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5 Best Running Vests of 2025: Carry Your Essentials, Conquer Your Miles

(7 minute read)

Have you ever ended a run feeling dehydrated because you had nowhere to carry water or spent miles awkwardly holding a bottle? Or maybe you’ve skipped evening runs because you didn’t feel visible enough? A running vest solves all of that.

These lightweight, close-fitting vests carry soft flasks or hydration bladders and offer plenty of pockets for your phone, gels, layers, or first-aid essentials. Many even include safety features like LED lights or whistles, making your long-distance runs safer and more comfortable.

The Best Running Vests: At a Glance

  • Best for Safety & Innovation: ArcticFit LED Running Vest
  • Best for Minimalist Racing: Kiprun Unisex Race 900 3L
  • Best for Long-Distance Comfort: Salomon ADV Skin 12
  • Best Value for Trails: Inov8 RacePac 8
  • Best for Premium Endurance: CamelBak Apex Pro

How to Choose the Best Running Vest

When choosing a running vest, start by thinking about how far you run and how much you need to carry. For shorter runs under an hour or around 10k, a compact 2–3L vest is usually enough. Longer distances may require up to 10L or more, especially for ultra-marathons.

Next, consider what essentials you want to take with you, water, gels, electrolytes, extra layers, your phone, or a head torch. Choose a  high-capacity vest with enough storage for your needs, but avoid going too big, as extra capacity often adds unnecessary weight.

Lastly, think about your terrain and conditions. Road runners may prefer a lightweight, minimalist design, while trail or night runners might benefit with using a safety vest with added features such as integrated LED lights, pole storage, or a built-in whistle.

The Best Running Vests of 2025

1. Best for Safety & Innovation: ArcticFit LED Running Vest

Score: 10/10: Integrated safety lighting and perfect fit.

Visibility isn’t optional for runners it’s essential, especially during dark winter miles or early morning sessions. The ArcticFit LED Running Vest is engineered to eliminate the fear of running in low light, combining high-performance design with integrated LED technology that keeps you visible from every angle. At just £40, it delivers best-in-class safety and value.

Built from breathable, precision-cut Airflow Neoprene, the vest offers a locked-in, no-bounce fit that stays comfortable even when fully loaded. The front and rear LED system is the standout feature, removing the need for clip-on lights and ensuring 360° visibility wherever you run. Ample storage including a front phone pocket, shoulder zip pocket, rear compartment, and secure bottle toggle means your gels, soft flasks, layers, and essentials stay exactly where you need them.

Key Features:

  • Soft flask compatible: 500ml free hydra soft bottle is included
  • Safety: Multi-mode LED Safety Lights Running Vest 
  • Storage: Large capacity  
  • Bladder friendly: Yes, not included.

2. Best for Minimalist Racing: Kiprun Unisex Race 900 3L

Score: 9/10: Lightweight and great price point

Kiprun’s unisex 3L race-hydration vest is as minimal as run packs come, but somehow manages to squeeze four pockets and two front soft bottle holders into the mix. It ditches the main back compartment for a perforated mesh harness that keeps things light and cool when you’re pushing the pace. Rear storage is limited to a mesh jacket stash, but there’s ample space up front for basic race essentials, along with a built-in whistle and unfussy adjustable front straps to help lock in the fit. However, we’d recommend going one size up if you like things a little roomier.

Key Features:

  • Soft flask compatible: Yes, not included (250ml)
  • Bladder-friendly: No
  • Safety: Built in emergency whistle

3. Best for Long-Distance Comfort: Salomon ADV Skin 12

Score: 9/10: User-friendly “quickLINK” system and weight distribution

Running vests have so many technical features these days that it’s easy for us to lose sight of the most fundamental quality that brands need to get right comfort. The Salomon ADV Skin vest has been fine-tuned for distance running. The user-friendly “quickLINK” system on the front of the vest helped make it a cosy fit. Even as you are running fast along tricky trails, you hardly know it’s there. It comes with two Hydrapak bottles included, which are strong and resilient with a flat back that means they lie comfortably against your chest. This vest is a top performer for long outings where preventing chafing is paramount. However, premium performance comes with a premium price tag, and at £140, it’s one of the more expensive options on the market.

Key Features:

  • Volume: 12 liters
  • Soft flask compatible: Yes, and included
  • Bladder friendly: Yes
  • Storage: Large capacity

4. Best Value for Trails: Inov8 RacePac 8

Score: 8/10: Pockets are easy to access and 2 x pole attachment loops

Founded in the Lake District, Inov8 produces apparel boasting excellent quality and value. We tested the 8L pack, which is best suited to marathon training runs and ultras. It’s big enough to fit two 500ml soft flasks in its front pockets and, while you'll need to purchase these separately, we found that they were very easy to remove and replace, even with a full pack. The main rear compartment can hold all the kit and nutrition you need for a day on the trails. Plus, there’s four quick-access pockets on the front for easy stashing, including one zipped pocket to keep your phone secure. The comfort is fantastic, and what you’re getting for the price here is brilliant value.

Key Features:

  • Volume: 8 liters
  • Weight: 310g (approx)
  • Soft flask compatible: Yes, not included
  • Bladder friendly: Yes, not included

5. Best for Premium Endurance: CamelBak Apex Pro

Score: 9/10: Endless storage and RECCO safety technology

An excellent, adjustable pack for race day or unsupported excursions, Camelbak’s running vest covers all your big-adventure bases. Two front-holstered soft flasks and an optional 2 litre bladder in the back handle the business of hydration, while there’s almost endless storage for all your other essential fuel and kit. The addition of the RECCO safety technology helps rescue professionals to find you, should something go wrong, making it ideal for runners who venture into remote areas. While costly, the sheer number of technical features and safety provisions make this a top-tier choice for serious endurance athletes. Although it sits at a high price in the market at £175, its advanced safety features and extensive technical design make it a top choice for serious endurance runners.

Key Features:

  • Volume: 12 liters
  • Weight: 350g
  • Soft flask compatible: Yes, 2 x 500ml flasks included
  • Bladder friendly: Yes, not included
  • Safety: Recco reflector feature

Not sure if a running vest is right for you? Discover the difference and decide what fits your runs best in our blog: Running Vest VS Running Belt?