Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Trey gravitates toward accessible outdoor activities like hiking, running, and cycling, with an interest in human-powered, carless travel with the occasional assistance of public transportation or a friendly hitch. Around 9,000 miles of combined running and hiking miles inform his approach to gear testing — from hikes of the CDT, PCT, Long Trail, and other self-made routes, to runs across the Grand Canyon, trail races, and obscure lines drawn on a map up or down the side of a mountain. Trey firmly believes that a piece of gear should facilitate experiences rather than discourage folks from getting out the door. Keep it simple, keep it functional, and keep it fun! Flasks can also have a lighter weight than reservoirs. However, some tend to fall down or are hard to reach without a lot of work while on the move. Look for elastics to hold flasks in position even when they’re partially empty.
Depending on the capacity of your hydration vest and how much water you need to take, you could even take a hydration bladder as well as a bottle or two. A comfortable reliable hydration vest is key for staying fueled and motivated on a long run or race; (photo/Conor Hayden) Why You Should Trust Us
We do wish that the light thread also illuminated a bit on the front of the vest, as it is also important to be noticed by oncoming traffic — but bright reflective strips on the shoulder straps provide adequate visibility. What we liked: Light, vents among the best of any vest, intuitive to use, made with recycled silver for a more sustainable silver anti-odor treatment, trekking pole attachment
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. Some running companies understand that unisex just doesn’t cut it for everyone. Often women’s running vests are designed with the assumptions that women generally have shorter torsos, will have different places prone to chafing, require differently tapered vest straps for different chest sizes, and may want an alternative bottle design. 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: For more information, see our whole section on running vest comfort and fit above. Does a hydration vest use water bottles or a bladder? Trekking pole attachments:If you like running with poles, it’s great to have a way to stash them if you get tired of using them, or get to a section of trail you don’t need them.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
Try and go for softer materials, padding, and adjustability. These are all things that will help you be more comfortable, and thus run better, while out on the trail. Visibility Like all clothing and gear, the perfect running vest depends on your body shape, and your needs. There is no one “most comfortable” vest, since what fits our testers well might not fit your body as well. But look for something that fits tightly, with no bouncing or rubbing. 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. 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. What we didn’t like: Bottles supplied get complaints about rib discomfort. Price high for problematic bottles.What we like: More than double the storage of the ADV Skin 5 for ultras, long unsupported efforts, and winter running. Performance running vests can look like a lot of different things. But they are generally oriented towards all-day runs, long trail races, ultra marathons, and technical trails. P art of Osprey’s ‘born to run’ series of comfortable hydration solutions, the Dyna (women’s) and Duro (men’s) ranges specialise in optimising fit based on our different geometries. 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. The verdict: The overall best running vest for trail running distances from 10km to 50 mile ultras.
It’s up to you how much you ask of your running vest. A minimal vest may only work for short runs with lots of places to grab food and water nearby. A vest designed for racing may not carry your phone, Personal Locator Beacon like a Garmin InReach Mini, or two liters of water the most comfortably, but may excel in providing easy access to nutrition and lightweight clothing layers. Finance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. Many runners prefer one hydration method or the other, while others use both. However you choose to hydrate, you just need to make sure to bring enough water for your run. Capacity: Water & Gear The duration and intensity of your run will help determine how much water and storage capacity you need; (photo/Ilana Newman) 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 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. 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. It’s important to stand out when running on the trail or road — primarily in low-vis scenarios or after dark. During late-night dashes and early-morning jaunts along busy roads or mountain biking trails, lights and/or reflective strips are a must. If your routine frequently puts you in low-light situations, make sure you grab a running vest with ample visibility. C lip-on lights and light belts can help too. 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) 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.
Great Deal 
New Comment