Yesterday I looked around and investigated running vests. I mean the kind like in my picture, which you wear over your clothes and has room for a water bladder and multiple pockets for bottles and gels and such. I am currently using a hip-bag (?) with my phone and a small flexible bottle and some candy. But the bottle is too small to satisfy me on a longer run such as 10K (which is 85 - 90 minutes for me). And I can't fit a bigger bottle in the hip-bag. So I needed something else. A colleague of mine swears by her running vest, so I looked into this myself. It was a hard search as I am rather critical, but in the end I made my decision: Nathan VaporHowe 2 4L.
Not a cheap vest and it's not immediately a 'fun' color nor even fashionable, but it looks very useful. There is no bladder added when buying it (you have to buy it separately), but I don't think I need a bladder yet. But there are 2 big flexible bottles added, which fit in 2 of the front pockets. They have long tubes to drink while running, but I don't know if I will use those yet or just other flexible bottles without the tubes. Looks a bit annoying to be running with tubes hopping before you. And then there is still room for a phone, gels, handkerchiefs and other things.
I will still use my hip-bag for my 5K runs during the week, but on my longer weekend runs I will be using this running vest to carry along more water. I do am curious as to how it will feel to run with it. I chose this one as it looks very thin (without a bladder) on the back and not too hot to run in. I hope to receive it still before this weekend.
Anyone else using a running vest like these for their runs?
Do you run often with it? I won't be using it for short distances, but the longer ones I will be using it to have more water with me. Seen it takes me 90 minutes to reach 10K and my goal is to reach 10 miles... 😜
That looks the business, Evy. I have something similar, and it’s really useful on those longer runs. It took a bit of getting used to, but they are SO handy for all those bits and pieces, especially water and a snack, as well as some folded up loo roll just in case!
Yeah, my hip-bag can fit only a small bottle of water and I feel that I need more on a long run. Plus I take along some gel-candies too to take every 30 minutes, I have to put them somewhere. And not to forget them handkerchiefs for my snotty nose 😉
I have soft bottles with long straws as in your picture, I find it much easier to drink from them vs bottles without straws. I do find the straws are a bit annoying and I tuck them away under my top fastening strap (which I have higher up on my vest). But I note that the Nathan vest in your picture has some nice straps to hold the straws closer to your body which I think would help quite a lot! My Salomon vest doesn't have those 😂
I have a bladder too, but on balance I prefer the bottles as they are easier to refill, and I tend to think that the bladder blocks air circulation to my back which is badly needed sometimes! Also the top of the bladder bounces a bit, even if tightly fastened to the top of the pack, which is annoying!
I do however find it impossible to stop the liquid in my soft bottles sloshing, despite sucking the air out of them - although the sloshing seems to die off as the bottles empty. I don't have this problem with the bladder.
I am happy wearing my vest during colder months but I have been struggling this summer with getting way too hot - I need to re-evaluate!
I will try out the long straws, though I don't really need them as I take a sip during my walking breaks (Jeffing). But maybe it's easier with the long straws instead of pulling the bottles out every time.
The bladder won't be in use for the time being, I think that with 2 x 500 ml bottles I will have more than plenty enough for now. I have now run my 10K's with a small bottle of I think 250 ml or so? So having 2 bottles of 500 ml will be more than enough for now.
I also chose this vest because it seems as if the back of the vest is much thinner than some other vests I saw. So without the bladder, I hope it will be thin enough not to feel hot. I also saw a vest (Salomon I think) which has a very thin 'net' as the back, so without bladder option. But it seemed as if that vest only had 2 pockets, which I don't find enough. And should a miracle ever happen and I should ever run longer than I can now possibly think about, having the option of a bladder is nice.
I find a litre is fine for all but the very hottest of days - but then refilling is also often an option for me which is why I prefer the bottles.
The pockets on your vest look similar to mine, which are very good I think! Those bottom pockets at the front have a LOT of stretch in them, so they can carry a good selection of snacks. My long-straw bottles actually go in the bottom pockets, but I can still squeeze quite a lot of other stuff around them!
Very good to know, also good to know you approve of the vest. I have been thinking and looking up so many different vests yesterday! I thought I was going to dream about them at night! 😂
I like the purple, I’ve got a bright pink aonijie vest, I love it, it’s got room for a bladder, but I use soft bottles, once it’s on it doesn’t move. I tend to use it for longer runs, or if I need to carry other stuff, like my phone. The bladder pocket is useful for other stuff - big enough for a packed lunch my OH reckons! 😂
Otherwise I have some fab decathlon trail shorts and skort that have pockets all round the waist band with one big enough for a 250 ml soft water bottle....
Thanks! My hip-bag can carry a small flexible bottle, my phone and squeezed in between somewhere 2 jellies, but that's all it can carry. And as I don't feel satisfied anymore with only the small bottle on my long runs, I needed something new. Won't be using a bladder for the time being either, this baby can carry 2 soft bottles of 500 ml, which will be more than enough for now and my phone and my jellies and more 😊
I've got a Decathlon one, picked up in the sale a few months ago at a ludicrous price of something like 11.50€. Thought I'd be upgrading it rapidly, but it works really well for me, and as it came complete with 1L water bladder and a whistle it meets the requirements for my trail event.
I don't usually bother with it unless I'm likely to be running 2 hours or more though. I also learned the hard way never to wear it with a racer-back vest on a hot day. Ouch ouch ouch.
That is CHEAP! Wow, you certainly did a good buy! And I always were regular shirts with sleeves and full back. But good to know should I ever thing about a racer back!
You must tell us how it goes. I tend to do laps after 5-6K and leave a bottle on somebody's wall! Then move it along to somebody else's! But it restricts where I go. I am looking to move on and run further afield, so some opinions on these vests will be welcome.
I have recently bought one from Amazon I am a slow runner but found if I do more than 8 miles I need a drink .The one I bought looks similar to one in your picture loads of colours on Amazon they do loads I paid £28.99 for mine it came with 2 little bottles no straws there are enough pockets for small edibles loads of tissues ( I’m the same ) keys phone and a large pocket at the back in case you need a rain jacket.
Mine is Aonjie but for some reason is described as Geila in description
Good to hear you're happy with your vest. I guess it will take a little getting used to to run with it, but I'm sure that the pro's will quickly outweigh the cons!
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Finding what works: hydration belts, phone holders and vests 
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