Best Running Water Bottles of 2025
Soft flasks, handhelds, and hard-sided water bottles for running vests and belts
August 18th, 2025
Home → Gear Reviews → Running
If you’re looking for a new running water bottle, you’re probably either new to running, looking for a replacement soft flask because your old one sprung a leak, or simply looking for the best bottle for running. We can help you.
Running water bottles come in two forms: soft flasks and handheld hydration bottles. Most soft flasks are made by HydraPak. Yes, even those Salomon soft flasks that come with our overall favorite running vest, the Salomon Adv Skin, are made by HydraPak. But HydraPak makes a ton of different shapes of their soft flasks.
In general, we find most runners have the best experience if they use the same-shape soft flask their vest is designed around. The Salomon-branded soft-flask bottles are taller and narrower. These fit better in the narrower pockets of the Adv Skin and tend not to slide down into the pocket as much. Other soft flasks are slightly wider and not as tall. These bottles fit better in running vests with wider front pockets that aren’t as deep. Shorter, wider soft flasks also fit better in running belts.
And then there are handheld running bottles. These bottles are often simply the same soft flask with a strap or pouch for your hand. There are other handhelds made of hard-sided plastic, and some Treeline runners like those better because they don’t flop around when you’ve drunk half your water. Others like the soft flask-style handhelds because once you’ve drunk all the water, you can shove them in a pocket and not carry them for the rest of your run.
Whether you’re looking for a replacement soft flask for your trusty running vest, a handheld bottle for hot weather, a water filter bottle for trail running, or simply the best running bottle for your unique needs, we dive deeper into all of what makes a great bottle for running below.
We create reader-supported, objective, independently-selected gear reviews. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Thank you for supporting our work and mission of outdoor coverage for every body! Learn more.
Comparison table
| RUNNING WATER BOTTLE | TREELINE AWARD | CAPACITY | WEIGHT | CARRY STYLE | VALVE TYPE | INSULATED? | MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HydraPak SoftFlask Speed 500 mL | Best Overall Read why |
16.9 oz. | 1.6 oz. | Vest/ belt pocket | Bite valve | No | $22 |
| Salomon Soft Flask 500 mL | Best for Salomon Adv Skin Vest Read why |
17.0 oz. | 1.1 oz. | Vest/ belt pocket | Bite valve | No | $22 |
| HydraPak SkyFlask Speed 500 mL | Best Handheld Read why |
18.0 oz. | 2.3 oz. | Handheld | Bite valve | No | $33 |
| Amphipod Hydraform Chiller Handheld | Best Insulated Read why |
20.0 oz. | 6.5 oz. | Handheld | Bite valve | Yes | $40 |
| Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5 L | Best Trail-Running Filter Bottle Read why |
17 oz. | 2.5 oz. | Vest/ belt pocket | Sport valve | No | $55 |
The winners
Best overall running water bottle: HydraPak Softflask Speed 500mL
Capacity: 16.9 oz.
Weight: 1.6 oz.
Carry style: Vest/ belt pocket
Insulated? No
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Ideal size for most running vests, good price, flip top lid, also available in a two-pack
What we didn’t like: Not available with a twist lock valve
The HydraPak Softflask Speed is perhaps the most common soft flask water bottle currently available, and for good reason. HydraPak makes most of the commonly used soft flasks that come with running vests. Yeah, that’s right, if you look at the back of those bottles that came with your vest, it probably says HydraPak in small print.
We like these bottles because they’re the ideal size for most running vests. And they shrink as you drink, so water doesn’t slosh around. They also have a flip-top lid, so you don’t have to unscrew it to refill your bottle at the aid station or drinking fountain.
They’re sold individually and as a two-pack. If you buy the two-pack, you pay less per bottle. These bottles are slightly wider than the narrowest-shaped soft flasks, like the ones that come with the Salomon Adv Skin. The wider shape makes them less likely to flop around in the front vest pockets of many running vests.
We’ve used these bottles in Ultimate Direction, Deuter, Camelbak, and Gossamer Gear running vests and fastpacks. They work well in all of these vests, but if you have a Salomon vest or another vest with deeper front pockets, then we recommend you get the Salomon-branded 500mL soft flasks (though those are also made by HydraPak).
HydraPak Softflask Speed 500mL
We’ve also used the HydraPak Softflask Speed in running belts. We like the slightly wider and shorter shape of the HydraPak bottle, and love the HydraPak locking cap for use with a running belt. We recommend this cap, which isn’t available for purchase with a bottle, for running belts because it prevents that small squirt of water on your butt when you’re cramming the bottle into the running belt pocket.
The bite valve used on this flask (and almost every other soft flask out there) will spray water if you bump it. This could be seen as a drawback, but it’s also what makes soft flasks so easy to drink out of. To drink water, all you have to do is put the valve into your mouth and bite. And as you’re running down the trail with it in your vest pocket, you won’t bump it in a way that sprays water.
We wish that soft flasks were more durable, but the fact is that they will eventually get a small puncture. And strangely enough, HydraPak sells tons of different caps that will fit onto the 42mm threaded opening of the Speed Flask (and almost every other soft flask), but they don’t sell the TPU-PP-Silicone bottle without a lid. We’ve lost soft flask lids before, and it’s great that you can customize the type of lid and valve in this way. But more often than not, we need to replace the soft silicone bottle and not the lid.
Unless you’re looking for a replacement soft flask for your Salomon Adv Skin or other vest with deep pockets, we think the HydraPak Speed Flask 500 mL is best for most runners.
Best replacement soft flask for the Salomon Adv Skin Running Vest: Salomon Soft Flask 500mL
Capacity: 17.0 oz.
Weight: 1.1 oz.
Carry style: Vest/ belt pocket
Insulated? No
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Ideal size for Salomon Adv Skin vest, good price, taller profile doesn’t sink into pockets as much
What we didn’t like: Not available with a twist lock valve, not available in a two-pack
We said the HydraPak Speed Flask is best for most runners, but not all runners. If you have a Salomon Adv Skin running vest, we’ve found that the taller, narrower bottles that come with it work better with this vest. We’ve also found these bottles work better in our La Sportiva Ultra Trail Vest, which has deep pockets like the Salomon Adv Skin.
The Salomon Soft Flask doesn’t have the flip-top lid like the HydraPak Speed Flask, and is 11.8 inches tall compared to the HydraPak Speed Flask, which is 10.2 inches tall. Other than the lid design and differing heights, these soft flasks are the same: they’re both made by HydraPak of the same Silicone-Polypropylene-TPU material, hold the same 500mL of water, and have the same bite valve. They even have the same thread size, so you can swap out the lid on the Salomon bottle with the HydraPak Speed Fill flip cap or locking cap.
Salomon Soft Flask 500mL
The main difference between every soft flask is size and shape. We find it’s best to find the size that works best with your running vest and stick with that size. Your running vest likely came with soft flasks, so you should stick with that size if you need a replacement bottle.
Many of our testers at Treeline Review love the 500mL Salomon Soft Flask bottles, but that’s mostly because they’re using them with the Salomon Adv Skin running vest. We’ve used these bottles in other vests with shallower pockets, and they don’t work as well because they’re too tall.
If you’re looking for replacement soft flasks for your Salomon Adv Skin running vest or other running vests with tall front pockets, we recommend the Salomon Soft Flask 500mL bottle.
Best handheld running water bottle: HydraPak Skyflask Speed 500mL
Capacity: 18.0 oz.
Weight: 2.3 oz.
Carry style: Handheld
Insulated? No
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Thumb loop makes it easier to carry the bottle, lightweight and stowable when empty
What we didn’t like: No pockets for carrying extras
The HydraPak Skyflask Speed 500mL is our favorite handheld running bottle because it’s simple, collapsible, and allows you to use the hand that’s holding the bottle for other tasks more easily. It’s made of the same material as other HydraPak soft flasks, so as you drink the water, the bottle shrinks and doesn’t slosh. Unlike many soft flask handhelds, the strap can be tightened enough to accommodate the diminishing volume as you drink.
The strap has a thumb loop that makes it super easy to hold while you run. You barely even have to grip the bottle when your hand is through the thumb loop and under the adjustable Velcro strap. We even found we could use our hand with our thumb through the loop and our wrist between the strap and the bottle. Not being able to use your hand while using a handheld bottle is our biggest gripe with this kind of running bottle, so we absolutely love this feature.
It comes with the HydraPak flip-top cap, so you can refill it quickly without unscrewing the top. The bite valve makes it extremely easy to drink water as well.
HydraPak Skyflask Speed 500mL
Though some people prefer hard-sided handheld bottles because they’re easier to grip since they don’t shrink as you drink, we like the minimalist approach to a handheld bottle that the Skyflask Speed takes. Since it’s just a soft flask with a strap, if you use it to add water carrying capacity on a run, you can stash it in a vest or running belt pocket when it’s empty. With this bottle and another 500mL bottle in a running belt, we can run for nearly two hours without needing to refill water and not getting dehydrated.
If you’re looking for a soft-sided handheld bottle that you won’t have to grip hard while running, check one out.
Best insulated bottle: Amphipod Hydraform Chiller
Capacity: 20.0 oz.
Weight: 6.5 oz.
Carry style: Handheld
Insulated? Yes
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Thumb loop makes it easier to carry the bottle, lightweight and stowable when empty
What we didn’t like: No pockets for carrying extras, hard-sided bottles aren’t for everyone
The Amphipod Hydraform Chiller is the best insulated running bottle and also our favorite hard-sided handheld bottle. This bottle keeps cold water cold for hours, for far longer than it takes to drink the 20 ounces of water it can hold.
This is not a soft bottle, which is a bonus for some people. If you prefer a hard-sided bottle that doesn’t change shape as you drink water, as a soft flask does, this is the bottle for you. If you don’t care about insulation, the Amphipod Ergo Minimalist uses the same bottle design but doesn’t have an insulation sleeve. We like the cottony-soft feel of the Hydraform Chiller’s insulation sleeve on our hand, though.
Amphipod Hydraform Chiller
It has a push/pull valve that won’t accidentally spray you with water, unlike the bite valves on most soft flasks. To drink, you simply pull the valve out, tilt the bottle, squeeze, and water rushes into your mouth. The strap easily adjusts with a ladder lock buckle and is made of soft webbing that’s comfortable against your skin.
If you’re looking for a well-insulated handheld bottle for running, we love the leak-proof handheld design of this bottle.
Best filter bottle for trail runs: Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5L
Capacity: 17 oz.
Weight: 2.5 oz.
Insulated? No
Carry style: vest/belt pocket
Valve type: sport valve
What we liked: Soft flask with an integrated filter, fast flow rate, removable charcoal filter
What we didn’t like: Filter makes it heavier
The Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5L is our favorite water bottle for trail running because it has an integrated filter. You can store it anywhere you’d put a 500mL soft flask, and scoop from streams as you go. This allows you to run farther without carrying a lot of water. Our favorite type of trail run follows singletrack trails far from the nearest trailhead. With this filter bottle, you can go far into the backcountry while carrying almost no water on your back as long as there is wild water along your route.
We have used the BeFree filter bottle for years for trail running and backpacking. The hollow fiber membrane filter removes protozoa and bacteria, and the activated charcoal filter, which is new to the BeFree AC, helps with the taste. If you’re drinking from a mountain stream that already tastes good, you can remove the charcoal filter to increase the flow rate. You clean the filter by swishing the hollow fiber membrane section in water, which you can do in a clean mountain stream and with tap water at home.
Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5L
The filter cap has a valve that opens when you squeeze the bottle. It also has a flip cap to cover the nozzle, which prevents any water from leaking out.
The filter cap threads onto a, yep, you guessed it: a HydraPak 500mL soft flask. And the soft flask bottle has the same 28mm opening as other HydraPak soft flasks, so you can move this filter cap onto any soft bottle you want, including the longer Salomon 500mL bottle. The BeFree AC also comes in a 1L size, which won’t fit in a vest pocket or running belt, but could be better for longer water carries or backpacking.
This is the filter bottle we use most often for trail running because it allows us to carry less water while staying hydrated. We often only carry this bottle in a running belt (along with snacks, of course). If this sounds like your kind of running, we recommend the BeFree AC 0.5L.
Best small running water bottle: Salomon Soft Flask 250mL
Capacity: 8 oz.
Weight: 0.8 oz.
Insulated? No
Carry style: vest/belt pocket
Valve type: sport valve
What we liked: Very light, fits in most pockets, great for shorter runs
What we didn’t like: Not as much water capacity
The Salomon 250mL Soft Flask is the bottle we grab when we only want to carry a small amount of water for shorter runs. This 250mL soft flask is small enough to fit in nearly any pocket. And while it only carries half as much water as a 500mL soft flask, you don’t always need that much water on a run, especially for quick outings.
Salomon Soft Flask 250mL
It is nearly identical in design to the larger 500mL Salomon soft flask, but shrunk down to half the size in every dimension. To accommodate the narrower bottle, it has a smaller cap and a smaller bottle opening. This makes it slightly harder to clean than the 28mm opening on most soft flasks, but it’s dishwasher safe, like all soft flasks. So as long as you have a dishwasher, this isn’t a huge drawback.
Sometimes you don’t need to carry a lot of water, but want to carry some water. For those runs, we recommend this tiny 250mL soft flask from Salomon.
Other running water bottles we tested
Salomon Softflask XA filter
Capacity: 16 oz.
Weight: 1.8 oz.
Insulated? No
Carry style: vest/belt pocket
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Has an integrated filter, fits Salomon Adv Skin vest, lightweight
What we didn’t like: Not as versatile as Katadyn BeFree
The Salomon Softflask XA filter is another 500mL softflask with a filter cap. It’s similar to the Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5L, but has a narrower shape that works better in the Salomon Adv Skin and other running vests with deeper pockets. It doesn’t have the secondary charcoal filter like the BeFree AC, though, so it’s not quite as versatile. But if you want a taller, narrower soft flask than the BeFree, you should get this soft flask filter bottle.
Salomon Softflask XA filter
Capacity: 20 oz.
Weight: 3.9 oz.
Carry style: Handheld
Insulated? No
Carry style: handheld
Valve type: push-pull valve
What we liked: Comfortable to hold, lightweight, leakproof valve, hard-sided bottle
What we didn’t like: Not as versatile as Amphipod Hydraform Chiller
The Amphipod Ergo Minimalist uses the same bottle as our favorite insulated bottle, the Amphipod Hydraform Chiller. But the Ergo Minimalist uses an uninsulated, more minimalist handheld strap. The strap tightens with a ladder lock buckle, like the Amphipod Hydraform, but the Ergo Minimalist’s strap has two stretch webbing loops on the outside that you can use to hold a pair of energy gels. If you liked the sound of the Amphipod Hydraform Insulated as a handheld bottle, but don’t care about the insulated part, you should check this bottle out.
Amphipod Hydraform Ergo Minimalist
Capacity: 32 oz.
Weight: 2.0 oz.
Insulated? No
Carry style: Back vest pocket
Valve type: sport valve
What we liked: Easy was to carry extra water, collapsible, leak-proof valve
What we didn’t like: Can only fit in the large back pocket of running vest
The HydraPak Stow 1L holds a full liter of water. This is a good option for carrying extra water in the back of your hydration pack. It has a flip-top sport lid similar to the Katadyn BeFree AC 0.5L, and doesn’t leak even when it’s sloshing around in your pack. Due to its higher water capacity, we reviewed the Stow for our Best Hiking Water Bottles guide and appreciated its durability, where we even felt comfortable having our dog carry it.
HydraPak Stow 1 L
Capacity: 18 oz.
Weight: 3.9 oz.
Carry style: handheld
Insulated? Yes
Valve type: squeeze valve
What we liked: Very insulated, reflective material, has large pocket
What we didn’t like: valve can leak
The Nathan Speedraw Plus is the only handheld we tested with a large enough pocket to hold a smartphone. The pocket has a zippered closure to ensure your smartphone stays safe. The bottle itself is also very insulated, and kept ice water cold the longest of any insulated bottle.
However, after surveying every runner at Treeline Review, we found that most people don’t like carrying their phone attached to a handheld bottle because it makes the already heavy bottle feel even more awkward. Also, when we performed a leak test, this bottle leaked out of the curved nozzle if pointed towards the ground. This leaking isn’t an issue while running because you’re holding the bottle upright, but it is worth noting.
If you want a handheld with a large zippered pocket, this is an option worth considering.
Nathan Speedraw Plus
Capacity: 18 oz.
Weight: Not listed
Carry style: vest/belt pocket
Insulated? Yes
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Insulated
What we didn’t like: Too expensive
This insulated soft flask holds 18 ounces of water, which is slightly larger than the 17oz/500mL size of most soft flasks. It also keeps water colder for slightly longer than an uninsulated soft flask. However, it costs nearly twice as much as a basic soft flask and doesn’t insulate well enough to justify the higher price. But if you want an insulated soft flask, this is worth a look.
Nathan Insulated Soft Flask
Capacity: 19 oz.
Weight: 2.7 oz.
Insulated? Yes
Carry style: handheld
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Insulated, secure hand strap with thumb loop, collapsible
What we didn’t like: More expensive than standard Skyflask handheld
This handheld bottle is identical to our overall top pick for a handheld bottle, except this model is insulated. If you like the sound of an insulated handheld that works as well as the HydraPak Skyflask Speed 500mL, then you should get this bottle. It costs more than the uninsulated Skyflask Speed, but it will keep your water colder for longer than that one. It also costs about the same price as the Nathan Insulated bottle we mentioned above, and the handheld strap is removable.
HydraPak Skyflask IT 500 ml
Capacity: 14 oz.
Weight: 3.0 oz.
Insulated? Handheld
Carry style: handheld
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Collapsible, works for both left and right-handed carry, exterior pocket
What we didn’t like: Not as comfortable as some handhelds
The REI Swiftland Handheld is a pouch with a small exterior pocket to hold a key and a gel or two. The pouch also holds any 500mL soft flask, and it comes with a basic one from HydraPak. It has a left and right-hand strap to fit your hand into. If you want a soft flask handheld that has an exterior pocket but don’t need that pocket to be large enough to hold a phone, this is worth a look.
REI Co-op Swiftland Handheld Water Bottle - 14 fl. Oz
Capacity: 16.9 oz.
Weight: 2.0 oz.
Insulated? No
Carry style: handheld
Valve type: bite valve
What we liked: Lightweight, simple design
What we didn’t like: Handheld strap doesn’t work as well as other bottles
The Salomon Active handheld bottle is another soft flask with a strap to use as a handheld. We didn’t like the strap design as much as the other handhelds we tested because it can’t adjust enough to hold your hand tightly against the softflask when it isn’t full of water. This makes it flop around after you’ve drunk some of the water on your run.
Salomon Active handheld water bottle
What to look for in a running water bottle
Material
The most common materials used in running bottles are BPA-free plastic for hard-sided bottles and TPU silicone for soft flasks. Plastic bottles are lightweight and affordable, but don’t shrink as you use them like a soft-sided bottle. Soft flask bottles are ultra-lightweight and compressible but less durable. Most runners use soft flask water bottles because they can fit comfortably in a running vest or running belt.
Capacity vs. Run Length
Match the bottle size you get with your hydration needs and run duration. For shorter runs under 60 minutes, a 500mL (17oz) bottle is usually sufficient unless you’re running in extremely hot temperatures. For 1–2 hour runs, you’ll want 1L of water, which is two 500mL softflasks.
Even longer runs will require multiple bottles and potentially a water bladder. Or, you can refill your bottles along the way. If you’re trail running, a water filter bottle such as the Katadyn BeFree or Salomon Softflask XA filter makes it possible to refill on water from streams. We often plan longer city runs around public drinking fountains or other water spigots to refill on water.
For long runs in places without water, we typically carry an extra liter or two in a water bladder in the back pocket of our running vest.
Carry Method (Handheld, Waist, Vest)
In a Handheld bottle
Hello, World!
Handheld water bottles have straps or ergonomic grips to hold the water in your hand. These work well if you want to carry water on your run without a running vest or running belt. They also provide the easiest access because the bottle is already in your hand.
We sometimes carry extra water on longer runs in a handheld bottle. This limits the weight of your running vest to 1L of water, stored in two soft flasks in the vest’s front pockets, while allowing you to carry an extra 500mL of water.
Some of us even use two handheld bottles while running, so we can carry a full liter of water in our hands without wearing a running vest or belt. This is an effective strategy for hot weather runs because not wearing a vest will keep you cooler.
The biggest downside of handheld bottles is that they prevent you from being able to use both of your hands for anything else. For instance, if you need to retie your shoe or take a picture, you’ll likely have to put the handheld bottle down.
In a Vest
You can also carry your water bottles in a running vest or running belt.
A running vest has two pockets on the chest designed for carrying a pair of soft flask water bottles. These pockets are designed to hold a specific shape of soft flask. Most running vests come with two soft flask bottles, and those bottles will likely work best with that vest. If you need to replace your soft flask bottles, your best bet is to get a similarly shaped bottle as that came with the vest.
Some running vests have a longer, narrower pocket that will hold a tall, thin soft flask such as the 500mL Salomon Soft Flask. Other vests have slightly wider pockets that aren’t quite as tall. These vests tend to work better with shorter and wider soft flasks, such as the 500mL HydraPak Speed Flask.
In a Waist Belt
Running belts can typically carry a single 500 mL soft flask. We find that the shorter and wider bottles fit best in running belts. When carrying water in a running belt, we recommend a locking cap. This prevents water from leaking out of the bite valve when you shove it into the pocket of your running belt.
Valve/Nozzle Type
Bite valves
Bite valves are the most common nozzle type on soft flasks. They allow one-handed drinking by simply biting and sucking.
Twist caps
Twist caps require two hands to open the valve, so they’re not as fast to use as bite valves. But they’re less prone to squirting water on you if you accidentally hit the valve.
Push/Pull Valves
Push/pull valves are primarily used on hard-sided handheld water bottles. To open the valve, you pull it out, which opens the flow of water. You push the valve back in to lock it, preventing any water from escaping.
Lockout features
There are soft flasks and other running bottles with lockout features to prevent leaking. While HydraPak doesn’t sell a wide-mouth soft flask with a lockout lid, they sell the lockout lid separately, so you can make any of their soft flasks leakproof. This is especially useful with a running belt.
Leak Resistance
Test any new bottles at home before taking them on important runs, because they could leak. We tested every water bottle covered here for leaks, and the only one that did was the Nathan Speedraw Plus. This bottle only leaked if the curved valve was pointing at the ground, so it won’t leak if you’re holding it upright.
Bite valves, which are used on most running bottles, are designed to open when you squeeze the valve. This makes them extremely easy to drink from. However, they will also open if you brush against them. And they will definitely let water out if you store your soft flasks full of water in a duffel bag or backpack, unless you have locking bite valves.
Soft Flask vs. Hard Bottle
Soft flasks excel in vest-based hydration systems, while hard bottles work better for handheld carry.
Soft flasks
Soft flasks are lightweight, compressible when empty, and conform to vest pockets, but they're less durable and can be harder to fill because they won’t stand up on their own if placed on the ground. Soft flasks aren’t as durable, however, and we’ve lost track of the number of soft flasks we had to stop using because they sprang a leak in the TPU-silicone material.
Hard bottles
Hard-sided bottles are more durable than soft flasks. They’re also easier to fill because they stand up on their own when empty. They also have a consistent shape that takes up the same space whether full or empty. Since they don’t shrink as you drink the water, you’ll hear the water sloshing around in the bottle when it’s partially full.
Compatibility with Gear
Ensure your bottle fits securely in your chosen carrying system. In general, the bottle that comes with your water-carrying system will likely work best for that system.
Vest pockets are often designed for specific soft flask shapes and sizes. If you need to replace a bottle, get one as close to that shape as possible. Running belts are usually easier to fit any random soft flask in, though they work better with a bottle with a locking valve.
Durability
Hard-sided bottles are more durable than soft flasks. Most soft flasks are about as durable as any other soft flask, but they will eventually get punctured.
Grip
For handheld bottles, grip comfort is crucial during long runs because your hands will get sweaty. Look for ergonomic hand straps, textured surfaces, or contoured shapes that won't slip. The grip should feel secure without requiring you to hold the bottle tightly.
Filter (When Applicable)
Some bottles include built-in filtration for trail running, so you can refill from natural sources. These add weight and complexity, but are great for long backcountry runs. If you regularly run in places with access to flowing streams, you can carry a lot less water while staying hydrated with a water filter bottle such as the Katadyn BeFree or Salomon XA Filter Bottle.
Insulation (When Applicable)
Insulated bottles keep drinks cooler in hot weather but add weight and bulk. Single-wall bottles are lighter but offer no temperature protection. The bottles with the best insulation we tested are the Nathan Speedraw Plus and Amphipod Hydraform Chiller, which are both handheld models.
You can also freeze uninsulated soft flasks. As you run in hot temperatures, the water will melt and you’ll have cold water throughout your run without an insulated bottle.
Replacement parts availability
HydraPak offers replacement caps, valves, and other small parts for their water bottles that can extend the bottle's lifespan. And since HydraPak makes almost every soft flask, you can use these parts on non-Hydropak branded soft flasks, as long as it says Hydropak in small text on the back of the bottle.
Tips for choosing a running water bottle
Here are some things to consider when choosing a water bottle for your runs.
How to match bottle type to run duration
You should drink approximately 1 L of water per hour when running.
For shorter runs, you don’t need any more water than what fits in a roughly 500mL/17 oz bottle. For longer runs over an hour, you’ll probably need two water bottles, or roughly a liter of water. For each additional 30-minute segment, you’ll need 500 mL of water.
Choosing between soft flasks and hard bottles
Soft flasks are more comfortable and work better with running vests and running belts. They’re also great as a handheld when you’re using it for more water carrying capacity, because you can stow the soft flask handheld in your vest or belt once you've drunk the water.
Some people find hard-sided bottles easier to hold than a soft flask in a handheld bottle. Hard bottles are also more durable than soft flasks.
Considerations for hot weather
If you want cold water on a hot day, consider an insulated bottle. Insulated bottles hold less water than a comparably-sized uninsulated bottle, though, so you won’t be able to carry as much water than you could with an uninsulated bottle.
You can also fill an uninsulated (or insulated) soft flask and leave it in the freezer overnight. Then, take that frozen block of water out on a hot day, and it will thaw in the sun, giving you icy cold sips of water.
Bottle shape and grip comfort
There are hard-sided handheld bottles with an ergonomic grip for comfortable carrying. We like everything about this type of bottle except that you can’t stow it away when you’ve drunk all the water.
Storage and pockets
If you need to carry your keys or possibly even your phone in a handheld bottle, get something with a large enough pocket.
How to clean and care for your running water bottle
Every running water bottle we tested for this is dishwasher safe. Do not put the filter caps of the Katadyn BeFree or Salomon Softflask XA filter in the dishwasher, though.
Wide-mouth openings make cleaning significantly easier because you can fit a dishwashing brush inside. Narrow-mouth bottles may require bottle brushes or special cleaning tablets. We didn’t test any narrow-mouth bottles for this reason.
Tips for staying hydrated while running
Drink 500 mL of water per half hour you’re out on a run. For a one-hour run, when you can drink water before and after, you can get away with only drinking a half liter, or one 500 mL soft flask’s worth, for that hour. If you’re running for longer than an hour, add electrolytes to your water to replace the minerals you lose in your sweat.
Drink plenty of water before and after every run. It’s especially important to drink water with electrolytes and eat healthy food after your run. For more tips on staying hydrated while running, check out our story on staying hydrated during your runs and hydration tips for trail runners.
FAQ
-
You should drink at least 500 mL of water in a one hour run. For longer runs, you should drink 1 liter of water per hour. Get a water bottle (or two) that will meet your hydration needs for your intended run length.
-
Soft flasks are more comfortable in running vests and running belts. They’re also easier to drink out of. However, they aren’t as durable as hard bottles and some prefer a hard-sided bottle for handheld running bottles.
-
Most running water bottles won’t leak while you run. The bite valves on soft flasks might leak if you make contact with them. To avoid this, put them in your running vest where you won’t accidentally bump the bit valve.
-
You can put an electrolyte drink or sports drink mix in your running bottle, but you should clean it after your run so it doesn’t grow mold.
How we researched and tested
We tested running water bottles while running across Colorado, New Hampshire, California, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. We used each bottle on short 3-mile runs and on longer runs up to 100 miles. We carried them in our hands, in multiple running vests, and in running belts. We tested each bottle for leaks by leaving them full on top of a paper towel covered in lines from a market to show any drops of water.
We surveyed runners of all types to get a sense of how many people as possible used running water bottles. This also underscored the different needs of runners in different climates, of differing skill levels, age, gender, and background. We then took all this into consideration when selecting the best running water bottles for differing needs.
Why you should trust us / About the author
Sam Schild is a thru-hiker, trail runner, cyclist, and mountain athlete based in a campervan across the American West. He’s been a runner since he was a child, when he ran 5 days a week as cardiovascular training for soccer. As he grew older, he stopped playing team sports and focused on running and cycling.
After moving to Colorado over a decade ago, he started trail running on the local trails. Since then, he has completed countless ultra-distance self-supported trail runs on trails throughout the American Southwest. He has thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, and the Colorado Trail twice. If you look long enough, you’ll likely find him on a trail wearing a running belt that holds his trusty running bottle and enough food to keep him moving.
You can read more about Sam on his author page or his website.
