| Product | Nedao Women's QiFlow Racing Singlet Vortex |
| Category | Women's Running Tops / Racing Singlets |
| Weight | Approx. 30 grams (Ultralight) |
| Key Features | 2000+ mesh holes, seamless construction, split hem design |
| Fabric Tech | Fast-drying properties prevent fabric from clinging when soaked |
| Price | Approx. £45.00 |
When race day finally arrives, the very last thing you want to think about is what you are wearing. You want apparel that feels almost invisible, allowing you to focus entirely on hitting your splits, taking on your nutrition, and maintaining your form. But finding a women's racing singlet that is genuinely ultralight, highly breathable, and doesn't cause underarm chafing after 20 sweaty miles is surprisingly difficult.
Enter the Nedao Women's QiFlow Racing Singlet Vortex. Weighing in at an astonishingly light 30 grams, this singlet is engineered for pure speed. Featuring over 2,000 micro-mesh holes, a seamless construction, and moisture-wicking technology designed to prevent the fabric from clinging when soaked, it promises to be the ultimate race-day top.
But does it hold up in the real world when the temperatures soar and the sweat starts pouring? I have been testing the QiFlow Vortex singlet over intense threshold sessions and gruelling long runs to see if it truly delivers on its "invisible" feel. Here is the full review.
NEDAO QIFLOW VORTEX AT A GLANCE
- Who it is for: Competitive runners and marathoners looking for the absolute lightest, most breathable race-day singlet to prevent overheating and chafing during long efforts.
- The Experience: True to its word, the QiFlow feels like you are running in nothing at all. The micro-mesh fabric dumps body heat incredibly efficiently, and crucially, it refuses to hold onto heavy sweat, meaning it does not sag or stick to your skin late in a race.
- The Verdict: If you are chasing a personal best in warm conditions, the QiFlow Vortex is a top-tier choice. It eliminates all the usual distractions—chafing, heavy wet fabric, and heat-trapping—leaving you free to just run.
WHO ARE NEDAO?
NEDAO is a performance running brand founded around a relatable runner problem: blisters. The brand began when its founder struggled to find socks that prevented painful toe blisters, eventually developing its own five-toe performance sock. That same approach has expanded into technical running apparel, with the idea that the small details matter.
NEDAO describes itself as a performance-focused brand creating clothes which focus on marathoners and trail runners, and its wider range includes everything from racing vests and running tops to tights, shorts, and trail gear.
HOW NEDAO DESCRIBE THE VEST
NEDAO markets the Vortex as an ultralight, race-ready vest, with the focus very much on weight, ventilation, and staying comfortable when you’re working hard.
The women’s medium is advertised at approximately 31g when dry, with the QiFlow V5.0 fabric designed to spread moisture quickly, reduce cling, and help the fabric dry fast. The back also uses a high-density ventilation mesh, which NEDAO says increases airflow and helps with heat dissipation.
FIRST IMPRESSION
My first impression was that the vest feels very light. It has a thin, almost barely-there feel which is what I want from a racing vest, but it doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. I was quite impressed with the quality.
I also liked how it looked and felt on. I’m not someone who particularly buys or chooses running clothes for style. Performance and comfort will always come first for me, but I genuinely think this is a nice design. I love the pattern and the colour, and it feels a little different from the more basic running vests I usually go for. I’ve had a few compliments when wearing it, which is always nice!
SIZE AND FIT
I am usually a UK size 8/S, but I ordered a medium because NEDAO uses Asian sizing and recommends going up a size. For me, the medium is comfortable. There is a little bit of extra room around the arms, so I probably could have sized down, but I prefer the fit as it is.
The length is good, it doesn’t drag down, feel baggy, or ride around while running. It sits nicely on my waist. I am 5ft 2.5 for reference.
Based on my experience, I’d say the medium would work well for approximately a UK 8/10, although I’d always recommend checking NEDAO’s own size guide before ordering.
OTHER COLOURS AVAILABLE
There are several colourways available in the Vortex, including Lightstream Blue (what I am wearing), Blue Hour Halo, Heat Map Orange, Mark Red, Mark White, Blue Hour Stream, and Heatmap Pink.
I love all the colours to be honest. They’re a little more interesting than your standard black running vest and the Vortex design stands out.
FABRIC AND COMFORT
This is probably one of my favourite things about the vest. The fabric feels high quality without the massive price tag that you sometimes get with premium racing clothes.
I can be prone to chafing around my armpits when wearing running vests, particularly over longer distances, or in warmer weather. So, this was something I was paying attention to.
I have had no chafing in this vest, including during a 20-mile run in hot conditions and several tempo sessions.
NEDAO uses a minimal seam, bonded construction specifically designed to reduce friction, alongside tag-free labelling to minimise irritation, which is something I really appreciate.
PERFORMANCE
I’ve worn this vest across a variety of sessions:
- VO2 max sessions
- Threshold sessions
- Parkrun
- Marathon training
- Long runs
- Two 20-mile runs in hot conditions
Throughout all of them, the vest never felt heavy, restrictive, or uncomfortable. During one particularly hot session, I poured water over myself to cool down. I expected the vest to become heavy or clingy as it got wet, but it didn’t. It didn’t seem to hold onto the water in the way some running tops can, which I found impressive.
NEDAO specifically designs the QiFlow fabric to minimise water retention and reduce cling when you’re sweating heavily, which is the experience I had.
FEATURES
- Approximately 31g in a women’s medium when dry.
- QiFlow V5.0 ventilation with a high-density mesh back panel.
- Designed to increase airflow and help release heat.
- Rapid moisture diffusion to help sweat evaporate quickly.
- Minimal, bonded construction to reduce friction.
- No tags to minimise irritation.
- Split hem for unrestricted movement.
- Reflective logo for visibility in low light conditions.
- SILVADUR antimicrobial treatment for odour control and freshness.
PROS & CONS
| The Good | The Bad |
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WOULD I RECOMMEND?
Yes absolutely.
If you’re looking for a lightweight racing vest for everything from summer training to marathon race day, I’d recommend this.
For me, the biggest compliment I can give it is that I forget I’m wearing it. It doesn’t rub. It doesn’t feel heavy. It doesn’t restrict my movement. It doesn’t become uncomfortable when I’m sweating heavily. And even after 20 miles in the heat, I wasn’t wishing I’d worn something different.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST & DISCOUNT CODE
The vest currently retails at £52, which I think is reasonable for how well this vest performs and feels.
However, if you use the code ADW_15, it brings the price down to £44.20.
Which I think makes it particularly good value. There are much more expensive racing vests out there, and I don’t think you necessarily need to spend considerably more to get a lightweight, comfortable option.
WHERE TO BUY
You can buy the NEDAO Women’s QiFlow racing vest - Vortex directly from NEDAO here:
CONCLUSION
The NEDAO racing vest has been a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a brand I hadn’t previously tried or heard that much of, but after putting this vest through a mixture of faster sessions and long-distance training, I can see why NEDAO puts so much emphasis on creating clothes that remove distractions.
It feels light, breathable, comfortable, and well made, without feeling like you’re paying solely for the name on the front. I also really like the fact that it works across different types of running. It’s light enough for a hard session, but comfortable enough for a 20-mile training run.