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. 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 Working with variable conditions is a constant in Trey’s outdoor life — from trail outings starting and ending on NYC trains; to Colorado multi-sport front door-to-door outings that might start with cycling and lead to trail running; to long-distance thru-hikes (on trails like the CDT, PCT, and Long Trail). For women, you need to not only make sure the length and torso circumference is correct, but also be sure to take bust size into account. The women’s-specific V aporAiressoffers two adjustment points for an easy fit, and our female testers were pleased with the overall fit. Organizational Features 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.

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. Designed by and for the fastest trail runners in the world, this vest has the fit and features to race fast 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.

History

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. 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. 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.

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. 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.The verdict: The overall best running vest for trail running distances from 10km to 50 mile ultras. 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 For more information, see our whole section on running vest comfort and fit above. Does a hydration vest use water bottles or a bladder? 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. 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.