Its bright red! Lots of pockets including a zipped one, good sized back pouch, comfy mesh construction elasticated lacing and dual water storage system – flasks and bladder.

This was the best Christmas present of last Christmas.

The colour is great, the construction gives the sense of a snug fit and moves with the body, which is great, while the mesh, well more like a stretchy string vest material in design, allows for sufficient air flow. The many front pockets, being elasticated, grip everything inside and you can get loads in the 8 litre pouch at the back. I had a shorty wetsuit, hood, swim hat, goggles, towel, bag of head torches and first aid kit in it so while it may not be an RV, it is a transit van not a mini.

That said it has been with me on a few mountain marathons, through forest and jungle, and an Ultra. Its been wet muddy cold and hot and dry, come down hard on volcanic rock at least twice without damage and all though out been a faithful companion.

The pouch also has a waterproof inner pocket and it needs it because my first negative is that it is it itself is not waterproof. It is more showerproof so a carrier bag is needed on the inside if you’re expecting rain. A bespoke waterproof bag for those wet days would be a good accessory. My other criticism is with the lacing. Those who like to use water flasks will, if they are full, feel a bit like what one imagines the Bay Watch girls feel like when the director says run (sic). The laces flex so much that it is quite uncomfortable so initially I only used the flasks half full. Eventually I created a chest clip system like that on a back pack which solves the problem – so if you can buy half a metre of 1 cm webbing and a snap clip and do some basic sowing as I did, I think the vest is still worth it….. though….Salomon – a light weight chest clip is a must on the next iteration.

After a 35km run with 5000ft of ascent in Madeira

In a sentence I’d say… I LOVE my vest.

Finally the cost. The Salomon Active Skin 8 is not the cheapest but as not the latest model is often well discounted and I think the extra few quid is well worth it.