The best running vests and packs for storing essential gear

Stay hydrated and fuelled-up on the trails with a handy hydration pack or vest for running – the perfect companion for off-piste adventures, keeping safe when going it alone and endurance activities.

If you don’t already have a hydration pack in your arsenal, it’s high time to invest and gift yourself more freedom to explore. Along with your trusty triathlon watch, you should be able to navigate the trails for longer and in more comfort with one of the packs reviewed below.

Best hydration packs for triathletes

1. Montane Gecko VP 5+

Price	£130 / $165
Weight	336g/11.9oz (medium)
Capacity	5L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

This five-litre Montane Gecko VP 5+ offers a decent amount of storage, with a large zip compartment on the rear, a zip pocket (large enough for phones, keys or other essentials) on the front of each shoulder strap and multiple small elasticated pouches. 

There are then two large pouches between the back system and the outer pocket, with one primed for an additional water bladder, plus an elasticated drawstring cord for strapping on extra layers.

Two 500ml soft flasks slide into the shoulder sleeves and are easily drunk from without being removed. 

The whole package weighs in at 336g (size medium), which is heavier than some packs but the Montane comes with cushioning on the harness.

 It means the Montane is a good choice over longer distances or if you’re going to be carrying quite a bit of kit, as it’s likely to prove more comfortable than lighter packs. 

The large Velcro strap at the front and two smaller supporting elastic sternum straps only enhance that comfort and help stabilise the pack when fully loaded. 

It’s worth noting that the extra cushioning does make this a sweatier option in warm weather, but the fabric comes treated with Polygeine, which is designed to fend off foul odours. 

Review by Rob Slade

2. Rab Veil 6L

Price	£125 / $160
Weight	320g/11oz (with flasks)
Capacity	6L (12L also available)
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

The Rab Veil 6L comes in three sizes, you get six litres of volume and two HydraPak 500ml Softflasks come with it. 

HydraPak dominate the soft bottle space for run packs and you’ll find them with many run packs, as they do the job well. 

There’s also a slot for a two-litre hydration reservoir down the back of the running vest, which is appreciated.

Storage is another high point. On the shoulder straps you get the two elasticated bottle pockets, two zip pockets on top of those, plus hidden elasticated pockets on the shoulders, which is ideal for a gel, key or whistle. 

There’s an elasticated pouch under your arms that’ll easily take gloves and hats, while at the rear there’s a kangaroo-style elasticated pocket large enough for lightweight waterproofs. 

On top of that, there are also bungee cord attachments for you to stow two running poles. A 12L option is also available.

Where the Veil 6L excels above all else, though, is comfort. The pack feels a good fit ergonomically, while the elasticated cords at the front are top-class. 

They don’t feel restrictive, are adjustable and move with the body. In fact, the whole pack quickly feels like an extension of yourself. 

There are cheaper options on the market, but there can’t be many better. 

Review by Rob Slade

3. Salomon Sense Pro 5

Price	£120 / $153
Weight	218g/7.7oz (with flasks)
Capacity	6L (for the Sense Pro 6)
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	2XS-XL

Available both in a unisex and women’s version, the Sense Pro 5 is designed to be comfortable and eliminate friction points, with elastic cord taking the place of sternum straps. When on, I admittedly felt no uncomfortable pressure points, which happily translated to no chafing after a long run.

We were surprised to discover just how much storage this vest offers, with two large, easily accessible front pockets sitting on top of the bottle compartments. The main back compartment stretches round the sides and has multiple access points, while two front zip pockets provide ample room for a phone and keys.

The front pockets for the bottles worked well, though we’d have preferred the flasks to be all soft, rather than having a hard plastic part along the bottom. The mesh back offered reasonable breathability, but didn’t dry as quickly as some others on test, while the reflective detailing and whistle are great safety features.

Since reviewing , Salomon has released the Sense Pro 6 pack, a 6-litre version of the popular one reviewed here.

Review by Kate Milsom

4. Scott Trail RC TR’ 4

Price	£120 / $153
Weight	177g/6.2oz (medium)
Capacity	4L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	XS-XL

The Scott Trail RC TR’ 4 Pack sports a minimalist design with little padding on the back system. As a result, the pack and bottles weigh a paltry 177g/7.2oz (size medium), which is hardly noticeable when worn without anything in it. 

This is great but the lack of padding means the Scott isn’t the most comfortable pack if you’re fully loaded. That lack of padding means the Scott also breathes well, with the thin, perforated material making this a great option on hot summer days. 

As a fastening system, you simply have two cords that clip across the chest to keep it in place. They work well and proved comfortable enough in our testing, but they’re not elasticated.

In terms of storage, you get four litres here, which are split across two zipped hip pockets (ideal for a phone, keys or gels), a large zip pocket on the rear, plus a stash pocket on top of that. The two soft flasks work very well. 

Meanwhile, the pack answered our storage needs perfectly, with enough space for extra layers, nutrition, fluids and other essentials. It also comes with attachments for running poles.

Review by Rob Slade

5. Osprey Dyna 6

Price	£125 / $155
Weight	380g/13oz (small)
Capacity	6L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	Women’s Dyna: S-L Men’s Duro: S-L

With a large storage capacity of 6L and heavier weight than others here on test, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Dyna 6 would feel bulky, but Osprey has done a brilliant job of designing this women-specific pack (the men’s version is the Duro 6 reviewed later in this article) to feel compact and fit securely when in motion.

Three back compartments, easy-access side pockets and front stretch pockets with bottle compartments are your storage options, with the front zip pocket a nice touch for valuables. Meanwhile, the Dyna’s light mesh breathes well and aids comfort. We found the vest sat higher on the torso than others, but this doesn’t affect function and we soon got used to it.

Two 500ml soft flasks with straws come with the pack and are effectively secured in front pockets by elastic loops. The bottles create a vacuum when drunk out of, which means no loud sloshing of water like other packs on test. If you’re looking for a pack that’ll go the distance, the stylish Dyna would be our first pick.

Review by Kate Milsom

6. Arc’Teryx Norvan 7 vest 

Price	£140 / $170
Weight	205g/7.2oz
Capacity	7L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

The Arc-Teryx Norvan 7 Vest comes in three sizes and uses HydraPak 500ml Softflasks to up the storage to seven litres. As a result, there’s no provision to hang a water reservoir in the back for extra hydration. 

That means there’s two large stretch pockets on the rear to house extra layers, which can easily take waterproof tops and bottoms.

There’s additional storage on the front, including underarm pouches that’ll take gloves, hats or nutrition, for example, and one of these also has a zip pocket, though it’s not big enough for my iPhone 15. It will take keys, cards or other small items, though. 

You also get a small elasticated pocket on each shoulder that’ll just take an energy gel, plus bungee attachments to attach running poles. There’s even a whistle, too.

Unfortunately, the Norvan 7 didn’t quite hit the same comfy heights as Rab’s vest, as the chest cords aren’t elasticated, so don’t give as much. 

I also found that the end of the cords, which are tied into knots, would sometimes irritate my chest, though a bit of readjustment would normally alleviate it for a while. 

Otherwise, the pack feels stable and reasonably comfortable. I’d just have expected perfection for the price. 

Review by Rob Slade

7. Compressport UltRun S Pack Evo 10

Price	£140 / $175
Capacity	10L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S-XL

I really rate the storage and safety elements of the Compressport UltRun S Pack Evo, but comfort wasn’t quite as strong as I’ve experienced with similar packs from Montane and Rab.

The 10-litre capacity is great and I thought the storage options were well thought out. You have two elasticated pockets for the included two 500ml bottles, plus additional large elastic pockets on the sides under the arms. These will easily swallow multiple gels and essential items.

There’s also a large zip pocket on one side (which’ll take a phone) and a small zip pocket on one of the shoulders, which is handy for keys. Other positives come in the form of lots of high-vis detailing on the back of the bag. This is placed on top of two large elasticated pouches, which’ll easily take an extra layer or two.

During my first experience running with the pack fully laden I found it bouncier than I’d like, but this can be counteracted somewhat by tightening the straps under the arms. One thing I didn’t get on well with was the running pole storage, as my elbows were regularly bumping into them and there was no way to tighten the fastening.

The result was that one pole did come a little loose mid-run. It’s possible that your elbows might be clear of the pack depending on your shape and size, but it was a small issue for me.

Review by Rob Slade

8. Montane Gecko Ultra V+

Price	£100 / $158
Capacity	4L
Hydration	2x360ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

The Montane Gecko Ultra V+ has a different look and feel to other packs on test. Due to its body-hugging fit, picking the right size (our UK8 tester had a small) means smaller chested runners could comfortably wear this as a sports bra or running crop top.

This is in part thanks to the zonal stability construction and silicone hemline. Meanwhile, the uber thin, four-way stretch material feels light and breathable when on. Admittedly, the vest has less storage capacity than others on test, though the built-in side and front pockets provided ample space for gels and bars.

The two 360ml HydraPak soft flasks were easy to fill and drink out of thanks to the self-sealing nozzle, though the lack of straw means you need to lean down to reach them. The main niggle with this is the placement of the bottles which, although comfortable, felt like an extension of the bust and looked a little awkward when on. This may not be a problem for men, though.

9. Salomon Advanced Skin 12 Set

Price	£125/$165
Weight	277g/9.8oz
Capacity	12L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

‘You get what you pay for’ rings true with the Salomon Adv Skin and it’s instantly apparent that this is a quality construction on par with the Inov-8 and Montane in terms of comfort, design and usability.

The 277g weight is lean and achieves that barely-there feel on the run (even with the duo of 500ml soft flasks full), with the positioning of the vessels meaning there’s minimal bounce. The 12L storage volume is effective and there’s an insulated sleeve if you want to add a reservoir for an extra few bob.

Yet we’re currently content with the flasks, although the lack of extension straws does mean it looks like you’re trying to chew your armpit when taking a swig. The construction and durability appear strong and, if we had the stamina, we’d happily run all day in this.

10. Osprey Duro 6

Price	£100 / $134
Capacity	6L
Hydration	2x500ml softflasks
Sizes	S, M, L

Osprey’s cycling packs come highly recommended, but their debut run offering, the Duro 6 (litre) – also available as a women’s Dyna (review below) or smaller Duro 15 – is a hit and miss affair.

The hits are the straw extensions, which makes it easier to swig when on the move, and the sheer array of pockets; some zipped, some cavernous, but all secure, durable and neatly positioned (there’s even an attachment for a helmet, although we’re not sure how much we’d use this).

And the misses? It’s the words that no-one wants to read when assessing a hydration pack… the bounce. We (and running pals) just couldn’t get the two 500ml flasks to stop moving up and down when containing liquid, something that may be due to the flasks being located more centrally than Osprey and Montane.

How we tested these hydration packs

During testing, we analysed each pack’s adjustability and comfort, including breathability.

We also looked at storage, accessibility and security of pockets, and functionality of the hydration systems that come with the product.

Lastly, we took a holistic look at the packs, analysing overall quality and value for money.

Features to look out for in a running vest

Secure fit

A running vest should sit snugly against your body with minimal movement. Adjustable chest and side straps help prevent bouncing, rubbing or pressure points as you run. A stable fit keeps the weight distributed evenly so you barely notice the vest is there.

A well-structured vest keeps weight tight to your body, even when pockets are full. Wide straps, compressive fabric and smart weight distribution help you stay balanced on uneven terrain. This stability makes long or technical runs feel more controlled.

Materials

Look for soft mesh fabrics that wick sweat and allow plenty of airflow. Breathable materials help keep you cool and reduce the chance of chafing on long runs. A lightweight vest feels more natural and less restrictive, especially during faster or hotter sessions.

Hydration solutions

Many vests hold front soft-flasks for easy sipping without breaking stride, while others take a rear bladder for higher water capacity. The best vests let you choose whichever system suits the run. Good hydration access is crucial for comfort and performance over distance.

Storage

Multiple accessible pockets help carry essentials like gels, snacks, phone, keys or a light jacket. The best layouts place quick-grab items up front and bulkier items at the back. Stretchy, secure pockets prevent items from bouncing as you move.

Comfort

Smooth seams, soft materials and strategic padding all reduce rubbing, especially around the shoulders and chest. A comfortable vest should disappear on the body, even over hours of use. Good design prevents irritation and makes the vest more enjoyable to wear daily.

Women’s or men’s specific fit

Some brands shape their vests differently to accommodate chest structure and torso length. Choosing a fit tailored to your body improves comfort and reduces movement. It’s especially helpful for longer or more intense runs where comfort really matters.

Useful features

Some vests include pole carriers, emergency whistles or spaces for race trackers/bibs. These are invaluable for trail and ultrarunners who carry extra kit. They add versatility without significantly increasing weight.