Running vest, hydration vest, running pack, trail vest… whatever you want to call it, there’s a reason they’re everywhere.
Once upon a time, going for a run meant putting on some shoes and leaving the house.
Now apparently we need a vest.
Water bottles. Gels. Phone. Keys. Jacket. Emergency gear. Trekking poles. Possibly enough equipment to survive the collapse of civilisation.
And, judging by some runners, approximately 47 different pockets.
Sometimes. Absolutely.
And sometimes you really don’t.
A running vest is essentially a lightweight, close-fitting pack designed specifically for running.
Unlike a conventional backpack, a running vest sits close to your body and spreads the load around your torso. The idea is simple: carry what you need without having a backpack bouncing around behind you.
Modern running vests typically have pockets on the chest and sides for easy access to water, gels, phones and other essentials, with storage behind you for additional clothing and equipment like trekking poles.
The better ones are designed to move with you rather than against you.
That matters.
A vest that bounces, chafes or shifts every time you take a stride is not going to improve your running experience.
It’s going to make you wonder whether you could have just left the house with a water bottle. And you’re going to get a rash. A nasty one.
Brands such as CamelBak and Black Diamond have been making this stuff for years, with designs focused on fit, hydration, breathability and carrying gear while you’re actually moving.
And that’s the important bit.
A running vest isn’t just a tiny backpack. It’s designed around running.
The short answer?
Longer runs require more stuff.
Go for a 5-15km run around the neighbourhood and you can probably get away with your phone and whatever you can squeeze into your shorts.
Start running for two, three, four or six hours and things change.
You might need:
Suddenly those tiny pockets in your shorts aren’t looking quite so generous.
A good running vest lets you carry all of this while keeping your hands free.
That’s one of the biggest reasons they’ve become so popular with trail runners, ultra runners and anyone regularly heading out for longer distances.
There’s also something else. Convenience.
Instead of running past a water fountain wondering whether it’s working, you can simply drink when you need to.
Instead of stuffing six gels into your shorts, you can put them somewhere you can actually reach.
Instead of tying your jacket around your waist, you can stash it.
It makes longer runs simpler. And simpler is usually better.
This needs to be said.
Every. Single. Day.
There will be another gel wrapper sitting on a footpath somewhere.
We’re not talking about one lost wrapper after an epic ultramarathon. We’re talking about the local 5km loop.
You know the one.
The perfectly good footpath that somehow now has a collection of sticky little gel packets decorating it.
Probably not. There, we’ve said it.
If you’re running a 5km loop around the neighbourhood and you’re home in 25 minutes or sub 20 (check out our tips how to get there), you probably don’t need two litres of water, three emergency gels and enough storage to carry a change of clothes.
You could just run.
But hey, if you want to wear a running vest so you can look like a Navy SEAL while doing your local 5km loop, knock yourself out.
We’re not judging.
Much.
And there are legitimate reasons to wear one on shorter runs. Maybe you need somewhere to carry your phone and keys. Maybe you’re running in hot weather. Maybe you’re training for a longer event and want to get used to the vest you’ll race in.
All perfectly reasonable.
The point is simply that you don’t need to buy running equipment just because Instagram told you that serious runners have it.
For us, the sweet spot is longer-distance running.
Once you’re getting into longer training runs, trail running, mountain running, ultras or races where you’ll be away from easy access to water and supplies, a running vest starts to make a lot more sense.
The longer you’re out there, the more useful the extra carrying capacity becomes. And on trails, the argument gets even stronger.
A trail run can take you a long way from the nearest tap, café or friendly stranger holding a banana.
You may need to carry enough water and food for several hours, along with extra clothing and safety equipment. That’s where a good running vest becomes less of an accessory and more of a piece of equipment.
This is worth clearing up because the word “vest” gets thrown around for several completely different pieces of equipment.
A running hydration vest is designed to carry your gear and fluids while keeping the weight low, close to the body and stable while you run.
A rucking vest or weighted vest has a completely different job.
And frankly?
Rucking gets our respect.
Rucking is essentially walking or hiking with additional weight. The whole point is to make yourself carry more load and work harder.
You aren’t carrying water because you need water. You’re carrying it because apparently your day wasn’t difficult enough already.
A weighted or rucking vest is designed to add resistance.
A running vest is designed to carry the things you already need.
That’s a pretty important distinction.
Running vest
Designed for:
The priority is generally:
Lightweight + stable + breathable + accessible.
Rucking vest
Designed for:
The priority is:
Load + stability + durability.
They’re solving different problems. And here’s where we draw the line.
If you’re rucking with a genuinely heavy load, that’s tough. Even if we do see you absolutely smashing out a 5km in it. You’re carrying more weight than most people would willingly put in their car boot, so we’re prepared to give you a pass.
Just don’t start calling it an easy recovery run.
Forget the colour for a minute.
Although, if matching your shoes, shorts, sunglasses and watch is your thing, we won’t tell anyone.
There are a few things that actually matter.
This is probably the most important.
A running vest should sit securely without feeling like you’re being squeezed by a particularly enthusiastic octopus.
You want it snug enough that it doesn’t bounce around, but not so tight that breathing becomes an optional extra.
Modern vests use adjustable chest straps and stretch materials to help achieve this. Try it on loaded.
A vest that feels fantastic empty can feel very different once you’ve added water, food and a jacket.
Think about how much water you actually need to carry.
Some smaller running vests are designed around a couple of soft flasks. Others use larger reservoirs or have enough capacity for longer adventures.
The right amount depends on your distance, weather, access to water and individual needs.
More capacity isn’t automatically better.
Carrying two litres of water when you only need 500ml isn’t particularly clever.
It’s just extra weight.
Look for pockets you can actually reach while running.
Your phone shouldn’t require an archaeological excavation every time you want to change a song. The same goes for gels.
Good running vests put frequently used items somewhere accessible, while less frequently needed gear can live behind you.
And importantly:
there should be somewhere to put your rubbish.
See above.
We’re watching.
Running generates heat. Putting a layer of fabric over your torso isn’t exactly helping the ventilation department.
Look for breathable mesh and materials that allow airflow, particularly if you’re running in warmer conditions.
This is one area where a running vest is very different from a conventional backpack. The aim is to carry gear without feeling like you’ve strapped a small greenhouse to your back.
This is the deal breaker.
If your vest moves every time you do, you’ll know about it.
Water is particularly annoying because it gets heavier as you add more of it, and poorly secured bottles can bounce around considerably. A good running vest should feel secure when you’re running, climbing, descending and moving over uneven terrain.
The goal is for the vest to become something you stop thinking about.
Which brings us to one of our favourite GearSocks principles:
The best gear is often the gear you forget you’re wearing.
Look, we’re not going to pretend appearance doesn’t matter.
There are some great-looking running vests out there. Some are beautifully designed. Some come in colours that match your shoes. Some will make you look significantly more professional than your actual running pace suggests.
All power to you.
But when you’re buying equipment for serious running, we’d suggest looking beyond the Instagram aesthetic.
Trust brands that have runs on the board.
CamelBak has decades of experience developing hydration systems, while Black Diamond has a long history in climbing and mountain equipment and has applied that expertise to lightweight running and fast-and-light systems.
When you’re six hours into a mountain run, the fact that your vest matches your outfit is probably going to be fairly low on your list of concerns.
You’ll care considerably more about whether your water is accessible, your gear is secure and your shoulders aren’t screaming.
This is where buying a running vest online can get a little tricky.
You can’t exactly try it on, jog around the lounge room and ask the dog whether it looks too tight.
But you can get pretty close to the right fit.
Most reputable running vest brands provide a sizing chart based on your chest measurement.
Grab a tape measure and measure around the fullest part of your chest, keeping the tape reasonably level and snug without sucking in your stomach. And please don’t use your T-shirt size as a substitute.
A medium in one brand can be a small, large or “what the hell were they thinking?” in another.
Use the brand’s actual measurement chart.
A good running vest should have some ability to adjust the fit. Chest straps, stretch fabrics and adjustable systems allow you to fine-tune the fit once you’ve got it on.
This is particularly important because you’ll probably wear different amounts of clothing underneath it depending on the season.
A vest that fits perfectly over a singlet in January may feel a little different over a long-sleeve layer in winter.
This is an easy one to overlook.
A vest isn’t going to feel the same empty as it does when you’ve loaded it with two soft flasks, gels, a phone, jacket and enough emergency equipment to survive an alien invasion.
If you’re buying a vest for longer trail runs, think about the amount of gear you’ll actually carry. More capacity isn’t necessarily better.
A huge vest that’s half empty can move around more than a smaller vest that’s properly loaded and fitted.
This is one area where we strongly recommend paying attention to the manufacturer’s instructions. CamelBak, Black Diamond and other established brands provide sizing information for their individual vest designs.
Don’t assume every vest fits the same way.
If you’re between sizes, check the adjustment range and the manufacturer’s recommendation rather than simply guessing.
This is one of the advantages of buying from people who actually know the gear.
Ask us.
Tell us your chest measurement, what you’re using the vest for, how far you’re running and roughly what you need to carry. We’ll help you work out which size and style makes the most sense.
Because we’d much rather help you get the right vest the first time than have you send it back because you bought a medium based entirely on the fact that you’re “usually a medium.”
That’s not a sizing system. That’s gambling.
Here’s where we come in.
A running vest can carry your water, food and gear.
Your socks have a slightly more important job. They’re between your feet and your shoes for every single step.
On shorter runs, your regular running socks may be all you need.
As distance increases, however, comfort, moisture management, fit and friction become increasingly important. That’s why it’s worth choosing socks designed for the job.
For road running, training and longer distances, check out our Running Socks collection.
Heading off the bitumen?
Our Trail Running Socks are designed for runners dealing with uneven terrain, longer distances and changing conditions.
And if you’ve ever finished a long run with your feet feeling like someone has taken a cheese grater to them, you’ll want to read our guide to Preventing Running Blisters.
Because there is nothing quite like spending six months training for an ultra only to have your race ruined by a blister the size of Australia.
We sell running gear because we actually use it. We’re not particularly interested in telling you that you need a $300 vest to run around the local park.
You don’t.
But if you’re heading out for a long trail run, tackling a mountain, training for an ultra or simply want to carry your hydration and gear comfortably, a well-designed running vest can be one of the most useful pieces of equipment you own.
And that’s why we stock brands like CamelBak and Black Diamond.
Not because they’re the newest thing on Instagram.
Because they’ve got runs on the board. They’ve been making equipment for people who actually get out and use it.
The best gear isn’t necessarily the gear that looks the coolest. It’s the gear that still works when the run gets long, the weather turns ugly and you’ve got another 20km to go.
And if your vest matches your shoes while doing it?
Well, that’s just a bonus.
Now pick up your gel wrapper.
We know it’s yours.
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