Is it Necessary?

The $120 Question, Decoding what's Actual Necessity?
Often when we start a new hobby or activity, we find ourselves daydreaming over the cool gear and accessories… or at least I do. Maybe I’m just a gear guy or maybe I just hyper-focus on the one new thing and want all the toys to go along with it? But in today's post, we’ll go over the always fun question: “Is it Necessary?”

At a Glance

• The "Minimalist" Choice: The Salomon Pulse Belt is the winner for 90% of your daily road and light trail runs. It’s cheap, light, and stops you from carrying junk you don’t need.
• The "Workhorse" Choice: The Salomon ADV Skin 12 vest is a "necessity" only when capacity outweighs distance. If you’re carrying extra gear for testing or heading deep into the backcountry, the $165 investment is a safety tool, not a luxury.
• The Golden Rule: Don't buy for the runner you want to be; buy for the miles you’re actually running tomorrow. If you don't need to carry more than a phone and a flask, keep the $120 difference in your pocket.

The idea of some “things” necessity is easy to justify in our heads. If I’m doing X activity, I need Y gear. For a lot of sports, I would say you’re absolutely correct. You wouldn’t go skydiving with a baseball glove, would you? You need the right tools for the job, or as my brother always says, “you need the boots, for the business!” I am guilty of immediately going to the "best of the best," spending way too much money, only to discover one of two things: either that item was not the best for me, or I burn out and don’t enjoy the hobby anymore. Case in point, Golf. Spent a ton of money on my equipment and today I golf maybe 3-5 times a year. Was that purchase worth it? It was at the time, I was golfing every weekend, could I have just stayed with my old set of clubs? Possibly. Could I have bought a much cheaper new set? Absolutely!

The world of running or hiking is no different. There are a ton of talking heads on the interweb that would simply tell you "this" is the gear you need and that’s the end of the discussion. I call these folks “Gear Snobs,” and to a certain extent, they’re not wrong. Often the gear suggested is the best gear you can get and it would serve you well for many years. But let’s say you go out and buy a $2,000 thru-hiking kit only to find your old college knee injury flares up after mile twenty on the Arizona Trail. Now your dream is dashed by the surgery you never had done.

We’ll look at two competing products from Salomon today. Both serve essentially the same purpose but accomplish the task differently. Unless you have a bottomless bank account in 2026, we could all benefit from smart purchases.

The two products are the Salomon Pulse Belt, focusing on minimalistic needs, and the Salomon ADV Skin 12 vest, a full race-ready pack.

Running longer distances, I found myself needing to carry water and supplies. Based on my tendency to want the best of the best, I naturally gravitated to the vest. It was cool, tactical, and screamed “I’m a runner!” But then I found the price tag. MSRP $165 seemed steep for what I was actually doing at the time, yet I still found ways to justify the cost. I pinched pennies and rubbed nickels until I had the cash to acquire one.

The ADV Skin 12 uses SensiFit Technology to hug your body and eliminate almost all bounce. Weighing a low 8.7oz, it’s comfortable and carries everything: two 500ml soft flasks, a 1.5L hydration bladder (sold separately), and a myriad of pockets. Salomon suggests it for 50k or longer. Being a bigger guy (6’2” at 198lbs), I went with the XL. I fit into the Large, but the XL was more comfortable if I needed warm layers for cold mornings.

The Problem?

It created its own issues. I found myself constantly packing it with junk I didn’t need for a normal 5-mile trail run just because the space was there.

That led me to the Pulse Belt (MSRP $35-$45). Coming in at an insane 2.2oz, it’s roughly a quarter the weight of the vest. It has just enough room for two small bottles, snacks, your phone, and keys. I also went with the XL here and it fits perfectly. The only downfall is that a larger phone can bounce in the small of the back, though I fix that by putting my phone in my short liners instead.

The Verdict: Is it Necessary?

To answer the question... it depends on your "Mission." If you are mainly road running or doing a 5-mile loop in town where you can pop into a Circle K for a refill, then no, the vest is not necessary. The belt is exactly what I should have bought to begin with. It keeps you light, keeps you from over-packing, and saves you $120.

However, I find myself reaching for the ADV Skin 12 vest more often than the belt lately. Why? Because of the bulk. If I’m out testing gear for this site—like a "Textile Trial" where I’m carrying an extra pair of shoes or multiple sets of socks for a mid-run swap—the belt simply doesn't have the capacity. Even a pair of socks is too much for my waistband, in conjunction with the normal supplies for running , water and such.

My advice: Examine your terrain and what you actually have to carry. If you just want to run and be left alone, buy the belt. But if your run involves carrying extra gear, specialized test products, or self-reliance in the backcountry, invest in the vest. I've found that when used together on race days, they provide a brilliant ecosystem. I keep the heavy gear in the vest and my nutrition in the belt for easy access. Either way, you really can’t go wrong—just make sure you aren't buying the boots for a business before your run schedule calls for it. With the price of all products going up and no end in sight, smart purchases are the name of the game.