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Naked High Capacity - Women's Review

The snug fit and intelligent pocket placement on this vest make it great for daily runs when you need to carry the essentials and not much else
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Naked High Capacity - Women's Review (The internal compression system of the Naked vest helps ensure bounce-free jaunts.)
The internal compression system of the Naked vest helps ensure bounce-free jaunts.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   Naked
By Ally Arcuri ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 1, 2022
70
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#6 of 13
  • Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Features - 25% 8.0
  • Hydration System - 15% 7.0
  • Volume to Weight Ratio - 15% 4.0
  • Pockets - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

The Naked HC is unlike any other hydration vest we've tested in that it takes its female-specific design to a whole new level, fitting more like a secure sports bra than a hydration pack. Because of this design, there is minimal opportunity for your gear and water to slosh around while you move. We love how the pockets hug the body's curvature, and the mesh material is far more breathable than we initially expected. The Naked HC is a great vest for daily runs where you only need to pack a few things. This might not be your pick for an ultra, but the comfortable, clothing-like feel make it a great minimalistic choice. Compare it to top competitors in our review of the top women's running hydration packs.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Functional hydration system
Minimalist
REASONS TO AVOID
Low carrying capacity
Complicated sizing
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 1, 2022, to add in more helpful recommendations after our fall round of testing.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Top Pick Award
Best for Light Days
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Running Hydration Vest for Women
Top Pick Award
Best for Race Day
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Top Pick Award
Best for Hauling It All
Price $150 List$151.48 at Amazon
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$99.44 at Amazon
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$115 List
$109.95 at Backcountry
$170 List
$169.95 at REI
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A tight-fitting vest that provides enough comfortable storage for the essentials without weighing you downA soft and spacious running sidekick with plenty of room for all of the essentials and then someThis pack is a winner if you want a comfortable vest that you can use to haul a ton of gear on your long, single-day adventureA mid-sized hydration vest with great features and all-day comfort available for a reasonable priceA well-featured running vest with specifically-placed pockets and great breathability that is specifically made for the demands of mountain running
Rating Categories Naked High Capacity... Nathan Pinnacle 12L... Ultimate Direction... Salomon Active Skin... Ultimate Direction...
Comfort (30%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Features (25%)
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
Hydration System (15%)
7.0
7.0
7.0
9.0
7.0
Volume to Weight Ratio (15%)
4.0
10.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
Pockets (15%)
6.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Naked High Capacity... Nathan Pinnacle 12L... Ultimate Direction... Salomon Active Skin... Ultimate Direction...
Weight (without hydration system) 5.1 oz 7.2 oz 7.8 oz 7.5 oz 11.5 oz
Carrying Capacity (liters) 3L+ 12L 10.1L 8L 12.7L
Included Liquid Capacity (liters) 1L 1.6L 1L 1L 1L
OGL Volume to Weight Ratio (bigger is better!) 0.59 1.6 1.29 1.06 1.1
External Storage Pole holding loops, pockets atop the hydration pockets, back section is a kangaroo pouch Large rear kangaroo pocket, front nutrition or soft flask accomodations water resistant chest pocket, rear compartment, , zippered main pocket, waterproof shoulder stash pocket 2 front flask pockets, 2 front pockets, back main zipped compartment, front zipped pocket Clamshell main compartment, 2 stash shoulder pockets, front mesh pocketsm corded elastic
Type of Water Storage 2 soft 500mL bottles 1.6 liter hourglass, insulated reservoir 2 500ml bottles
2L reservoir compatible (Not included)
2 500ml soft flasks 2 500ml collapsible bottles
Resevoir compatible (not included)
Pole Holders? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Naked HC sports bra-like vest is super comfortable, even when its 3+ liter capacity is maxed out. This vest has all of the features of a bigger, heavier vest but weighs in at only 5.1 ounces for a women's size 5. It is crucial to get the sizing right when purchasing this vest to help ensure comfort and prevent chafing. If you're in the market for a tight-fitting, supportive, breathable, and minimalist vest, the Naked HC is a great choice.

Performance Comparison


naked high capacity for women - evening neighborhood jaunts are super a breeze with the garment-like...
Evening neighborhood jaunts are super a breeze with the garment-like comfort of the Naked High Capacity vest. Pictured here with only one hydration flask.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Comfort


We were pleasantly surprised by how much comfort the Naked HC hydration vest provides. The component that tops our list as the most exceptional is the breathability of the mesh — we never felt like our bodies heated up beyond normal. The nylon mesh is also very soft. We've found that more breathable mesh can sometimes be rather stiff and irritating, and soft vests are often not as breathable as we prefer. Happily, the Naked HC hits a perfect balance of these two crucial elements of comfort. We truly forgot we were toting gear while ripping up mountain trails in this vest.


The Naked has an elastic band that snuggles in below the breast line. The purpose of this band is two-fold: it provides extra support, but it also helps ensure that the vest stays in place during even the most technical maneuvers. The zippered front closure is another unique and lovable element of this vest. The zipper makes for strong, complete closure and offers a compression-like feel. As a bonus, the zipper never needs to be adjusted like many of the bungee-closure options.

naked high capacity for women - the semi-lock zipper helps prevent this pack from opening while on...
The semi-lock zipper helps prevent this pack from opening while on the move.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Purchasing the correct size of the Naked vest is vital to ensure a comfortable fit. It is available in 12 different sizes, and a size chart is available to help you find the right one. If you do not choose the right size, you risk being unable to zip this vest closed. Or, if you choose a size that is too big, it won't have the delightful compression effect and thus won't be as comfortable. Though we love the comfort of this vest, we acknowledge that its shorter body and sports bra-like fit won't suit everybody. We personally love the anti-chafe body and seams, but as usual, we recommend trying this vest on before buying. Once you get the right fit, we bet you'll love the comfort of the Naked HC hydration vest as much as we did.

naked high capacity for women - the elastic banding around the edges of the naked hydration vest fit...
The elastic banding around the edges of the Naked hydration vest fit like a sports bra - that is why it is important to ensure you buy the right size to fit your body.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Features


The Naked HC packs a ton of features into a vest with a really low carrying capacity. It holds around 3 liters of gear, but the maximum capacity depends on your purchased size. This vest includes designated pole holders, though we found our cumbersome trekking poles too big to carry comfortably with this pack.


You'll get more use out of the pole holders if you have lighter and smaller poles. However, because of this pack's low capacity, it isn't our first pick for long trail days anyway. The Naked HC includes a safety whistle, a feature we take very seriously, and the heat transfer logos add an extra bit of safety if you run in lower visibility areas.

naked high capacity for women - a look at some of the helpful loops and bungees on the naked hc vest.
A look at some of the helpful loops and bungees on the Naked HC vest.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Our favorite feature is definitely the internal compression system. This thoughtful design creates this vest's overall comfort, and we don't think it would be the same without it. This system maintains its shape and compressive properties even when wet, which is important since this vest rides so close to your sweaty skin. Though this is not advertised, we found that this vest was also the absolute best for repelling odors. Perhaps because of the highly engineered mesh and the nylon body, this vest never smelled even after our steamiest runs.

naked high capacity for women - if you want a vest that helps hold your gear and your body in the...
If you want a vest that helps hold your gear and your body in the right place, this bounce-free vest is the way to go.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Hydration System


As far as soft flask hydration systems go, the Naked HC vest delivers. It includes two ultra-soft, 500mL flasks, and since the vest is meant to be worn high on the body, the mouthpiece of each flask is always close by.


The Naked vest doesn't feel top-heavy or cumbersome, unlike other high-riding vests with similar hydration systems. This is due to that compression system we love, which has convinced us that soft flasks can actually be a comfortable and non-bouncy option. We aren't even upset about the inability of this vest to accommodate a hydration bladder because of how comfortable and functional the soft flasks are. While you could shove a bladder onto the back pocket, this vest is not really designed for that, and after testing, we discovered that it doesn't really work.

naked high capacity for women - shoving a hydration bladder into the back side of this vest isn't...
Shoving a hydration bladder into the back side of this vest isn't something we recommend. The Naked vest performs much better with only one liter of water stashed in its front pockets.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

We recommend other options if you want a vest that can interchangeably accommodate a bladder and flasks. The one-liter total liquid capacity is spot on when considered in relation to this vest's overall capacity. You may not be able to carry the kitchen sink with this pack, but it can comfortably hold enough water and gear for shorter excursions.

naked high capacity for women - the soft flasks included with the naked vest are pretty standard...
The soft flasks included with the Naked vest are pretty standard, but they work as well as they need to.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Volume to Weight Ratio


The Naked HC vest has an average volume to weight ratio. It weighs in at 5.11 ounces for a size 5 and can hold around 3 liters, give or take.


Despite its standard ranking, the tight fit of this pack makes a full 3 liters of gear and water feel like much less during runs. Though we deducted a few points based on this ratio, if you are looking for a minimalist vest that will comfortably hold the essentials and nothing else, this is a great option for you.

naked high capacity for women - though this vest is lightweight, its minimal carrying capacity makes...
Though this vest is lightweight, its minimal carrying capacity makes it less impressive in terms of volume to weight ratio.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Pockets


We love the versatility of the pockets on the Naked HC. Aside from the ones for the soft flasks, all of the pockets are versatile enough so that you can choose where you stash your goods. As experienced long-distance runners, we have preferences for storing our gear, especially on race day. We like choosing what goes where instead of storing things the way the manufacturer thinks we should. This might be splitting hairs, but since it matters to us, we think it might matter to you too.


There are two pockets on the front of the vest for your flasks. The pockets are deep enough to accommodate different brands of flasks, which is nice. This also helps with the mobility and usability of the flasks. For example, if you pull one out at an aid station, you'll want the pocket that it goes back into to be big enough that the full flask slides right in. There is nothing worse than fighting with your hydration system while precious race minutes tick by. Atop these flask pockets are bilateral half-sized pockets with elastic at the top of each. Each elastic edging has a loop — we liked hooking our keyring to this and then tucking it in the pocket. The tight fit of this vest made it so that these pockets and their contents were secure against the flasks.

naked high capacity for women - though the naked hc lacks the huge storage compartments of much of...
Though the Naked HC lacks the huge storage compartments of much of its competition, it can hold some water, dog treats, and a few other essentials with ease.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Each underarm panel has a small mesh pouch with elastic edging. The one beneath the left arm has a small clip, which is another secure location to stash your keys. The backside has a deep pocket that runs the entire length of the pack. This pocket has a clip closure to keep your items safe. We love that the pocket with the largest volume sits directly against the body since this further cuts down on any bounce. Superficial to this large pocket, a wide pass-through pocket is a great place for stashing any layers you choose to shed. Overall, the Naked HC vest pockets are well-placed and highly functional, making every ounce of storage space usable.

naked high capacity for women - the back pass-through pocket is super snug and totally flush if you...
The back pass-through pocket is super snug and totally flush if you don't tuck anything into it.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Should You Buy the Naked High Capacity?


The Naked vest is a fantastic minimalist choice that quickly became one of our favorites. Though it doesn't hold as much as other options, its durability and usability make it well worth the cost. We even felt like we learned how to become more minimalistic on our runs thanks to this vest. We love a 12-liter capacity for ultra-distance days, but the Naked vest quickly became our daily choice for toting a bit of water on our shorter runs. This vest fits well because of its compression system, even if the only thing you stash in it is water. We never had any issues with sloshing and often opted to run with only one flask in front, saving the opposite pocket for iPhone storage.

naked high capacity for women - the compression system and snug fit of its vest make it one of our...
The compression system and snug fit of its vest make it one of our favorites for a bounce-less running experience.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

What Other Running Hydration Vests Should You Consider?


The Naked HC vest is unlike others we've tested. From its comfortable, bra-like fit to its smooth and seamless edges, this has become our daily running vest. It could be the perfect fit for you if you are looking for the most comfortable minimalist vest made especially for women. If you want a sort of minimal vest but want to be able to carry more or have the option to insert a hydration bladder, check out the Ultimate Direction Mountain Vesta 5.0. The Mountain Vesta fits in a contoured and minimal way but has a 10-liter storage capacity versus the 3-ish of the Naked vest. Though not a high scorer, the Amphipod PureRun Minimalist 24 is another minimalist vest with the capacity to carry 1.6-liters of gear, excluding water.

naked high capacity for women - the naked hc pack in action! our main tester ran a 16-mile mountain...
The Naked HC pack in action! Our main tester ran a 16-mile mountain race in this 3-ish liter vest.
Credit: Ally Arcuri

Ally Arcuri