Choosing the right trail running hydration vest
Trail running packs, hydration vests or running belts all have their pros and cons, and their own limitations to carry the equipment you need on your runs. While some are lightweight and guarantee a good range of motion, others are bigger, allowing to carry numerous items for long days of adventures and ultra-trail running for example. So, how to choose your trail running backpack? Here are some elements to answer this question!
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Deals
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Recommended price
£121.71
-14%
£104.31
- M-L (95-105)
Deals
-
Recommended price
£121.71
-14%
£104.31
The Dynafit Ultra 12 Vest Black Out vest combines lightness, durability and function with its 12L capacity, soft flasks and multiple pockets for your mountain runs.
- XS-S (85-95)
- M-L (95-105)
Deals
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Recommended price
£95.61
-23%
£72.99
The TSL Finisher 5 + 2 Soft Flasks 500 ml Black Pink is a lightweight, breathable mesh vest with adjustable straps, featuring a pole holder, safety whistle, reflective zones, and pockets for hydration.
- S (84-91)
- M (92-99)
Deals
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Recommended price
£121.71
-14%
£104.31
- XS-S (85-95)
- M-L (95-105)
Deals
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Recommended price
£86.91
-20%
£69.51
The Salomon Active Skin 4 Set Black Metal is a lightweight, durable hydration vest for runners, offering 4L capacity, easy-access flask pockets, and a custom fit.
- XS (81.5-89)
- S (88.5-96)
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
- XL (108-115)
Deals
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Recommended price
£43.41
-20%
£34.71
Inov-8's Racepac 4 Black Light Green is an eco-designed trail vest with 4 liters of storage, Zero-Bounce system and multiple pockets for comfortable, organized running.
Deals
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Recommended price
£113.01
-20%
£90.39
The Salomon Active Skin 12 Set Black Metal is a versatile, comfortable trail vest with generous storage, including a 12-litre capacity, bottle pockets, and compatibility with a 1.5 litre water bladder.
- S (88.5-96)
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
- XL (108-115)
Deals
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Recommended price
£86.91
-20%
£69.51
The Salomon Active Skin 4 Women Set Black Metal is a lightweight, compact trail running vest with a 4-litre capacity, SensiFit™ construction, and hydration compatibility, perfect for short to medium distance races.
- XS (76-81.5)
- S (81-86.5)
- M (86-90.5)
Deals
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Recommended price
£99.96
-20%
£79.95
The Salomon Active Skin 8 Set Black Metal is a lightweight, durable hydration vest with an 8-litre capacity, designed for long-distance trail running, featuring practical pockets, compatibility with a 1.5L water bladder, and a secure compartment for essentials.
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
- XL (108-115)
Deals
-
Recommended price
£113.01
-20%
£90.39
- XL (105-115)
Deals
-
Recommended price
£121.71
-14%
£104.31
The Rossignol R-Exp 10L Vest is a lightweight, ergonomic hydration vest offering 10L capacity, pole holder, and included soft flasks—ideal for intensive outdoor activities.
- S-M
- L-XL
Deals
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Recommended price
£52.11
-20%
£41.67
The Racepac 8 Black Light Green trail vest from Inov-8 is a lightweight, versatile backpack designed to provide optimum comfort and storage capacity for your outdoor runs.
- M (89-102)
- L (97-109)
Deals
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Recommended price
£121.71
-14%
£104.31
The Spectre 12 Women Black Cherry hydration pack from Oxsitis combines lightness and functionality with its 12-liter capacity, water-resistant Ripstop fabric, pole holder, included flasks and adaptability for hydration systems.
- XS-S (75-87)
- M-L (87-100)
Deals
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Recommended price
£156.51
-33%
£103.44
- M
- L
Deals
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£165.21
The Oxsitis X-Plore 28+5 Light Grey Black is a robust, adaptable hydration pack with AirBack Control system, functional pockets and EasyFix pole.
- S-M (80-100)
- L-XL (100-120)
Deals
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Recommended price
£60.81
-28%
£43.41
As practical for your trail and mountain bike outings, as for short hikes, the Osprey Kitsuma 3 Blue Mage backpack is compact and very light, delivered with a Hydraulics water bladder,.
Deals
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Recommended price
£86.91
-20%
£69.51
- S (88.5-96)
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
- XL (108-115)
Deals
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Recommended price
£139.11
-12%
£121.71
The Spectre 16 Black Orange hydration bag from Oxsitis combines recycled Ripstop fabric and 3D mesh for lightness and durability, with integrated flasks and ergonomic fit.
- S (80-95)
- M (100-105)
- L (110-115)
- XL (115-120)
Deals
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Recommended price
£156.51
-33%
£103.44
- M
- L
Deals
-
Recommended price
£113.01
-20%
£90.39
The Salomon Active Skin 12 Set Red Dahlia High Risk Red is a versatile, comfortable trail hydration vest with ample storage, SensiFit construction, and compatibility with a 1.5 litre water bladder.
- S (88.5-96)
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
Deals
-
Recommended price
£86.91
-20%
£69.51
- XS (81.5-89)
- S (88.5-96)
- M (95.5-102.5)
- L (101.5-108.5)
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Choosing a running vest depending on the distance
There’s a whole world between short trail runs and ultra-trail running. Training sessions, nutrition, recovery are elements that are approached differently depending on your distance goals and the time you’re aiming for. On D Day, your trail running backpack can have as much to do with your success as your poles and shoes. Depending on the distance, you’ll need a hydration vest with the right capacity and features.
5 to 40 km: a belt or a vest for a short trail run?
On a short distance trail run, the goal is often to run fast. The most competitive runners won’t carry anything or be satisfied by a simple running belt, others, not as fast will prefer to be safe and choose a trail running backpack. For this situation, you can find minimalist vests such as the Oxsitis Atom 6 or Salomon Active Skin 4. Very lightweight, it offers great freedom of movement. It allows you to carry the essentials. Phone, water bottle and folding poles will be stored easily and available in a pinch.
40 to 80 km: which pack for a long trail run?
On longer distances, your hydration vest should offer a larger capacity. If you are specific about your nutrition and don’t rely on feed zones to fuel yourself, you need to carry food such as cereal bars and a significant quantity of liquid. Without being too bulky to remain pleasant to wear while running, your hydration pack should feature a water bladder compartment and be able to store some waterproof clothes in case the weather deteriorates. This is the case of the Norrona Senja Econy 7L which fits the bill!
Over 80 km: which backpack for an ultra-race such as the UTMB?
If your goal is finishing an ultra-trail, the race organisation will ask you to carry a list of mandatory items in your backpack, for your own safety. Ultra-running means you’ll spend long hours in the mountains. In addition, you’ll often encounter significant altitude differences and go from warm valleys to cold peaks. A hydration vest such as the Oxsitis Enduro 30 Ultra will be your companion for beautiful adventures.
Choosing the right hydration vest
While being initially designed for trail running, these packs can work well for other activities. For instance, hiking. Rather than bringing a rugged but heavier hiking pack, a trail running backpack with a reasonable capacity can carry your food, snacks and some lightweight hiking clothes. In addition, hydration vests are used by cross-country skiers who don’t feel comfortable wearing a waist belt and want to bring more than just some water and a bar!
Salomon, Oxsitis... The best men’s and women’s trail running backpacks are available at Glisshop!
Discover right now on our online store trail running backpacks from the biggest brands in the field. Salomon, Oxsitis, Dynafit, La Sportiva or Black Diamond, you are sure to find the right model among their high-performance products. Don't wait any longer and start your adventure on beautiful trails with stylish high-quality equipment!