The 6 Best Hydration Belts for Quenching Your Thirst on the Go
Keep your snacks close and your water closer with our favorite belts for carrying everything you need.
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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.
Looking for more ways to bring your water with you? Check out our picks for the best hydration vests and water bottles for runners.
The Best Hydration Belts
- Best Overall: Nathan TrailMix Plus 3.0 Hydration Belt
- Best Value: PYFK Upgraded Hydration Belt
- Best Large Bottle: CamelBak Flash Hydration Belt
- Best for Long Distance: Amphipod RunLite AirStretch 10K Hydration Belt
- Easiest to Access: UltrAspire Speedgoat 3.0 Hydration Belt
What to Consider
Water Capacity
If you already know how much water you need to bring 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 water bottles and flasks.
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.
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, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.
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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