REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Huge storage capacity
Great pockets
Lots of size options
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Full-coverage fit
Nathan Pinnacle 12L - Women's Review
The most comfortable and spacious hydration pack that we have tested to date
Feeling lightweight and free in the super cozy Nathan Pinnacle 12L.
Credit: Ally Meller
Our Verdict
The Nathan Pinnacle 12L is a comfortable hydration vest that provides an apparel-like fit with abundant space for hauling the essentials and plenty of water. This hydration system earned our Editor's Choice Award because of its soft and supple frameless body. The 1.6L insulated bladder, low weight, and creative pocket placement all come together to create one of our favorite running vests to date. This pack scored impressively across all our metrics and rigorous testing. Trail runners, marathoners, and day hikers alike will love this hydration pack's cozy material and abundant space. We sure did. Our review of women's running hydration pack shows how it stacks up versus competing products.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 1, 2022, with additional findings and recommendations after our fall round of testing.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nathan Pinnacle 12L - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Running Hydration Vest for Women |  Best Hydration System Versatility |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best for Race Day | Best for Rugged Adventures |
| Price | $189.99 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $119.73 at REI | $115 List $114.95 at Backcountry | $99.95 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $99.17 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A soft and spacious running sidekick with plenty of room for all of the essentials and then some | Versatility, comfort, and easy-to-use function all come together to make this pack one of our favorites for trail and road runs of all distances | A mid-sized hydration vest with great features and all-day comfort available for a reasonable price | This 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 adventure | An affordable yet mighty vest with ample features, accommodating pockets, and a svelte, female-specific design |
| Rating Categories | Nathan Pinnacle 12L... | Salomon ADV Skin 12... | Salomon Active Skin... | Ultimate Direction... | Osprey Dyna 6 - Wom... |
| Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Features (25%) | |||||
| Hydration System (15%) | |||||
| Volume-to-Weight Ratio (15%) | |||||
| Pockets (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Nathan Pinnacle 12L... | Salomon ADV Skin 12... | Salomon Active Skin... | Ultimate Direction... | Osprey Dyna 6 - Wom... |
| Measured Weight (Without Hydration System) | 7.2 oz | 9.6 oz | 7.5 oz | 9.2 oz | 10.7 oz |
| Advertised Carrying Capacity (Volume by Liter) | 12.0 L | 12.0 L | 8.0 L | 10.1 L | 6.0 L |
| Advertised Included Liquid Capacity (Volume by Liter) | 1.6 L | 1.0 L | 1.0 L | 1.0 L | 1.5 L |
| OGL Volume-to-Weight Ratio (Bigger Is Better!) | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| Number of Pockets (Including Hydration) | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Included Water Storage | 1.6 L hourglass-shaped insulated reservoir | Two 0.5 L bottles | Two 0.5 L soft flasks | Two 0.5 L Body Bottle III soft flask | 1.5 L reservoir |
| Optional Water Storage (Not Included) | Two soft flasks up to 0.53 L/ea | Reservoir compatible up to 1.5 L | Reservoir compatable up to 1.5 L | Reservoir compatable up to 2.0 L | Two soft flask pockets up to 0.25 L/ea |
| Available Pockets | 4 front flask/stash pockets, 2 water-resistant chest zip pockets, 1 interior key/pill pocket, 2 side stash pockets, 1 back stash pocket with velcro tab, 2 rear kangaroo stash pockets (1 side access and 1 side + vertical access), 1 large back diagonal zip pocket, 1 reservoir compartment with velcro tab | 2 bilateral front flask/stash pockets with elastic loops, 2 bilateral side stretch pockets, 2 bilateral front zip pockets, 2 shoulder stretch pockets, 1 interior trash pocket, 1 large back zip compartment, 1 rear dual-entry tunnel pocket, 1 top stretch pocket, 1 insulated rear reservoir sleeve with hook | 2 front flask/stash pockets, 1 front zipped pocket, 2 front stretch pockets, 1 back main zip compartment, 1 small interior stash pocket, 1 back reservoir compartment | 2 cinching flask/stash pockets with loops, 2 (low) front stash pockets, 1 water-resistant chest zip pocket, 1 water-resistant shoulder stash pockets. 2 rear zippered lat pockets, 1 water-resistant main back zip compartment, 1 stretch mesh back stash pocket, 1 reservoir compartment with snap hook | 2 upper front flask/stash pockets, 4 lower front stretch pockets, 1 zip phone/chest pockets, 2 stretch mesh side panel pockets, 1 back zip compartment 1 stretch mesh back pocket, 1 back zip reservoir sleeve |
| External Storage Options | None | Dual-side bungee | Back bungee | Back bungee | Lash loops |
| Pole Holders | 1 vertical entry rear kangaroo pocket | Elastic bungees and loops (front and rear options), custom quiver compatible | Custom quiver compatible, back bungee | 4 hooks and bungee loops (front or back closure) | Front/side loop attachments |
| Extra Features | Adjustable sternum straps. loops/hose guides and magnetic latch safety whistle, reflective detailing | Torso cinch system, hydration flask loops, dual side compression laces, safety whistle, interior key clip, reflective loop for light, bottom hose port and shoulder guide | Torso cinch system, safety whistle, loops, elastic key clip, bottom hose port and shoulder loops/guides | Comfort cinch torso adjustment system, adjustable sternum straps, shoulder port for hose, key clip | Adjustable chest straps, shoulder path and guide/loop for hose, safety whistle, lash points, bungee loop zipper pulls |
| Sizes Available (Size Tested) | XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL (Size S) | 2XS. XS, S, M, L (Size S) | XS, SM, MD, LG, XL (Size SM) | SM, MD, LG, XL (Size S) | WS , WM, WL (Size WS) |
| Additional Capacity Options (Included Hydration) | Pinnacle 4 L (1.2 L), Pinnacle Featherlite 1.5 L (0.4 L) | ADV Skin 5 L (1.0 L) | Active Skin 4 L (1.0 L), Active Skin 12 L (1.0 L) | N/A | Dyna LT (0,7 L), Dyna 1.5 L (1.5 L), Dyna 15 L (2.5 L) |
| Gender Specific or Unisex | Women's, (Men's model also available) | Women's (Unisex model also available) | Unisex | Women's (Men's Vest also available) | Women's (Men's models also available) |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nathan Pinnacle 12L is one of the most comfortable and spacious packs we've ever had the pleasure of testing. Its exceptional volume-to-weight ratio and high-tech hydration system make it a worthy investment.
Performance Comparison
There is nothing better than a day in the forest with everything you need easily stowed in your vest.
Credit: Ally Meller
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, the Pinnacle truly shines. This vest is comprised of 85% polyester, 8% nylon, 4% spandex, and 2% rubber wire. This cocktail of textiles culminates in one of the softest and most breathable vests we've ever felt.
Nathan offers six size options, from XXS to XL, to help ensure a proper fit for all runners. Because this vest is frameless, it hugs the body in just the right way, provided you purchase the right size for your body. We found this vest to run true to size, but we recommend reviewing Nathan's size chart before purchasing. Because the lower portion of the vest isn't adjustable, it's vital to ensure a proper fit. Otherwise, you might find yourself loaded with gear in an ill-fitted vest. With the proper fit, this vest will offer you all the storage you need for even the longest days on your feet.
We noticed that the Pinnacle provides a more dispersed weight distribution profile than other hydration vests. The ability to stuff your pack full and run with equally distributed weight is one of the many reasons we love this vest. The clip closures on the front are adjustable to tighten it, and the clips can slide up and down the breast rail to place the pressure where it feels best on your body. In addition to a full hydration bladder, the rails offer just enough structure to keep the pack in place. Our only comfort complaint is that if the back upper portion wasn't immaculately Velcro-ed together, we noticed our (admittedly long) hair getting caught up in it. This issue was solved by changing the configuration of our ponytails, so we don't think it detracts from the experience of wearing this vest as a whole.
The snug, apparel-like fit of the Pinnacle 12L makes it an ultra-comfortable choice for long days on the run.
Credit: Ally Meller
Features
The Pinnacle is stacked with features. From its stealth pole holders to its well-thought-out pocket placement to its ultra-breathable fabric, this vest is done right. Nathan reconfigured the pack to be light while maintaining an impressive storage capacity.
The pack contains two easily accessed kangaroo pockets. These are in addition to the water-resistant breast panel pockets with zippered closures. The right breast panel pocket even has a small pill pocket with a safety whistle in case of emergencies.
We love the front zippered pockets - they store our gear safely and securely.
Credit: Ally Meller
The tech-savvy shape of the Pinnacle allows for a “chimney-wicking” effect and keeps the air flowing. We love that all of the pocket openings are big enough to pack and rearrange our gear easily. This hydration vest offers significantly fewer loops and cords than others, but we never found this feature to be lacking because of the exceptional pocket space. Nathan recommends storing your trekking poles in the vertical entry kangaroo pocket at the back of the pack, which worked well for us to provide easy access on the move.
We love how comfortable this vest is, even when stuffed to the brim with all of our gear.
Credit: Ally Meller
Hydration System
This pack comes equipped with an intelligently designed hourglass-shaped, 1.6L insulated hydration bladder. We love an insulated hydration bladder, especially one with ergonomics in mind, and this one is top-tier. Because the Pinnacle offers so much space for gear, we think it's a great vest for super long days in the backcountry and, you guessed it, ultramarathoners.
With this in mind, we wish this vest came with a bit more water-storage capacity. We found ourselves crouching over alpine lakes to filter water and refill the bladder on our longest days. We also noticed some sloshing of the water when we ran without anything else in the back chambers of the pack. However, once we loaded up our gear, this issue was totally mitigated. The hydration system is clearly well-designed.
When the pack only contains the bladder, the water has a tendency to slosh. Next time, we'll load up some more snacks to alleviate this.
Credit: Ally Meller
From the Velcro loop to secure the hose in place to the shoulder and breast panel loops to keep it going in the right direction, the mouthpiece will always be right where you need it to be. This is yet another Nathan hydration system with a long hose. There is even a movable magnet clip that comes on the hose. The opposite piece of the magnet can only be moved vertically, but this still gives a lot of variety when configuring its position.
The magnetic hose clip helps keep your water access clear for when you need it most.
Credit: Ally Meller
The front pockets are deep enough to accommodate soft 500mL bottles, though those are not included. We did a few long runs with the bladder and soft flasks and still found the weight well-distributed. Ultimately, we are pretty satisfied with the hydration system.
Look at how big the front pockets are!
Credit: Ally Meller
Volume to Weight Ratio
Here, we have another metric in which the Pinnacle outshines much of its competition. The total volume of this hydration pack is 12L, and it weighs in at 7.2 ounces without the hydration bladder. This makes its volume-to-weight ratio the best out of the group of packs we tested.
Nathan thought of everything, it seems, when designing this pack. The low weight and abundant storage make it a winner in our books.
This hydration pack offers a slender profile when it isn't jammed full of gear.
Credit: Ally Meller
Pockets
The Pinnacle has 14 external pockets — 14! Honestly, it's so many pockets that you might have a hard time navigating this pack on its maiden voyage — that was our experience, anyway. We say that with love, of course, as we are obsessed with pockets.
Let's start with the back. The deepest pocket's backing is comprised of 3 panels: a nylon one in the center and a strong mesh-like panel on either side of that. This pocket is, naturally, for the hydration bladder. The next back pocket, moving away from the body, has a Velcro closure and is about 5-inches wide by 6-inches deep. We love the uniqueness of this pocket, as many packs do not offer this much variety. The most superficial pockets run the entire length of the pack but are each only half its width, and both come with Velcro closures. One offers top and single-side access, with Velcro at each end, while the other is accessible through one side alone. These are awesome kangaroo pockets for stashing gloves, arm sleeves, or another layer on those days when you aren't sure if you're too hot or too cold.
Upon first glance, the Pinnacle may not look like it has 15 full pockets, but it does!
Credit: Ally Meller
A diagonally placed zipper also runs the full length, providing a wide access point to yet another large pocket for stowing items across the right half of the pack. We love how thoughtfully this compartment was designed; it has a stretchy bit of fabric adhered at the base to prevent items from tumbling out of your pack while on the trail. We prefer this pocket over the more simply designed clamshell pockets on some of our other favorite hydration vests.
With so many pockets you can really customize your trail kit.
Credit: Ally Meller
Beneath each armpit, there is a small pouch with a light elastic top. These pockets aren't very big or secure, but they offer easy access to items you might not want to rummage through the larger pockets to find. We also like the symmetry of the front pocket placement. Each chest panel has a long pocket for water bottles with additional stash pockets on top of those. On dry days, we placed our smartphones and nutrition in these lower front pockets. The scrunchy elastic closures kept our items safe and secure. A vertical zipper runs parallel to each of the front railings, granting access to long, spacious front pockets. As previously mentioned, these pockets are water-resistant and can be a great home for your phone. The small pill pocket inside the right breast pocket is great for stashing your keys, chapstick, or anything you want to keep super safe.
The front pockets of the Nathan Pinnacle 12L are spacious enough to accommodate even lesser-used nutrition items.
Credit: Ally Meller
Should You Buy the Nathan Pinnacle 12L?
The Pinnacle is on the pricier side for sure. Because it offers so many bells and whistles (literally), we find the higher price to be well worth it. If you aren't interested in a vest that offers so much, it'd be worth looking at a more minimalistic style. A maximalist-style hydration vest like this one might not be for everyone, but if it checks your boxes, we think you'll love it. This pack is durable, smartly designed, and has an excellent storage capacity.
For a vest this comfy, we think the higher-than-average price is totally worthwhile.
Credit: Ally Meller
What Other Running Hydration Vests Should You Consider?
Whether you're looking for a trail running sidekick, marathon mate, or a super smooth vest to bring with you on day hikes, the Nathan Pinnacle 12L is a great choice. The size options and soft body ensure a comfy fit, and the abundant pocket space is out of this world. If you don't mind shelling out a bit of extra cash in the name of comfort, we recommend it. If you want a more budget-friendly buy, check out the Nathan TrailMix 7L instead. It doesn't hold quite as much, but it is a budget-friendly purchase that offers a huge bang for your buck. If you want a minimalist hydration pack, we love the Naked HC. It holds around a quarter of the capacity when compared to the Pinnacle, but sometimes you don't want to carry everything on your runs. For a vest that offers similar levels of comfort and versatile storage with excellent breathability, check out the Salomon ADV Skin 12.
A hydration vest that's this reliable will get you through training runs and race days with ease.
Credit: Ally Meller
—Ally Arcuri
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