Tantrums Crest 6 Hydration Pack Review: Pack it up, Pack it in, Let me Begin

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Tantrums Crest 6 Hydration Pack

REESE: Back in June, as the Believe in the Run crew made our way around the Trail Con booths, we ran into Adam Copeland, founder of Tantrums. He started telling us about his new packs and company, and showed off the product. It looked great. The materials were super lightweight, and the design was sleek.

But I knew that the pack, like literally every pack I’ve ever run in, wouldn’t fit, the bottles would bounce like crazy, or there would be some super weird design choice like a massive storage compartment. Normally, it’s an issue of fit. But Adam swore this pack would fit. He handed me the extra small, and I tried it on. OK, I’m curious. It fit well… Ok, but this had to loosen up or something. Somehow, it would bounce while I ran or create huge chafing spots on my ribs.

Well, after a lot of testing and various gear configurations, I am pleased to say that the Tantrums pack far exceeded my expectations and is the best pack I’ve run in, and I’ve worn a lot of running packs.

What we like about the Tantrums Crest 6

REESE: There’s not much I don’t like about this pack, so buckle up. Honestly, if I could hop in a time machine and swap this for all the packs my husband has Frankensteined for me over the years, I would. No joke, he’s literally taken apart a few Ultraspire packs and reworked them to be smaller. The same goes for my North Face Summit Series Run Vest 5.

For the record, I’m not unusually tiny. I just fall into that in-between zone where standard sizing doesn’t always hit right. So let’s start there, because fit is everything when it comes to a pack; it can totally make or break the experience.

Like I said, I’m not oddly proportioned. I’m 5’3″ on a good day, usually wear a size small in clothes, but almost always need an extra small pack. It has to cinch down to at least 30 inches to feel secure around my lower ribs. Thankfully, the extra small in the Tantrums starts at 30 inches, hits 32 in the middle, and tops out at 34. Nailed it.

But this vest isn’t just for folks on the smaller side. Tantrums offers individual sizes from XS to XL. The smallest measurement on the XS is 30 inches, and the largest size on the XL is 49 inches.

To give some perspective, The North Face vests come in individual sizes from XS-XL, but the extra small TNF Summit Series Run Vest 5 doesn’t snug down enough for me. The Arc’teryx Norvan 7’s smallest size is a small (32 inches), and the biggest size is a large (40 inches). This is all to say that Tantrums has a super wide range of sizes. And the fit is super snug. The front closure comes with three bungies that can cinch down the vest so it is locked down where you need it or looser where needed.

The vest’s cut is really thoughtful. It comes down a little lower than some vests I’ve worn, but this allows for freedom of movement of the side body and arms. The back storage is narrower, which lightens the pack.

Even though I have a small chest, I have always hated wearing a pack with front bottles; they always end up sloshing around and bouncing. I did not experience the infamous bottle bounce. No joke. I still have issues with bottles up front simply because it feels weird to crane my neck to drink, but maybe that’s just something I have to be okay with. Can we all agree that it’s easier to drink from the bladder hose?

Snack and phone storage? No problem. I’ve run with my phone in the back pocket that is under the main storage pocket and didn’t experience any rubbing or bouncing on my spine. I could access my phone while running. The front pockets can fit quite a lot of snacks. I’ve put gels, Skratch gummies, and weird Crepe to Go packets in them (Don’t ask). The material of the front pockets is so buttery and lightweight.

What we didn’t like about the Tantrums Crest 6

REESE: There’s not a lot I didn’t like about this pack, but I do need to note that if you run shirtless or in a sports bra, you might experience some rubbing around your neck. The fabric (bias binding or grosgrain, I’m not sure) around the neck is slightly abrasive. I just made sure to wear a shirt, not just a tank or sports bra, while using the pack, and the problem was solved.

The second one might just be a me thing, or how I wore the pack for the first week. I had tightness on my left lower rib, right where the hydration bottle sat, right near my diaphragm. This could be because I had it super cinched down at first. I can’t say for sure. I had the pain for just a few days, but it went away, and even though I’ve worn the pack since, I haven’t had that problem.

This pack works better with two bottles than a bladder. The bladder didn’t stay latched super well on the hook in the back pocket, but I’m not sure what bladder is intended to go in the back pocket (The pack comes with two 600 mL HydraPak bottles).

Final thoughts on the Tantrums Crest 6 Hydration Pack

REESE: I love this pack. I’m so glad that we ran into Adam out at TrailCon in June. This is the first pack I’ve run in that I haven’t altered or had any bouncing. The pack looks great, it’s super functional, and I love the material choices. I never felt like my pack was a heat trap. It’s minimal and race-oriented, but I feel like it has everything you need, nothing you don’t.

I have to include this personal anecdote because this review ends “tragically” for me. I wore this pack for the last time on a 10-mile run at the very tippy top of Rocky Mountain National Park. After a great high alpine run starting and ending at the Alpine Visitor Center, I was swapping my shoes at the car, and I foolishly hung my pack on my bike rack. And then… just drove away. With the pack on my rack. So, the best pack I own… owned… is somewhere on the top of a mountain. I’m sure some Grand Wagoneer ran over it right after I drove away. RIP, Crest 6. I loved you!

You can pick up the Tantrums Crest 6 for $179 from Tantrums using the button below.