Quench Your Thirst On Your Next Run With These Hydration Packs

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You don’t have to be a professional athlete to understand that proper hydration is essential to your health and running performance. Wearing a hydration pack–usually a vest or small backpack with holsters for water bottles, a large reservoir, or both–ensures you stay hydrated on long runs and lets you sip without losing your stride.

It's especially helpful for ultramarathons and trail runs, where you won’t likely have easy access to water along the way. The best hydration packs are great for short runs too, though: There’s no need to lose momentum if you can drink and run at the same time. Some also have storage for carrying your phone, keys, fuel, and other essentials, eliminating the scourge of bouncing short pockets.

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The Best Hydration Packs

• Best Overall: Salomon Adv Skin 5 Hydration Vest

• Best Value: Nathan TrailMix 7L Race Pack

• Best for Race Day: Nathan Quickstart 2.0 4L Hydration Pack

• Best for Trail Running: Black Diamond Distance 4 Hydration Vest

• Best for Ultramarathons: Ultimate Direction Xodus Vest

• Best Ultralight: The North Face Summit Series Run Race Day Hydration Vest 8

• Best for Hiking: Cotopaxi Lagos 15L Hiking Hydration Pack

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What to Consider in a Hydration Pack

Bottles And Reservoirs

Expert recommendations vary widely when it comes to exactly how much water you should drink while running, but when all is said and done, it typically comes down to drinking when you’re thirsty. Most hydration packs come with or can accommodate a pair of water bottles, usually around 17 ounces apiece, which should keep most people hydrated for at least a couple of hours.

Larger packs often include a sleeve for a large, soft-bodied water pouch called a reservoir or bladder, which has a hose that runs out of the pack and connects at your shoulder, where there’s a nozzle for easy on-the-go sipping. A standard 3 liter (101 oz) reservoir will give you another four to five hours, though long-distance runners may try to stretch that out over a much longer period.

Storage Vs. Weight

Hydration packs, generally speaking, fall into two categories. There are lighter “minimalist” hydration vests designed to be as light as possible, holding no more than a pair of water bottles and a small pocket’s worth of storage at most. These are perfect if you’re going to wear a pack on a short run or to a race.

For non-competitive long-distance runs and trail running, there are also larger hydration packs that offer a fair amount of physical storage. In addition to room for water, they often have pockets and hoops for extra clothing, trekking poles, and any other gear you might want to carry along the way. In either case, you can usually count on having small pockets on the shoulder straps for gels, a phone, and other small necessities.

Keep in mind that water and gear are heavy, and the more you carry, the harder you must work when running. That’s probably worth it in the long run, as you can’t perform if you aren’t hydrated and properly equipped. But if you only plan on going for short to medium runs, you likely don’t need the added weight of excesssive cargo or a reservoir and can get by with water bottles just fine.

Comfort

Most hydration packs offer highly adjustable back and cross-body straps that, along with other fitting elements, help you tailor a snug but comfortable fit that hugs your body without bouncing or shifting. They also typically feature vented panels and lightweight fabrics that wick away moisture and dry quickly. Some are minimalist while others have significantly more backpack-like coverage, which may be more or less comfortable depending on the individual.

Most hydration packs are unisex garments, though some manufacturers make hydration packs specifically for women, which can feature cross-body straps tailored to fit around a wider range of chest sizes.

How We Selected The Best Hydration Packs

As a lifelong trail running enthusiast with a penchant for water, I’ve been using hydration vests and packs for decades. This firsthand experience was bolstered by testing a slew of the latest releases from all the top brands, and by input and testing from the Runner’s World editorial team, which evaluated and put these hydration packs through their paces.

In addition to running them through a variety of street and trail routes, we researched the latest features and hydration science and surveyed user reviews on Amazon and other retailers to find the packs that the distance running community loves. Only the models with the best value, technical features, comfort, looks, and ability to haul all your stuff without bouncing made the cut.

Our Hydration Pack Reviews

The Salomon Adv Skin 5 does pretty much everything right. It fits well on both men and women, with front and side compression bungees to reduce bouncing and soft padding that minimizes chafing. It comes with a pair of 17 oz strap flasks, which allow you to carry enough water for a moderate-length run lasting under two hours. There’s an internal reservoir sleeve as well, so you can add an extra 34-102 oz (1-3 liters) across all three vessels.

It also features six stretchy mesh pockets, giving you plenty of room to stash valuables, a running jacket, and any other small accessories you might want to bring along on a run. While it could use a smidge better ventilation, for our money this is the best hydration pack out there.

For less than $100, the Nathan TrailMix is a surprisingly high quality pack. It can carry both water bottles and a 2-liter reservoir, and while you have to supply your own bottles, the bladder is included. There is a fairly large, zipping storage pocket to the rear plus a smaller one at the bottom of the right shoulder strap, and several carabiner clip points along the spine.

While it has a fair amount of coverage, the material is breathable and lightweight, clocking in at just 7 ounces without the reservoir. I wore one through a number of hot trail runs and never once felt like it was too hot or heavy. The fit is snug and comfortable, generally speaking, though the chest straps do have a tendency to work loose as you run.

All told, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a vest that offers so much at such a reasonable price.

Small and sleek, the Nathan Quickstart 2.0 is made for intense short-to-medium distance runs. Its comfortable, lightweight design features, outstanding ventilation, and reliable moisture-wicking will help to keep you cool and dry. It comes with a 50 oz reservoir, and has strap pockets that allow you to add a pair of extra 22 oz water bottles.

While it offers five pockets of various sizes for fuel, keys, and other small items, its non-liquid storage capacity feels limited compared to our other picks. Since you probably don’t want to carry much during a race, we think that makes it a perfect fit for competition.

The further into the backcountry your trail run brings you, the more stuff you’ll need to bring along. The Distance 4 vest from Black Diamond gives you lots of storage space for energy gels and other gear. It has a special easy-access holster for hiking poles, and a zip-up security pocket in the back to hold your keys and cards.

The design is well-ventilated and fits snugly around your torso. There’s a sleeve for an optional bladder if you want to add one; between that and the two included 17 oz soft flasks, you’ll be able to carry more than enough water to get you out of the woods.

The Ultimate Direction Xodus features a maximalist design that caters specifically to ultramarathoners. It comes equipped with everything you could possibly need on the trail, including nine perfectly placed storage pockets on the front and two large pockets on the back.

It has the capacity to hold two 17 oz bottles and a 51 oz reservoir. The customizable trekking pole hoops allow you to adjust to your preferred placement. Reflective elements boost low-light visibility, and the fit is perfectly snug with no bounce.

Despite offering so much, the vest is incredibly light and breathable. It almost feels like wearing a minimalist vest. The cut is short, minimizing weight and skin coverage. There’s so much vest to it, but it never feels that way no matter how many miles you’ve run.

Having scoured the world for the lightest hydration vest possible, I can report that this is as close to weightless as it gets without compromising essential features. The size large weighs in at just 4.5 ounces, and the small clocks in at 4.2, which is particularly light when you consider that it’s still reservoir-compatible.

It also includes two 17 oz flasks with a unique leash system that allows you to retract them back into place quickly while on the go. There are even a couple of zipping pockets and slots for gels.

One thing to keep in mind: When your vest is this light, it tends to bounce a bit more than the average pack. Even with that extra movement, though, the fit is adjustable and stays comfortable mile after mile.

If you’re looking for a hydration pack for a more leisurely hike, check out the Lagos from Cotopaxi. It’s got plenty of storage, with a 1.5-liter cargo area with interior organizer and several exterior pockets, mesh stashes, and clips. It carries a custom 2.5 L reservoir and has a sleeve that can hold a 22 oz. water bottle.

The shoulder harness is ventilated and comfortable enough for hours of hiking, and there are straps at the chest and hips for a more secure fit. The Lagos is also offered in a range of Cotopaxi’s characteristically eye-catching colors and, what’s more, it’s made using the brand’s comparatively sustainable, ethical production process so you can feel good about wearing it.

Hydration Pack Tips and Tricks with Our Experts

How should a hydration pack fit?

When adjusting your hydration pack before a run, you want to make sure it’s tight enough to fit snuggly against your torso so that it won’t bounce, without tightening to the point where it pinches or chafes.

Do I need to wear a shirt if I’m wearing a hydration pack?

Not necessarily. Most hydration packs will fit nicely with or without a shirt, so it’s entirely up to you. A tight-fitting shirt can minimize chafing, though some people find that the added layer adds unwanted rubbing. If you aren’t sure what you prefer, try both and see what works for you.

It’s worth keeping in mind that many hydration packs offer enough storage that you can stop and take off your shirt mid-run if you start to feel uncomfortable.

How much cargo should you carry on a long run?

The longer and more difficult your route, the more important it is to carry water, fuel, poles, emergency supplies, and other gear. That said, you should generally try to stay as light as possible on a long run.

It’s going to take some trial and error before you dial in your perfect cargo load. Do not skimp on supplies if you’re pushing yourself on a longer run. Lightweight is great, but you don’t want to find yourself dangerously unprepared.

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