The best running vests and hydration packs, tested by a marathon runner

Telegraph

2 days ago

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Have you been left red-faced and parched after a long run because you didn't have anywhere to stash a water bottle, or spent miles lugging one around in your hand instead? Then a running vest will make a world of difference to your next long-distance outing.
This small, close-fitting piece of apparel helps you stay hydrated on a run by concealing soft water bottles and larger water bladders within its many pockets. You can pay anything from £30 to £180 for one of these vests from sports or outdoors brands such as Arcteryx, CamelBak and Salomon.
The myriad pockets built into the vests can also be used to stash your phone, extra layers, waterproofs, protein bars or any first aid bits you may want to take with you. Many come with a whistle so you can attract attention if you fall.
The best running vests: At a glance
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How to choose the best running vest
First, you should consider your run length and how much you have to carry on the trot. For shorter runs that are under an hour or around 10k, you'll probably only need a small vest with two litres capacity. You may need up to 10 litres for longer runs, or more if you're tackling an ultra-marathon.
Also, consider what other things you'll want to carry besides water. How much space will you need for energy gels, electrolytes, extra layers, a phone, head torch or other gear? Make sure you get a hydration vest with enough space for everything, but don't get sucked into buying one that's more complicated than you need because extra capacity usually means extra weight.
You should also consider your typical terrain; simple road runs usually mean a lighter, minimalist vest works best but if you're running on trails then you may want trekking pole keepers and a whistle for safety.
How we tested running vests
I'm the author of Running: Cheaper than Therapy and The Runner's Code. I've been a committed runner for 25 years and I've taken part in nearly 200 running events, including four marathons, so I was able to test these vests on a number of outings of varying lengths.
A good running vest will make you forget you're even wearing one, and I wore these vests everywhere. From super-pacey 5k dashes to interval runs, 20 milers and everything in between, I ran on smooth pavements in town centres and rocky, hilly trails in the countryside, paying close attention to how well the vests stayed in place, plus how much friction and other irritations they produced.
I also took note of how intuitive all the features were. Could I put the vest straight on, load it up and head out? Or would I need to fiddle around with it or scratch my head to find out how it all worked? How easy was it to fill with water and did they leak? Finally, was the sizing accurate?
I often get thirsty and hungry when I'm running, so I was keen to test out how much I could stash in the vests to keep myself satiated. Long runs on hot days get sweaty, so I kept note of how well each vest wicked away moisture, too.
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The Best running vests of 2025
1. Best Buy Running Vest: Rab Veil 12L Lightweight Running Vest
Score: 10/10
We like: The surprising lightness
We don't like: The complicated fit system
This is one of the more expensive vests on the market, so I couldn't wait to find out if it lived up to its price tag. Spoiler alert: it did. Almost every detail of this garment smacks of top quality.
This versatile vest will be a good friend to you whatever distance, pace and surface you run on. It's unbelievably comfortable and fits like a dream. The Mono Mesh Chassis, which is Rab's specialised, translucent mesh, gave me real support, eliminated bounce and hugged nicely to my torso.
As well as being comfortable, it's brilliantly practical. I found that the larger volume and bountiful back compartment could fit everything I needed for my training runs and would fit anything I'd need for an event of any distance. A big sales point for running vests in general is that they help you drink or eat without having to stop. So it was important that with this vest, which has more than a dozen pockets, I was able to grab everything I needed without breaking pace.
Through hour after hour of running, this remained as comfortable as ever. If you want a vest that will serve you equally well over a short morning jog or a long mountain adventure, this is the one for you.
Key specifications:
2. Best Value Running Vest: Harrier Kinder 10L
This feels like it's been made by someone who is passionate about running vests, as almost every detail has been well thought out.
The stretchy and lightweight fabric is smooth and soft wherever it touches your skin, making it more comfortable than the other running vests I tested. The chest straps are easily adjustable, with silicone grippers for when your hands get sweaty, and it has handy long tabs on the zips. There's no bounce from the packs even when you pick up speed, either.
It has no less than 12 storage compartments, including a large back compartment, large zipped mesh side pockets, a zipped phone pocket and inside pockets. There are plenty of places to stash snacks, but the only downside was that the front pockets were a little too tight to fit my water bottles easily.
This vest is good for tougher or longer runs where you'll need more supplies, or for battling difficult weather conditions. It's a simple but brilliant running vest and excellent value for its price tag.
Key specifications
Volume: 10 litres
Weight: 230g
Soft flask: Compatible but not included
Bladder friendly: Yes
3. Best Running Vest for Comfort: Salomon ADV Skin 12
Running vests have so many technical features these days that it's easy for us to lose sight of the most fundamental quality that brands need to get right: comfort. No one wants their vest bouncing around, weighing them down on a long run or giving them a sweaty back.
Salomon is a brand known for comfort; the ADV Skin vest has been the jewel in its crown and this latest iteration has been fine-tuned for distance running. The user-friendly 'quickLINK' system on the front of the vest helped make it a cosy fit for me, and putting this on felt more like getting a comforting hug than being strapped into a product.
The vest had the best weight distribution of those I tested too, thanks to its innovative mix of stretch and supportive fabrics, with neat shoulder straps. Even as I ran fast along tricky trails, I hardly knew it was there. It comes with two Hydrapak bottles included, which are strong and resilient with a flat back that means they lie comfortably against your chest.
There are fewer pockets than on previous models, but I found that there was still enough space to hold food for even the hungriest of harriers, which didn't detract from the feeling of luxury even when at their most rammed.
I took this out on long outings and never got even a hint of chafing or any other discomfort. Once I worked out which pocket was best for different bits and pieces I found this the easiest to use of the lot. Bravo.
Key specifications
4. Best Running Vest for Racing: North Face Summit Run Vest 5
This is very much a vest for race day. It's basically as stripped back as it can be, making it ideal for those who want to keep items they're carrying to a minimum. It would also be another decent entry choice for people who are new to running vests.
It's the simplest vest I tried out; it's easy to slip on and secure the adjustable compression straps make it a stable fit. I found there was no annoying bounce and, like a good football referee, it did its job so well that I hardly knew it was there.
I ran in it on particularly warm days and the 'FlashDry' fabric wicked away my sweat like a dream, keeping me cool and dry. the breathable back panel made long runs extra comfortable as I didn't get the build-up of sweat that some models produce. When I tried it on night-time runs the reflective features helped me to feel more safe.
It's got a secure-zip chest pocket and several storage compartments, and everything I put in them from keys to food packs stayed in place, even on more hilly and bumpy terrains.
I wasn't completely sold on the colour scheme however, which makes it look like parts of the garment have faded and the sides can easily become twisty if you're not paying attention as you put the vest on. But this is a popular brand and the more I ran in it, the more I could see why.
Key specifications
Volume: One litre
Weight: 9oz
Soft flask compatible: Yes and included
Bladder friendly: Yes
5. Best Running Vest for Specialists: Arcteryx Norvan 7
This is a deceptive vest: my first impression when it arrived was that this was a simple garment, but as I fiddled around with it, I realised that it's actually quite complex. Nerdy runners who enjoy fussy details in their vests would have a field day, but people who just want to crack on might not enjoy it so much.
There seems to be no end to the various cords, attachment points, loops and hooks, so yes, you can get a precise fit with this, but you'll need to experiment at length to achieve it.
In addition to the front and interior pockets, there are two huge 'dump pockets' at the back, with enough room to carry plenty more gear, including large garments. The 500ml flasks are easy to grab, good quality and come with a no-leak guarantee.
Everything stayed in place when I took it out, even when I'd loaded it up with plenty of gear. This breathable mesh vest also kept me cool, so it would also work for long distance summer treks.
Time will tell, but this felt like the most durable of the garments I tested. For people who put the miles in on unforgiving surfaces, this one will probably be a friend to you for longer than most of its rivals.
Key specifications
Volume: One litre
Weight: 20.5g
Soft flask compatible: Yes
Bladder friendly: Yes but not provided
6. Best Running Vest for Beginners: MP Hydration Vest
Although it's branded for long-distance runs, this vest felt much better suited for shorter outings because its durable water repellent coating, spacer-mesh lining (a double-layer of mesh) and other details combined to make it one of the thicker and warmer garments I tested. It also seemed a touch large for its sizing.
That aside, this was certainly the most simple and intuitive vest I tried. I put it straight on and knew right away what went where and how all the features worked. Despite the sizing issue, it was a comfortable vest to run in and there was absolutely no chafing from it, even when I took it out on a hot 12-miler.
It includes two hydration pockets at the front that are designed to fit 500ml bottles and there's space for a two litre water bladder around the back. There's plenty of storage space for anything I wanted to take on outings of any distance – snacks, gels, phone, keys and water bottles. It didn't feel at all heavy, even when I packed it full of gear.
The reflective logo helped me stay more visible on evening runs, too. Definitely a good option for your first running vest purchase.
Key specifications
Volume: Two litres
Weight: Not specified
Soft flask compatible: Yes but not included
Bladder friendly: Yes
7. Best Running Vest for Trail Running: Osprey Duro LT
The first thing I noticed was the design. It's easy to say appearances don't matter but most of us prefer to look good, and this design is a class apart. It's also worth noting that it's made with 100 per cent recycled materials.
It has plenty of pocket space for flasks, nutrition and any other gear you might reasonably want to carry. The extra-large stretch mesh soft flask and food harness pockets were good for being on the go, even when I went on fast and bumpy runs they kept everything in place against all odds. On the negative side, the vest wasn't the easiest to secure at the front.
At the back, there's a single pass-through pocket that can be accessed from either side. It worked pretty well when I used it to store extra garments but wasn't so great for more solid items as they were prone to moving around.
The contact surface is comfortable, with a narrow spacer-mesh that rested against my torso and drew the moisture away. It is also extra ventilated which meant my lower back, where I often get sweaty, was more comfortable than usual.
I'd say this vest is a good in-betweener for modest trail distances that let you carry plenty without being weighed down by the full-on weight of a traditional vest.
Key specifications
8. Best Running Vest for Speed or Long Runs: Camelbak Dart Hydration Pack
If any brand is going to reach Hoover-level name recognition in the running vest world, it's Camelbak. It's name has become synonymous with the garments and helped make rear-mounted hydration packs the norm.
Firstly, this vest gives you a snug and unobtrusive fit. I tested it at every speed I could manage and it remained comfortable. It's breathable and would be great for reasonably pacey outings over medium-to-long distances. Its tube trap was good at holding the bite valve in place between sips. It also has convenient side pockets, though there isn't a great deal of storage space for non-liquid items unless you remove the reservoir. And why would you want to do that, when it's probably this vest's most significant feature?
The main drawback is that the reservoir is difficult to use and it leaked all over me on my first two outings. I've noticed from customer reviews that I'm not the only one that's had a drenching, so a more intuitive system to close the unit would be good in future models.
Key specifications
Running Vest FAQs
Are hydration vests good for running?
Yes, they allow you to carry plenty of liquid and other items, including phones, extra layers and snacks.
Is a hydration vest better than a running belt?
Yes, in the sense that they allow you to store much more liquid and other items.
What size hydration vest do I need for my runs?
The sizing is fairly similar to running t-shirts but consult the sizing guide for each product.