10 Reviews: Best Hydration Bladder for Trail Running (Mar 2023)

Anyone who spends many hours on the path will need enough fluids. With the Black Diamond Distance 4 Hydration Vest, you’ll be ready for anything. There are a lot of storage possibilities, yet it’s still light—just it’s 7.05 ounces without water. It comes with two 500 ml soft flasks instead of a reservoir. The stretch mesh seems to be everywhere, ensuring a cool, pleasant run. There’s also a dry, secure device compartment that can be enlarged to fit your phone and other valuables.

Very nice construction, and the size is really accurate. A lot of pockets for phone , keys, snacks, etc. Very good price for great quality.

by Kassandra L.

The Dyna 15L with a 2.5 reservoir is ideal for female runners since it is packed with useful features and designed with a women-specific fit. The large pack has enough space for multi-day excursions or all-day runs. It’s perfect for when you need a little extra storage than a typical running vest but still, want your pack to remain light. The finest aspect, owing to the hip belt stabilizing wrap and snap-in adjustable dual chest straps, is the bounce-free fit.

This pack is perfect for when you want to carry more stuff than you can on a standard running vest but want to stay light and a day pack is too big. Fits well, lots of storage and everything is well designed! It was the pack that was missing in my collection.

by Josee S.

Check out the popular CamelBak Circuit hydration vest if you’re going to do a timed race or a lengthy run. For quicker hydration, this pack has been modified to offer 20% more water every sip. In a nutshell, it’s a fantastic simplified alternative for ultrarunners. It’s very simple to replenish on the move at aid stations thanks to the fast release reservoir design. CamelBak is widely recognized as one of the most user-friendly hydration systems available since it connects directly to the adjustable sternum strap. As a result, you’ll have simple access to water and be able to concentrate on your footing.

I needed a lightweight pack that could cary all I needed on the long hot runs. This vest is perfect, and caries all I need, I often forget it’s on.

by Scott Wright

On an ultra run, you want a contoured and comfortable fit to prevent fatigue and chafing. You’ll get just that with the Salomon Active Skin 8 hydration vest. This vest is popular among runners because of its soft materials and inner mesh, which may be quite useful during endurance races and in hot weather. The Active Skin 8 is an excellent go-to pack since it has easy-to-access hydration choices.

Fewer storage zones than the ADV Skin 12, but this pack is simpler, less hot, easier to clean, and holds your gear more securely in the main pocket.

by JOSH L.

The Evoc CC 3l + 2l Race hydration pack is a versatile hydration pack with an excellent fit. The pack has a ventilated harness and is composed of 210-denier ripstop nylon. For a better fit during high-impact exercises, it also incorporates a sternum strap and a hip belt. Other items may be stowed in one of the numerous pockets, while the supplied hydration reservoir is kept in the main compartment. Two zippered hip belt pockets, a shoulder strap pocket, a front zippered pocket, and two front mesh pockets are all included in the pack. In the main compartment, there is also a little zipped pocket. 

Another terrific option for fast-paced sports is the Osprey Duro 1.5 hydration vest. Two sternum straps, ventilated shoulder straps, and a comfortable harness are all included in the hydration vest. The height of both sternum straps may be adjusted. The vest has a surprising number of storage compartments. It has two mesh shoulder strap compartments for Hydraulics Soft Flasks, one zipped shoulder strap pocket, two mesh lateral pockets, and a rear zippered pocket.

This packs fits well for women. I got the Duro because I wanted a slightly longer torso reach. It fits great and can pack enough for a half day trail run (a few snacks, gels, keys, & first aid kit). Love the built in safety whistle!

by hem_oman

The Camelbak Octane XCT pack has the new 2-liter Camelbak Crux hydration bladder as well as 0.5 liters of extra storage. The hydration pack is built of ultra-light materials and has a breathable and comfy strap. The hydration pack has a sternum strap and hip belt for a secure fit. A tube clip is attached to the sternum strap to keep the tube within easy reach. Two zippered waist belt pockets, two pockets on shoulder straps, and a large zippered front pocket round out the Camelbak Octane XCT. The broad cap closure on the 2-liter Crux hydration bladder makes it easy to open and close.

Despite having 7 liters of storage capacity, the Nathan VaporAir 2.0 hydration vest is very light. It’s ideal for summer day hikes for its large storage capacity. It is, nevertheless, a wonderful alternative for long-distance running since it weighs just 8.3 oz. (235 g). The vest has eight front pockets, one rear zipped pocket, and three compartments. Soft flasks with a capacity of up to 22 oz may be stored in two compartments on the front side (650 ml). The vest has a 2-liter HydraPak hydration reservoir with a large aperture for simple cleaning and reversibility for drying.

I love it! It fits just right sx-m and it has plenty of pockets to play with. It was tricky figuring out how to open the water bag but figured it out.

by 1RepMax

The CamelBak Circuit hydration pack is designed to wear like a vest, providing excellent fit and stability during high-intensity sports like jogging, trail running, and speed hiking. It has a 1.5-liter Crux hydration reservoir with an on/off lever and a handle for filling. A tiny front mesh pocket and a front zipped pocket for valuables are included in the vest’s storage choices. In case you require more than 1.5 liters of water on your excursion, it also contains two open-front harness pockets built for CamelBak Quick Stow flasks.

I will never carry a handheld waterbottle on long runs again. This backpack is amazing! Fits well and doesnt feel heavy! Still figuring out running and sipping easily though.

by Debra N

By adding a misting function to your existing Personal Cooling System (PCS) pump, you can accomplish both with the 2-Liter Hydration Backpack. You can hydrate on the move while enjoying a pleasant, invigorating mist due to a drinking tube and compatibility with your existing misting system. Mesh pockets on the pack hold your outdoor supplies, and an insulated reservoir cover keeps your water pleasantly cool. This pack can turn a hot day on the trail into a fun outdoor experience with its simple drinking and storage options.