HYRDRATION vests for running have really picked up a following over the last couple of years, as more and more people take up road and trail running, more runners enter races, and as brands have made some great technical advances in the product.
For those who are new to hydrations vests for running, they’re a really easy way to have a great hands-free run. Use them for your water, mobile phone, keys, money, cash cards, snacks and more.
They’re great for longer runs where you need more than the usual amount of water, and some even come with storage space to carry spare jackets and tops (should the weather change), or snacks and energy gels.
They’re a smarter buy than a running bag if you don’t have a huge amount of stuff to carry, they’re super lightweight and they’re designed for a snug fit – which means they move around less than running bags, and reduce any chance of friction and chafing. Some of the running vests for hydration come with added extras like water bottles and water bladder packs already included or even whistles – should you need to alert people of your presence.
Whatever your exact needs from your running vest for hydration, never go short of water again on your outdoor run with these options. Read on for our review of the best running vests for hydration available in 2024…
CamelBak Trail Run Vest – AW24, £89.99
Pros: Good fit, well ventilated, comes with the soft flask bottles included
Cons: Not much really!
Rating: 5/5
It’s fair to say that CamelBak is one of the OGs of the hydration pack and handsfree hydration game – and they know exactly what they’re doing.
This stylish black and neon yellow running vest comes complete with 2 x 17oz soft flask bottles (roughly 500ml each). There’s also a zipped pocket for phone and keys on one strap and there’s two further deep pockets behind the flasks, along with plenty of bungee straps to hold things in place, and a whistle.
There’s another zipped pocket on the back that we used to fit a light jacket on one run, and a spare top and some snacks on another run.
There’s a bigger open pocket on the back that can be used for a water bladder bag or for further storage. Our favourite thing about this running vest for hydration was actually the 3D mesh-like material that the majority of the product is made of.
This perforated style performed so well in terms of ventilation on a hot 5K road run, with the breeze being able to just pass through. The fit is also excellent, pulled together with adjustable clips at the front and either side of the vest.
We tested this vest on a 15K trail run and again it was great, the only small annoying thing was having snacks in the inside front pockets behind the water flasks did dig into the chest a little bit, but that was easily fixed by moving them to the back pocket instead. We really liked the fact the flasks are included rather than using our own water bottles, especially because they break down completely flat when they’re empty.
They also have cool little dials on the lids to determine how open you want them while running, or if you want them completely closed.
OMM UltraFire 5 Running Vest with 2 X 350ml bottles, £89.99
Pros: Looks good, good fit, lots of storage
Cons: Nothing much
Rating: 5/5
We really enjoyed running with this hydration vest as it’s a really great fit – thanks to the bungee cord and clip hybrid way it closes at the front and the extensive bungee cord adjustment on the back.
It also has an abundance of storage space, seven pockets in total on the front, which are a mixture of zipped and open mesh. Two of the large pockets have soft flasks included – they are 350ml flasks but the pockets are big enough to hold up to 750ml soft flasks if you wanted to carry more water.
There’s a back slot for a water bladder and then one of our favourite bits…the roll-top water resistant back pocket that provided another 5L of storage.
The frame of the vest is made up a 3D mesh like many of the more technical vests which really helps with ventilation and sweat-wicking during the run, and makes for quick drying post run.
The colour of this particular version on the UltraFire is also really appealing, especially the fun orange touches, including a pretty loud whistle!
We tested the vest on a 5K road run and it posed no issues at all, the vest sits very comfortably against the body and there’s no restriction to the chest at all, helped by the upper bungee fastening.
On a longer trail run of 20K, we filled up the bag with layers, water and snacks, and it fit just as well, there was some little movement on some of the hills as the water bottles got lighter, but the vest is really easy to adjust at the front while running, so that issue was quickly fixed.
This is a really good option for those looking for a more technical vest, and in particular for those who have a little more to carry on their runs, or are doing longer endurance races.
lululemon Fast and Free Trail Running Vest, £128
Pros: Super lightweight, multitude of pockets – which are easy to use
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
This was probably the lightest of all the hydration vests that we trialled and is made from a soft, water-repellent material, which means there was no rubbing or chafing where there might be a bit of movement during runs.
There’s eight assorted pockets on the front of the vest, of which four can be used to carry water bottles (two bottles at a time – bottles are not included), there’s also room for a 1.5L water bladder in a back open pocket too – that could also be used to store walking poles or a spare item of clothing.
There’s a number of pockets that will fit a mobile phone, including a watertight zipped one. We did a quick 5K in the vest with just a soft water bottle, keys and a mobile phone and it didn’t affect the running time at all, because it’s so light – you would expect to be a little slower, but it actually felt great not carrying anything in the hands or pockets.
For a longer run we packed up with two larger water bottles, mobile phone, keys, cash, gels and snacks in the front, and a folded up long-sleeved top in the back. Race time was slower, because of the freedom to carry so much stuff means that you carry more weight, but the vest didn’t feel as heavy as it should, and we easily got used to the extra bulk about 15-minutes in.
The smooth material of the jacket means that items including the bottles just slide out and back into pockets without any hassle. We really enjoyed running with this vest and never felt too hot and sweaty as it has good ventilation gaps throughout.
The vest also comes with a small whistle, lots of bungee cords to adjust the fit and to keep things in place, and is lined with reflective strips so it’s good for running in low light. The lightweight nature of this vest means we would highly recommend it for races of all lengths.
Salomon, Active Skin 12 Unisex Vest with flasks, £125
Pros: Very technical and good quality. Great fit.
Cons: Expensive – but you do get added extras such as the bottles
Rating: 5/5
This is a really well thought out and good quality running vest for hydration with a very sizeable pack on the back to fill with your belongings (12L).
It also comes in a version with a slightly smaller pack (5L) if you’re not looking to carry a lot of stuff and fancy something a bit lighter. This running vest is aimed at people who are thinking about taking the next step in their running (or indeed hiking) when it comes to distance, as it provides the space to carry a lot of stuff.
The running vest comes complete with two very flat 500ml flasks, which look stylish and sit on the chest, with zipped pockets sitting above the bottle carrying pockets, and then very large open pockets sitting over those – so there really is a lot of storage space.
In addition to the big ‘bag’ pocket on the back there is a mesh outer pocket and the whole of the mesh back inner has a space to slide in a water bladder if you required that too.
The running vest fits really well due to the multitude of bungee cords you can pull to adjust the level of snug you require, this includes across the front of the vest – which is held together with a single cord rather than clips.
Like some of the other more advanced running vests, the majority of the frame is made of 3D mesh to keep the whole thing breathable, and it really does, keeping sweaty runs under control.
We tested the running vest on a road 5K – and it was great but probably a bit too technical if that’s all you’ll be using it for, as we only needed storage for one bottle of water and a mobile phone.
Where it really came into it’s own was a 20K slow hill run that took the best part of a morning. We carried some snacks, use the back pocket to store layers we took off, and we also carried our lunch with us to have afterwards.
Everything stayed fresh, the water in the flasks lasted most of the way, we then filled up with a spare plastic bottle of water from the back storage, and would have used a bladder if there was one included. This is great option for endurance races.
Asics Fujitrail Backpack 15L, £169
Pros: Can carry a lot, really good fit
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 5/5
This was the largest and bulkiest of the running vests for hydration that we trialled, with a huge 15L of storage plus countless pockets both on the front and back.
The back also doubles as a backpack, with one zip opening the pack and another working to extend the size of the pack. Inside this backpack there is a roll-up watertight section, an inside zipped pocket and an inside mesh pocket, there are also elasticated straps to keep your belongings in place and limit movement – it’s all very well thought through and impressive.
The vest is a really good fit, maybe one of the best fits of all the vests we tested and has bungees on the back, sides and front to pull into shape.
It also comes comes with anti-bounce tech to make sure it stays in place throughout the run. It is the only vest we trialled that has a magnetic buckle in place of the last clip, which means you can quickly open and close with just one hand if you get too hot on the go, or need the vest to feel a bit looser.
We actually tried this and ran with the bottom magnetic clip undone and the vest was just as secure. The vest also comes with two 500ml soft bottles, a whistle and has space for a 2L water bladder (not included).
We trialled the running vest over a 20K hill run and although a little heavier than the other vests, it’s such a good fit that it was a dream to run in. There was no chafing, the ventilation through the mesh back helped keep sweat at bay and we were able to carry everything we needed, including a change of outfit for after the run.
We also trialled the vest during a 5K road run, it’s super comfy but probably a bit technical and offers way more storage than needed, unless you were running somewhere like work and needed to take a change of clothes – in which case it does kind of feel like a running vest/running bag hybrid. We really liked this vest and would highly recommend.
MP Velocity Ultra Hydration Vest, £65
Pros: Looks good, great fit, good price
Cons: Less space for phone etc on very long runs
Rating: 4/5
This is a really cool looking running vest and it’s super light too, and a really good option for people who are trying running vests for the first time.
The slick and subtle design means it doesn’t stand out too much if you’re not yet confident about wearing one.
The sizing is also very good, the front clips are adjustable and there’s a back bungee to pull the vest to fit the body even further. If you’re unsure about sizing or between sizes, it’s always best to go a size up, as most of these vests can be adjusted to fit a smaller shape.
This MP water repellent vest comes with two front water holding compartments (bottles not included), we ran with 500ml soft bottles and also managed to fit in 750ml hard water bottles, although these were a little trickier to fit back in while on the run.
In front of the water holders is pockets on either side that can fit anything from a mobile phone, to snacks, gels, keys and bank cards, and a larger zipped pocket on the back can fit a small rain jacket.
It’s also designed to fit a 2L water bladder. We really enjoyed running with this vest, it fits like a glove and there was very little movement during the run.
We took it for a 5K road run, with a water bottle on one side and a mobile phone and keys on the other side, and it felt very secure and well ventilated.
For a longer 20K trail run we used two bottles in the front pockets and it became a bit of a squeeze for the mobile phone too, so that actually had to go in the back pocket with snacks and a spare base layer.
So this is probably not one for very long runs – where you might need two bottles unless you’re using the water bladder to free up one or both of the front pockets. Or you’re happy to not have your phone to hand the whole time.
Kiprun Unisex 5L Trail Running Bag with 1L water bladder, £29.99
Pros: Cheap, bladder included, lightweight
Cons: Not as many pockets, not as technical as others
Rating: 4/5
This running vest for hydration works really well as a starter option for runners trying hands-free hydration for the first time. It’s also good for those who want to give using a water bladder a try without breaking the bank, or generally those on shorter runs looking for a well-priced option.
It comes with the 1L water bladder included which sits neatly in the back of the vest and when it’s not being used that space can be used for storage instead for spare items of clothes or snacks.
The front of the vest has pockets for small 150ml soft flask bottles which can be purchased from Decathlon for £9.99 each, or these pockets can easily fit a mobile phone, snacks, keys and cash.
The running vest itself is made of mesh material to allow for ventilation and did a good job of keeping sweat off the body throughout runs.
The fit of the vest is maybe not quite as good as some of the others, there’s fewer clips and bungees to pull it into place and the straps on the front clips did feel a bit flimsy.
The vest was also a little tight on testers with a bigger bust / chest. It did fit and stay put throughout the runs, but we would suggest going up a size if you have a bigger chest for ultimate comfort.
We tested the hydration on a 5K road run and it performed really well, using a water bladder for the first time does take some getting used to, but you’ll be a pro a few runs in, and it’s actually the easiest way to take on water.
The vest is really lightweight, just 140g without the water, and as you drink up you can really feel the lightness and it can add a spring to your step.
We also tested the vest on a very hot 15K trail run, using the bladder and two small plastic bottles in the front, one for water and one for electrolytes, this didn’t leave space for a mobile phone so I had to use a pocket on my shorts.
Although it stayed in place and is well ventilated, because it doesn’t offer the amount of pockets and storage as some of the other vests, it might be better for short to medium length runs that require the bladder and one small bottle only, so you can keep one front pocket free for phone and keys etc.
Overall, this is a really good starter vest or one for short to medium runs.
Kiprun Unisex Trail Running Competition Water Bottle Holder Vest, £49.99
Pros: Lightweight, carries plenty of water
Cons: Quite a tight fit on the chest
Rating: 4/5
This is a really good value lightweight running vest for hydration (just 190g). The material is really soft to feel – similar to the much more expensive lululemon version, and it comes with a mesh inner layer to help with ventilation.
It doesn’t come with bottles or soft flasks but can fit 500ml flasks on each side of the front of vest, which can be bought for £11.99 each from Decathlon.
In addition to the pockets to hold water, there’s a large watertight zipped pocket on the front and two large mesh pockets. Once the vest is on and the water is in, the zipped pocket does become a bit of a squeeze to access, especially for our tester with a bigger bust, who would recommend going up a size in this vest to allow for more room.
There’s a further two pockets on the pack – one with a velcro closure behind the neck, and then the bigger one that can hold a hydration bladder or an item of clothing and snacks.
This vest is a really good option for races and competition because it’s so lightweight, so it feels more like a second skin than a small backpack like some of the other vests. We tested it on a 5K road run and it stayed put throughout, using the three clip closing system.
It’s a snug fit, so it did take a bit of wiggling around to get the water flask back into the pockets after use – maybe not as easy as some of the others – but again, going up a size will remedy this, or using smaller than 500ml flasks.
We also tested it on a 15K trail run and it was able to carry plenty of water and we used the back pocket to carry a spare base layer top and some snacks.
Overall this is a good bargain option that can cover most distances and is good for racing.
The prices can really vary and it all depends what type, brand, and tech you want from your running vest. But they can be as cheap as £30 and go up to about £200.
The different running vests for hydration were tested over a four-week period by two testers over a variety of distances. Both testers are qualified personal trainers and regular runners.
Many of the running vests were tested at the same time, in the exact same conditions, with two runners going out together and swapping vests halfway.
