Hydration vests have become the preferred method of carrying fluids for most runners, and you can find over 25 different options on the market this season. We tested them all. Vests carry liquids and supplies comfortably by distributing the weight evenly across your chest and upper back; the best ones become part of your body, fitting close to your torso and sloshing minimally. After months of testing, these picks stood out for their comfort and performance.

Update, April 2025: We replaced five vests with new highly-rated models from The North Face, Nathan Sports, Osprey, Patagonia, and REI Co-op.

At a Glance

• Best for Ultramarathons:
• Best for Hot Weather:
• Best of Hut Trips and Multi-day 国产吃瓜黑料s:
• Best for Short Runs:
• Best Pack with a Bladder: /
• Best for Mountain Runs:
• Best Value:
• How to Choose a Hydration Vest
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

Best for Ultramarathons

Salomon ADV Skin 12

Weight: 11.3 oz (with two included 500 ml flasks)
Sizing: XS-XL
Capacity: 12L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Well-thought-out gear organizing pockets
鈯� Customizable fit
鈯� Lacks a dedicated outlet for a hydration hose to thread smoothly to the front side

This vest is a perennial favorite due to its adaptable fit, carrying capacity, organization, and comfort over the long run. This season, it received some welcome updates that optimize fit and minimize bounce, including new shoulder straps and a new Y-shaped construction made with a mix of stretchy and supportive materials. Plus, it comes with new conical-shaped hydration flasks that slide easily in and out of the sleeves on the front shoulder straps.

One tester wore the ADV Skin 12 for 42 hours during a 100-mile race in the Swiss Alps on what she says was 鈥渧ery technical鈥� terrain (we鈥檙e betting that鈥檚 an understatement), and reported that, 鈥淭he pack held up fantastically.鈥� She raved about the back storage that holds plenty of layers for the long haul and how well the front pockets carry water bottle flasks. 鈥淭his pack is so lightweight and doesn鈥檛 jostle at all,鈥� she said.

The other front pockets are plentiful enough to keep a phone, food, and miscellaneous items separate and organized. Paired with Salomon鈥檚 Custom Quiver Pole Sleeve ($30), which carries collapsible poles like Robin Hood鈥檚 arrows, this pack is ready for battle.

The ADV Skin 12 can fit everything you need for a triple-digit run, yet one tester also noted that the vest 鈥渨asn鈥檛 cumbersome for a six-mile run where I wasn鈥檛 carrying much.鈥�

Best for Hot Weather

The North Face Summit Series Run Vest 5

Weight: 8.6 oz (with two included 500 ml flasks)
Sizing: XS-XL
Capacity: 5L

Pros and Cons
鈯�Extremely lightweight
鈯�Very breathable
鈯� Flasks can be tricky to access while moving

When it鈥檚 so hot that the last thing you want to do is put on a pack, that鈥檚 when you know you really need one. But you can ease the discomfort by wearing one that is ultra-light, airy, and doesn鈥檛 hold sweat. The North Face Summit Series Run Vest 5 weighs just 8.6 ounces with the two included 500 ml (17-ounce) soft flasks it carries in the chest pockets. The pack is made out of nylon/elastane mesh that doesn鈥檛 retain moisture and vents air like a screen door. One tester called the back panel 鈥渆xceptionally breathable,鈥� despite shedding copious amounts of sweat.

We liked that this pack鈥檚 tension cords are simple and easy to adjust for a fit that is so dialed-in, one tester exclaimed, 鈥淚t’s easy to forget you’ve got this on at times.鈥� Until, of course, she needed to access her fluids or phone, and then remembered the vest and was grateful to have it.

The hydration flasks, which come with the pack, are easy to fill and clean thanks to their wide openings. We could drink from the flasks easily without taking them out of their pockets. We found, however, that getting them in and out of the pocket on the fly requires a little extra effort, especially while carrying a phone in the zippered pocket, as the flasks tend to sink low in the compartments despite the tension cords.

Overall, we liked the pocketing and feel of this lightweight pack that, one tester said, carries 鈥減retty much all you could need for most shorter trail adventures.鈥�

Best for Multi-day 国产吃瓜黑料s

Black Diamond Distance 15L Pack

Weight: 12.5 oz
Sizing: S-L (men鈥檚); S-L (women鈥檚)
Capacity: 15L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Carries a ton of gear comfortably
鈯� Comes in men鈥檚- and women鈥檚-specific fits
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 come with soft flasks or bladder

Thanks to its roomy capacity in the main compartment plus ample pocketing, the Black Diamond 15L carries a decent amount of gear comfortably and with minimal sloshing, making it a great pack for adventures of all sorts. Thoughtfully-designed storage鈥攁 cinch-pull main compartment, seven exterior pockets and one of them zippered, an interior zippered pocket, and dedicated loops for trekking poles and ice axes鈥攎akes this an extremely livable pack.

We love the cinch cords that trim the sides and reduce or expand the pack volume to secure whatever amount we鈥檙e carrying in the most compact bag possible. We also love the materials: soft, breathable mesh back paneling and shoulder straps, stretchy mesh pocketing, and durable ripstop nylon on the body of the bag.

Female testers also raved at how the pack fit their bodies, calling out the stretchy lower sternum strap, adjustable placement of both sternum straps, and shape and placement of the shoulder straps. 鈥淚t’s really easy to fit the pack to the contours of your body using its harness system,鈥� said one.

While it doesn鈥檛 come with a bladder or flasks, the bag can hold either鈥攐r both鈥攃omfortably, making it a great choice when your adventure calls for ample fluids.

Best for Short Runs

Nathan Sports Pinnacle Featherlite 1.5 Liter Hydration Vest

Weight: 5.5 oz (with included soft flask)
Sizing: XXS/XS-XXL
Capacity: 1.5L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Simple and comfortable for short runs
鈯� Extremely lightweight
鈯� Short zipper to back pocket makes using pocket difficult
鈯� Adjustment sliders on the front of the pack can cause some discomfort

Due to its simple, lightweight structure and ability to comfortably carry a flask or two, a phone, and other necessities without weighing you down, this is a good pack to leave in the car or by the front door, ready to grab whenever you just need a way to carry small items while running. We grabbed it often for short jaunts and liked its small, unobtrusive size.

The one 14-ounce flask that comes with the vest sits comfortably in one of four pockets on the shoulder straps (they can accommodate bottles and flasks up to 20 ounces). We used the other pockets for a phone, car key, dog poop bag, and dog leash. The back pocket, which offers 1.5L of storage, is large enough for a lightweight shell, or gloves and a hat, but the short (4 inches) zippered opening makes using the pocket a slight hassle.

Still, this is an efficient, breathable pack made of comfortable, stretchy mesh that secures to the body with two easy-to-use chest straps. 鈥淚 love the way it hugs your body and does not move,鈥� said a tester.

Best Pack With a Bladder

Osprey Dyna 1.5/Duro 1.5

Weight: 12.4鈥�14.8 oz depending on size and gender
Sizing: S-L (women鈥檚 Dyna); S-L (men鈥檚 Duro)
Capacity: 1.5L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Insulated hose
鈯� Made with 100 percent recycled materials
鈯� Materials feel somewhat scratchy

This pack comes with a quality 1.5L hydration bladder and an insulated hose that keeps water cool in hot weather and prevents water from freezing in the cold. It is smartly routed from the bladder pocket to the front, which testers appreciated enough to call it out as the best bladder system in the test group.

We were also impressed with the fit of these gender-specific packs. 鈥淚t’s easy to adjust and get fitted to the shape/contours of your body,鈥� said a female tester. 鈥淚t was lightweight and felt like part of my shirt,鈥� said another.

The breathability of the back paneling also stood out even when we were sweating heavily. We found, however, that the all-recycled materials felt a bit stiff and scratchy, but we will take the trade off in favor of Mother Earth.

One knock: The upper shoulder strap pockets are unusually high, making it somewhat tricky to access them on the run.

Best for Mountain Running

Patagonia Slope Runner Vest

Weight: 6.9 oz
Sizing: XS-L
Capacity: 4听尝

Pros and Cons
鈯� Two flasks included
鈯� Great pass-through pocket
鈯� Lack of large main compartment can limit carrying capacity

The Slope Runner Vest was our go-to choice for mountain running, mostly because it is constructed out of breathable, lightweight materials with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish that repels precipitation that comes with higher altitudes. We also love that it breathes Patagonia ethos: it鈥檚 Fair Trade-Certified and made without PFAS/man-made chemicals).

The pack also carries flasks and/or a hydration bladder鈥攕ecurely and conveniently. The two included 500 milliliter flasks sit comfortably in deep mesh chest pockets, and a simple clip effectively holds a hydration bladder, when added. Six stretchy mesh pockets on the chest and waist straps are easy to access mid-run. The pass-through pocket on the backside proved a great place for a layer to be shoved through and accessed via either side. And the small zippered pocket at the top of the backside fits essentials like First Aid items (but nothing that big or bulky, like larger winter traction devices).

With a tester-approved, lightweight, simple corded system that secures the pack to the body, this is an overall comfortable pack, ready for adventure.

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Ultimate Direction Xodus Hydration Vesta

For all-day mountain runs and race efforts where every detail matters, the Ultimate Direction Xodus Vesta delivers streamlined support, bounce-free storage, and dialed-in comfort. Its 6.5-liter capacity fits hydration, nutrition, and backup layers, while seven front pockets provide fast access to fuel and essentials. Customize your fit with a full-length zip closure and adjustable chest cinch system, plus stash away poles with the trekking pole loops and stay visible with reflective details.

Best Value

REI Co-op Swiftland 5 Hydration Vest

Weight: 9 oz
Sizing: XS-2X-3X
Capacity: 5L

Pros and Cons
鈯� 1.5L bladder included at bargain price
鈯� Good routing system for hydration hose
鈯� Fit isn鈥檛 as streamlined as some packs

A hundred-dollar hydration pack that comes with a reservoir is a great value. The REI Swiftland 5鈥檚 1.5-liter HydraPak Elite reservoir fits easily and seamlessly into the main compartment of the pack and stays put with a simple clip. The hose then routes, on either the right or left side, through a loop and two-clip system that keeps it secure, and your liquids easily accessible.

Chest pockets hold soft flasks (not included), should that be your hydration preference or if you need additional liquids. A zippered pocket securely holds a phone while a second mesh pocket on the front and a large one on the back add storage options.

The bulk of this pack sits in the center of the back, making the fit not as streamlined and close-to-body as some other packs. And the materials, while breathable, aren鈥檛 as soft as some (though we applaud the use of bluesign-approved recycled nylon). But as the least expensive option with easy adjustment straps and crossover capability to other activities like mountain biking and hiking, the REI Swiftland 5 Hydration Vest is a great choice.

How to Choose a Hydration Vest

Fit

The best way to shop for a pack is to read our reviews and then try on some options, making sure your final choice is comfortable and fits your specific body. If you can shop in person, assess how the chest straps sit on your body, and if there are any points of irritation. See if you can adjust all the straps to get the pack nice and snug to your body, and jog around to make sure the pack doesn鈥檛 move too much.

Size

Since sizes vary between brands, start by checking the brand鈥檚 measurement guide on their website, and then measure yourself. The vest should feel snug, but not restrictive. If it鈥檚 hard to take a full breath without battling the straps, it鈥檚 too small. If there are gaps in the fabric around the shoulders and the pack moves too much on your back when you run, it鈥檚 likely too big. If you are maxing out the straps in either direction鈥攃inched all the way in, or fully expanded鈥攃onsider shifting sizes.

After all of these steps, if you鈥檙e still having trouble finding packs that fit properly, try a different style. If men鈥檚 packs aren鈥檛 fitting right, try a unisex or women鈥檚-specific model and see if that helps. Women鈥檚 packs typically have more room around the bust, are narrower in the shoulders, and are shorter overall. For the final test, load up the pack (at the very least with a full flask) and see how it feels with a little bit of weight.

Preferences and Intended Use

The final consideration comes down to personal preferences and how you plan to use the vest. Some people, for example, demand a zippered front pocket, or pole storage, or large pockets capable of holding many easy-to-access snacks. Make sure the pack meets your specific needs: You鈥檒l likely need a different pack for short runs around the neighborhood than for full-day (or multi-day) adventures.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 6
• Number of products tested: 26
• Gnarliest test conditions: A 100-mile ultramarathon through the Swiss Alps
• Most common testing grounds: Trails along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains

Most of our testing took place in Boulder, Colorado, and on trails deeper into the Rocky Mountains. Our test team included six women, each of whom tested mostly apples-to-apples packs: small volume, medium volume, or large volume, while one tester put every pack through the paces.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Lisa Jhung has been running in hydration packs for roughly 25 years, since she traipsed through the wilds of places like Morocco and Switzerland as part of multi-day adventure racing teams. In more tame periods of her life, like now, she regularly throws on a pack to hit the trails of Boulder, Colorado, and the high-alpine routes in the Indian Peaks of the Rocky Mountains with girlfriends or sometimes, her dog Lulu. Lisa is also the lead tester and writer of our women鈥檚 running apparel and sports bra categories, and co-leads our running shoe tests.

The post The Best Running Hydration Vests for Every Type of Run appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Water is heavy鈥攐ne liter weighs 2.2 pounds, and four liters weighs almost nine pounds. Even the best-designed hydration packs or vests, waistbelts, or handheld carrying systems don鈥檛 make water any less heavy than it is. A good system does, however, distribute that weight effectively and allows you to carry what you need comfortably.

Figuring out what amount of fluid you need to bring with you on a run or other outdoor adventure is another story altogether. Deciding how to carry said fluids, that鈥檚 where I can help.

From road and trail running, to triathlon training, Nordic skiing, and multi-day adventure racing sufferfests, I鈥檝e carried fluids to keep myself from dying of dehydration roughly 18,542 hours of my life. Add to that an obsession with always (and I mean always) having a water bottle in the car lest I freakishly obsess about dire thirst within the first 12 minutes of any road trip (just ask my husband), and I can safely claim to be (one of the world鈥檚 only) hydration vessel connoisseurs.

I once filled a snack-sized Ziploc bag with water, bit a tiny hole in one bottom corner and carried the bag by that corner (so it wouldn鈥檛 leak) as a make-shift soft flask on a run. I was visiting in laws in humid Upstate New York in July, had packed poorly, and didn鈥檛 want to die on an hour-long jog. But when I do have all my gear at my fingertips in my own home, I have decades of iterations of hydration-carrying devices to choose from.

There鈥檚 a lot to consider with today鈥檚 options for carrying liquids on a run or other outdoor activity. Choices range from bladders/reservoirs in a pack, vest, or waistbelt; soft flasks carried in a vest, waistbelt, or in hand; or hard-sided bottles carried in a pack, vest, waistbelt, or in hand. Here鈥檚 a look at the pros and cons, best (and worst) situational usages, and crux (most critical consideration) of each.

Hydration Bladder, a.k.a. Reservoir, a.k.a. CamelBak

(Let鈥檚 be honest: A lot of people refer to any sort of backpack with a hydration hose as a CamelBak even though it may be made by any other brand. This is incorrect, so if you fall into the camp of calling these things 鈥淐amelBaks,鈥� please reconsider and call them running hydration vests or packs and the fluid container a bladder or reservoir.)

Pros: Among all the ways of carrying liquid while adventuring or running, hydration bladders carry the largest volume of fluids comfortably. Your choices for bladder liquid carrying capacity are generally: 1.5 Liter /51 fluid ounces, 2L/68 fl oz, or, 3L/101 fl oz, making them ideal for situations where you need to carry a lot of one kind of fluid (meaning, just water, or just an electrolyte replacement drink).

Cons: Bladders can be a pain to clean, although most hydration brands also sell pipe cleaner-type brushes, cleaning tablets, and/or drying racks. I often just turn bladders inside out and rinse them before airing dry.

When to use a bladder: Runners benefit most from utilizing a hydration bladder in a pack or hydration vest on long trail or mountain runs, especially where resupplying from fresh-water sources isn鈥檛 available. To match the volume of a typical bladder you鈥檇 have to carry four to 10 soft flasks or multiple bottles鈥nd doesn鈥檛 that sound annoying?

When not to use a bladder: A runner shouldn鈥檛 need to carry a hydration bladder in races with regular aid stations. Again, water is heavy and usually plentiful on racecourses.

I鈥檝e never, ever worn a hydration bladder on my back for a road run of any sort. Even for long runs, like a 16-miler around the paved paths and streets of Boulder, Colorado, there are plenty of public water fountains available, or the opportunity to buy a cold drink at a gas station. I鈥檝e done both instead of carrying a load of water on my back.

Runners also might forgo the hassles of filling, cleaning, and wrestling with a bladder, a tube, and a pack or vest on shorter runs where they won鈥檛 need as much volume of liquids. For shorter runs of any sort, bottles and flasks are easier to deal with overall, and can carry a sufficient amount of liquids for runs up to two hours.

Crux when using a hydration bladder for running: Finding a pack that carries a full bladder securely and comfortably鈥攚ithout smacking you in the back repeatedly while running flats or downhill鈥攊s imperative.

Read Our Reviews of the Best Running Hydration Vests

Soft Flasks

The invention of soft flasks roughly 10 years ago has pretty much eliminated the need for hard-sided bottles in my personal running gear collection. Some runners, however, still prefer hard-sided bottles. Soft flasks come in varying sizes, ranging from holding just four ounces of liquid to 17 ounces max.

Pros: Due to their narrow, tubular shape, soft flasks tend to carry easily and comfortably in the front pockets of running vests or in handheld contraptions from companies like Nathan Sports, Salomon, and Ultimate Direction. When worn in chest pockets of a running vest, they鈥檙e easily accessible on-the-run, even without taking them out of the pocket (via a chin-tucking move and a squeeze of the flask). Straw lids allow access without tucking the chin, but I personally find them obtrusive and unnecessary.

What I like about using a soft flask over a hard-sided bottle is that soft flasks collapse as you use them. Once they鈥檙e empty, they take up minimal space in your pack or can even be shoved into a tights or shorts pocket. They鈥檙e also lighter than hard-sided bottles, and you don鈥檛 hear the liquid within sloshing around like you do with hard-sided bottles.

Cons: Like hydration bladders, soft flasks can be a pain to clean. I tend to turn them inside out to rinse them off, but that still leaves corners near the top where water gets trapped. For that reason, I鈥檝e been turning them back to their original orientation after rinsing them inside-out, and inserting this into them. It wicks the water out of the interior and moves it to the exterior where it evaporates.

When to use soft flasks: Because they come in various sizes and can be shoved into vest or pack pockets, waist belts, or carried comfortably in hand in contraptions from companies like Nathan Sports, Salomon, and Ultimate DIrection, I think that any time is a good time to use soft flasks. I especially like them when I want to carry both some water and some electrolyte drink. I鈥檒l fill one or two flasks with each, depending on the length of my outing.

Because they become shapeless and therefore floppy as soon as you start draining fluid, runners who prefer wearing waist packs find them difficult to pull out and return to pockets/sleeves.

When not to use soft flasks: When you prefer hard-sided bottles, or need more volume than is practical using multiple small flasks.

Crux when using soft flasks: Do not leave inside-out soft flasks drying on the kitchen counter for too long or your housemates will become annoyed. (Written from experience.)

Bottles

Water bottles made for runners hold a range of fluid volumes, from just four ounces to 20 ounces, and can be carried in hand with a comfortable strap, around the waist in packs that hold one large or two small bottles of various sizes, or in hydration vests from brands like UltrAspire.

Pros: Hard-sided water bottles are generally easier to clean than soft flasks or bladders. They also generally have a wider opening than soft flasks, making them easier to fill with just liquids, or with ice. Plus, they hold their shape so are easier to insert and secure in a waist belt sleeve.

Cons: Hard-sided bottles don鈥檛 collapse down as you drink from them like soft flasks do, which some prefer, but which makes them generally bulkier and harder to carry comfortably than soft flasks in my opinion. That said, bottle shapes have become sleeker and more comfortable to carry over the years. Companies like AmphiPod, UltrAspire, and Nathan Sports offer ergonomic bottles. And UltrAspire and AmphiPod have options that fall somewhere between bottles and flasks; they鈥檙e softer than bottles which makes it easier to squeeze water out of them, but harder than flasks which makes them easier to clean and, for some, hold.

When to use bottles: Even large bottles are ideal for taking to track workouts, placing on the infield, and sipping from during breaks. Water bottles are simpler than soft flasks or bladders to fill and clean, which some find enough to tip the scales their way. And use bottles if you prefer their secure feel over soft flasks for on-the-go hydration.

Also, both soft flasks and bottles work better than hydration bladders in events like ultramarathons because they can easily be refilled at aid stations. Simply hand an empty flask or bottle to your crew or a volunteer for a quick refill or do it yourself鈥攊t鈥檚 a lot easier than taking off your pack and taking out the hydration bladder to refill it.

When not to use bottles: When you prefer soft flasks to carry a similar amount of fluids. When you don鈥檛 own a waistpack or vest that comfortably carries bottles without bouncing around too much on flats and downhills. When you need a large volume of fluids only a bladder can carry.

Crux when using bottles: If you carry a bottle in a handheld device, make sure you switch hands once in a while. Carrying even the weight of one bottle on just one side can create muscle imbalances and pains.

Read Our Reviews of the Best Running Hydration Vests

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Rab Veil 12 Reviewed

Price: $180
Weight: 10 ounces (without flasks)
Size: S-L (Unisex)
Capacity: 12 liters
Pole Storage: Yes
Hydration: Flasks and bladder

Running packs can often feel like a cumbersome-but-necessary evil: you鈥檇 rather not have to wear one, but you need to be able to carry essentials with you. Good packs will lessen this burden by doing a number of things well, and great ones will make you forget you’re even wearing one at all.

The Rab Veil 12 fits into the latter category. It鈥檚 a true quiver of one that鈥檚 equally suited for an hour-long morning jog as it is for an all-day weekend outing, or even a 100-mile adventure. If you like to do runs of different lengths, but only want to buy one pack, this is the one for you.

This fall, our testers took it out on a variety of outings, including a midday run on the 13-mile Mesa Trail that meanders beneath the Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado, a quick five-mile road session before work, and a four-mile jog to one of the many beautiful alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park. That last mountain adventure truly showcased the Veil鈥檚 performance: Imagine arriving at a river, 10 miles into a run and more than ready for a water refill, reaching behind your neck to the shallow pocket where you stashed a filter, quickly replenishing your flasks, and grabbing a snack from a side pocket鈥攁ll without taking the pack off. That鈥檚 the kind of seamless convenience the Rab Veil 12 provides, which allows runners to adjust layers and get what they need without needing to stop for lengthy transitions. That general ease, plus the pack鈥檚 comfort and organization, are why it鈥檚 one of our favorite hydration packs of the year.

Pockets

The standout feature of the Rab Veil 12 is the sheer number of pockets, their volume, and their easy accessibility while on the run (you can grab and stow things in nine out of 11 of them without taking off the pack). Two large zippered front pockets can easily hold the biggest iPhone on the market and whatever other items you need to keep safe鈥攌eys, cards, a Garmin InReach鈥攚ith room to spare. In addition to dedicated pockets for two 500-milliliter soft flasks, there鈥檚 an open pocket behind each of the flask pockets for stuffing snacks or even an external battery to charge a phone during a long outing. You鈥檒l also find large stretchy mesh pockets on the side, a pocket at the back of the neck, a large open compartment on the back, and plentiful bungee cords for strapping bulky jackets. When fully packed, the Veil 12 holds more than it looks like it can, but doesn鈥檛 feel oversized and cumbersome when it鈥檚 mostly empty.

Comfort

The pack is comfortable to wear for hours at a time, both when it鈥檚 mostly empty and when it鈥檚 stuffed full. We appreciated the 10-ounce pack鈥檚 light weight, while still packed with tons of features鈥攆rom extra storage to pole carry鈥攖hat let us tote everything we needed without changing how the pack wears. The pack is built around what the brand calls 鈥楳ono Mesh Chassis,鈥� a transparent layer made of durable ripstop and an airy mesh that Rab claims is 50 percent lighter and retains 70 percent less water than other similar constructions. Testers confirmed that it added breathability and reduced the excessive back sweat common when running with a pack. The chassis is also designed to add support and reduce bounce (and it does both things well). Stretchy side panels combined with bungee cords on the sternum allowed us to customize the fit perfectly while on the go, which made the pack feel more like part of our body or an extra layer of clothing鈥攁nd less like a backpack.

Performance

The Veil 12 is a trusty companion for runs of all lengths, but it really shines on all-day adventures. The pack has a spot for everything you need while on the move: a filter, sunscreen, chapstick, water, a wind shirt, fleece, a snack, or your phone to consult a map or take a photo. On an 11.5-mile out-and-back to Black Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park, one tester appreciated that the large back compartment made it easy to stash a puffy, which he threw on at the lake at 10,600 feet. Our testers liked stuffing most of their gear in the front and side pockets for easy access and saving the larger compartment for lighter layers. They reported that the water flask compartments were 鈥渟lightly bouncy,鈥� but not enough to be annoying.

Comparison

The competitive Salomon ADV Skin 12 feels a little more compact and snug than this one, but the Veil outshines it in the breathability department.

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If you run far enough, you might find it useful to carry some water with you鈥攁s opposed to, say, stopping in at a 7-Eleven or a Starbucks to acquire water. And if you ask around, you鈥檒l find that there are many, many ways you can transport water on your person. Here are just a few options for your consideration.

The post A Very Serious List of Ways to Carry Water on a Run appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2018, champion halfpipe rider Zoe Kalapos got kicked off the U.S. National Snowboarding Team.

She鈥檇 been working hard, but she鈥檇 had a string of poor performances. And the hard truth is that female snowboarders usually get scrutinized way harder than men, she says, even today. Partway through the season, the team manager broke the news: they were going to have to let her go鈥攋ust before the 2018 Winter Olympics. She felt like she鈥檇 been punched in the stomach.听

Kalapos, 25, had been snowboarding nearly all her life, first strapping on a board at age five with help from her dad, who used to be a ski instructor. She remembers loving the sport from the minute she tried it, even though she spent that whole first day falling down. At age ten, she started competing. From then on, Kalapos worked hard, rising through the ranks and training full-time, even while putting herself through college.听

But that nonstop upward trajectory came to an abrupt and devastating halt when she was dropped from the national team. After years of being part of an elite echelon of snowboarders, Kalapos suddenly felt ostracized. She was the odd woman out. All that hard work seemed to have amounted to nothing.

Doubt crept in, dark as storm clouds and hard to shake. For months, Kalapos questioned herself. She remembers thinking, 鈥淲ell, this is the national team. If they don鈥檛 believe I can do it鈥︹��

Maybe you don鈥檛 have what it takes after all, her mind whispered. Day after day, she tried to push the thought away. She tried not to think about the fact that several of her male counterparts had had even worse competition results than hers and were still going to the Olympics.

鈥淚t was one of the hardest things I鈥檝e had to overcome,鈥� she says.

But snowboarding, like many outdoor sports, sits at a unique crossroads of community spirit and individual effort. She might have lost her team, she realized, but she still had her own unbreakable drive to succeed. And she still had her community.

鈥淢y dad came out to the halfpipe with me every day after I got kicked off the team,鈥� Kalapos says. 鈥淚 realized that if he was going to give up his time and energy to come up with me to the pipe, then he believed in me.鈥�

For her, that was enough. Soon she started to feel her doubts transform into something different. Something that felt more like fire.

鈥淭here was a shift,鈥� Kalapos says. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥極K, they kicked me off the team. Now鈥檚 the time to prove them wrong. Now鈥檚 the time to really turn it on.鈥�

Kalapos got a private coach. She joined the Tahoe Snowboard Ski Team and dove back into training at full throttle. She felt driven and passionate about pushing her limits in a way she never had before. It showed in her results: she took home silver in the 2019 North American Cup, then notched two top-ten finishes on the 2020 World Cup circuit. In 2022, she made the U.S. Olympic team.

Walking up to the Olympic halfpipe in Beijing that winter felt like walking through a dream. 鈥淚t was something I鈥檇 been working toward for nearly 20 years,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was hard to even grasp that it was real.鈥澨�

Though the experience was surreal, Kalapos says, her Olympic results weren鈥檛 what she was hoping for (she placed 17th). But learning to overcome adversity early in her career helped set her up to take the result in stride. A few bad contests are all a part of the game, she says, even in normal years. Being a snow-sports athlete can look glamorous from the outside, but like any other career, it鈥檚 full of ups and downs.

鈥淥ur season is so short, and we have to work so hard all year to perform at these five to seven contests. If you do poorly at one or at a few, it鈥檚 hard not to get down on yourself and say, 鈥極h, you really blew this.鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when you have to remember why you started.鈥�

During the lows, Kalapos thinks back to those first days on the hill with her dad. The falls, the soaked gloves, the tailbone bruises. All the little aches and pains that never for a second interfered with her head-over-heels love for the sport. She remembers the feeling of freedom and grace she gets from working tricks, from carving turns in fresh snow. That鈥檚 the feeling that keeps drawing her back.

It鈥檚 also a feeling she鈥檚 passionate about sharing. Today, Kalapos works with a handful of Colorado-based nonprofits, including Duchess Rides and SOS Outreach, which work to make the slopes more accessible to girls and underprivileged kids, respectively. She also mentors young riders at the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy.

鈥淚鈥檓 really huge about getting young girls into the sport, because snowboarding is a predominantly male sport even now,鈥� she says. Kalapos herself has faced a lot of barriers in her own career.

For one thing, she had only a small handful of role models growing up. She plastered her school binders and notebooks with photos of Kelly Clark, Jamie Anderson, and Hannah Teter. But nearly all the snowboarding films she watched had entirely male casts. Even today, she says, representation hasn鈥檛 caught up with the number of girls who are interested in鈥攐r actively participating in鈥攕nowboarding.

鈥淚 had a previous sponsor I used to ride for, and I鈥檇 go on these trips and film shoots, and I was always the only girl there,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I was getting invited on maybe 20 percent of these trips, and the men I knew were getting invited on so many more, filming so much more, and getting a lot more opportunity.鈥� At the time, those snubs felt crushing. They seemed to invalidate a lifetime of hard work.

For a while, Kalapos swore she鈥檇 never work with a big brand again, and instead rode mostly for women-owned businesses. That changed when she was approached by CamelBak.

鈥淚 knew CamelBak was huge in the outdoor space and in making it accessible for people to get outdoors,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut then I was looking at their athlete roster, and I saw they had all these female athletes that they support and post about. That鈥檚 big to me鈥攖hey were really empowering women.鈥�

Today, bolstered by her family, CamelBak, and a stronger team of sponsors than she鈥檚 ever had before, Kalapos feels filled with hope鈥攂oth for the future of her career and for the future of the sport. With strong brand support and athlete advocacy, the gender gap in snowboarding is finally starting to close.

Still, there鈥檚 a lot of work left to do. Both that fight and her career will probably always feel like roller coasters, Kalapos says. There will always be ups and downs鈥攎oments of surreal beauty and moments of heartbreaking defeat. But amid it all, Kalapos says, she鈥檒l keep thinking about that five-year-old girl whose dream was to be in the Olympics, and her quest to make that girl proud.

When asked if she鈥檚 succeeded, Kalapos smiles.

鈥淵eah,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think I have.鈥�

Zoe鈥檚 Favorite Gear for Keeping Her Goals On Track听

For Zoe Kalapos, staying hydrated, fueled, and organized is all part of maintaining focus ahead of big competitions. Here are three of her top gear picks for keeping sane and healthy in the fast lane.

• : Whether she鈥檚 splitboarding with her family and their dogs or taking laps on the mountain with friends, CamelBak鈥檚 Snoblast hydration pack is Kalapos鈥檚 go-to. 鈥淚t holds enough water to last the entire day, and has more than enough room for all of my snacks and extra layers,鈥� she says. Bonus: the tri-zip design provides quick gear access, which means minimal futzing with gloves on.
• : This leakproof, insulated bottle comes with a detachable travel cup that鈥檚 perfect for sipping throughout cold days in the pipe. 鈥淚 typically bring a tea with me to training every day, and even in the freezing temps of Colorado my tea will stay warm in my MultiBev for my entire training session,鈥� she says.
• : Perfect for keeping her hydrated during long days on the slopes, the newly designed cap provides enhanced flow rates and a handle designed for secure carry.

Founded in 1989,听听invented hands-free hydration and is the global leader in personal hydration gear. CamelBak is fulfilling its mission to continually reinvent and forever change the way people stay hydrated and perform by offering a combination of award-winning products that include everything from technical hydration packs to reusable bottles.

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As I crested my second col of the day and peered down at the 3,000-foot valley ahead, a gust of wind chilled me instantly after the effort of the climb. Knowing the descent down the switchbacks to a small rifugio could be a cold one, I pulled a windbreaker from my pack. Halfway through a quest to run Alta Via 1鈥攁lso known as the Dolomite High Route鈥攊n three days, I was grateful for the volume of the ($179) that Patagonia had lent me to test for a few months.

My route spanned nearly 100 miles across the Italian Alps, with more than 26 thousand feet of elevation gain and loss, which meant I had to move fast and light. Thankfully, the trail passes more than a dozen huts where I could refill water, load up on butter-heavy calories, and bunk for the night鈥攁llowing me to pare down my kit to the weight of a typical day pack. Still, my mission required considerable essentials: poles, raincoat, puffy, buff, gloves, sunglasses, headlamp, stroopwafels, electrolytes, two 500m flasks, first aid kit, InReach satellite communicator, emergency shelter鈥攁nd the much-appreciated windbreaker.

The run was an ideal setting for testing the Exploration, a new 18-liter vest-pack hybrid built on the fundamentals of the brand鈥檚 existing Slope Runner series. This version carries on the line鈥檚 tradition of keeping things simple and highly functional, while expanding the storage capacity by more than double the volume. The pack has a large main compartment, four front pockets on the shoulder straps, one hidden zippered pocket, and one external lash point for an ice ax, poles, or helmet.

But the new Exploration is different from its smaller siblings in more than just size. Patagonia designed the Exploration for big alpine missions and overnight trips that necessitate more gear than a typical running vest, but also require agility and comfort for long days. The pack accommodates bulky items like a small sleeping bag or bivvy, and carries moderate weight with little bounce or movement on your back, thanks to a top cinch closure paired with added elastic cords that loop into the shoulder straps to pull volume and weight close to your body.

Patagonia tapped the expertise of athletes like ultrarunner Luke Nelson to dial features in the Exploration. 鈥淚 spent several years working with the designers to build this adventure vest,鈥� Nelson told me. 鈥淚鈥檝e used it for Tor Des Geants, multi-day running in Nepal, and dozens of adventures in the backyard. I think it is a great fusion of simplicity with just the features you need to get way out there.鈥�

Having tested it in the Tetons and Cascades myself, I wanted to see how the Exploration would handle multi-day use and abuse, and the timing worked out to employ it on the High Route in northern Italy.

The good news is that the pack does an incredible job at the most important thing: carrying weight securely, even while running at a good clip. At one point I was hauling 15 pounds comfortably while negotiating steep switchbacks at speed. To date I鈥檝e had zero chafing or wear issues, and often forgot how much I was carrying on my back. This is a rare feat. It鈥檚 easy to make a pack that carries a lot; it鈥檚 harder to make one that doesn鈥檛 bounce or sway while doing it. Oh, and the pack itself weighs only one pound.

The biggest downside is the design of the main compartment. It鈥檚 completely unstructured, so to stay organized, I packed my gear in stuff sacks, then put them inside the large compartment. I didn鈥檛 mind using the smaller sacks鈥攊t helped keep things organized and within reach. But what did bother me was the surprisingly narrow opening, making it cumbersome to take gear in and out (especially larger items like a camera). Another knock: while the pack comes with a weather-resistant DWR finish, the top closure doesn鈥檛 seal completely, so I often used a pack cover in heavy rain, just to be safe. These feel like obvious fixes for the next iteration.

Some of the Exploration鈥檚 finer details became noticeable over time. A perforated stiffener panel adds structure to the back, improving stability with moderate and heavy weights. The front pockets are easy to use and have enough space for snacks, full flasks, and other small essentials. Plus, I鈥檝e found the 210-denier, 100 percent recycled ripstop nylon used for the body shell to be incredibly durable thus far, despite brushes against rocks and brambles and regularly being tossed into the corner of huts.

Overall I rank this vest-pack hybrid as one of the best in its class for its ability to carry weight much more comfortably than its competitors. This supersedes all other functionality for anyone looking to get into long alpine linkups, fast scrambles, and warm-weather fast-and-light missions.

Similar Models

鈥�15 liter

Designed with a large hydration bladder and multiple compartments, the (men鈥檚) and (women鈥檚) packs are great options for fast and light trail running. The best feature is the comfortable hip belt that helps take weight off your shoulders.

鈥�15 liter

Another running vest meets hybrid alpine pack, the Distance was one of the first in this new category. Durable and simple, the primary downside is that it doesn鈥檛 carry heavy loads as smoothly and stably as others.

鈥�20 liter

This larger, feature-heavy design helps it stand out from the Exploration and others. However, while it can carry more in the main compartment and external pockets, we found the large shape and frame harder to run quickly with.

The post Patagonia鈥檚 New Fast-And-Light Vest Pack Is Best in Class听 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The answer to the question, 鈥�Are fanny packs still cool?鈥� will always be a resounding yes for me鈥擨鈥檓 Team Hip Pack all the way (though I am aware that others are not so sure). I鈥檒l still reach for a backpack when I鈥檓 going for a long hike or have my kid with me, but for most quick outings, I think a fanny pack is the way to go. But for such a ubiquitous piece of gear, they鈥檙e not all created equally.

What Features Make Up the Best Fanny Pack?

A good fanny pack should sit nicely against the body, not pull down (or ride up), pinch, or rub, and it should have the right features and capacity for whatever you plan to do with it. A nice size for everyday essentials is in the one to three-liter range, and for moderate day outings, three to five liters is typically enough volume. For whatever you like to do, here are the ten best fanny packs that get the job done鈥攁nd look good doing it.

Best for Everyday

Fj盲llr盲ven 鲍濒惫枚 Medium Hip Pack ($55)

Volume: 2 liters
Pockets: One main compartment and one security pocket

For carrying everyday essentials, the is the only fanny pack you鈥檇 ever need. It鈥檚 functional without feeling over-designed and comes in solid muted colors that will never go out of style. The unique shape lays comfortably against the body, and looks good worn crossbody or on the waist. The main compartment has a two-way zipper and an internal mesh sleeve for organization, and the zippered security pocket on the back keeps important items like cards or a passport safe. The durable material is waterproof enough should you get caught in the rain, and though the zipper isn鈥檛 watertight, there鈥檚 a storm flap for added protection. The 鲍濒惫枚 has enough room to carry what you need for a quick hike, running errands, or traveling through the airport, but if space is a concern, there鈥檚 a ($65).

Best for Travel

Cotopaxi Allpa X Hip Pack ($75)

Volume: 4 liters
Pockets: Two large compartments and one security pocket

The is a two-compartment fanny pack with multiple mesh internal pockets that makes organizing travel items a cinch. The discreet back panel security pocket is large enough for a passport, cards, and travel docs, while the butterfly-style opening (when unzipped, the pack lays out like a book) makes packing and finding your stuff more manageable. If you’re using it as part of a travel system, the strap tucks away from sight in the back panel, allowing it to double as a Dopp kit. Other four-liter packs can be bulky, but the Allpa has a comfortable dome-like shape with side-release buckles that compress it to fit the contents. It’s especially great for camera gear because of the fully padded internal pocket. It keeps small day-trip items close at hand, and it has major style points.

Best for Day Hikes

Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack ($69)

Volume: 5 liters
Pockets: One main compartment and one front zippered pocket

For days on the trail when you want to give your shoulders a rest or it鈥檚 just too damn hot to wear a backpack, the has enough internal storage to carry hiking essentials, two mesh water bottle pockets. It鈥檚 more banana-shaped than rectangular, so it doesn鈥檛 bounce around or pull down on the hips when loaded (compression straps help keep it snug), and the waistband doesn鈥檛 loosen while hiking. The lumbar padding adds comfort with mesh fabric that keeps it breathable enough for all-season use. The main compartment has a double zipper so you can access each side of the pack, and the internal mesh sleeve prevents small items from spilling out. We loved the small exterior pocket for our phone. The Black Hole鈥檚 durable recycled polyester ripstop fabric is treated with a TPU-film laminate, which makes it highly weather resistant against everything but a heavy downpour.

Best for Watersports

Matador Freerain Hip Pack ($60)

Volume: 2 liters
Pockets: One main compartment and one front zippered pocket

The main zippered roll-top compartment on the is fully waterproof, making this ultralight fanny pack ideal for days on the water or being out in the rain. When rolled down, it has two liters of storage, but when left unrolled (and still secured by a zipper), you get almost double the extra space. I can stuff a lot into this fanny pack for a day of paddleboarding or hanging at the beach: a packable towel, goggles, phone, keys, cards, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a few snacks. The nylon fabric is durable and ultralight, the zippers are coated with sealant, and it compresses down into a mesh sack that takes up just a few inches of space. Adjustable straps snug the fit on the fly, and though the buckles are a little delicate, the tradeoff is that it weighs next to nothing.

Best for Dog Outings

Ruffwear Home Trail Hip Pack ($45)

Volume: 1.8 liters
Pockets: Two zippered pockets and one stash pocket on the back panel

Sometimes, I wear two fanny packs: one for my kid鈥檚 crap (not literally) and another for my dog鈥檚 crap (literally). I keep them each stashed with ready-to-go essentials to get out the door more quickly. Any small hip belt will work for carrying everything you need for a dog walk, but the has a few details that make it the best for dog owners who want a dedicated pack. It wears close to the body, so it doesn鈥檛 get in the way of active play, and the internal 鈥渕ess pocket鈥� inside the main compartment keeps smelly treats or a slobbery ball separated from everything else. There鈥檚 a small external mesh pocket for dog waste bags, a quick-access stash pocket on the back panel for your phone, and the small front pocket has enough room for keys and cards.

Best for Simplicity

Dakine Classic Hip Pack ($32)

Volume: Roughly 2.5 liters
Pockets: Two zippered pockets

is a simple and versatile pouch that鈥檚 best for when you want to travel light. This small basic pack has two zippered compartments with enough room to store everything you need to run a few errands or walk the dog. It鈥檚 lightweight and durable, with an adjustable waistband and heavy-duty buckle. The belt is a little thick for the size of the fanny pack, but it鈥檚 comfortable to wear and doesn鈥檛 look excessive when worn on the waist or crossbody. Plus, it comes in a ton of colors and patterns. If you want to lean into the traditional fanny pack style, the Classic is just that.

Best for Muddy Outings

Mountain Hardwear Road Side Waist Pack ($40)

Volume: 4 liters

Pockets: One main compartment and one front stash pocket

The hard-wearing is a no-frills fanny pack that鈥檚 durably constructed and holds a ton of stuff for its size. The main compartment has a small sleeve against the back panel for stashing a wallet or keeping other small items separate, but it鈥檚 essentially one big rectangular holder that makes packing items in easier (the double zippers help, too). The Road Side is large enough for a few aluminum cans, snacks, and even a couple of small clothing items. The smaller front pocket can hold sunglasses, keys, cards, and other little things you don鈥檛 want to dig around in the main pocket to find. The tough nylon fabric is easy to wipe clean, so there鈥檚 no worry if it gets covered in mud while you鈥檙e biking or at an outdoor festival. The belt and buckle tuck into a sleeve on the back panel, so it鈥檚 also pretty travel-friendly. One ding: the thin waistband isn鈥檛 the most comfortable for long days when the Road Side is packed to capacity.

Best for Wallet Replacement

Topo Designs Mini Quick Pack ($49)

Volume: 1.7 liters

Pockets: One main compartment and one exterior zippered pocket

While other fanny packs blend in, the Mini Quick Pack stands out in the bold, vibrant colors, with a hardy shell that makes it impervious to most weather. A smaller version of the popular seven-liter ($69), it鈥檚 got room to store essentials but not much more. The main compartment is fully padded, so it鈥檚 a good spot for sunnies and a phone; plus, there鈥檚 an internal hanging pocket suitable for Chapstick and a couple of cards. The front diagonal pocket features an internal key clip, and there are a handful of other attachment points on the outside, including two bottom compression straps that you can clip onto or use to stash a packable jacket. The long rectangular shape is a bit bulky, and the thick strap is a little overkill and doesn鈥檛 stow. But all the components are high-quality, and this maximalist fanny pack is sure to last for years.

Best for Parents

No Reception Club Sidekick ($75)

Volume: 3 liters

Pockets: One main compartment and diaper wipes back pocket

lets parents carry baby essentials without lugging around a cumbersome鈥攁nd often ugly鈥攄iaper bag. For baby-wearing, it鈥檚 much easier to strap a fanny pack around your waist than deal with backpack straps or an over-the-shoulder bag. The Sidekick can fit about six diapers, hand sanitizer, a backup onesie, and a few other small items like a pacifier or teething toy. It comes with an easy-to-wipe removable changing mat, and the back panel has a diaper wipe dispenser with magnetic closure so you can open it one-handed. The Sidekick is designed to pair with the ($235), a highly compartmentalized and stylish backpack that makes traveling with baby gear more organized.

Best for Hydration

Deuter Pulse 3 Hip Pack ($115)

Volume: 5 liters
Pockets: One main compartment, one zippered front pocket, and two small zippered mesh pockets

is best suited for hikers or mountain bikers who want quick access to water without stopping. The advantage of a hip pack with a reservoir is that you won鈥檛 have a clunky water bottle shifting around while you move鈥攁nd you鈥檒l probably stay more hydrated too). The 1.5-liter hydration bladder conforms perfectly to the shape of the hip pack, filling out the back panel and wings with enough water for a few hours of hiking. Even with a full bladder, the hip pack has enough room for food, a first aid kit, and other supplies, and there are mesh pockets in the front compartment to securely stash smaller items. The ventilated back panel has breathable mesh fabric and a soft spongy lumbar pad that鈥檚 noticeably comfortable on summer days, which is why the Pulse 3 has all but replaced my backpack for hot weather use.

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Backpacks Help Me Stay Prepared

By Annastasia Sewell

In the summer of 1995, my family headed to Wyoming鈥檚 Medicine Bow Peak for a quick 30-minute hike. Between all of us, we carried two granola bars in our pockets and three bottles of water in our hands. After seven hours, two boulder fields, and a lightning storm, I found myself limping across the vast wilderness, vowing never to leave the house without a fully stocked daypack again. I鈥檇 learned my lesson: any adventure can go awry.

And that鈥檚 exactly why I carry a backpack instead of a hip pack. Even a daypack has enough space to hold the absolute essentials (and more), while a hip pack is most lacking in precisely this area. My ten-liter ($140) is more than ample: I can fit a water bottle, a first aid kit, food, layers, and a rotating cast of other supplies, depending on the terrain, weather, and time of the year. Additionally, no matter how modest the hike, I always fill the pack鈥檚 2.5-liter hydration bladder. Try fitting one of those in a measly hip pack!

Fast-forward to last summer. As a result of heavy traffic on the trail, a planned six-mile hike with my dog turned into a 12-mile bushwhack during which we summited three peaks. We were able to make significant adjustments to our plans only because I had with me a fully loaded backpack鈥攁nd it ended up being one of the most memorable days of the season. Bringing a bare minimum of supplies into the backcountry is not only dangerous, but it limits your ability to call an audible. And that鈥檚 why you will never see me on the trail without my overloaded, perfectly prepared daypack.

When Sewell isn鈥檛 hard at work as 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥�s shared-services manager, she鈥檚 in the mountains near Santa Fe with her dog and her daypack.

Hip Packs Are Minimal鈥攂ut Accessible

By Zach Rachlin

The funny thing about a backpack is right there in the name鈥攊t鈥檚 on your back. I don鈥檛 know about you, but I can barely reach those pockets, let alone unzip a pocket and grab a snack, headphones, or keys without losing something valuable in the process. You may ask: Hey hardo, why don鈥檛 you just, like, take a quick break for that? Yet why should I bother when the humble hip pack exists, so that I can never stop never-stopping? The hip pack I use most frequently, ($90), is always conveniently at my fingertips, making it a no-brainer for day hiking, paddling, concertgoing, and traveling. It鈥檚 also my constant companion on bike rides, no matter how long or short the distance. I use it in fanny mode, with a two-liter bladder (measly indeed!), which keeps me hydrated and free of the back pain I inevitably sustain on any long ride with a backpack.

You might then ask: What about adventures requiring tons of stuff? Use both. The hip pack is ideal for backpacking; mine sits comfortably (I promise) lower than my backpack鈥檚 hipbelt, affording safe, accessible storage. And water refills are minimally invasive with the bladder placed at the hip; gone will be the days of completely emptying out your gear hauler to refit the bladder once replenished.

Try the hip pack alone, or in conjunction with the other kind, and you鈥檒l never go back. You can thank me out on the trail with a celebratory hip-pack bump.

A software developer with a passion for splitboarding, biking, and backpacking, Rachlin can be found in and around Jackson, Wyoming, with his dog, Reece.

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This year, there are tons of great new packs for skiing and climbing, which we highlight in our 2022 Winter Buyer鈥檚 Guide. But our testers also came across two other bags鈥攁 cross-country ski pack and a boot bag鈥攖hat warrant your attention even though we didn鈥檛 have space for them in print.

USWE Nordic 10 ($120)

USWE built this entire pack around keeping water flowing. A mesh back panel funnels body heat into the area around the hydration bladder, while a heat-reflective liner locks it in to keep your fluid from freezing. In temperatures where we normally give up on bladders, we were drinking freely, which meant we stayed moving. The stretchy four-point harness system, which unites the shoulder straps at a single chest buckle, locked the pack to our body without constricting. It鈥檚 designed specifically for nordic skiing, so it didn鈥檛 quite make the cut in a pack line-up focused on big tours. But we found it worked well for any cold weather aerobic activity, like bike rides or hikes that don鈥檛 require loads of carrying capacity. 鈥�Ryan Stuart and Elizabeth Miller, pack test managers

Switch Ski Boot Bag ($239)

Most boot bags are awkward and ugly. Not this one. The three-segment design herds boots into padded corrals, leaving a spacious area in between for all the accoutrements. For travel, undo one buckle at the front of the backpack-style boot bag; this makes the boot compartments pivot, converting the pack into a narrower duffel that fits in overhead bins. The 500-denier Cordura outer is tough enough for shuttle-bus abuse. This is the boot bag, refined. 鈥擱.S. and E.M.

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There are all kinds of motivations that get me out the door to ride, but if I鈥檓 being honest, New Kit Day is pretty high up the list. Its sad and much more frequent corollary, however, is Shabby Kit Life. Inevitably, after tons of rides, your once-new clothing, helmet, shoes, and pack get salt crusted, sun faded, stained from water and dirt, and develop a stubborn funk that鈥檚 hard to wash out.

Take heart: there are ways you can put life back into old apparel and make it last longer. Keeping your gear clean isn鈥檛 just about hygiene, or making your clothing look and smell fresh. Proper garment care helps performance fabrics do their jobs better, too.

I鈥檝e been riding for 30 years, and covering gear for almost as long. I have jerseys that are older than some 国产吃瓜黑料 staffers. I鈥檝e written a number of articles about garment care, done detergent testing, and talked to probably a dozen expert sources at clothing brands over the years about how to take care of performance clothing and gear like helmets and shoes. This is the sum total of what I鈥檝e learned about how to keep your stuff at its best.

Clothing

Pre-wash muddy stuff
Think of dirt as essentially zillions of tiny knives that are slicing the textile fibers in your jerseys and shorts, which wears them out faster. If your kit is really trashed from a wet ride, that dirt is circulating in the wash cycle, abrading your clothing even more as the wash drum turns. Instead, pre-rinse anything that has more than a modest rooster tail of grit on it; just one or two hand soaks and rinses is enough to get most of the gunk out. It鈥檒l also help your washer work more effectively, as it鈥檚 not trying to process a huge amount of soil.

Do loads frequently
I鈥檓 guilty of letting the hamper fill up from time to time, but I try to do a load of workout clothes weekly so stuff doesn鈥檛 marinate in its own funk. Extended stays in a damp petri-dish pile of clothes, not the initial exposure to sweat on your ride, is what leads to persistent stink over time. Let sweaty gear dry out before you toss it in the bin, especially shorts with chamois pads. You should turn those inside out to dry fully, and leave them that way听to wash. The chamois will get more detergent exposure, and will rinse cleaner.

Zip it
Zippers are basically hundreds of little teeth. Like dirt, those teeth will abrade fabrics during a wash cycle. Close all zippers before washing. Similarly, fasten all Velcro听closures on items like glove cuffs and waistbands of baggy shorts. The “hook” side of those fasteners is particularly aggressive at pilling fabrics.

Protect bib shorts in top-load washers
Bib suspender straps are notorious for tangling on the agitator in top-load washers, where they can get stretched or torn. Wash them in a mesh garment bag to prevent this.

Warm rinse/extra rinse
The default rinse option on most cycles is cold. But several apparel experts I鈥檝e spoken with in the past recommend a warm rinse for synthetic fabrics, if your washing machine allows鈥攏o matter what鈥檚 on the garment care label. That鈥檚 because detergents dissolve more completely in warm water, which helps garments rinse cleaner. If your washer allows you to select rinse temperature options, pick warm. I also always do an extra rinse cycle. One of the primary ways that performance fabrics lose their properties (like moisture-wicking) is they get gummed up with detergent residue. Rinsing it clean helps those fabrics do their job better.

Hang or line dry
You can lay any cycling apparel flat or hang to dry (it鈥檚 more energy-efficient and easier on the clothes), but there鈥檚 one item that should never go in the dryer: your bib shorts.听Heat from a dryer can cause the silicone and elastic on leg grippers to dry out and crack over time. It also breaks down the foam in chamois pads.

What to wash with
Several years ago I tested听a number of sports-specific detergents like ($25), ($9.50), and ($42), assessing them for how well they cleaned soiled clothing samples, as well as rinsing out and removing stink. My control detergents were ($12) ($21). While Tide was a bit underwhelming, the Ecover did as well or better on dirt and odor tests than any fancy sports-specific stuff, on both synthetics and woolens. It also gets an A from the . Of the specialty detergents, I鈥檝e used Assos extensively, and find that it does an excellent job on synthetics, especially for preserving color, since it has optical brighteners. But it鈥檚 pricey and has a distinct scent that borders between flowery and medicinal, which may be unpleasant to some folks. Generally, I prefer a liquid detergent with no dyes or scents, which are unnecessary additives that may be hard to rinse clean. I don鈥檛 use a special wool detergent; I don鈥檛 wear enough wool to do wool-only loads often, and I鈥檝e had no issues using a general detergent on wool-blend fabrics. Most detergents today are highly concentrated; unless you have a really big load, just fill to the first line on the measuring cap. Using more than you need makes it harder for the wash to fully rinse it out.

What not to wash with
Avoid fabric softener, hot water, and high-spin settings. Fabric softeners work by coating the fabric fibers with a soft-feeling residue. But that residue traps oils, odors, and dirt, and can inhibit properties like moisture wicking or water repellency. Meanwhile, hot water can actually melt some of the fibers in next-to-skin fabrics like baselayers, which limits their wicking abilities. And high-spin settings are harsh on fabrics and stitching. Most synthetics don’t hold a lot of water anyway.

Wash specialty items separately
I separate specialty garments like down/synthetic insulation and waterproof shells. For those, I like Nikwax鈥檚 line of performance detergents, specifically the ($11/10 ounces) and ($9.75/10 ounces). Waterproof-breathable membranes are easily clogged with detergent residue, and nothing I鈥檝e used cleans those technical fabrics better or rinses out more thoroughly than Tech Wash. If baselayers, shorts, or jerseys have persistent odor, you can try Nikwax鈥檚 ($9.50/10 ounces), which seemed to do slightly better with odors than other sports washes I鈥檝e tried. If the problem is particularly stubborn, ($9/10 ounces) or ($15/load) are worth a shot as a single treatment. One item that can and should go in the dryer is anything with a durable-water repellent听(DWR) finish. A quick spin at low heat helps revive the treatment. You can also use a product like Nikwax’s ($13/10 ounces). The wash-in offers more uniform coverage than the spray-on, but you鈥檒l want to do a washer clean cycle afterward.

Shoes

At least clothing gets washed;听most of us ignore shoes entirely. But especially now that synthetics have completely replaced natural leather in cycling shoes as an upper material, there鈥檚 no reason to avoid a good scrub now and then. Remove the insoles and, if your shoes have them, laces. Add warm water and dish soap to a bucket and grab a stiff-bristle brush. Scrub the outside of the shoes thoroughly, taking care to get the bristles into fabric sections to clear dirt out of the mesh. Rinse just as thoroughly in cold water. I do this outside where I can spray off shoes with the hose.

To dry, set them in a warm location but not in direct sun. Stuff the insides with clean rags, paper towels, or newspaper (sigh, yes, I still subscribe to a print newspaper)听to help them dry faster. Replace when they get saturated. Or, if you really want to get nerdy, put them on a boot and glove dryer like the ($55). If you ride a lot in winter or do snowsports, a boot dryer is a good investment anyway.

Helmets

Bathroom slips and falls are a leading cause of serious injury, . Keep yourself safe by wearing your riding helmet in the shower. In all seriousness, the shower is the perfect place to wash a helmet. Warm water provides an effective rinse, and your regular shampoo is a fantastic product to wash out all the salt-crusted gunk from your helmet straps and pads (and you know it won鈥檛 irritate your scalp). If your helmet pads are particularly nasty, you can remove and wash them in the laundry. Use a small garment bag to prevent them from getting lost in the load. If the pads are torn or otherwise unsalvageable, get a replacement set; most helmet makers offer them at a nominal price, even for some older models. Not available direct or from a dealer? Check eBay and Amazon. I found aftermarket pad kits for a Bell V1 Pro, a helmet that has not been made in 25 years. Yes, I know I just said I get a print newspaper, but no, I do not still own this helmet.

Hydration Packs

You can spot-clean most pack fabrics with a clean cloth or brush. But you can clean a whole pack if it gets trashed. That鈥檚 also the best way to freshen back panels and straps, which get stinky from being in contact with our bodies on rides. Empty the pack and remove the bladder and hose, back panel stiffener, and other items (like, you know, your phone). Fill a large sink with enough warm water to submerge the pack, and add a generous glug of dish soap (a three- to five- second squeeze ought to do it). Once the water is nice and evenly soapy, dunk the pack. Use your bristle brush to get off stubborn dirt and to scrub zippers clean. With your hands, squeeze the back pad and shoulder straps to cycle the soapy water through the foam. Let it soak for a few minutes, then drain the sink and fill it with an equal amount of cold water to rinse. Dunk and agitate the pack, squeezing the straps and back panel foam again to get the soap out. You may need to do a double rinse to accomplish this. Drain, gently squeeze out all the excess water you can and hang it to dry in a shower or outside, where the drips won鈥檛 hurt flooring.

Glasses

Don鈥檛听use saliva to clean lenses; wipe them with a corner of your shirt, with facial tissue, or with other paper products; store them on top of your head or the back of your neck. All of those methods introduce elements like dirt or oil, and can mar even scratch-resistant lenses.

Do give them a good scrub regularly. Pop out removable lenses to clean separately. Rinse everything under warm water. Apply a drop of dish soap and rub it all over lenses and frames鈥攁 Q-tip is handy for getting into crevices and corners. Pay attention to nose pads and temples, especially the grippy rubber material that gets all gummy with dirt and sweat. Dry everything with a clean microfiber cloth. Use the same kind of cloth for spot cleaning too. Buy several and rotate them, washing to keep them clean.

Handlebar Tape and Grips

Tape and grips start out all sparkly clean but get grubby pretty quick. To refresh them, spray some bike degreaser on the tape or grips and wipe everything down thoroughly with a clean sponge or rag. My听favorite for this is ($19/liter), but most citrus degreasers will work fine. It might take some muscle to get caked-on gunk out. Rinse with clean water and dry with a rag. If dirt is really ground into the surface of the tape or grips, grab a sponge eraser (the ones you find at hardware or home improvement stores), wet it, and gently scrub the trouble spots. Sponge erasers are particularly good for touching up matte-finish tapes and getting into fine grooves in grips. But take care when using them on handlebar tape. They are made of melamine foam, which basically works like a super-fine sandpaper. Most handlebar tape has a surface finish that鈥檚 different than the foam underneath, and if you scrub too hard you can go through it.

On lighter-colored tapes, you may notice that even clean tape still looks a little dull even after cleaning (if you peel back a layer, what鈥檚 underneath is noticeably brighter). That鈥檚 not always dirt, though: lighter tapes will fade or yellow with UV exposure. You can clean grips and tape as often as you want, but bear in mind that tape especially has a finite life. Most of it is made from EVA foam like running shoes, so it loses its cushion over time and becomes more brittle and prone to tearing, including during cleaning. If your tape is more than a couple of years old, it might be better just to replace it. Grips are longer lasting, but when the rubber surface starts to break down, it鈥檚 time for a new pair.

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