Hydration for trail running -
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Travel Bags Athlete Gear Pack Athlete Gear Trolley Bag. Hydration Packs Daypacks Waist Packs Accessories. Jerseys Pants Gloves Jackets Socks. No other product lets people know you are a trail runner quite like this vest, as it means business and will be the sensible option for many runners looking to increase the distance of their outings.
The included hydration soft flasks have a rigid bottom that is painful against the ribcage, and the mesh along the vest's collar is slightly rough against exposed skin. These are the two minor drawbacks that users make out to be more problematic than they are.
You can trust us — if you are looking for a lightweight pack with perfect pockets that you can use for any distance, look no further. Read our full review to learn more about how we suggest addressing these drawbacks, as well as why we rave about this vest.
A stretch-conforming fit that is lightweight does have some tradeoffs. This vest doesn't have a waterproof pocket, and if you routinely overfill it, the material may stretch out in a way that negatively impacts the fit.
But for runners looking to compete up to k or move swiftly through the woods on their own accord, the Sense Pro 5 optimizes accessible gear storage and fit to match your highest performance. You might also take a look at the Patagonia Slope Runner Endurance 3L , which has a smaller capacity but is a great option for moving light on your feet on mountain runs.
Read more: Salomon Sense Pro 5 review. The Black Diamond Distance 15 is our top choice for speedy overnight trips and self-supported ultra runs. With its single spacious compartment, packing irregularly shaped items is a breeze. The pack's rigid outer material and padded back panel maintain its shape, preventing any unwanted ballooning.
The unique dual pole storage options also offer distinct benefits. We recommend this pack for those who plan to maximize its ample space, although keep in mind that the more open design may result in some bouncing of internal contents. We found the Distance comfortably carries up to 10 pounds while running.
Black Diamond has an 8-liter version of this pack, and many similarities are shared. For packing hard-sided items while running, this pack cannot be beaten, and while it is expensive, it does some niche activities very, very well.
If you don't need quite so much capacity, check out the Salomon ADV Skin Read more: Black Diamond Distance 15 review. Our testing begins with identifying the best hydration packs available on the market for a wide range of running adventures. Over the last decade, we have tested countless vests, and each year, as manufacturers update their offerings and new packs are introduced, we vet those options and update our review.
We weigh all of the packs and then — you guessed it — spend a lot of time running with various gear setups to explore performance for a multitude of adventures.
We want to know how these packs will perform for runners just starting to dabble with larger outings and for the top athletes competing in ultra-endurance races. In addition to our daily trail runs through the Elk Mountains, Sierra Nevada, or variable landscapes of Utah, we tested these vests in some ultras, including the Jemez Mountain 50 NM , Western States Miler CA , and IMTUF ID mile race.
The bottom line is you couldn't find a better team to have put these hydration packs through their paces pushing the limits so you can find the best match for your specific needs. In addition to these weighted metrics, we consider what type of runner each pack will perform best for, what type of running it is designed for, and how it stacks up on the trail.
We consider testimonials in our selection process and test for any points of discomfort or shortcomings we read in customer feedback. A bomber team of endurance athletes have tested these packs over the years. With bulging muscular calves and an affinity for getting lost, Jeff Colt and Matthew Richardson make up the most current duo of ultra-trail running awesomeness.
They have all put in some serious time, chugging away on races ranging from 10 to miles. Jeff competes internationally in trail races from 50k to miles and trains locally in Colorado's Elk Mountains.
Matthew has run over all the Southwest, finishing in the top 10 of several ultra races. This dynamic and cohesive team covers all the bases and then some for the assessments in this review.
We wanted to give each hydration pack for running a fair trial, so we spent months upon months doing a lot of running. We took these packs everywhere we went, from the high alpine to our local trails and then to the farmer's market.
We wanted to know how their storage capabilities compared in terms of both size and design. In order to uncover the best packs , we paid attention to how user-friendly the hydration systems are, all the while comparing their overall comfort, fit, and weight.
We have allotted a weighted ranking to each metric, but we urge you to review the scores and decide for yourself which categories are most important to you. The price of products in this review varies quite a bit. We sought out a variety of packs that spread across the spectrum of affordability.
We looked for those that were entry-level, minimalist, premium, designed for fastpacking, and some others to round out the field.
We looked for a wide range of materials and designs and then chose the final contenders we wanted to take to the trails for testing. There are cost discrepancies, but we worked hard to identify competitive products that could break personal bests without busting the bank. The more affordable vests generally have fewer bells and whistles: these are user-friendly, simple packs to help you drink water on the go.
The more expensive packs have more specialized materials, more storage options, and designs targeting running comfort and convenience. A pack may be cheap and crappy, or it may be a great deal that functions nearly as well as the most expensive pack.
Similarly, an expensive pack does not necessarily indicate a great one. That said, we generally found that more expensive packs in this review do have more to offer and are constructed of higher-end materials that better suit and reflect the natural movements of running.
Both the REI Swiftland 5 and CamelBak Circuit with Crux Reservoir are a great value for the price, offering a snug, comfortable fit and storage room for most outings in the mountains.
You could certainly spend more money on a vest that performs at the same level without much benefit. The Salomon ADV Skin 12 Set is also a great value, with stellar comfort and the ability to seemingly never run out of storage space for food, equipment, or water.
Comfort is king. Learn it, love it, or lament out on the trails. The number-one most important metric to consider when picking a hydration pack for running is comfort. Thus, comfort is weighted more heavily than any other single attribute, and we think you'll understand why.
Essentially, running is already uncomfortable, so why make it harder? If your pack is causing chafing, rubbing, or discomfort, you're less likely to use it and maybe even less likely to hit the trails for the long missions you've been scheming up.
Thus, we put in the miles ahead of time: things that feel annoying at mile two can easily be a dealbreaker by mile twenty. The most comfortable contenders are the ones that use an elastic and stretchy material to hug the body or use stretch in conjunction with static adjustable straps. Packs constructed of inflexible material that merely used static webbing for adjustments didn't perform as well.
While straps, especially on the sides, allow for greater adjustability, they also rub and chafe more. Additionally, packs that include shoulder adjustment straps tend to be more comfortable than those without because of the fine-tuned fit.
The most comfortable models we tested are the ADV Skin 12 Set and the Black Diamond Distance 15 — both are larger packs that really hone in on suspension and gear-carrying ability. The ADV Skin 12 is unbeatable in terms of comfort. This pack has been updated with subtle graphics and colorways, but the overall design remains unchanged.
Unlike other brands that use thick materials, Salomon's thin stretch material provides structure without bulk. By placing the tensioning system in the middle, the top and bottom of the vest are evenly tensioned, unlike other packs that place the tensioning device towards the bottom of the pack, resulting in uneven tightening.
The Black Diamond Distance 15 surprised us. Its main compartment has a conventional backpack shape, yet it was efficient at moving in the mountains and limiting unwanted bounce.
To balance the large rear blitz pocket, Black Diamond incorporated wider shoulder straps and a thin harness that conforms to the body.
In this instance, the combination of a static material with flexible straps still provides plenty of support and enhances the vest's comfort. The Nathan VaporAir 3. Overall, this vest wasn't our favorite because it is only bladder hydration compatible.
But, if you only ever use a hydration bladder, we'd highly recommend checking out the VaporAir. Another primary factor in pack comfort is the materials used and the placement of those materials.
The back material on the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest 6. While items that aren't in waterproof pockets might get wet with a light rain shower, the breathability far outweighs the slight downsides. The result of using well-thought-out integration of advanced fabrics is a design capable of taking you long distances in relative comfort.
Time and time again, we reached for the Ultra Vest, not because it was among the lightest, but because it was among the most comfortable and easiest to use. Both the Patagonia Slope Runner Endurance 3L and the Ultimate Direction Ultra Vest 6.
The Patagonia vest features two fixed P-cord chest straps and two elastic straps that run all the way across the back. They are integrated into the material, providing a cinch that supports plenty of weight and hugs the bag. The Ultra Vest features two static sternum straps with lateral stretch fabric.
Both systems work seamlessly, showcasing the advantages of mixed adjustment straps. The most interesting part of testing hydration packs for running boils down to features and design. Whether you want to compare the minimalist race vests with the maximalist fastpacking vests or the entry-level vests with those designed by professional ultra legends, it's fascinating to put these vests side by side and work backward through the thought processes that went into their creation.
The UltrAspire Bryce XT comes to mind because loading this vest up took some time in the morning, and then we'd hit the trail and have no idea where anything was in the seemingly endless maze of pockets. But get this, there are only ten pockets, which goes to show how the real estate each pocket takes up and its accessibility play a role in ease of use.
It's critical that hydration packs find the balance between a rich feature set and the functionality of those features. Having all of the bells and whistles is only great if they are useful to have on a pack and don't detract from the fairly simple goal: effectively carrying food, water, and gear while running.
The Patagonia Slope Runner achieved basic at its best, having a very simple and effective feature set. At first, we missed the zippered pockets on the shoulder straps we had grown accustomed to, but Patagonia intended to eliminate any excess features, and they achieved that in a beautiful basic vest.
While the Salomon Sense Pro 5 is also minimalist, it packs a richer feature set that we love and offers more versatile storage solutions. In addition to examining the features of each product, we took an in-depth look at how these features help or hinder the overall functionality of the pack.
Taking the Bryce XT as an example , the features provided could be much more than necessary for some trail-running applications. Some runners might wonder about the helmet carry system; what's that about? Who needs to haul an ice axe on a run? For a few runners, these features are what speaks to them.
Maybe they are eyeing Longs Peak early season when the frozen morning snow allows for faster travel, the helmet will protect against rockfall, and the ice axe will come in handy on the afternoon glissade down the softening snowfields.
We worked to review each subcategory or interest that our community of trail runners shares. We tested the Black Diamond Distance 15 to understand how another pack carries gear and water for an overnight outing and ridge-top scrambles.
Other subcategories we considered are simple entry-level vests that have straightforward functions, minimalist race vests that are still highly capable but have streamlined features, and vests geared more toward longer races while offering extra features and better comfort than their minimalist counterparts.
Additionally, we discovered some vests had standout features that separated them from the rest of the field and worked on comparing them in more depth. The UltrAspire Bronco Race has a clever back-entry design, and a stiff strip of material makes grabbing and accessing the contents of the vest much easier than the competition.
Trekking poles have grown in popularity for ultra runners and casual runners on a mountain adventure. As the trekking poles serve more of a purpose on the ascent and are not used as much on the downhills, having the option to store the poles on the hydration pack can free up your hands for faster arm swings, balance, and accessing nutrition or hydration.
Many of the vests we tested have the option to store trekking poles. Most commonly, the attachments are either along the bottom of the pack across the lower back or on each side of the shoulder straps in front of the torso.
Some packs fit the poles inside. We really appreciate how the ADV Skin 12 and Black Diamond Distance 15 provide different storage options based on preference. Our team definitely has different preferences for where to place their trekking poles.
Along-the-shoulder straps are one option, but our lead tester prefers the back of the pack to reduce clutter and likes to opt for a hip belt that is easily accessible. The Ultra Vest 6. Some runs require frequent transitions between using and storing trekking poles, while on other runs, we might bring them along as a just-in-case.
Some vests incorporate features into the design of pockets, so there can be some cross-pollination between vests that have amazing pocket layouts and how they score for features.
The Pinnacle 12 earned the highest score for features and for pockets, not a coincidence at all. The thesis statement of our entire review, these packs have been designed to carry water and incorporate a system that goes beyond a regular backpack to address the bounce, jostle, and bound of a runner's stride.
Almost every vest we reviewed includes at least one of the preferred hydration systems: soft flasks, hydration bladder, or hard bottles. If a vest didn't include a hydration system, we made sure to call it out and took a single point off their score.
We have lots of soft flasks at our disposal, but for a runner buying their first hydration vest, we think it is fair to ask that companies include some container or specify their reasoning for not doing so. Regardless, if you are buying your first vest and it comes with a bladder, also referred to as a reservoir, consider buying two soft flasks as well for extra water storage and to try out a different system for preference.
There are pros and cons to each, which is why we advise trying out both options. However, for this entire review, we describe and rank the effectiveness of only the hydration system included with the purchase of each vest, rather than every conceivable method of rigging the pack.
If a system wasn't included with the pack, we went with what we thought worked best. Take into account the ability to expand your water-carrying capacity before making your final decision. Another point is that your selection of a hydration system will free up a respective pocket or pockets.
Favorite features: Lightweight, breathable, comfortable, wrap-around, stretchy side pockets for easy, non-stop stashing of food and two front pockets compatible with removable flasks.
Most common uses: These days, I use it mostly for summertime trail runs of distances under 13 or so miles, when I want the most breathability and am not carrying much. Prior to purchasing the Salomon below , it was my go-to for all runs. Other uses: Twice in the biking and running portions of triathlons one regular, one off-road and for mountain bike rides lasting more than two hours.
Cons: I wish it were gray or black or dark blue! In all seriousness, a real con is that when wearing only a sports bra, it causes chafing on my mid-back. I solve the problem by wearing a tank top, not my preference on hot summer days. After a wonderful year running and racing with the Vaporhowe, my dreams began to outgrow this beloved piece of gear.
I did not want to completely replace it yet sought something that would work for new aspirations. For one, I wanted a similarly comfortable vest with running pole carrying capacity for my new Leki Micro Trail Pros. Second, I wanted to delve into Fastest Known Times , unsupported and solo, requiring more storage capacity.
Favorite features: Everything! Stretchy front and side storage pockets that never seem maxed out; a large zipper compartment in back for just-in-case items in the winter, this includes Patagonia Houdini windbreaker pants, a Patagonia Nano Puff Vest, Gortex gloves and hand warmers ; adjustable across-the-chest straps; comfortable, awesome fabric in my favorite blue color; fits like a glove and does not shift or bounce; fits well over four layers in cold weather; holds poles in the straps designed for it but also in the back zipper pocket and, my preference, very well in the deep front pockets; two collapsible flasks that sit in two front pockets; and it can carry a larger hydration reservoir than described in the specs on the Salomon website see photo below.
Cons: The hydration tube does not stealthily fit through a hole in the shoulder strap like the Vaporhowe. Instead, it comes around the top of the shoulder, exposed, and sometimes my hair sticks to and tangles itself around the tube.
Before the race pictured above, I had the idea that I would use two vests — one to begin the race and one packed and ready as a drop bag, which I could simply swap out.
Also, I wanted to find a vest that could hold three liters of water, and the UD Vesta said it could. So, when the reservoir and Vesta arrived, I was stoked to try them.
However, the Vesta was a disappointment, and, it turned out, the three-liter reservoir fit into the Salomon. I did not use the Vesta in the race but instead opted for zero drop bags and carried everything I needed in the Salomon ADV 8. Cons: As far as running goes, this vest has no feature that surpasses that of the Salomon or Nathan Vaporhowe, in my opinion.
I used it a few runs, and the lack of large, stretchy front and side pockets did not appeal to me. I could barely fit a sweet potato in the front zipper pocket, and there was only room enough for small snacks in the very few tight, tiny pockets. Removing gloves or hats meant I had to remove the entire vest in order to stow anything away into the back pockets, which are, on the bright side, nice and roomy.
Furthermore, it feels more like a pack than a vest as it sits too low on the back, and it simply is not as comfortable as the top two. Not wanting it to go to waste, the UD Vesta is now reserved for hiking and backpacking with my sons. All in all, I love the Vaporhowe and Salomon ADV 8.
The security of being prepared, having everything I need on my back, elicits the same light and free feeling I had as a child running happy-go-luckily through the woods. Thanks to the vests, I am not drinking from streams anymore unless I filter it.
Yet, I still love sassafras, and you may find me scooping up snow and eating wild berries. I hope this helps you find your best vest, and, even more importantly, to find your carefree, happy inner child outside on the trails! Login to your account to leave a comment.
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Please Wait Home WeeViews Members Rundown Gear Events About. Register Sign In. Create a WeeView. A Review of Three Running Hydration Vests for Women. Brynn Cunningham.
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