2017 Running Gear Guide: Hydration
From vests and packs to belts and handhelds, there’s a style to suit every run and runner.
$180, nathansports.com
Highlight: Feels more like a shirt than a pack
Ultrarunner Stephanie Howe Violett helped design the latest vest for Nathan. Body-mapped and sized to fit, this 12-liter carry capacity pack feels more like a shirt than a backpack. With two moveable elastic straps, each with three points of contact, it has a jostlefree fit, even when loaded. It comes with a 60-ounce hydration bladder.
$40, ospreypacks.com
Highlight: Phone storage in a no-bounce belt
This sturdy hydration belt has an adjustable waist strap, plus some stretch for a no-bounce fit. It comes with one contoured, 19-ounce bottle, a zip pocket and a see-through pocket with touch screen access to keep your phone handy and safe from sweat.
$8 for 12 tablets, hydrapak.com
Highlight: Clean containers for you and someone else
Forgetting to clean your favorite bottle or hydration bladder after a long run happens. So does icky black slime. One of these chlorine-free, environmentally friendly tablets (two if it’s really gross) and some hot water are all you need to give your hydration system new life. With every purchase, Hydrapak gives Bottle Bright to people in developing nations who need clean water containers.
$45, camelbak.com
Highlight: Handheld soft insulation
This easy-to-hold, 17-ounce, insulated soft flask is the first on the market in a handheld. Four elastic carrying straps means it’s comfortably secure no matter how you like to hold it. A zippered pocket makes it easy to carry a phone, and there’s a separate mesh pocket for snacks.
$15, fuelbelt.com
Highlight: Streamlined design for minimalist runners
Besides carrying 10 ounces of refreshment in a slim, ergonomically designed bottle, this streamlined handheld also has a 3-in-1 pocket with water-resistant storage and reflective accents. Thanks to the compact size, you barely notice you have it. It’s also easy to carry, because it’s ergonomically designed to rest in your palm.
$40, katadyn.com
Highlight: Water whenever, wherever
Taking this 20-ounce, soft flask water filtration system with you means that as long as you can find a water source, you won’t go thirsty. It’s ridiculously easy to use—fill the bottle, screw on the filter, squeeze and drink. That’s it. Drinking through the filter nozzle feels natural, with no gasping and gulping.
$125, ultraspire.com
Highlight: A trail favorite gets more storage
With its comfortable fit and breathability, the Alpha is already a favorite at trail races. Now its carry capacity gets a boost with a large, mesh, back zip pocket. Use it to hold extra layers or even supplement the two 18.5-ounce contoured bottles with a hydration bladder or filter. It also includes a handy, sweat-proof pocket for electrolytes.