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.
Thirsty? Check Out These Hydration Stories: Best Running Belts ● Best Hydration Powders ● Watch Out For These Dehydration Symptoms in Hot Weather
The Best Hydration Packs
The Expert: I’ve been running both casually and competitively since middle school, and since then I’ve amassed over 20 years of experience hoofing it over road, treadmill, track, and trail. Over the course of all those years and miles I’ve used a wide range of gear, including hydration packs of all shapes and sizes.
What to Consider in a Hydration Pack
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
Best Overall
Salomon Adv Skin 5 Hydration Vest
Key Specs
| Run length | Short to moderately long, depending on bladder size |
|---|---|
| Water capacity | Two 17 oz flasks, sleeve for 34-68 oz reservoir (sold separately) |
| No. of pockets | 6 |
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.
Best Value
Nathan TrailMix Running Vest
Key Specs
| Run length | Short to moderately long, depending on bladder size |
|---|---|
| Water capacity | Two 22 oz flasks (not included), sleeve for 34-68 oz reservoir (68 oz included) |
| No. of pockets | 2 |
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.
Best for Race Day
Nathan Quickstart 2.0 4L Hydration Pack
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Solid ventilation and moisture wicking
Cons
- Limited storage
Key Specs
| Run length | Short to medium-long |
|---|---|
| Water capacity | 50 oz reservoir, holsters for two 22 oz water bottles (sold separately) |
| No. of pockets | 5 |
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.
Best for Ultramarathons
Ultimate Direction Xodus Vest
Pros
- Well-considered design
- Zero bounce
- Ample storage
Key Specs
| Run length | Medium to very long |
|---|---|
| Water capacity | Two 17 oz flasks (included), sleeve for 34-51 oz reservoir (sold separately) |
| No. of pockets | 11 |
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.
Best for Hiking
Cotopaxi Lagos 15L
Pros
- Comfortable harness for all-day hiking
- Plenty of storage
Cons
- A bit much for running
Key Specs
| Run length | Short to medium |
|---|---|
| Water capacity | One 22 oz bottle (not included), sleeve for 85 oz reservoir (included) |
| No. of pockets | 3 exterior pockets plus large cargo space with interior organizers |
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
Nick Hilden is a writer, globetrotter, and jack-of-many-talents who has written gear reviews for the likes of Runner’s World, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Thrillist, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Greatist, and the Manual, and his lifestyle, culture, and tech writing has also appeared in Scientific American, Afar, Salon, Vice, Healthline, and many others. Before entering journalism some 15 years ago, he worked as a bartender, brewery manager, sound engineer, recording and touring musician, cook, teacher, and in a variety of other trades. These days, he lives all over the world, performs music sporadically, and spends a lot of time thinking how to best improve his Honda Element conversion.