10 Best Running Vest for Women

Running vest is a must necessity for me.

It has become my armor and made me its loyal soldier who cannot go out in the war field without the shell outlining her silhouette and providing her a sense of protection.

However, I was not always like this.

Before I laid my hands on my first running vest, I did not even know that running vests were a thing.

It is with the continuous usage of these gears that I have come to realize the importance of running vests and how positively these have bettered my performance over time.

Running vests are as important gears for running as running shoes or athletic clothes. And I highly think that each runner should invest in one of these.

In this article, I will present you with my top 10 running vests for women.

But before that, let us know a little about the importance of running vests and how you can purchase the ideal running vest for yourself.

The 10 Best Running Vest for Women in 2019

Image	Name	Star	Price
	Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack (Editor's Pick)	[star rating="5"]	Check Price
	Ultimate Direction Women's Adventure Vesta (Top Pick)	[star rating="5"]	Check Price
	Ultimate Direction Women's Ultra Vest (Top Pick)	[star rating="4.5"]	Check Price
	UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack	[star rating="4.5"]	Check Price
	Nathan Intensity Race Vest	[star rating="4"]	Check Price
	Osprey Packs Women's Dyna 6 Hydration Pack	[star rating="4"]	Check Price
	Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack	[star rating="4"]	Check Price
	Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack	[star rating="4"]	Check Price
	Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack	[star rating="4"]	Check Price
	Roadrunner Reflective Vest	[star rating="4"]	Check Price

10 Best Running Vest for Women Reviews in 2019

I will not waste any more time of yours. Let us jump right into the list of my top 10 picks of the best running vest for women.

1. Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack

A synthetic fabric vest, the Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack is what I like to call a well-designed running vest with all the required features. This vest is made from Elastic Power mesh and 3D Air mesh.

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack provides a very good fit to the user. The sensifit construction of this vest has allowed it to have a very snug but comfortable fit. So, this vest will provide you with the required protection all the while letting your skin breathe.

I love the fact that this vest is stretchy but does not lose its shape. The shoulder and chest straps provide great security and stability to the user.

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack is very comfortable to wear. I did not feel any chaffing or hindrances of any kind while using this vest.

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack dries quickly. This vest is breathable too.

This vest is lightweight and versatile as well. All the pockets are easily reachable even while running.

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack includes 2 soft flasks of 500ml each on the two front pockets. This vest is hydration ready but does not include a hydration bladder. You will have to purchase a 1.5 liters bladder separately, if you want.

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack is a great running vest for women. You get so many benefits with this beauty. So, do not fret about the high price of this vest because trust me when I say that the price is a bargain for how great the product is; and you will realize this as soon as you lay your hands on this vest.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

2. Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta is sure to make you feel as adventurous as the name of this vest as soon as you put it on. I say this because this beauty is full of so many great features that you will not be able to wait to go out on your next run or hike as soon as you lay on your hands on it.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta is made with 70D Nylon rip-stop and 240g Darlington Power mesh. This vest has a volume of 11.2 liters.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta, similar to the Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack, comes with 2 body bottles of 500ml each. This vest too is hydration ready but does not include the bladder.

The Air-wall mesh back panel of the Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta has enhanced the breathability of this vest greatly; so you stay cool all the while running.

There are 2 buckles present on the waist for secured fit and stability. This combined with the well-distributed weight of this vest allows the user to run with extreme ease.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta looks very tough and promising. The materials used are of very high quality. With proper care, this vest should last you a long period of time.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Adventure Vesta is roomy and comfortable. It provides a good fit to the user.

There are multiple pockets in this vest and a zippered storage compartment. You can also loop your gears such as trekking poles and sticks at the back of the vest.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

3. Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest is made with nylon. This versatile vest can be used both during runs or light hikes.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest has a large storage compartment. There are other small pockets around the vest, including a hidden storage pouch at the back and a front storage for keeping phones, money, etcetera. There is also a built in rape whistle in case of emergency.

There are external compression straps present in this vest. The open side adjustment straps of this vest helps to provide a well-fitted customized fit to the user.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest is very soft to touch, but feels sturdy at the same time. The fabric is moisture wicking and hence allows you to run without the fear of chaffing or irritation.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest includes 2 soft collapsible bottles of 500ml each. This vest too is hydration ready but does not include the bladder. You can purchase a 50oz or 70oz reservoir separately for this vest.

The Ultimate Direction Women’s Ultra Vest is lightweight and comfortable. Even though the price of this vest is quite high, I opine that this vest is worth the money one can muster on it.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

4. UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack

The UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack is another hydration compatible vest with a 2 liters reservoir.

This vest is made with Nylon, Mesh, PU coating and Silicone coating. The mesh has greatly increased the breathability of this vest.

The UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack has a volume of 4.9 liters. This vest has multiple pockets which are very handy for keeping your phones, food or ointments.

The UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack is lightweight and comfortable. It does not have sternum straps. Nevertheless, the minimal shoulder straps of this vest are able to provide optimum stability and support to the user.

The UltrAspire Astral 2.0 Hydration Pack has a precise fit; the vest feels snug, without being constricting or suffocating to the user.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

5. Nathan Intensity Race Vest

A perfect combination of comfort and performance is what the Nathan Intensity Race Vest is made up of. This is another one of those vests which you do not even realize you have on.

The Nathan Intensity Race Vest is equipped with reflective trim and back panel. This vest has been designed specifically by keeping the female body in mind. As a result, the fit is very detailed in this vest.

The Nathan Intensity Race Vest also has a 3-way propulsion harness for stabilization. This ensures a bounce free movement, i.e. the vest stays in place all the time.

The Nathan Intensity Race Vest does not cause any kind of chaffing or discomfort to the user. The wall mesh shoulder straps of this vest are very breathable. The vest itself is very lightweight.

The Nathan Intensity Race Vest has a 2 liters bladder included in it. It is easy to fill and clean the bladder. Similarly, there is also a bottle pocket and a zippered pocket present at the front of this vest.

The light weight, high volume water bottle, comfort, breathability and high performance of this vest make the Nathan Intensity Race Vest an ideal choice for long distance runs.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

6. Osprey Packs Women’s Dyna 6 Hydration Pack

The Osprey Pack Women’s Dyna 6 Hydration Pack is a little bundle of wonders. This vest is one of the most comfortable among all the vest in this list.

The Osprey Pack Women’s Dyna 6 Hydration Pack not only looks great but also performs well. The fit of this vest is so good that it feels as if this vest is hugging you.

Made with sturdy, durable and high quality materials, the Osprey Pack Women’s Dyna 6 Hydration Pack is equipped with a zippered reservoir sleeve with 2.5 liters bladder.

So, this vest makes up for being a long distance vest, given that you are able to carry the weight of it with ease, because the weight of this vest is a tad bit heavy compared to the other vests of this list.

The Osprey Pack Women’s Dyna 6 Hydration Pack has multiple pockets, including 4 mesh chest pockets among which 2 can hold soft-flasks and vertical zippered harness stash pocket with whistle zipper pull among others.

You can stuff as much item as one pocket can hold without compromising on the storage capacity of the rest of the pockets.

The sternum buckles in the Dyna 6 Hydration Pack are stretchy and adjustable. The total volume of this vest is 6 liters.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

7. Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack

This vest is for all you minimalists out there!

The Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack has a volume of 4 liters. This vest is hydration ready. However, the bladder is not included. You can fit a 1.5 liters bladder in this vest. There are 2 soft flasks of 12 ounces included in the front pockets of this vest.

The Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack has soft and stretchy fabric. This vest is breathable and lightweight.

There are a total of 11 pockets in this vest. Among these, only the right front strap pocket is zippered. The rest are easy to access pockets, including a kangaroo pouch on the bottom rear of the vest.

The Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack is comfortable and does not cause any irritation or chaffing.

Talking about the cons of this vest, I did have an issue with the Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack. The small flasks of this vest tend to leak and are difficult to manage.

If you decide to purchase the Nathan Vapor Howe Hydration Pack, then do remember to order bigger size vest as this vest runs small.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

8. Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack

The Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack is one of the most lightweight vests in this list, weighing at 7 ounces only.

This backpack is made with premium rip-stop and waterproof nylon. The whole vest, apart from the zippers, is waterproof.

The Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack has a comfortable and snug fit, which does not cause any restriction and allows complete freedom of movement.

The adjustable waist and chest straps of this vest have made the vest stable and added to the comfort. This vest is equipped with side pockets.

The Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack is hydration ready and can hold a bladder of 1 to 2 liters, though the bladder is not included and have to be bought separately. You can also store a 500ml bottle in the back pocket of this vest.

The padded mesh back of the Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack has made this vest very breathable. The sweat-resistant mesh of this vest will also help you remain cool and dry all the time.

The Terra Hiker Hydration Backpack is made with high quality materials, and hence looks very sturdy and durable.

This is one great vest for a very affordable price; you do not want to miss it!

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

9. Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack

Another great running vest is the Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack. This vest is quite lightweight at only 14 ounces.

The Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack is equipped with a 2 liters bladder. This hydration vest also contains 2 front bottles. Both the bottles and the bladder are easy to access to the runner.

A well-designed vest, the Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack’s light weight is again well-distributed. As a result, you do not even feel like you are wearing the vest. Combine this with great comfort and you have yourself a running vest capable of turning your each run into one of the best runs you have ever had.

The Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack looks very sturdy and durable. This breathable vest will keep you cool all the time.

The Nathan Vapor Air Hydration Pack is stable and stays in place while you run. The easy to adjust shoulder straps further help in providing a good fit, stability and security to the user.

There are multiple pockets in this vest, including a mesh stash pocket on the front right side. There are also external bungee cords for attaching clothes, hoodies, poles, sticks, etcetera. A whistle too is attached in this vest for emergency.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

10. Roadrunner Reflective Vest

The Roadrunner Reflective Vest is an ideal running vest for you if you like running at night, thanks to the 360 degrees of illumination of this vest.

This vest reflects with 400 candlepower, alerting everyone who is within 200 meters distance from you. This allows the motorists and drivers to see you, hence ensuring your safety.

The Roadrunner Reflective Vest is comfortable and lightweight. The mesh of this vest has made it extremely breathable.

The Roadrunner Reflective Vest looks high quality and durable. This vest is equipped with a hidden zippered pocket.

The Roadrunner Reflective Vest comes for a very affordable price. You also get 2 adjustable and highly reflective Velcro arm bands with this running vest.

Features I like:

BUY THIS PRODUCT FROM AMAZON

 

Why is Running Vest Important?

Ladies, I think we are all too familiar with the discomfort we feel-especially in the chest area- if we have been wearing the wrong clothing while running.

While reducing the chest discomfort does mostly depend on the bra that you are wearing, running vests certainly help to minimize this issue.

Running vests are equipped with chest and shoulder buckles which help to keep them secured and hence they stay in place. This causes them to be bounce free and thus improve the comfort and stability which in turn help to reduce the uneasiness you feel.

Similarly, running vests are lightweight and cozy. You can wear them for long distance running or even light hiking for that matter.

Running vests surely do help to better your performance by allowing you to stay cool and dry all the time; this is possible thanks to the increased breathability in most of the running vests.

Also, with no chaffing and irritation, you are likely to run better and with ease.

Running vests are also more durable, sturdy and well-designed compared to your normal clothing. They provide extra protection and security to you.

Running vests are also equipped with multiple pockets in which you can store your phones, iPods, bottles, keys, money, or any other accessories.

But probably the most important feature of many running vests is the fact that they are either hydration packs or hydration compatible.

You see, being hydrated while running is very important.

But stopping every few minutes to fill your water bottles in the dirty taps of park and public places can be quite irritating.

Therefore, most of the running vests nowadays come with built-in water bladders or at least small flask bottles, which can be easily accessed while running.

So no more dehydration issues and no more grimacing by looking at filthy water of public places, all thanks to the running vests.

As you can see, the importance of running vests go way beyond being a clothing layer and just providing you protection against the weather; they are fundamental running gears fir every runner.

How to Choose the Right Running Vest for Women?

You want to go for a women specific running vest. Women specific running vests are made by keeping the female body in mind. Thus, they have a precise fit. They are also narrower and shorter than the male running vests.

Some other features you may want to check for in a women’s running vest are as follows.

Type

There are major two kinds of running vests. The first ones look like vest and fit closely to your body like a clothing; they are known as running vests primarily. There are many pockets present in these and some also are compatible to keep your water bottles in. These may also be hydration ready. Such vests lack hip belts. The second kind of running vests are called running backpacks. They look like backpacks. Most of such vests have hip-belts. They have storage capacity along with multiple pockets, to store clothing, food and other gears for hikes or long runs. These too may be hydration ready. You may choose the kind of running vest as per your want and requirement.

Hydration Compatibility

Another major feature you want to check for is the hydration compatibility of the running vest. I always like to go for either hydration packs or hydration ready vests. It is so much easier to just be able to sip the water as you run. And moreover, you carry your own water without having to worry about refilling your bottle along the way. You want to ensure that the bladder is easy to fill and clean. Many running vests also come with soft flasks; in such cases, ensure that the flasks do not leak. If you are a long distance runner or are using the vest for light hikes, go for a running vest which has a bladder with higher capacity of 2 to 3 liters.

Material

Running vests may be made up of nylon, mesh or any other synthetic materials. Whatever material you choose to go for, just make sure that the material of the running vest is lightweight, breathable and comfortable. It is better if the fabric of the vest has moisture wicking and quick drying properties.

Fit

The fit of the running vest should be precise, else it will hinder your performance. The running vest should be well fitted and comfortable. It should be snug but should not feel constricting or suffocating in any manner. Similarly, there must be buckles and straps present for adjustments, so you can customize the fit of the running vest as per your need. Most of the running vests which are designed for women tend to be equipped with shoulder straps and chest or sternum straps. Either with the help of these straps or even without the help (in case of absence of straps in some minimalist vests), the vest should be stable and secured. If the vest moves around and does not stay in place, you will feel discomfort while running and this will affect your performance.

Other Features

If you plan to use the running vest at night, purchase a reflective running vest with illuminating feature. You also want to check the running vests for pockets and pouches. Some other features you may want to check include bungee roping, looks of the vest, softness of the fabric, and so on.

The Best Pick

My top pick for today’s article is the Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack

The Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack, to me, feels like the ideal running vest with all the right features. It has everything that I want in a running vest- comfort, high performance, light weight, good fit, multiple pockets and a good design.

Some people may critic that fact that the Salomon Advanced Skin Backpack is expensive and also does not include a hydration bladder. But, this vest is so great that I am willing to spend every single penny on it without any complaint.

This is all for my verdict. I want to know which your favorite running vest is.

Hopefully this article has been helpful for you ladies and has provided you with ideas on the how, why and which of running vests.

Happy running ladies!