The best hydration packs and vests 2023: Tried and tested

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Stay hydrated with our pick of the packs

Whether you’re training for a marathon, an ultra, or simply heading out for a day on the trails, a hydration pack can help you carry all the essentials you need in one place.

Hydration packs vary from running backpacks in that they tend to be more lightweight and minimalist, suitable for carrying gels, water, electrolytes, snacks and light clothing. A running backpack will fit the bill if you’re going hiking or planning on adding a run commute into your weekly mileage, and need something more substantial for a laptop and a full spare change of clothes.

Ready to shop? Here are our favourite, tried and tested hydration vests, at a glance. Or, keep scrolling to read more about them.

Fit: A poorly fitting hydration pack can cause all kinds of grief, digging into your shoulders, chafing or riding up. A hydration vest should be worn high up on your back, and fit snuggly so that it doesn’t create movement when you run. If you’re between sizes, though, we’d recommend opting for the larger one so that you’re not too restricted.

While a lot of hydration packs are unisex, some brands offer women-specific designs with more space around the chest and lower hydration pockets to accommodate for a woman’s build.

Capacity: Most hydration packs are designed to hold between 2-12L of water, either in a bladder sat on your back or soft flasks in the front pockets. The ideal pack size will depend on the time and distance you’re running. For shorter runs (under an hour), a 2L vest will be more than sufficient. For anything over three hours, a 6-10L vest will hold slightly more.

Features: Planning on running with a credit card and house keys? Look for a pack with a zip pocket to keep them secure. If you’re going to be taking on fuel, make sure there’s space for your gels or food to be easily reachable so you can keep moving.

Every pack in this guide has been tested by the Runner's World editors. They've been worn over a number of runs in all weather conditions, from sun and light showers to wind, heavy downpours and nighttime jaunts. We assess each pack for its fit, comfort, capacity, features, price and more.

For under £30, this is the perfect bag for beginners making their first forays into running bags or packs. With room to hold two 500ml soft flasks on the front of the straps (you will need to buy these as an extra, however) and a roomy 5L of storage space in total, plus a one-litre bladder included, you have all you need to go long-distance.

This highly durable hydration pack offers race-vest-style storage and maximum safety. A great option for boosting self-sufficiency on longer low-light training runs, it comes with two harness-holstered 500ml soft flasks and a removable 1.5-litre bladder. It has five pockets – including a sizable back compartment – with plenty of room for your run essentials. But the standout feature here is how much you, er, standout. The generous use of highly reflective fabric lights you up when the headlights hit. It’s also water resistant and the height-adjustable front strap helps dial in a bounce-free fit. 

For marathon training you need something lightweight, close-fitting and able to carry enough water and spare kit to get you through 3- or 4-hour-long training runs. This ticks all those boxes: it is compact yet big enough to carry 4 litres of kit or 3 litres of fluid, or a combo of both. It's also breathable enough that you never get too hot when wearing it.

With 8L of expandable cargo storage, there’s room for a jacket, gloves, food, phone, keys and other essentials – plus a generous 2.5L of water in the Hydrapak bladder. The women's-specific design provides a secure fit with the adjustable sternum strap sitting comfortably just above the breasts – keeping the bag secure against the body without feeling restrictive. The excellent ReTrakt magnetic hose return system snaps the water hose back in place after use, making drinking on the move fuss-free. Grabbing gels is also easy thanks to jersey-style pockets on each side. We also appreciated the soft-lined, quick-access front pocket keeping phone and sunglasses accessible but protected.

Designed for multi-day ultras, the high-performance Sense Pro is constructed from lightweight breathable, quick-drying mesh. An impressive array of pockets carry hydration, nutrition, clothing and other essentials. There are front flask pockets (designed for 500ml Salomon soft flasks), three secure zipped pockets (ideal for keys and phone), an expandable back compartment, extra zipped back pocket, and a wide tunnel pocket which you can access from either side. Elastic ties which you can attach to the back add even more storage. While snug, the women’s specific fit offers more space around the chest, so it’s noticeably more comfortable. But if you have a bigger bust, we recommend sizing up.

Osprey knows its stuff when it comes to running packs, and the Duro 6 is perfect for marathon training or longer ultras. It’s lightweight, comfortable to run in, hugs your body and comes with a pair of 500ml soft flasks with handy extension hoses so all you have to do is tilt your head down to drink. The latest model has upped its eco credentials and is made with bluesign-approved fabrics and is PFC-free, as well as – like all Osprey products – eligible for Osprey’s free pack repair service.

Nathan’s close-fitting hydration vest is deceptively roomy. This versatile packhorse is light and compact enough for shorter runs but the 12-litre capacity and impressive 13-pockets provide excellent storage and organisation for mission-critical kit on longer days, too. The large main compartment’s easy-access diagonal zipper makes it simple to stow and retrieve in a hurry. Water-resistant chest pockets and a zippered pill pocket – with integrated whistle – add to the functional stash space. The included 1.6-litre insulated bladder has magnets to fix your hydration tube in place and substantial, height adjustable chest and sternum straps provide a fine-tuned fit.

You’ll see this pack on a lot of pro ultra-runners’ backs, and with good reason: it’s so comfortable and snug-fitting you forget it’s there almost instantly. In testing, there was zero bounce so zero risk of chafing, and a deceptive amount of space for your kit that you can cram in like Mary Poppins' bag. The elastic lace-like fastening at the front feels strange at first but soon you realise all bags should do it, as it's secure and quick to undo. It comes with Salomon’s own 500ml flasks, which are longer and thinner than others in order to fit in the front pockets.

If you’re looking to drop pounds (in the weight sense), this weighs just 90g, so ridiculously light you barely feel it’s there, which is what most of us are looking for in a bag. This is the 4L version, but it also comes in bigger 10L version if you need more space. It's designed for running quickly, so you won’t need to carry much kit but there’s room for plenty on board, plus a pair of front flask-holders. Simple yet effective.

A minimal lightweight vest for short runs or races where you’d like to carry some water, snacks and a spare layer or two if the temperature is set to change. Sling it on on your way out the door and you will barely tell it’s on your back. Seven pockets are more than enough to stash gels and whatnot and the rear section can hold 3L and a bladder.

Ideal for any runners who may be thinking about taking on a longer race at some point in the future, this inov-8 running bag has a removable 10-litre pocket that you fix onto the back for multi-day adventures. Without the pocket, the race pack is ideal for ultra races or marathon training – it’s lightweight, holds two flasks in the front straps and is so dependable Damian Hall used it during the UTMB.

The most successful hydration pack will be one that you hardly notice you’re wearing, and that’s exactly the case with this Race Day Vest from The North Face. Weighing just 120g, it’s impossibly light, with just enough space for storing the essentials (water, gels, an extra layer and your phone) but without any extra weight. The front-fastening system is one of the most fuss-free designs we’ve tested, which makes it easy to adjust it on the go. This is a vest made for racing, so if you’re getting serious about your trail running and are looking to hit those faster paces, it’s guaranteed not to slow you down.

If you’re considering a multi-day race, this is the bag for you. The ‘20’ in the model name refers to the fact it can hold around 20L – more than enough room for multi-day events’ mandatory kit. The heavier weight (325g) reflects this, but the stretchy, wraparound design hugs your body tight so remains comfortable to run in even when rammed with kit. One of our testers used this during a marathon in Kenya and said the pockets were spacious enough to store all of her fuel, and the overall fit of the pack was snug and bounce-free.

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