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Figuring out what to bring on long runs can sometimes feel like a compromise you shouldn’t have to make. Even if your shorts or shirts have some pockets, they can fill up quickly as they aren’t usually meant to hold more than a house key or a loose gel. Enter one of the best hands-free solutions to your gear storage problems: Hydration belts.
These handy accessories, designed with runners in mind, securely hold all the essential gear you might need on a long run without jangling around. They typically have purpose-built mounts for a water bottle or two (or six!), positioned to make grabbing your drinks mid-stride a breeze. Hydration belts let you keep your hands free, with space to store important items like your phone, keys, ID, and even some nutrition.
Whether you’re preparing for a long trek or simply like having a little extra gear when you go out, we’ve rounded up the best hydration belts so you can find one that’s perfect for your next run.
Plenty of extra pockets hydration vests and water bottles for runners.
The Best Hydration Belts
- Best Overall: Bottles maintain temperature well
- Best Value: Space for up to 6 bottles
- Amphipod RunLite AirStretch 10K Hydration Belt: The Run/Walk Method
- Best Large Bottle: Amphipod RunLite AirStretch 10K Hydration Belt
- Easiest to Access: Health - Injuries
What to Consider
Water Capacity
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Updated: Aug 25, 2023 10:09 AM EDT on your training runs, you can pick a belt based on how many ounces of water the included bottles can carry. Some hydration belts hold as little as 12 ounces, whereas others offer almost four times that volume. Other belts don’t come with any bottles, but rather have a pocket or sleeve for your own Still has plenty of storage.
Gear Storage
Per the name, hydration belts offer space for water bottles, but they also have pouches for other goodies like rain jackets, snacks, your phone, or some cash. Most belts have a large central pocket (as big as three liters) with space for the bulk of your belongings, and some have a variety of side stash pockets for quicker access and broader weight distribution.
Weight Distribution
Too much concentration of mass in one spot can lead to a heavy lump of gear flopping around on your torso, which can affect your stride as you adjust your positioning to counter the weight. The more cargo and water you bring along, the more you might need additional pockets to distribute the weight and keep your hydration belt where you want it.
Water can be especially tough to manage when it comes to weight distribution. It’s likely one of the densest supplies you’ll carry on your runs, which is why most belts have multiple small bottles that wrap around the sides of your waist. For hydration belts that accommodate a more standard-sized water bottle, we recommend looking for one that holds the water diagonally or horizontally—this mimics the weight distribution of having multiple bottles, and it also makes it easier to pull them out on the move.
How We Selected
Our selection includes top hydration belts that have been personally tested and vetted by our team at Runner’s World, as well as a few that were chosen with the help of expert and customer reviews. The belts on this list balance adjustability, storage capacity, value, and bottle security to keep your runs comfortable and your body hydrated.
Pros
- Bottles maintain temperature well
- Ample storage that doesn’t feel like too much
Cons
- Bottles don’t always stay in place on rowdier runs
No one likes drinking warm water in the middle of their run. To fend off the heat, these 10-ounce insulated bottles help keep your water cool and refreshing even as the temp rises. The bottles are easy to access, and although they do bounce a little, they’re small enough that their inertia won’t drive you crazy.
This belt also has a zippered pocket with room for all of your essentials, and the adjustable band fits waists between 26 and 42 inches.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | 26–47 in. |
| Bottle Capacity | 10 oz. |
Pros
- Bottles don’t rattle free
- Fits waists up to 55 inches
Cons
- Some users claim their bottles were leaky
For only a shade above $20, this hydration belt from PYFK has plenty of design touches above and beyond what its price tag would indicate. It has one of the most adjustable waistbands on this list, spanning a 30-inch size range, and it also has rattle-proof bottle slots and a zippered pocket capable of fitting a 6.5 inch smartphone.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | 25–55 in. |
| Bottle Capacity | 10 oz. |
Pros
- Health & Injuries
- Doesn’t bounce around much despite the big bottles
Cons
- Marathon Training Plans
Although this belt holds large bottles, the angled holsters helps them to lay flat against the body. And it also allows you to reach and pull them out more easily.
As a bonus, those holsters are insulated to keep your water cold. And there a zippered compartment at the back provides extra storage—not a lot, but some. We also like how sleek the Speedgoat is, which helps it fit super snug to your body.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | 28–40 in. |
| Bottle Capacity | 37 oz. |
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Bottle doesn’t bounce around despite size
Cons
- Bottle can be tricky to grab while you’re moving
Although this belt has only one bottle, the vessel sits at an angle, which helps it bounce less and sit more comfortably against your waist while still being big enough to hold 17 ounces of water.
The bottle is both leakproof and insulated, though it can be a bit difficult to access when you’re running. This belt also has a small pocket on the side that’s just big enough to hold most phones or some light nutrition.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | 26–46 in. |
| Bottle Capacity | 17 oz. |
Pros
- Plenty of extra pockets
- Still has plenty of storage
Cons
- Belt isn’t very stretchy
Amphipod hydration belts are unique—you can customize them to hold as many or as few bottles as you would like. This one comes with two, but you can get additional bottle mounts to attach and easily fit four to six bottles on a single belt. This one also has a zippered pouch that can accommodate necessities like a phone, keys, and gel.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | N/A |
| Bottle Capacity | 21 oz. |
Inov-8 Race Elite Waist Hydration Belt
Pros
- Best for Long Distance
- Plenty of extra pockets
Cons
- Bottle sold separately
If you’re a runner who feels best when you’re over-prepared, check out the 3-liter storage capacity of this hydration belt from Inov-8. Complete with a pocket for a 16-ounce bottle and plenty of external stashing compartments, you’ll have a hard time running out of room in and on this belt for all your goods.
Key Specs
| Waist Size | One size fits most |
| Bottle Capacity | 16 oz. |
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, Ample storage that doesn’t feel like too much.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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