Hydration vest needed (Read 52 times)

I'm looking for recommendations on a hydration vest for very long runs.

One that won't chafe or bounce around, ideally something I don't really even notice is there (if one such exists).

I wouldn't use it for anything under 20miles but could have used one last weekend --ran 5 hours carrying a running water bottle and had to stop 4 times to buy more water (and a coke!).  Those things tire out my arms and eventually just get annoying, plus they cause a lot of nerve pain (10 hour run with one in Jan messed up my arm for months!).  I need a vest.

I don't need to carry polls or other gear/clothing maybe just a few gels --mostly I'd like something that can hold two water bottles and won't bounce or chaff.

Any recommendations?

Thanks :-)

Dude! I have SO MANY recommendations!

But few personal experiences.

I have an older model Mountain Hardwear vest that works great. I see their current vest, called the Single Track, looks about the same, but has wand pockets.

what I like about it, and what I look for in a vest:

I don't use a bladder, just front bottles. It doesn't have a huge bladder pocket in back, but you can stuff a jacket or other things in it.

It's small and light, and doesn't bind anywhere. Barely comes to the bottom of my ribcage, and doesn't impede my arms.

Holds two 500ml soft flasks in front, and you can always stick another bigger one or two in the back pouch.

It's not some garish color.

If I were going to buy a NEW vest, I think I'd look at the smaller Salomon vests. They have a soft stretchy fabric, and fit like clothing, not a pack. They also have multiple pockets in front for stashing different things. Most of the vests called "race vests" feature front bottles and no bladder. Nathan makes a good one, and if you're on a budget, the one from Decathlon Sports looks very good, but doesn't hold very large bottles.

https://www.decathlon.com/products/running-backpack-marathon-vest-312601?

I figure 500ml per hour is tolerable for most people, up to double that if it's hot. So, size your vest capacity to your runs, you don't want to get "too much" vest; you're not going backpacking.

I also have a Salomon Agile hip pack, and a Nathan VaporKrar belt. The Agile bounces with a full bottle unless I really cinch it. The VaporKrar is great if I just want to take along an extra 500ml or maybe a couple 350ml bottles for 90 minute+ runs in the heat. And gels and other stuff. I use the vest PLUS a belt or hip pack for epic runs, like Grand Canyon.

Note on bottles: Softflasks are comfortable, they conform to your body instead of dig into it. And they don't slosh (suck the air out of them so there's just fluid).

I have an Ultimate Direction vest with two chest bottles, lots of pockets, and a 2L bladder I haven't put in yet. There seemed to be a huge number of them at the last trail race I did.