It was a kind of "last-minute" hike. Bell Rock. A lone bell-shaped rock standing in the middle of nowhere. By the time Filip and Kika parked the car on the edge of a New Zealand gravel road, the sky wasn't looking too friendly. But the decision had been made – up to the top, fast and light. "We stuffed the vest almost to bursting and set off," Kika remembers.
"We couldn't believe it, but a hydration bladder fitted in, two rain jackets, ponchos, waterproof socks and even a snack," says Kika – for such a small vest, this 12-litre one from Rab offers plenty of pockets and space. "The top key pocket is great, so I don't have to worry about losing them." She also praises the surprisingly large stretch side pockets: "When we needed to, we managed to cram a whole fleece into each one."
And as the cherry on top, Kika mentions the elastic bungee for attaching extra gear on the outside of the vest. "Ideal for a windproof jacket or, say, sushi – if you happen to be running in Japan," she adds with a smile.
Kika tested the Rab Veil 12 running vest. At this volume (i.e. 12 litres) it weighs 363 grams. You can also get the vest in a 6-litre version, which weighs 320 grams. Depending on your height, you can choose from sizes S, M and L.
Kika and Filip took the Rab vest through the mountains of Japan and New Zealand. "We mainly took it on shorter day trips and kept swapping it between us," says Kika – size M fitted them both well, even though they have different builds and back lengths (Kika is 162 cm, Filip 182 cm, ed.).
"The material of the whole vest is just stretchy enough to fit the body precisely," Kika continues, adding that she really liked the chest strap made of two elastic cords that keep the vest in place. "We tested it trail running, hiking in the mountains and rock climbing. And it always held superbly. Even at a brisk pace on an uneven path it didn't bounce, yet didn't restrict me either."
The Rab Veil 12 has a light, close-fitting Ripstop Mono Mesh Chassis construction that moulds to your body. This material is also half the weight and holds up to 70% less moisture than other spacer-mesh constructions.
The hike up New Zealand's Mount Luxmore was another serious dose of kilometres. 40 in total, plus 1,200 metres of ascent. "But we were lured by the promise of panoramic views over Lake Te Anau and the surrounding peaks," recalls Kika – they moved really fast and it was as if she wasn't wearing the vest at all. "It's made of light, stretchy mesh, so no part of your body in contact with the vest sweats unnecessarily – it can breathe."
On a stretch like that you obviously need to take enough water. And the Rab vest doesn't skimp here either. "There's a sleeve for a hydration bladder inside," Kika points out one option. "And I really like the front pockets for soft flasks. They make it easy to drink while walking or running."
Two 500 ml soft flasks come with the Rab Veil 12 vest. You get a large main pocket with a U-shaped zip, a top pocket and two lower/side stretch pockets, plus two zipped stretch mesh pockets on the chest. Poles can be stowed under your arm or on your back – underneath the vest.
And finally, one more unusual outing. Giant sand dunes. "We hired sandboards and slid down these steep slopes on our bellies. But it was scorching hot on the dunes, so we needed water with us," Kika recalls of an adventure for which a big pack would have felt far too bulky and pointless.
"So the vest was the perfect choice for staying hydrated and keeping my wallet and car keys safe. We were still shaking sand out of it for a good few weeks afterwards, but it was definitely worth the experience!" Kika smiles, and finally adds that even after five months of use she hasn't found a single defect on the Rab vest, nor any tear in the mesh parts. "It still looks brand new."
The precise fit of the Rab Veil 12 vest comes from stretch side panels and a light, fully adjustable chest cinch system. A silicone print on the bottom hem also stops it bouncing or riding up.
