Salomon ADV Skin Cross 15: 15 litres, 3,000 Schmerber fabric and stunning stability, but still no quiver

A "waterproof" trail pack is almost never truly waterproof. The fabric is rated at 3,000 Schmerber, which is modest against driving rain, and Salomon still doesn't include a rain cover with this €160 model. But on stability, the Adv Skin Cross 15 delivers something rare for a 15 litre pack: loaded to the brim, it doesn't budge. That's the point we set out to check, along with its very real limits, by cross-referencing several independent field tests.

Specifications

A pack built for rough conditions

The Adv Skin Cross 15 borrows the architecture of the best-selling Adv Skin 12, with a close-fitting SensiFit vest, but sets itself apart with a much larger back compartment, closed by a rolltop and made water-repellent by fabric rated at 3,000 Schmerber. Le Comparatif du Trail points out that this figure is modest by technical waterproofing standards and speaks of "water resistance" rather than real waterproofing, a nuance worth knowing before you buy rather than discovering in a downpour. The site also positions this model as an alternative to the Salomon XA 15, with a bit more storage but a less expandable main compartment.

Cyril Forestier, writing for Courir Mieux, tested the pack for four weeks over winter, mixing trail runs, easy runs, run commuting and even cross-country skiing. His take matches Le Comparatif du Trail on what the product is for: a pack built to stay functional when cold, rain or snow make every handling task harder. He especially highlights a widened Quicklink that works with thick gloves without any fuss, and a fabric that kept his gear dry on wet and snowy outings, although it was never put through prolonged torrential rain.

Stability: the one thing everyone agrees on

On this specific point, all three sources agree without reservation. Cyril Forestier describes a pack that stays "pinned front and back" even at full load, with virtually no flask bounce, a performance he considers rare for a 15 litre volume, where bouncing on descents is usually hard to avoid. Trail Pulse Active put the pack through roughly 80 km over three outings (a 32 km hike-and-run with 1,800 m of elevation gain, a 28 km long forest run and a 20 km night run, at 6 to 10°C, in light rain on muddy ground) and confirms stability that holds "in all conditions, including technical terrain", to the point where the pack "becomes almost invisible". None of the sources reports a counterexample here, which makes it the most firmly established strength of the product.

Storage and access: choices that split opinion

This is where views diverge. The two stretch front pockets under the flasks have lost volume compared with the Adv Skin 12: Cyril Forestier notes that he used to fit his whole hand in them, which is no longer possible here, a change that forces you to rethink how you organise the gear you carry up front. Trail Pulse Active points to a different but related access problem: the large rear pocket, despite its generous volume, is sometimes hard to reach on the move, forcing you to take the pack off to get to gear stored deep inside. The same test also flags narrow side pockets that are awkward with winter gloves.

On pole carrying, the verdict is unanimous and negative: the Cross 15 is not compatible with Salomon's Custom Quiver, unlike far more compact models in the range such as the S/Lab Pulsar 3. Cyril Forestier calls it his main disappointment, finding the alternative carrying elastics less practical, especially with long poles (130 cm in his case) that get in the way of your arm swing. Le Comparatif du Trail confirms the lack of compatibility and puts it down to the bulk of the enlarged rear compartment.

On exact weight, the sources disagree: Salomon claims 320 g in size S, a figure repeated by Courir Mieux and Le Comparatif du Trail, while Trail Pulse Active measured about 367 g empty, without the flasks. The gap may come from a different test size or a weighing method that included unspecified items. Since there's no way to settle it, think of a 320 to 370 g range depending on size rather than a single figure.

Hydration and comfort

The two 500 ml flasks supplied sit high, close to the chest, without restricting breathing according to Trail Pulse Active, which praises an attachment system that stops any bouncing. The pack also takes a bladder of up to 1.5 litres, routed through the low tunnel pocket rather than a shoulder strap, a choice that frees up the shoulders but means a longer tube run. On overall comfort, the SensiFit structure wins everyone over: stable fit, no chafing, consistent hold even at full load, with one minor reservation from Courir Mieux about a front slightly wider than on the Adv Skin 5 and 12, with no real impact on running comfort.

Strengths

• Outstanding stability at full load, confirmed independently by three sources on different terrain and over different durations.
• 15 litres you can actually use: waterproof jacket, food for several hours, mandatory ultra kit, without excessive squeezing.
• Widened Quicklink system you can operate with thick gloves.
• Wide rolltop opening that stays easy to use even with numb hands.
• Water-repellent fabric that does the job in everyday winter use (snow, light rain, damp).

Weaknesses

• Not compatible with the Custom Quiver, a step backwards if you carry your poles all the time.
• Front pockets smaller than on the Adv Skin 12, less handy for keeping food or gloves within reach.
• Large rear pocket sometimes hard to reach on the move.
• Limited real waterproofing (3,000 Schmerber) and no rain cover included despite the "tough conditions" positioning.
• Narrow side pockets, awkward with thick gloves.

RunMorph verdict

The Adv Skin Cross 15 delivers on the essentials: a 15 litre pack that doesn't move, even fully loaded, as Courir Mieux, Trail Pulse Active and Le Comparatif du Trail independently confirm. That alone is reason enough for ultra trail runners looking for stability and winter self-sufficiency. But the lack of quiver compatibility and the smaller front pockets compared with the Adv Skin 12 are real steps backwards, not details, if you carry your poles all the time or like having everything within reach without fumbling. At €160, with no rain cover included despite the "extreme conditions" positioning, the value is fair without being generous.