CamelBak RaceBak Women's Hydration Shirt

I received this as a gift. To say it runs small is an understatement. You need to be a Chinese contortionist to get the shirt on. I normally wear a size medium and the shirt was sized a medium, but was more like an x small. Buyer beware!

Really like this top. It runs a bit small so, depending on the fit you like, you might want to order a size bigger. It is easy to get the drinking bladder out to wash the top.

I am not sure what Camelbak has done here. I like the idea of the product. The fabric in the bottom is soft and stretchy, but at the top it is a stiff fabric, with no give. I assume this might be related to supporting the weight of the bladder. However, the sizing is off. I am a 34A and I expected sizing to take into account use of a sports bra (as one would, for example, buying a jacket or a vest). According to the Camelbak size chart, I should order a size small. I ordered a size medium after reading previous reviews and when I tried the medium on, the zipper was hard to close and it restricted my breathing. Seriously? I will try a large, even though the bottom will be even looser, but I suspect it won't work well.

I just received this in a size Medium today and tried it on for size. I am 5'2", small busted and typically wear size SM althletic gear; however, I am glad I read reviews as product was very form fitting. There would have been no way I would have fit into a small shirt. I am looking forward to using this for 1/2 marathon training.

This is the 2nd Camelbak RaceBak Women's Hydration pack w/ full length zipper I have purchased. My original one was purchased almost 2 years ago. I have used it for running 10k races, half marathon training and races, and now am training for my first full distance marathon. It does NOT shift around at all. It fits snugly, like a jog bra. I have never had any chafing issues from it. My original one is still in perfect condition after LOTS of miles:)I decided to purchase a 2nd one for back up, because my long distance runs are every other week now. Yesterday was a 24 miler and the Camelbak Racebak Women's Hydration pack kept my hydrated in the heat of Florida!!I hope they continue to make this product forever!!On another note, I do NOT recommend the half zip version. I recommend the full length zipper version. The 1/2 length one was difficult to pull over my head and the zipper broke my very first time using it. Also the half length one didn't have a strap to hold the hose down...

Bought according to size recommendations and it was WAY too small! Small is not an ok size for a 34C chest. I could barely zip this muchless breathe. Conceptually is great, just wish it was cut a bit more generously.

I was hesitant to buy this because of the reviews about poor sizing. I normally wear a small bike jersey. I don't have wide shoulders and my cup size is 34B. I went with the medium because of prior reviews and it fits just fine. In fact, I could probably fit in a small, and I'm really glad I didn't go with a large as some other reviewers advised. Overall, it's a slim fit just as it is meant to be, and when I lift my arms up, it still covers my stomach, so the length is great. I wear it while mountain unicycling during which I am always in an upright position (obviously...I have no handlebars!). I forgot I was even wearing the bladder after a 6-mile hill workout. I didn't feel any sloshing around, even on the steep climbs where I encountered the most upper-body movement. The bladder and hose never leaked, the water stayed cool, and the hose was always accessible. I was worried about the hunchback look, but it wasn't bad at all. A passerby asked me where my water was coming from because he saw the hose but no pack, so I showed him the bladder in the pouch. He hadn't even noticed until I pointed it out, so I think calling it a hunchback is an exaggeration.This can be worn under a jersey, but since California isn't getting a winter season this year, I've just been wearing this alone over a sports bra. The fabric is light and you can see through it, so if you plan to wear it alone, your sports bra is most likely going to show through. Like all Camelbak products, it will withstand a beating. When wearing it by itself, I definitely recommend this product to mountain bikers, since we tend to wear shorts with lots of pockets already. I imagine a road cyclist will not like this by itself because there are no lumbar pockets. But with a pocketed jersey, I would recommend it to anyone.

The other reviewers complaining about sizing are right. The vest is very tight, even sizing up, and even considering the measurements camelbak offers. Bought it for running but the weight put a lot of pressure on my back and the tightness made breathing difficult. Might be best for biking or someone with a better lower back. I had to purchase a belt system to get through my training instead.

Tolle Weste, gute Qualität und super Konzept. Man muss keinen Extra-Trinkrucksack mitnehmen. Ich habe die Racebak Weste im Sommer bei langen Läufen als Trikot genutzt, das ging super. Das Trinksystem funktioniert, man kann auch andere Trinkblasensysteme einsetzen. Allerdings fällt die Weste extrem klein aus. Ich trage normalerweise eine 36, damit meist S. Die S Weste habe ich aber nicht zubekommen, in M sitzt sie so eng, dass man sie wirklich nur als Funktionsunterwäsche tragen könnte. So habe ich mich in Endeffekt für L entschieden.

This was clearly a previously returned item, small mark on the front and poorly folded. Before I returned the item I tried it on and it is tiny! I'm a size 8 and small chested and I could barely do the zip up. It is also very short, I'm 5'8 but I'd expect a size medium to be adequate in length. I would only recommend this to very petite, flat chested, short women. The medium size is about a UK size 6-8

Q: Are there pockets on the back of the jersey?A: No, there are no pockets on the back. This product is sold as a base-layer, so cyclists seem to wear this under the jersey. I put my cellphone, emergency cash and the ID inside a ziploc sandwich bag (to keep them water-proof) and stored it along with the reservoir pouch.Q: Does it keep you cool or does it add heat?A: Camelbak says it helps you stay cool. Some stores the reservoir pouch in the fridge or freezer the night before so that the water stays nice and cold. It'll keep your core temperature down. I live in Canada and it's not that hot anymore up here, so I didn't bother cooling the water pouch and it was just the right temperature for me. If you live in a hot area, cooling the water is probably a good idea. Also, the Racebak came with a pad insert. You can add this pad inbetween the shirt and the water pouch to keep it insulated from the heat emitted from your core. The water should stay cool with the help of the pad. I personally like lukewarm water and I didn't want to carry extra bulge on my back, so I didn't use the pad. Go lighter and drink warmer water, or go a bit bulkier and drink cooler water. I think it's a personal/regional/seasonal preference.Q: Does it bounce? Does it chafe?A: I think it depends on your running style. If your running is bouncy, gazelle-like stride, then it's probably noticeable. If the regular Camelbak is too bouncy, then there won't be any dramatic difference for Racebak. My running style is minimalist with Vibram FiveFinger so I run like I'm shuffling my feet. One thing that I liked the most in comparison to the regular Camelbak is the lack of shoulder straps. My shoulders felt lighter and free. weight of water is mostly on your upper-back, between shoulder blades. For the first 30 minutes, it felt a bit different...But then I got used to it quickly. Heart rate strap and sports bra felt more restricting than the weight on my back.Q: Is it race legal?A: Yes, it is legal for Ironman races.(a) Bag sizeThe Racebak came with a 2 liter water pouch. I already have a 1.5 liter bag, so I used it instead. Today was a cooler day up in Toronto, and I only drank about half of it. When it's full, it's definitely 'humpy' and not so stylish. But I saw my reflection when the bag was 3/4 full, and I didn't have the 'hump' on my back anymore. The shirt was once again, relatively stylish. I stored my cellphone, cash, ID along with the 1.5 liter water pouch, and I wore a light long sleeve shirt on top.(b) White = See through.Although it's a base-layer, It's a good idea to wear a dark-colored sports bra. The material is white and very thin.(c) Runs smallMany negative reviews I read online were about how small the product was. I'm usually small or extra small, but I bought medium and it fits perfectly. As I was running, I noticed how important it was to have a well-fitted shirt, specially around your chest. If it's loose, the water pouch would probably move around. If it's well-fitted, there's no extra room between your back and the water pouch, so it should stay in tact. The shirt is full front zip, so it is easy to put on and take off.Summary: I love my Racebak. Two thumbs up.