Nathan Hypernight QuickStart 2.0 4 Liter Hydration Pack w/ 1.5L Bladder, Reflective to Be Seen at Night time, Entrance Water Bottle Pockets, Moisture Wicking, Unisex

Poor Design and Construction – Ripped On First Use
Nathan almost has the perfect hydration vest. However, one CRITICAL design and construction flaw renders this vest practically useless from the very start.The hydration bladder is attached to the vest by two small Velcro straps. The problem is that the straps are sewn into the vest without ANY backing support. The seam is directly in the super lightweight fabric. The weight of the water simply rips the Velcro strap out of the seam. In the attached picture you can see the result – AFTER ONE RUN.This was my second attempt to purchase and use this model vest. I didn’t notice the ripped seam on the first vest until after my 3rd run (trail marathon). BOTH straps ripped on on that day (or before and I didn’t notice). I didn’t understand why my water bladder was shifting around so much (very uncomfortable ).I returned the first vest and decided to give Nathan’s QuickStart a second chance. The next one had a seam rip out on the very FIRST run (pictured).All Nathan needs to do is to add some backing material to the seam in order to provide additional support. That’s all. Simple. It would be a 5 star rating then.Until that construction update happens, the best I can give this vest is a single star.

Nice phone pocket. Great visibility. Front pouch too small for 500ml flask
Updating my review after a few years of use.I’ve got a bunch of other running packs, but this is the first one I reach for when I’m going for a quick run or commuting to work. I like that it’s highly visible and has a good phone pocket.The phone pocket is what keeps me coming back – it’s zippered and made out of regular old nylon instead of some stretchy mesh that rips easily. The nylon material also makes it easier to operate the zipper quickly and frequently (e.g., when removing phone from pocket to change music, check for directions, or pay a subway toll). The zippered pocket fits an iPhone 15 with a little room to spare.In terms of hydration, you just need to accept that this pack is for use with a bladder only. The pocket in the front right shoulder strap is too short for a standard 500ml soft flask. See attached picture. I leave the bladder in the vest while refilling it and haven’t had any issues with the straps tearing.In terms of fit, neither the pack nor the straps are stretchy. So it’s tough to get the fit dialed in. It’s either too tight and restricts heavy breathing or it’s a little loose and bounces a little. I’ve gotten used to the slight bounce over time and it doesn’t bother me anymore. But you’ll definitely notice it when coming from a pack with stretchier materials.

Updated: Broken within 3 Months
Updated – I reached out to Nathan sports by calling their customer service number on their website. They were able to ship a replacement in less than a week. It was an easy experience. Hoping this product doesn’t have the same issues. I updated the overall rating because I do really like the product, and the customer service experience was good.Bought back in June of 2023. Fast forward 3 months and the backpack is already breaking. The storage for the water has ripped the seam to the back.Overall I liked the product, but this is concerning level of quality for what I paid for it.When it is not falling apart, it does do the job, has ample water storage for my long runs, and enough storage space for equipment like keys, wallet, gel packs, etc.

Product Received Damaged
I received this item damaged but did not know that it was damaged until I took it on a recent camping trip and the bladder pouch inside leaks water. By the end of my 5-mile hike I was soaking wet, and no water left in the pouch. I am one day late on replacement policy and so they will not return, replace or even make it right by sending me a new inside bladder so it does not leak. Complete waste of money!