Article by Renee Krusemark and Jeff Valliere
Ultimate Direction Xodus and Xodus Vesta ($180)
Introduction
Renee: The Xodus Vest and Vesta (the female-fit of the Xodus) are two of the newest hydration products from Ultimate Direction. First shown at The Running Event in fall 2023, the Xodus is scheduled for release mid-March 2024. Both versions share the same specs, aside from the Xodus Vesta having a narrower cut in the shoulder straps and back.
Meant for “race-ready” distances, the vest has a 6L capacity.
For review, I have 200+ running miles and several hours of snowshoeing with the vest, trying multiple storage options to test fit and performance.
Jeff V: The Xodus vest is an innovative new vest design from Ultimate Direction that is perfect for mid-distance training or racing, but is light enough for shorter runs and has enough capacity for longer runs when not a ton of extra clothing/gear is required. We have seen plenty of bottles on the front run vests with a good configuration of pockets and have seen full front coverage vests with a similar style (The Naked HC vest comes to mind). I have not tested or seen the Naked vest, but it has a front zipper and 360 degree coverage. It is 3L and looks to be more fitted and perhaps not as adjustable and thus not as comfortable. Fitted sizing can be tricky, especially as fit needs vary depending how much gear you are carrying, whether you are wearing layers, had a large meal or any combination of the above.
The Ultimate Direction vest has a side zip and side bungee adjustments that are very user friendly. It comes in 4 sizes: Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large for men and women.
The Fit
Renee: The most unique aspect of the Xodus is the side zipper entry. The fit is meant to be close and contoured to reduce rubbing and bounce. Most vests have a front opening, secured by front straps. In contrast, the Xodus requires entry from the side, then pulling over the head, and finally closing with the zipper on the right side.
Each of the sides have adjustable bungees to tailor the fit. Having bungees flopping around is not comfortable, but that’s not an issue here. Both sides have a tuck for the cord slack. Adjusting on-the-go is difficult though. I had to stop and pull the cords out of the tuck to adjust and then try to tuck back in when finished, which was not easy. That said, the vest should not need much adjustment. Once you have it tightened, it doesn’t loosen.
I reviewed a size small, my typical vest and apparel size. I usually wear a compression sports bra in a size medium. For sizing, if wearing over layers (as I did in the winter), I suggest looking at a size up, or your sports bra size rather than apparel size, if those differ. Over a jacket, with front flasks and snacks in the front, the zipper came undone completely several times while running and snowshoeing. With water in the back (bladder) instead of the front, no issue. When running with a shirt and no jacket, no problem. The fit is like a somewhat loose sports bra (and it feels like one too). I’m hoping to try a women’s medium for comparison to see if I have the same issue with the zipper coming undone.
Jeff V: The Xodus Vest comes in 4 sizes, SM-XL. For most vest fit recommendations, I fall right in the crossover range between Med and Large (5’9”/145lbs/38” chest) and that is the case here. I most often go with a size large in UD and other vest brands, as I want the extra room for packing the vest with flasks, gear and it is a requirement for me that it fit over layers for winter running and excursions to the mountains any time of year. If I were to try the vests on in the store wearing a tee, the medium would likely feel like the right choice, but once I load even just full flasks into the Xodus, I am very glad to have gone with the large.
The bungees on either side are essential, providing a range of fit to snug up securely for fast bouncy downhill, or to relieve when climbing, adding a layer or when the vest is packed full. I have found the bungees easy to adjus.
I route the pull tab through the designated stuff pocket and just let the very end of it dangle out the top, so it is always handy (but there is not so much hanging out for it to bounce annoyingly). To relieve tension, it is easy to reach back and relieve by pinching the tab.
I wondered at first whether the full coverage front would feel compressing and negatively impact deep breathing on uphills when pushing hard, however I do not find this to be the case no matter how full (again, it helps some to relieve/tighten the side bungees as necessary).
While the materials are not necessarily stretchy, they are thin and flexible enough to provide a little give for optimal comfort.
Storage
Renee: The front storage includes one large pocket across the chest, with three separate openings. You can fit a lot into this massive pocket. I used it for snacks and extra gloves.
Under the large front pocket are the two soft flask storage pockets. One positive about the flask storage being behind the large chest pocket is that it decreases the amount of bouncing from the flasks. The vest as sold will come with two 500mL flasks (although my early review vest did not). I used flasks I had at home, including a 500mL Salomon flask that is longer and thinner as compared to the other 500ml flasks. For most vests, the best fitting front flasks are the ones that come with the vest. I used three different shaped flasks in this vest and had excellent fit for each. The vest has a bungee cord to wrap around the flask top to prevent bouncing. I had no issues with bouncing or having the bottles creep up when almost empty. The benefit with this vest is the flasks are held in place a bit more than other vests because of the front storage pocket that lays over these flask openings.
Each shoulder strap has its own pocket. The left pocket has a zipper. This pocket is small. I could fit/stuff one small electrolyte mix packet here, but that’s it. The right shoulder pocket is also too small to fit much. One small electrolyte or salt packet (maybe) at best. The opening is from the top, which was hard for me to access while running (or walking, or really at any time wearing the vest. I didn’t use this pocket).
To the left side, is one zipper pocket. A few gels can fit in this pocket. I usually place my key fob in this pocket. A smaller headlamp and small external charger (5” x 2.75”) will also fit.
In the middle of the front flask pockets is another zipper pocket. My iPhone 14 Max in its case, in a ZipLock bag fits securely in this pocket. The fit is tight, but it is easy to take in and out as needed. A major benefit of this vest, for me, is this easily accessible and comfortable phone storage option. Most vests have a zipper pocket to the side, which if I’m using a front flask can irritate my chest. While I’m not a large-chested lady, I found the front storage options in the Vesta far more comfortable than other options.
Just wait! There’s more storage in the back! The vest features an open pocket with two side entries on the back. I was able to access items in this pocket on the go (I used it for extra gloves and a hat). The back also features two open pockets, one for a 2L bladder and another for other items. The vest has slits for the bladder hose to go from the back to the front without causing irritation along the neckline. I tucked the hose through the front straps along the flask pockets.
There are several loops for bungees cords on the front and back which can be used for poles or looping an extra jacket. If you don’t use them and hate to have cords flopping around, they are easy to remove as needed.
Jeff V: Renee goes over the details of the pockets well, so I will not reiterate, but will say that the Xodus vest has the best assortment of easily accessible pockets that I have seen in any vest. The full wrap around design provides extra space on the front for additional center pockets. I really find those center pockets to be an advantage over other vests, where the center zippered pocket is ideal for my phone, as it is super easy to access and it stows such that I am completely unaware that it is there while on the run. The non zippered stuff pocket that overlays the center zippered pocket is a great additional spot to stow food or any other small items like a beanie or gloves, but what I like most is that it perfectly accommodates my magnetic backing for my Kogalla light.
As someone who runs in the dark often on cold winter mornings, this is huge for me. When I try to position the magnet/light in this position on normal run vests, it can be a little futzy and less than ideal.
Not so with the Xodus however, as it is incredibly easy to stuff the magnetic backing into this pocked (either vertically or horizontally) and then just pop the light onto the magnet. Mounted on the Xodus vest, it is well secured with no bounce, is well centered and I don’t have to mess with it if I need to remove the vest. Perfect!
As Renee mentions, there are deep flask pockets on either side that hold the flasks well (not too tight or too loose) and below those are generous stuff pockets for food or other small items like gloves, beanie, or whatever.
The zippered pocket on the left side is nice and use it to store more important items like a car key (complete with key clip), wallet (not often, but when I don’t want to leave my wallet in the car or on a more urban run with a food/drink stop), and it is ideal for my Kogalla battery.
The pockets high on the shoulder are pretty small, but can accommodate tablets, gels, or a car key in the zip pocket (when lower zip pocket with clip may be better utilized with other gear).
While I am unable to fit my Garmin InReach mini in either of those pockets, I am able to slide it underneath either pocket and then clip with the biner to the loops above (this is critical though, as the space under the pocket is pass through).
At the back, the pass-through pocket is handy and is not the typical narrow pass through, but extends high, so you can either put a bottle or flask here, jacket or any other items you may need to access on the go. I typically struggle being able to reach such pockets while on the go, but I am able to do so with the Xodus.
The main rear compartment is roomy and segmented with a mesh divider. This is a very porous mesh against your back, allowing for great breathability, but also (like most vests), any clothing you store there is going to get soaked with sweat. To prevent this, with the Xodus and most vests, I stuff items I don’t want getting wet into a gallon ziplock bag (don’t toss those old bags in the trash, re-purpose them for this!). You could also put a 1.5L bladder in the back, though I have not tried this
Performance and Conclusions
Renee: I reviewed the vest during winter months, so judging the breathability was difficult because of cold (often frigid well below 0℉) temps). Most vests have the opening in the front, which allows air to enter, which obviously won’t be the case here. The front also has two layers of fabric for the pocket and flask pockets, which is more material in comparison to other vests. For me, it was like wearing an extra sports bra over a sports bra over a shirt (and usually over a cold-weather jacket). I can see how some runners might not like the tight fit, but if you wear a sports bra, you’ll be used to it.
My only negative about the vest is the sizing might be tricky. I suggest the size you wear in a sports bra if choosing the Vesta. The major positive is reduction of bounce and discomfort across the chest when running with flasks, snacks, a phone, and other items all in the front. The negative is the zipping coming undone while running, but I imagine that might be a fit-specific issue (and again, only an issue when I loaded the front storage and was wearing a cold-weather jacket underneath).
Jeff V: I think overall this is my favorite run vest to date, at least in the mid range. It is not the lightest, most streamlined vest for racing, so I likely will l stick with other options for that when I just need water, gels and a windbreaker (like Salomon Sense Pro with super light clothing like feel/fit), or will turn to 12L vests for longer mountain adventures when I need more gear (11L Camelbak Apex Pro, or my old UD Mountain Vest 4.0), but in that mid range for most runs, or longer runs with lighter gear, the Xodus cannot be beat.
The pockets are so well thought out, easy to access, secure and offers different options than other vests with greater comfort with the center pockets. I love how easy my phone slides in/out of the zippered mid pocket for quick pictures or map check, plus it is a comfortable, bounce/rub/pressure free location.
While I have not run with it in temperatures over 80 degrees, I have not found it to be excessively warm, though it could be slightly warmer than traditional vests in really warm temps over longer durations, so I will need to test that when summer truly hits. The all black or black/fig green colorways absorb a lot of sun, so it would be nice in the future to see a lighter color option like white or light gray.
Some may be reluctant because of the unique design and the perception that the vest may be difficult to put on/take off, but after a few days, it becomes second nature and I would argue more efficient than typical vests where I have to loosen the chest straps before taking off, then reattach the straps (often requiring bare hands, so if in winter I need to take off my gloves to attach and slow down on the trail), then tighten, where with the Xodus, you just slide over your head and zip and is easy with gloves.
If I could offer any suggestions for improvement, it would be to offer a lighter color as I mention above and it would also be great to see them expand upon this idea with a more stripped down 3L version for shorter, faster race efforts and a 12L version (keeping the front the same) and expanding rear storage some. Also, the top shoulder pockets could be just a little bit bigger, but I am splitting hairs. This is a vest I would highly recommend.
Jeff Valliere loves to run and explore the mountains of Colorado, the steeper and more technical the better. He has summited all of the 14ers in the state, many 13ers and other peaks in Colorado and beyond, plus, he has summited his local Green Mountain in Boulder over 2,100 times in the past 20 years. He can be found on mountain trails daily, no matter the weather, season, conditions or whether there is daylight or not. On the side he loves to ski (all forms) bike and hike, often with his family, as he introduces his twin daughters to the outdoors. Jeff was born and raised in New Hampshire, but has called Colorado home for over 25 years. He is 5’9” and 145 lbs.
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