I am not a vest person, or I never really was, and if I did wear one it was only because the rules and regulations required it. For my longer runs I always used to take my favorite Nu Complements belt along with the essentials in it. However, a water flask no longer fit and I kept it in my hand. So I started wondering, what if, after six years of use, the belt suddenly gets worn out or falls apart?
text: Anna Lis, photo: Jan Nyka
During UTMB our team got invited to a presentation of the brand, which is not very well-known in Poland, but is slowly gaining recognition worldwide. I say„Kailas” and think of shoes, running clothes, and vests but also of a partner of many ultra-competitions around the world i.e. TORX or SwissPeaks. After the presentation, we received running vests packs to test and that’s how my journey with Kalias began. During the UTMB festival, I would run with a hiking backpack every day. I packed it with a power bank, phone, microphone, documents, water, a change of clothes, an extra layer, etc. I kept telling myself that I was comfortable. But like a bird in the cage, I didn’t realize it could be even more comfortable if I switched from a backpack to a vest.
And yes, the next day of the festival I made a change that completely improved the comfort of my work. Perhaps you haven’t noticed any difference in the quality of our broadcasting, but I was doing it much more comfortably.
Why Kailas? First impressions
The vest is very light (198 g according to the manufacturer’s data), flexible, made of a pleasant-to-touch material on the outside (90% mesh material with anti-microbial polyethylene, easy to refresh) and a fully double-layered mesh construction on the inside that provides that needed ventilation for the runner. On the back, it even resembles the structure of a bee patch. The vest is available in three color versions (black, red, and green) and several sizes (S - XL).
However, each of those sizes has a wide tolerance when it comes to fitting its user. Read why.
Zipping the vest
This system deserves its own paragraph. Technically it’s called ADF and in short, it’s a dial and chords that, by turning them appropriately adjust the fastening of the vest. It resembles the BOA system, already known in shoes. And for me, it is a game changer when it comes to fastenings. Perhaps at first, it might seem that the thin cords would tangle and get messy, but it’s as if they were programmed to fit in the correct loop on the other side. To make everything easier they are color-
coded in case we unzip something too much. The manufacturer gives us the possibility to adjust the lacing depending on the user’s torso length. So you clip it and twist it just enough to feel comfortable. If you want to unfasten the vest, you simply release the clasp and the system loosens immediately. The fastened vest is comfortable, doesn’t shift while running and the center of its gravity is located on the highest point of the chest.
Pockets
The vest has eleven pockets of different capacities and uses. I later read that the producer gives information about twelve in the description, so there’s still more to discover about the vest’s functionality. The biggest pocket is situated on the back and can fit a 1.5-liter hydration water bladder, and two front pockets can each hold a maximum of 0.5-liter flasks. An interesting variation is using a drawstring, which helps secure flasks better. Thanks to that runners don’t feel like they are running without a sports bra, having a D-cup size. That part of the pocket is made of a material with a silicone blend, which makes it easier to insert a filled flask, for example, at aid stations. Nothing bounces or moves around. There’s also a pocket with a small bag for trash, for example, empty gel packets. However, you can easily use one of the smaller pockets for this purpose, they won’t fall out anyway, and putting thrash into a separate drawstring bag while running can be slightly inconvenient. But it is certainly a good solution when it comes to sticky leftovers or dripping gel packets. You are probably familiar with a situation when you put a gel package into a pocket and that made it sticky or even discolored the entire pocket. There is also a zippered pocket in the front, designed for your phone. The iPhone 14 fits perfectly and can easily be taken out when you need it. One of the pockets contains a whistle, which is often required in races. The vest has two different methods of securing trekking poles, marked with a white drawstring for convenience.
Summary
This is a vest for me, comfortable, lightweight, and easy to use. I liked it, which means it’s going on my list of things I take to work, i.e., to the running events, that we are reporting to you. And when the time to race comes, I will be ready too. The vest comes with two 500 ml flasks. If you want to extend the set with a hydration water
bladder, the pocket is big enough to fit any 1.5-liter bladder.
Price: around 650 PLN
Available on www.kailasgear.com
