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

Fastpacking is a multi-day mix of hiking and running, so it’s only natural that such an activity-specific pack would come from the climbing brand, Black Diamond. Its designers collaborated with mountain ultrarunner Joe Grant to build the Distance 15, which contains enough room for shoes and clothing, a down jacket, trekking poles, and—for the more daring—ice axes. Heavyweights were fastened using cinch cables on the side of the pack and fitted vest-style straps for minimizing bouncing. It’s a tight fit, but the pack also handled our 15-inch laptop, so if you’re running in the city, the Distance is a good alternative.

Awesome product for lighter loads. I use this for run commuting as well as outdoor adventures. Very comfortable with little bounce. The fit is very adjustable. This is a minimal pack with no stretch compartment on the rear. Truly made for the fast and light adventures. I love the trekking pole storage on the sides. ...

by rylanphillips

It’s a hiking pack with a running problem. For day hikes, winter jogging (think heavy jacket), and even commuting, the Octane 18 has enough storage and a 2-liter bladder. The winged back-panel design hugs your waist to prevent baggage from shifting when you’re moving quickly, and the lofty knit material allows for extra ventilation to keep you cool.

This backpack is better than expected! The water bladder is easy to clean, there’s lots of storage and the backpack fits like a vest and is very comfortable!!!

by Tina Charron

The Ultra Vest Signature Series 5.0 by Ultimate Directions comes next, and it’s a lightweight vest with a lot of functions. The Ultra Vest boasts a spacious back compartment with external zipper compartments and a bungee mechanism to keep everything tight or loose if you need additional space. Furthermore, you can dial in the precise fit for your upper and lower torsos with the option to adjust around your upper torso and, as seems to be becoming more frequent, the ability to adjust from the sides of the pack.

Great fit. Easy adjustment. Lightweight, comfortable. Lots of storage.

by Craig Gresser

The cost-effective Duro (men’s) and Dyna (women’s) don’t cut corners when it comes to features. Lightweight and airy, they’re well-designed. Soft flasks may be stored in the two front pockets, with fuel stored in the two easy-access bottom compartments. All of your other little essentials will be stored in the front and back zipped pockets. The sternum straps, however, were found to be a little too short by testers.

I use this for all my runs now, holds a good amount of water, doesn’t leak, doesn’t shake while you run!!! Awesome product, I highly recommend it!!!

by Joshua Raynor

This pack was made with the help of elite ultrarunner Amanda Basham and is meant to carry enough water and nutrition for races while maintaining a low profile and allowing you to breathe easily during hot events like the Western States. While it may not seem to be much, the stretchy nature of all the compartments on this pack makes it really useful. It’s simple to put a lot of gels into the front pockets, and the right chest pocket can hold most cellphones, which are held by a bungee rope over the top while sticking out the top. The sternum straps extend a lot to provide a snug but not constrictive fit.

Perfect midsize pack! Great for short or longer runs! Comfortable and lightweight!

by Trailandultrachic

With a truly simple appearance, the Nano stands true to its name. Breathable mesh with huge holes helps you stay cool while wearing the vest, yet it’s scarcely visible while you’re wearing it. The Nano contains separate key and phone compartments, as well as two soft flasks on the front. With a tiny pocket and two hooks on the shoulder straps, the back effectively works as a quiver for trekking poles, allowing for storage of food and other items.

This is a lovely blue colored running/walking vest. It is so light weight and the mesh provides great ventilation. I like the two silicone bottles they included but I am not sure i will keep both in the pockets. I will likely use one to keep my other accessories for shorter run/walks. Two bottles are good for a hike.

by Sabeen

The CamelBak Ultra Pro W is a customized version of the popular Ultra Pro vest for women. With a six-liter capacity, this vest can carry enough gear for lengthy races and extended trail days while yet being small. Stretch pockets in the front, side, and back carry all of your fuel and gear, and they’re easy to get to in the middle of a run. Two bungee cords work as a minimalist quiver system to connect trekking poles to the back for runners who use them. The bungee cords may also be untied and used to drape poles over your choice shoulder.

Unlike some of the other CamelBak packs, this comes with 2 17' silicone quick flasks (that fit into the front pockets). Reservoir is only 34oz, but that means this pack doesn't weigh a ton and is compact. Breathes well, rides really well.

by MrE

The VaporHowe for women is ideal for longer runs and races when more layers and gear are required. You will discover new places to stow your belongings since they have pockets all throughout for easy access to essentials—even pockets within other pockets. Weather-resistant breast pockets for cellphones are located on the front of the vest (and yes, they are large enough). The vests include an insulated 1.6-liter bladder and front pockets that can hold a soft flask.

I was very skeptical of any hydration pack. This vest is worth the price and makes training prep faster, long runs less difficult, and your experience more enjoyable. No chaffing, no bounce, plenty of pockets, and lightweight.

by Mallory Horton

For women with thinner chests and shoulders, the Salomon ADV Skin 8 is the holy grail of hydration. The curved front and tapering 500ml soft flasks of this lightweight pack keep it from rubbing on your breasts, and the larger straws make it easier to drink on the go. The numerous additional pouches and zipper compartments allow you to carry an extra bladder, phone, and a lot of gear without the vest seeming unwieldy, unequal, or restricted.

Love this so much! Lightweight and comfortable, does not move or bounce when running and have used it up to 16 miles. So much storage space!

by Amazon Customer

The new design saves a lot of weight and softens the pack substantially when compared to the previous version. It contains two half-liter soft flasks upfront, as well as a handy hook and pull cable function that makes it easy to get the flasks down into the pockets when your pack is full. Lower dump pockets are designed to push food and gear to the side, distributing weight evenly across your rib cage and reducing bouncing, and a rear pass-through pocket is ideal for swiftly stashing a jacket or headlamp.

Soft, light and comfortable. Soft flask sits well in pocket. Fit easy to adjust. Pole holder works surprisingly well. Noticeable bounce. No side pockets. Great vest.

by Mike