Both the torso length and girth or dimensions around the chest and torso.  The larger the vest, the longer the torso and the larger the girth.  The best way to know for sure is to try the vest on with similar clothing that you will be wearing.  Please note that more clothing will take space in the vest.  Also a pack that is fully loaded will fit a little different that an empty pack.

So here are my suggestions:

1. Put on the clothes that you will be primarily wearing under the race vest.
2. Load the pack with the contents or similar capacity that you will be carrying.
3. Put the vest on and see where the pockets fall across your chest and how much space you have in between the pockets. This is personal preference.  Some runners like the pockets very close together.  Others like them very far apart.
4. Attach the Cords on the Max O2 sternum and tighten enough to keep the pack from moving but not so much that it restricts your breathing. Most runners try to wear their packs too tight.

 

For a One Size fits most:

1. Put on the clothes that you will be primarily wearing under the race vest.
2. Load the pack with the contents or similar capacity that you will be carrying.
3. Loosen the side straps and Max O2 Sternum.
4. Put the pack on and position the front pockets where you would like them to be. Close together or far apart.
5. Attach the cords on the hook for the Max O2 sternum and adjust the Max O2.
6. Then tighten the side straps to snug the pack down for comfort and stability.