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Salomon Women's Active Skin Set Pack Review

Updated: March 8, 2024

A budget-friendly running vest with a women's-specific fit and ample storage for bounce-free comfort on your run

Likes

  • Women's fit
  • Breathable materials
  • Stretchy chest strap
  • Plenty of storage
  • Accessible front pockets
  • Sternum straps easier to fasten and more comfortable

Dislikes

  • Long straws on flasks
  • Direction of zipper on side pocket
  • Loose rear pocket
  • Less stretch than other Salomon packs

What's New

The Salomon Active Skin W Set Pack is a specialized hydration vest constructed for a woman's specific fit. The Sensifit design provides comfort and breathability with an improved sternum strap system that easily adjusts for a personalized fit. The pack comes in 4L and 12L volume capacity with two 500-ml flasks included (amounting to 1 liter of hydration) with the option of holding a 1.5-liter reservoir (not included) in the back. There is ample storage on the front and back to securely carry essential items (nutrition, clothes, gear, phone, keys, and more) for up to a half day's worth of running.

The Bottom Line

Specifically designed to accommodate a woman's shape, the Salomon Active Skin W Set Pack has a snug, wrap-around fit that contours to the female physique. Using Sensifit technology, the pack provides a comfortable, balanced fit around a woman's upper body, preventing unwanted bounce while adapting to her natural stride and movement. The new asymmetrical bottles are positioned to rest below the bust rather than over it to improve breathability and avoid unwanted pressure and weight across the chest, which our testers enjoyed. An ideal companion for the novice trail runner, this reliable and budget-friendly pack also features dual stretch straps in the front that curve closer to the neck to allow for easier fastening and a better range of arm motion, reflective detailing for safety, and a shock cord for securing a jacket. The Salomon Active Skin Women's has enough storage capacity for extra clothes and gear in the larger packs or streamlined storage in smaller models.

Shop Salomon Active Skin W Set Pack

Our In-Depth Look

Fit & Comfort

Kaitlin: "The pack fits very close to the body, with very little extraneous movement. The straps, which curve in closer to the neck and in front of the chest, made securing the fasteners easy and created better range for my arms to move without any rubbing. Additionally, the opening on the straps came up at the right height, just over my lats, to prevent chafing in that area."

Liz: "I'm a big fan of the Salomon Women's Pack designs! They snugly hug my body for a bounce-free and chafe-free running experience (even when weighed down). The chest strap design and stretch mesh along the sides allow the pack to move with your body and keep you from feeling restricted when you breathe."

Pack Storage

Kaitlin: "All the front pockets are in easily accessible spots on the front of the pack, and there are many storage options. I would change the left side zipper pocket to zip up instead of down to close. As it is, there is a risk of things dropping out more easily while you are accessing the pocket on your run. Additionally, the right front open mesh pocket has a small opening at the bottom, which seemed odd. I believe it's part of another feature, but it made me wary of putting smaller items in that pocket. The backpack portion has a pocket, key strap, and bungee cords for even more storage options."

Liz: "I am amazed by how much I can fit in this pack! Although the non-stretch nylon material of the Active Skin Pack's rear pocket doesn't allow it to be overstuffed (like the more accommodating material in the Advanced Skin and Sense Pro), there is still plenty of room in this version for anything you would need for a multi-hour to day-long trail run. I also love the layered front pockets that allow easy access to a phone or nutrition."

Hydration

Kaitlin: "These flasks are easy to drink out of and have enough volume that I wouldn't need the addition of a reservoir in most cases. I appreciate that the bulk of the flask sits below the chest, allowing the pack to fit more comfortably and securely. Given the narrow opening, they might be harder to fill when racing, but they are fine for daily training. The taste of plastic does not go away with use, but I think that's standard for all hydration packs. I do wish there was a slightly higher fixture on the straps to snap the top of the straw back or that the straw was shorter."

Liz: "The women's-specific bottles in the Active Skin Pack really work. They are shaped to accommodate a woman's chest and lie flat against the body without bouncing. The wide mouth is easy to clean and fill, and the straws offer easy hands-free access to hydration. The only issue with these bottles is that the straws are very long and will most likely need to be trimmed to the runner's desired length."

Quality

Kaitlin: "There was some light fraying of the elastic loops on the pack, but the overall construction, zippers, and fasteners are high quality and won't break with regular wear. The fabric on the backpack doesn't have a lot of give, so the capacity is limited, but the material is durable."

Liz: "While the materials of this pack aren't as technical or high quality as the Advanced Skin or Sense Pro models, the pack is still very well made and durable. I foresee this pack lasting a very long time."

Value

Kaitlin: "The Active Skin Pack has all the necessary features and a great, comfortable fit at a very reasonable price. It is going to fulfill the needs of most people looking for a daypack."

Liz: "This pack takes the fit and technologies of Salomon's highest level running packs and makes an affordable version that doesn't compromise on performance. While the materials aren't as high quality as the other two packs in the series, and there isn't quite as much accommodating stretch, this pack is hard to beat at $100. Those looking for incredible value won't be disappointed."

Individual Thoughts

KaitlinOverall Score: 9/10

The pack felt like it wrapped around me securely and evenly. Compared to some other brands, I appreciated how the Salomon Active Skin Women's Pack sits higher on my back and has a little more balance and a great range of motion. The overall structure does a great job of fitting around my body and being easy to put on. There are great storage options in the front, and the bottle capacity was more than sufficient and comfortably placed.

LizOverall Score: 9/10

The Salomon Women's Active Skin Vest is an amazing value! With a similar feel to the higher-end Salomon vests (the Sense Pro Vest and Advanced Skin Vest), many will be pleased with the fit and quality of the Active Skin. The women's-specific fit and bottles help to provide a bounce-free running experience, and the pocket options allow for easy access to a phone and nutrition in front while still offering plenty of storage in the rear. I found the pack to be well-made and very durable. Truthfully, the only reasons to move up to the Advanced Skin Pack would be to have a more compressive, bounce-free rear pocket and to switch from the rougher mesh material to the Advanced Skin's softer mesh. I found that the more technical materials of the Advanced Skin Pack offered a slightly more accommodating fit that moved a bit more with my body during a run. But at $50 less than the next model up, it would be a hard choice not to stick with the Active Skin pack.

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