Osprey Duro 1.5 Unisex Running Hydration Pack with 2x 250ml Hydraulics™ Soft Flasks - Phoenix Red (M/L)

Product Information

Running vests are designed to carry a range of items comfortably, but they aren’t limited to running. Some are designed for running a few miles from home on city streets, and others are built for all-day outings in the mountains. Extra features can make the difference between an OK vest and an awesome one. There are so many additional organizational features on different running vests. Here are a few we see a lot: Before we get into the nitty gritty, it’s important to note that even the lightest, softest, and best-fitting vests will still be a slight burden on your stride. In fact, one of our gear testers resisted wearing a vest for so long that she ran her first ultra (a 41-mile race) with handheld bottles and gels stuffed down her shirt. But she’s since changed her ways (and so have we), and the good news is that today’s vests are more comfortable than ever. The verdict: The overall best running vest for trail running distances from 10km to 50 mile ultras. The rear of each shoulder features a Stow-on-the-Go™ loop, which can comfortably and efficiently carry trail running poles, keeping them out of the way and your hands-free. The sternum straps are removable and adjustable, with a single hand release, as well as being elasticated so they don’t inhibit deep breaths or energetic movements.

The Zephyr Pro is a versatile vest that would be a great companion for long weekend runs, or 100-mile adventure races. The solid breathability, thoughtful storage options, and overall comfort make this a great choice for pretty much any run you find yourself on. Recently, the most popular design for running vests focuses on designs where the water is stored in two soft, collapsible flasks (and, less common, even a hard-sided bottle). Storage capacity

Conclusion

If you’re in the mountains, are there any opportunities to fill up water from natural sources? Just make sure to bring a water filter or some way to treat water if so. Sizing It’s important that whatever vest you go with fits well and doesn’t bounce up and down while you run; (photo/Ilana Newman) Bottles range in size from about 250 to 600 milliliters and are a popular form of hydration for supported races, short runs, and routes near lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water where you can replenish your supply throughout the day. The advantages over hydration reservoirs are clear: Bottles are much easier to refill and don’t require that you take off your vest to do so, and they allow you to monitor how much remaining liquid you have far better than a reservoir. Finally, most runners carry two bottles (one on each shoulder strap), which allows them to drink two different liquids—often water and an electrolyte fluid—and balance the weight. The Salomon ADV Skin's HydraPak bottle For more information, see our whole section on running vest comfort and fit above. Does a hydration vest use water bottles or a bladder? When thinking about how much water you need, consider if you will have any opportunities to refill. If you’re running a race, how many aid stations are there? How long is the furthest distance between them? It’s not worth bringing too much more water than you need, since that will just weigh you down. However, it’s a fine line to run since water is a necessity while on the move. As always, sometimes marketing is simply gendered without major differences beyond the color, unfortunately. Remember that above all, it’s best to choose which vest fits your body regardless of how you’re targeted as a consumer. You know yourself best.

The Nathan Pinnacle 12L has the best bladder design and hydration system of the running vests we tested. It ships with a 1.5L Hydrapak insulated bladder, insulated to help keep water cold on the hottest summer days. The shape of the actual bladder is tapered in the middle, creating an hourglass shape, which we found helped with the sloshing problem inherent with many running vest bladders. What we didn’t like: Bottles supplied get complaints about rib discomfort. Price high for problematic bottles. Regardless of this variable, many of the larger vests we tested are notably lightweight, while some of the smaller vests tested were included as price-point options and are built with heavier materials. The ideal running vest is not distracting while on a run. If you’re trying on running vests, add some weight to them (water, layers, etc) and run or bounce up and down to mimic running. See if you notice the running vest. If you do, it will probably distract you, or even worse, chafe while on a long run.The majority of vests come in at least two sizes, with some available in up to five for both men and women. But as is common in outdoor gear, it can be difficult to find options beyond the small-to-large spectrum. For larger body sizes, the REI Co-op Swiftland 5 is the only vest we reviewed that offers both XL/1X and 2X/3X sizing. The Nathan VaporAir 3.0 comes in a 1X to 3X option, and a few others here have XL offerings. We hope that this is a sign of things to come, and look forward to seeing more manufacturers expand their size ranges. Getting the right fit is key for any piece of gear, but especially for a running vest. When possible, head to your local running store and ask for a fitting. For online shopping, take the time to measure yourself and refer to sizing charts. Even if you never experience a leak, you’ll at least experience water sloshing more in a bladder at some point. The more you drink, the more space the water has to slosh. The sloshing could throw off your center of gravity and can be pretty loud! Smaller bottles up front shrink as they empty, avoiding this issue. Some vests out there have thoughtful tapered bladders, like the one found on the Nathan Pinnacle 12L. This design reduces the sloshing, but the other cons of using a bladder remain. What we like: More than double the storage of the ADV Skin 5 for ultras, long unsupported efforts, and winter running. How much capacity you need will depend on what your runs typically look like. Someone whose average run is a 5-mile road run will have different needs than someone whose average run is a 20-mile mountain run.