The Best Hydration Packs for Running in 2023

Runners know how important it is to stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to poor runs, discomfort, and other more serious injuries. The challenge is that when you are running long distances, hydration is not always immediately available.

This is exactly why running hydration packs were created. These wearable hydration devices allow you to have much-needed water readily available no matter how far you are running. Because they can be worn, runners no longer have to figure out how to carry lots of water while trying to focus on the road ahead. They can also store much, much more water than a handheld water bottle or hydration belt.

Hydration packs also free runners up to plan your route based on where you want to run, not by places to stop for water. Most are designed for trail where you’re less likely to encounter places to refill. But some are designed or can be used for road runs and even during half marathon and full marathon races.

The packs listed here are unisex or made for men (even if not directly stated). If you need a women’s pack, check out our article on the best women’s hydration packs.

Here is our list of 10 hydration packs that are best suited for running…

Top 3 Best and Favorites

Water Storage

Since we are talking about hydration packs, let’s cover the most important consideration first: water storage!

Hydration packs typically store water two ways: with a bladder or reservoir that sits on your back. Or with handheld water bottles that are stored in the front on the shoulder straps.

Most hydration packs can accommodate both types of water storage. But depending on the pack you buy, it likely only come with a bladder or bottles – usually not both. If you want both options, you’ll need to buy either the bladder or bottles separately.

Hydration Bladder or Reservoir

A bladder, also called a reservoir, sits on your back in either the main storage compartment or a within a sleeve or other storage section of the pack. A tube runs from the bottom of the bladder, through the pack, and up and over your shoulder. At the end of the tube, there is a valve where you drink- like sucking out of a big straw.

These days, the valves are usually bite valves – meaning you squeeze the valve between your teeth to drink. When you are not biting, the valves won’t leak. Some valves are more like water bottles – you pull them up to drink, then push them down to prevent water from coming out. This style is more prone to leaks (or runners forgetting to push the valve back in) so they are less popular.

For extreme temperatures, some packs come with (or can be bought as an add-on) insulation that goes around the bladder and/or tube and valve. This helps keep the valve from freezing in cold weather (a bladder is less likely to freeze due to the higher capacity and sloshing around while you run). The insulation can also help keep the water colder in the summer.

Water capacity varies in bladders. 1.5 and 2 liter storage is most common. And most packs are designed to hold bladders this size. But there are smaller and larger bladders that either come with the pack or can be bought separately.

Water Bottles

Most hydration packs have room for two water bottles that fit into pockets on the shoulder straps. They end up sitting at about chest height.

More and more often, the water bottles you find are soft flasks, almost like a mini-bladder. These flasks sit more comfortably and collapse down as they are emptied. Some packs still come with hard bottles, but these are less common.

Depending on the brand, the bottles need to be taken off the pack to drink. Some versions – like Salomon packs – can be pulled towards your mouth to access without having to take them out.

There are other bottles that have a straw that sticks out of the bottle, making it easier to drink without taking it out. The straws can be cut to size, making them adjustable to the exact length you prefer.

Like bladders, the bottles come in various sizes. 20 oz is most common and the larger end of the spectrum. Smaller packs – and often the packs made for women – come with smaller bottles. The downside is… you have less water to drink. But the upside is less weight to slow you down.

Water Bladder and Bottle Considerations

The first factor is how much water will you need to carry?

Are you using this for long, all-day trail runs where water access is limited? Shorter runs where you don’t need as much? Are you running on the road where it’s easier to find places to refill?

If you need to bring a lot of water with you, a bladder is a must-have. This might influence your decision to buy a pack that comes with a bladder vs. one that only has bottles. You may not need extra bottles if you have a large reservoir.

Personally, I go for long trail runs and like to have a lot of hydration with me. I’ll fill a bladder with water on hot summer days and use two water bottles in the front to carry Tailwind, Nuun, or some other type of electrolyte liquid.

But in the winter – or during a trail race with aid stations – I prefer to use a smaller pack with two water bottles in front. It’s less cumbersome and lighter to wear this instead of a heavy bladder. A huge quantity of water isn’t an issue for me when it’s cold or during a race.

Ease of filling

Some bladders use a large screw top that can be opened to fill the bladder. Other styles use an open flap at the top that gets secured down with a plastic clasp that slides over the top when it’s folded over.

Whichever method, make sure the bladder can be filled up without too much difficulty. I say that knowing that there really is no easy way to fill a 1.5 L soft, plastic bag with water or other liquids.

The screw tops should have a plastic lip that you can grasp to open up the bladder as you fill it. The fold-over style requires some dexterity to open and fill at the same time without spilling water all over the place.

How does the bladder tube secure itself to the pack?

A pet peeve of mine with an old hydration pack I once used is that it had no way of securing the end of the tube near the bite valve to the pack. This caused the tube to sway and flop around, which I found incredibly annoying.

That seems to be less of a problem these days, but I would recommend you check that the pack has a way to secure the bite valve/end of the tube.

A small plastic clasp near the sternum is often used. Some packs just use straps to hold the tube in place. The best way, in my opinion, is magnetic holders that clasp on the tube and pack. You can move the magnet around on the pack to customize where you want the tube to be held in place.

Cleaning/Removing the bladder

In some packs, the bladder sits in the main compartment and the tube sticks out the top – a basic and simple set-up. It’s easy to take the reservoir in and out with this kind of design.

But other packs – like some Salomon packs – have a more robust design where the bladder sits in a sleeve. The tubing is fed through a hole at the bottom and wraps up to your shoulder by numerous straps. This is great when in use – the pack sits efficiently and the tube is tucked out of the way. But it does make taking the bladder out difficult. Which in turn makes it harder to fill up and clean.

On the subject of cleaning, some types of bladders are easier to clean than others. Specifically, you want a tube that disconnects from the main bladder. Separating these two components makes it much easier to clean both.

Reservoirs with a screw top are also harder to clean. It’s tougher to get your hand or a brush inside the bladder. The kind that opens at the top and folds over is easier to scrub.

Refilling During a Race

If you need to refill a bladder during a race (and this is only common during long, unsupported races), there’s no easy way to do it. They are all awkward to fill, especially when in the pack.

But the smaller water bottles are another story. If you plan on using the pack during a race, consider how easy it is to remove them. Ultimate and Nathan bottles come out fairly easily.

Salomon bottles have an elastic cord that wraps around the top. They are also long and thin – so I find them harder to take in and out. The advantage is that they sit better on the pack. The unsecured Ultimate Direction bottles tend to fall down in the pockets as they have less water. So you have to dig sometimes when you want a drink. But they do come out of the pack much easier.

Storage Capacity

Beyond water carrying capacity, the next consideration should be how much storage you want for everything else.

Almost every hydration pack has storage in the back to carry the bladder – and depending on the pack design, sometimes more space for stashing jackets, clothing, food, whatever else you want to bring. Packs that only hold bottles on the front usually have smaller storage space in the back.

Keep in mind that like a regular backpack, you either need to remove the hydration pack or have a friend dig around for you to access the back pockets. It’s nearly impossible to reach items back there with the pack on.

Storage capacity is often noted on the pack description in liters. 5 liters is your average medium size pack. Anything smaller is usually made for races or short runs. Larger packs are good if you plan on really long runs. Even if you only do these occasionally, larger sizes can always be cinched if they aren’t full.

Besides the space in the back, most packs have extra pockets, usually on the front. Some are small pockets for gels or keys. Others are bigger for holding hats, gloves, extra gels – basically anything semi-small you need easy access to.

Hydration packs often have lower side straps that wrap from the bottom of the pack to the front. These add extra stability but are also another place to store gear. In the packs I’ve tried, the pockets have zippers. They can be reached without taking the pack off, but it can be a bit awkward turning around to reach them.

Training vs Race Hydration Packs

In the world of niche-ing down, most hydration pack companies are offering runners an ultralight pack designed for races or short runs. They’ll hold a bit of water – usually just water bottles or a small bladder. And they’ll feature a few pockets for essential gear.

Basically, these minimal packs have just enough storage to get you through a long trail race. But they remain light enough that you won’t feel bogged down like you might with a bigger pack.

Fit and Sizing

Most hydration packs come in different sizes, usually small, medium, large, etc. like clothing. A few packs are one-size fits all.

Both styles have adjustable straps to fine-tune the fit. The one-size fit all hydration packs have way more straps and adjustments to accommodate a wide range of body types.

For sized hydration packs, make sure to check the fit guide that comes with each pack. This is often based on sternum circumference. Although sizing should be roughly equivalent to your shirt size, it’s better to check your measurements against the manufacturer’s recommendation to ensure a good fit.

For the ladies, a lot of hydration packs are being designed for women. These packs have straps in the front that are more accommodating for women. The packs also tend to be a little smaller and come in sizes for petite women. Water bottles on the front are either non-existent or small.

Finally, how the pack is designed along with its material will have an effect on how breathable it is. Larger packs have less ventilation and can feel hot in summer months. Same applies to some designs or packs made with less breathable materials.

FAQs

What should I look for when buying a hydration pack?

Like all gear, hydration backpacks are not created equal. There are several factors to consider when choosing one to buy.

The obvious factor is how much water a hydration pack can carry. Most packs for running have two ways to carry water: on the front with water bottles or on the back with a hydration bladder. The bladder holds more water (usually 1L to 2L), but is trickier to fill-up on the go.

Front water bottles are more convenient and allow you to carry two different types of fluids – but they don’t have the overall storage capacity of a bladder. Some packs allow for both options while others are limited to either the bladder or the front bottles. You will want to select a pack that holds enough water for your longest runs, keeping in mind that water does add weight for you to carry.

Other factors include overall fit, how easy it is to access the water, and storage capacity for extras like jackets, nutrition, keys, and a phone.

Do trail runners wear a hydration pack during a race?

Yes, absolutely! Often, this depends on the style and length of the race.

In trail ultras that are 50k or longer, most runners wear a pack. Aid stations tend to be spaced 4-6 miles apart. Storing food and water in a pack ensures runners have enough hydration and calories to make it between aid stations. And because they are out for so long, a hydration pack lets you carry extra gear like a jacket, hat, or gloves if the weather suddenly changes.

It’s much less common to see runners wearing a hydration pack in shorter races. Because you aren’t running as long, you can often get away with just using a handheld bottle to get between aid stations.

How do bladders work in a hydration pack?

Hydration bladders – or reservoirs – are made of soft, flexible plastic and can carry anywhere between 1 to 3 L of water. Bladders sit on your back, held in by a storage compartment built into the back of the pack. 1.5 to 2 liters are most common.

A tube connects from the bottom of the bladder and snakes up through the pack to the front where you can access it to drink.

At the end of the tube, there is a valve to keep water from leaking out when you are not drinking from it. The valve is often a bite-valve, meaning it only releases water when you bite down and drink. Push/pull valves are also still popular. These are like a traditional water bottle where you pull it out to drink and push it back in to close it.

To fill the bladder, they open at the top with either a screw-on lid or a fold-over flap that’s held in place with a plastic clip. The screw-on lid often has a plastic handle you can use to open up the bladder when you fill it up.

Screw-on lids are easier to operate and more secure; however, they are harder to clean. It’s tough to get your hand or a brush in there to scrub it out. A fold-over design is easier to clean, but a little hard to fill. I usually need two hands to fill it up.

How much water do hydration packs hold?

The average hydration pack has room for 1.5 to 2 liter bladder. Most come with two 17 oz to 20 oz water bottles. So you are looking at 2.5 liters (68 oz) to 3.2 liters (108 oz) total capacity.

How to air dry a hydration pack?

I find the easiest way to dry out a hydration pack is to separate the bladder from the pack. The pack can be hung up to dry or washed on the gentle cycle of a washing machine, then hung up.

Take the bladder, clean it out, and stuff paper towels inside to absorb water and keep the pack open to allow air to circulate.