Ready for the miles ahead
-
Ultimate Direction Body Bottle 500 - Hydrapak
A practical addition for longer days out
-
Precision Hydration PF30 Gel
Easy fuel for the long efforts
-
Lifesystems Hurricane Whistle
A small safety essential worth carrying
Ultimate Direction XODUS Vest
Long runs / race-ready distances (men's; ultra-breathable day-kit shuttle) · 7.0 L · 245 g
✓ Ships from Taupō · ✓ Easy 30-day returns · ✓ Covered by the manufacturer's warranty
The Xodus Vest is Ultimate Direction's 7-litre vest for race-ready distances, designed around uninterrupted front storage: nine front pockets, trekking-pole stashes, and stretchy fabric with a quick on/off zip that keeps the fit close, so you log miles rather than gear adjustments.
FEATURES
- 9 front pockets: 3 large stash pockets, 3 zippered pockets, 2 soft flask, and 1 small envelope pocket
- 2 larger back pockets, including a lower pass-through pocket
- Trekking pole carry loops are customisable for versatile carry options
- Easy on/off zipper and cinch system ensures balanced, bounce-free fit
- Reflective logos for increased visibility in low light conditions
- Available in 4 sizes for adaptive fit
- 2 BPA-free Body Bottle 500 soft flasks included
- Reservoir compatible up to 1.5L
- Patent Pending
SPECS
- Weight: 245 g (8.6 oz)
- Volume: 7 L
- No. of Exterior Pockets: 11
- Reflectivity: Yes
- Reservoir Compatible: Yes
MATERIALS
- Primary/Body: 100% Polyester
- Secondary: 82% Nylon 18% Elastane
SIZES
- SM: Chest: 80-91cm | 31-36in, Lower Ribs: 68-80cm | 27-32in
- MD: Chest: 89-100cm | 35-39in, Lower Ribs: 78-90cm | 31-36in
- LG: Chest: 97-110cm | 38-43in, Lower Ribs: 88-100cm | 35-39in
- XL: Chest: 110-120cm | 43-47in, Lower Ribs: 98-110cm | 39-43in
Ships from our Taupō warehouse, typically 2–4 working days NZ-wide. Free Click & Collect from the Taupō showroom. Easy 30-day returns on unused gear. Covered by the manufacturer's warranty against defects.
The honest take
Best for
Long runs / race-ready distances (men's; ultra-breathable day-kit shuttle)
Specs
| Volume | 7.0 LLong-run to race-day size. Full mandatory kit fits. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 245 g |
| Load system | Race-ready running vest: uninterrupted front storage; easy on/off front zipper + cinch system for close, bounce-free contour |
| Torso fit | SM/MD/LG/XL: chest 80-120 cm (SM 80-91, MD 89-100, LG 97-110, XL 110-120 cm); lower-ribs 68-110 cm also specified |
| Pockets | 11 exterior pockets: 9 front (3 large stash, 3 zippered, 2 soft-flask, 1 small envelope) + 2 larger back pockets incl. lower pass-through |
| Hydration | 2x BPA-free Body Bottle 500 soft flasks included; reservoir compatible up to 1.5 L (not included) |
| Pole carry | Yes |
| Best for | Long runs / race-ready distances (men's; ultra-breathable day-kit shuttle) |
Specs published by the manufacturer.
Details + technologies
Brand technologies, in plain English
Ultimate DirectionAdjustable Sternum Straps
Height-adjustable chest straps hook onto rails to fine-tune the fit and stop the front load bouncing.
UD uses adjustable sternum straps across the range: "dynamic sternum straps with hook closure [that] allow for full chest expansion without bounce" on race vests, and "static sternum straps [that] give bounce-free stability for larger loads" on bigger packs. Benefit: dial in the fit and kill front-of-chest bounce as your load changes through a run.
Ultimate DirectionStretch Mesh Pockets
Stretchy open mesh pockets on the front and sides let you stuff gels, gloves or a flask on the move.
UD vests carry "stretch mesh shove-it pockets" plus a "stretch back passthrough pocket… accessible from both sides." Benefit: quick, one-handed stashing with no zip to fumble. Trade-off: open mesh isn't as secure or weatherproof as the zippered chest pockets.
Ultimate DirectionFront-Bottle / Rear-Reservoir Setup
Front pockets hold two soft flasks at your chest while a rear sleeve takes a reservoir, so you can carry both.
UD's layout puts bottles at the front and a bladder at the back: vests ship with "2 HydraPak Body Bottle 500s" up front and an "internal reservoir sleeve" behind. Benefit: split your fluids (e.g. water in the bladder, electrolyte in the flasks) and balance the load. Trade-off: the reservoir is sold separately, and running both adds weight.
Ultimate DirectionRecycled Monomesh Liner
A soft recycled next-to-skin mesh with stretch side panels wraps the torso so the vest moves with you.
UD builds current vests from a "soft recycled monomesh liner [that] is lightweight, breathable, and strong for next to skin comfort," with "stretch side panels [that] wrap around the torso for a secure fit" and air-mesh behind the bottle pockets for chafe protection. Benefit: a body-hugging, breathable fit. Trade-off: thin stretch fabric is less abrasion-tough than the pack body.
Ultimate DirectionBody Bottle (Included)
Lightweight collapsible soft flasks that shrink as you drink to stop sloshing and pack flat when empty.
UD vests include HydraPak-made Body Bottles that "shrink as you drink to eliminate sloshing and collapse fully to a tiny size when empty," in "ultra-durable, abrasion resistant TPU," with a "high-flow bite valve [that] auto-seals after each sip." Benefit: no-slosh chest hydration you can pack away as you empty it.
Every technology explained in plain English. Supplier claims stay clearly labelled as theirs.
Find Your Path Tool
Gear Compare
Volume, load and fit. Vests against vests, never against a tramping pack.
Like-for-like only: Hydration vests. In-stock, fully-specced options are shown first; swap any column below.
|
This product
 Ultimate Direction XODUS Vest
$299.90
In stock
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volume | 7.0 L | 6.5 L | 6.0 L |
| Weight | 245 g | 222 g | 175 g |
| Load system | Race-ready running vest: uninterrupted front storage; easy on/off front zipper + cinch system for close, bounce-free contour | Quick on/off front zip + cinch, bounce-free; elastic lower-rib band; extra-stretchy contoured body; narrower shoulder/back cut than the Xodus Vest | Race vest: front bottles + rear stash; universal wraparound dynamic fit with stretch side panels and dynamic bungee sternum straps for chest expansion without bounce |
| Torso fit | SM/MD/LG/XL: chest 80-120 cm (SM 80-91, MD 89-100, LG 97-110, XL 110-120 cm); lower-ribs 68-110 cm also specified | XS chest 70–78 cm · SM 78–88 · MD 88–98 · LG 98–108 cm | XS/SM/MED/LRG/XL unisex full-size range (chest cm ranges not stated on page) |
| Pockets | 11 exterior pockets: 9 front (3 large stash, 3 zippered, 2 soft-flask, 1 small envelope) + 2 larger back pockets incl. lower pass-through | 9 exterior: 7 front (3 zip, 2 soft-flask, 1 stash, 1 envelope) + 2 back incl. lower pass-through | 9 exterior pockets: 2 front bottle (bungee-loop), 2 large zip ripstop chest (water/sweat-resistant, phone-size), 2 lower front stretch shove-it, large water-resistant rear compartment, stretch rear passthrough (both-side access), large rear secure pocket with key fob |
| Hydration | 2x BPA-free Body Bottle 500 soft flasks included; reservoir compatible up to 1.5 L (not included) | 2× Body Bottle 500 soft flasks included; reservoir-compatible to 1.5 L (not incl.) | 2x500 ml HydraPak Body Bottle 500 included; reservoir compatible, internal sleeve + hanging strap and hose loops (reservoir not included) |
| Pole carry | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Long runs / race-ready distances (men's; ultra-breathable day-kit shuttle) | Race-ready distances / long trail runs: ultra-breathable day-kit carry | Racing: built to be fast, light and comfortable |
Pack fit is worth 20 minutes in person. Book a fitting in Taupō.