On the start lines of short and mid-distance trail races in France, you can hardly miss an ADV Skin 5. Salomon's runaway best-seller for several generations, this 5-liter vest is still the benchmark every competitor in the segment measures itself against. The latest version refines the formula with a Y-shaped back and a new Quick Link strap.
© Salomon, official photo used for editorial purposes
The Salomon ADV Skin 5 is a 5-liter trail running vest built around SensiFit technology, a 4-way stretch fabric that hugs your torso like a second skin and disappears after hours on your feet. At 228 grams, with 2 Ultra 500 ml soft flasks included, 9 pockets and a new Y-shaped construction to keep the load stable, it targets trail races from 20 to 60 kilometers. Its main flaw is well known and well documented: no waterproofing and a bladder capped at 1.5 liters, which keep it on short and mid-distance formats rather than fully self-supported ultras.
Since its first generation, the ADV Skin has held a special place in Salomon's lineup: it's the vest nearly every competitor in the 5-liter segment positions itself against, from Millet to Oxsitis to Nike. That status isn't a marketing accident. It comes from years of iterations on the same technical base, proven on elite ultra-trail circuits including UTMB.
The latest generation brings two concrete changes. First, a Y-shaped back with strategically placed stretch panels that stabilize the weight and cut down micro-bounce. Second, the Quick Link chest strap, which you can adjust one-handed mid-race without stopping. SensiFit fabric remains the product's signature: a 4-way stretch polyamide and elastane blend that constantly adapts to your breathing.
RunMorph's advice: for short to mid-distance racing (trail marathons, 20 to 60 km), the ADV Skin 5 is hard to beat on comfort. If you're targeting a fully self-supported ultra over 80 km, go straight to the Salomon ADV Skin 12, which offers a 2-liter bladder and more volume.
| Feature | Salomon ADV Skin 5 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Salomon |
| Type | Unisex trail running vest, 5 sizes (XS to XL) |
| Volume | 5 L (3 to 5 L depending on size) |
| Empty weight | 228 g (size M), 308 g with included accessories |
| Dimensions | 38 x 20 x 6 cm (size M) |
| Body fabric | 78% polyamide, 22% elastane, SensiFit 4-way stretch technology |
| Back construction | Y-shaped construction, stabilizing stretch panels |
| Pockets | 9 in total: 2 front bottle holders, 2 stretch front pockets, 1 zippered front pocket, 2 shoulder pockets, 1 dual-access rear pocket, 1 trash pocket |
| Included flasks | 2 Salomon Ultra 500 ml soft flasks |
| Bladder | Compartment + insulated sleeve included, soft reservoir up to 1.5 L (not included) |
| Straps | Quick Link (quick adjustment without stopping), 2 side compression cords |
| Pole holder | Compatible with Custom Quiver (sold separately) |
| Waterproofing | No, no waterproof coating |
| Care | Hand wash, 40°C max |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Official price | €140 |
On comfort, feedback has been consistent for years: SensiFit fabric makes you literally forget the vest after hours of running. A recent field test points out that the Y-shaped construction adds even more stability by shifting the weight toward the shoulders and off the lower back, a sensitive area on long runs. The Quick Link strap also changes your race day: you cinch the vest on the fly on climbs when you're breathing harder, then loosen it on descents, without ever stopping.
A longtime user who has raced this model for several years over 30 to 100 km confirms how good the transverse rear pocket is: you can stash a jacket without taking the vest off, a feature he rarely finds elsewhere. He also flags a real, concrete flaw: the mesh just above this kangaroo pocket tends to tear with prolonged use. A few stitches usually fix it, but it's a clear sign that fabric durability remains the product's weak spot next to its lavish comfort.
On hydration, Salomon owns the trade-off: the bladder tops out at 1.5 liters, versus 2 liters or more on bulkier models. Combined with the lack of waterproofing (the fabric has no waterproof coating), this limit clearly puts the ADV Skin 5 in short and mid-distance territory, not long self-supported efforts in wet conditions.
© Salomon, official photo used for editorial purposes
| Criterion | Salomon ADV Skin 5 | Millet Intense Pro 5L | Salomon ADV Skin 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | 5 L | 5 L | 12 L |
| Weight | 228 g | 190 g | ~250 g |
| Fabric | SensiFit 4-way stretch | Dyneema stretch | SensiFit |
| Included flasks | 2 x 500 ml | Offset shoulder placement | 2 x 500 ml |
| Max bladder | 1.5 L | Not specified | 2 L |
| Intended use | 20-60 km | Trail racing | Ultra, 60 km and up |
| Price | €140 | €180 | €160 |
Against the Millet Intense Pro 5L, which costs 40 euros more, the ADV Skin 5 keeps the edge with its bladder compatibility and a Quick Link system that's more versatile day to day, while Millet bets on flasks offset toward the shoulders and an even stretchier Dyneema fabric. Against its big brother, the Salomon ADV Skin 12, the choice comes down to distance: under 60 km, the 5L is more than enough and stays lighter; beyond that, the 12L's 2-liter bladder becomes a must.
© Salomon, official photo used for editorial purposes
For training and races from 20 to 50 km, it's one of the most polished options on the market today, with carry comfort that's hard to match across that distance range.
At 228 grams and with its Y-shaped construction, the ADV Skin 5 stays put on your back even through sudden changes of pace on technical descents.
With a bladder capped at 1.5 liters and no waterproofing, it's the wrong pick for a fully self-supported ultra over 60-80 km. The Salomon ADV Skin 12 takes over on that terrain.
© Salomon, official photo used for editorial purposes
© Salomon, official photo used for editorial purposes
For your long runs with the ADV Skin 5, pair it with a RunMorph training plan and pack a waterproof jacket in the rear pocket instead of relying on the vest's fabric, which isn't treated to repel water. On efforts beyond 3 to 4 hours, keep an eye on your water supply too: 1.5 liters goes fast in hot weather.
The Salomon ADV Skin 5 lives up to its reputation as the benchmark of the 5-liter segment. SensiFit fabric still delivers the most comfortable feel on the market, the new Y-shaped construction makes a concrete difference in stability, and the Quick Link strap is an upgrade that genuinely changes your race day. The 2 included soft flasks and 9 pockets round out a remarkably polished product.
The limits are well known and owned by Salomon itself: no waterproofing, a bladder capped at 1.5 liters, and mesh above the rear pocket flagged as a weak point after several years of heavy use. None of these is a deal-breaker for the intended use (trail races from 20 to 60 km), but they're reason enough not to take this particular model into ultra distances.
8.5/10: the best 5-liter trail running vest on the market if you race short to mid-distance formats, as long as you accept its premium price point.