I’ve used Salomon running vests for years, so when Kailas sent me the FUGA Air 8 to test, I was interested to see whether it could actually replace the vest I’d become so used to.

I’ve had it for months now and have used it on everything from local trails to long days in the Scottish mountains. I’ve loaded it up, got it wet, sweated all over it and generally put it through the sort of use I’d expect from a running vest.

And, honestly, it’s impressed me.

The fit is excellent, it stays put without bouncing around, and the storage is genuinely useful rather than just being there for the sake of a specification sheet.

There are a couple of things I’d change — mainly the supplied flasks — but after putting some proper miles into it, I’ve found very little to complain about.

So, can it replace my Salomon? For me, yes.

The ADF system keeps the vest properly planted on my back without the bouncing and movement I’ve experienced with other vests. It doesn’t gradually ride up or down as the miles go on, and once I’ve got it dialled in, I can pretty much forget about it.

The adjustment takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you understand how it works, it’s straightforward. The BOA-style dial gives you really fine control, so you can tighten it up a couple of clicks while you’re running or release the tension if you’ve gone too far.

I also like that the fit can be adjusted as the load changes. If I’ve moved some kit around or the bottles have got lighter, I can just dial it in again.

It sounds like a small thing, but having a vest that stays exactly where you put it makes a big difference after several hours.

Rather than having one massive compartment where everything ends up piled on top of everything else, the FUGA Air 8 gives you loads of smaller places to put things.

The front zipped pocket is particularly good for a phone. It has a smooth liner, so the phone slides in and out easily instead of catching on the stretchy fabric you get in some vests.

There’s also plenty of room in the side pockets underneath the flasks. I like the way these are designed because the flask sits over the pocket, so you’re not trying to fight your way past a load of kit every time you put your bottle back.

Around the back you’ve got four separate storage areas, including a zipped pocket, plus the bladder compartment and jacket storage. The material is stretchy but doesn’t feel like flimsy mesh.

The big advantage for me is being able to spread the load around the vest. I can put things where they make sense rather than throwing everything into one big compartment and then having to empty half the thing to find something.

The material is breathable and airy, and even after several hours it still feels much the same as when I first put it on.

It gets wet when it rains and it gets wet with sweat — it’s a breathable running vest, not a waterproof jacket — but I’ve never found that to be a problem. Anything that needs to stay dry goes into waterproof bags anyway.

What I really notice is that it never seems to become a burden. Even when it’s wet and fully loaded, it still feels light and comfortable.

It’s easy for a vest to feel good when you first put it on. The real test is what happens three, four or five hours later.

With the FUGA Air 8, it still feels good.

It stays light, it stays secure and it doesn’t gradually become something I’m aware of. There’s no bouncing, no constant shifting and no pressure building up somewhere that wasn’t bothering me at the start.

Because the storage is split across the vest, I can also distribute the weight rather than having everything sitting in one place. Then I can use the BOA adjustment to dial the fit back in.

That’s probably the biggest compliment I can give it: I trust it not to cause me problems later in the run.

They’re probably my biggest criticism. The supplied FUGA flasks have a relatively small opening, which means they can drop down into the pocket as they get lighter. I’m also not a fan of the angled mouthpiece — I’ve found it awkward to use and it catches on my headphones more often than I’d like.

I’ve actually found that Salomon HydraPak bottles work better in the vest. They fit slightly awkwardly, but once they’re in there they stay put much better.

The other thing I’d change is the rear storage. There are four rear compartments, but only one has a zip. The other three rely on the stretch of the fabric to hold your kit in.

I’ve never actually had anything fall out, so I can’t say there’s a problem with it. But when you’ve got something important tucked away in there, there’s always that little thought in the back of your mind.

A small clip or secondary fastening would give me a bit more peace of mind without adding much weight.

And that’s honestly about it. After months of using the vest, there’s not a huge list of things I’d change.

✓ It stays put
✓ It stays comfortable for hours
✓ The storage is genuinely useful
✓ You can spread the load around the vest
✓ The BOA adjustment actually works
✓ It’s light without feeling flimsy
✓ 8L is enough for a long summer mountain day
✓ And it’s orange — so you’re actually visible

But after months of using the Kailas FUGA Air 8, I’ve found myself reaching for it more and more.

I like how it fits. I like how stable it is. I like being able to spread my kit around the vest and then dial the fit in properly with the ADF system.

Most importantly, I know how it’s going to feel several hours into a run.

For a long summer mountain day, 8 litres gives me enough room for my water, food, layers and safety kit without having to compromise because I’m running out of space.

If I was doing a proper long-haul ultra where I needed to carry significantly more, I’d probably go for a bigger vest. But for the kind of mountain days I do most often, I don’t think I’d want much more.

There are things I’d change — mainly the flasks and adding a bit more security to some of the rear pockets — but they’re relatively small complaints.

I’d choose this over my Salomon.

And that’s probably the simplest way I can sum it up.