Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Trail Running Vest

Trail running is not destined to be an easy sport. You have to face unpredictable weather, unpredictable mountain roads, and the psychological challenge of walking alone in a long race. Among them, a suitable trail running vest may be more important than you think.

It is not a simple & bag for carrying things - but the core fulcrum of your entire running rhythm. It determines whether you can quickly replenish supplies, stay calm, keep your body's center of gravity stable on steep slopes, and even whether you can quickly take out raincoats, headlamps or first aid equipment in case of sudden weather or getting lost. Many trail runners feel delayed by backpacks & during the competition. In fact, it is not that the equipment is not expensive enough, but that they did not buy the right ones.

Faced with a wide range of backpack options on the market, from 2L to 12L, from soft water bottle compartments to trekking pole straps, novices are often confused, while veterans pay more attention to details and actual performance. As a brand that focuses on the research and development of mountain trail running equipment, Haimont knows that a truly useful trail running vest should not only have a large capacity or a cool appearance, but should also be a product that is based on the actual needs of runners and has been produced through countless field tests and detailed polishing.

So, what kind of vest is suitable for you? What functions should you pay attention to when purchasing? Is the more expensive the vest, the better? Next, let's use an article Full Analysis of Trail Running Backpacks to sort out your thoughts for you - before heading to the mountains, first choose the most trustworthy close partner.

Capacity selection: not the bigger the better, but just right

When choosing a trail running vest, capacity is the first factor you must consider. But many people tend to mistakenly believe that the bigger the capacity, the better, and it's always right to pack more. In fact, the larger the capacity, the more practical it is. Trail running emphasizes close fitting, weight reduction and efficiency. Choosing the right capacity can keep you on pace throughout the whole process; choosing the wrong capacity will cause the backpack to shake, the center of gravity to shift, and it will be inconvenient to take, which will consume your precious physical strength and concentration.

Capacity starts from trail running belt: the practical threshold of trail running

Before buying a trail running vest, you must first ask yourself a more fundamental question: Do you really need a vest pack?

In the trail running equipment system, the vest pack is one of the core equipment, but it is not the first choice for all scenarios. At a time when lightweighting has become a trend, many runners prefer to use a minimalist solution such as a trail running belt in short-distance, low-supply events or training.

Comparison of common carrying methods for trail running: from trail running waist bags to trail running vest packs

How to choose capacity according to events or training?

Short-distance training & light trail running in suburban areas

If your current training or competition distance is concentrated between 5km and 10km, and the routes are mainly mountain trails, park trails, and gravel forest trails around the city, then you may not need a trail running vest pack at all. A close-fitting and stable trail running belt can often meet all your supply and belongings needs.

In this distance range, you usually don't need to carry a lot of water, and rarely use redundant equipment such as windbreakers and headlights. The advantage of the belt is that it is extremely light and fits the body, does not press the shoulders or interfere with the running posture, frees your hands, and is also convenient for maintaining the rhythm throughout the whole process. A well-designed belt usually has 2~4 elastic partition pockets, which can easily store mobile phones, energy gels, electrolyte tablets, small soft water bottles, sunscreen and other items. Some are even equipped with key clips or earphone compartments, which are practical details.

Beginner and intermediate runners / short races in suburban areas (5L)

Suitable for weekend mountain training or local races in the range of 15~25KM. In this scenario, the water reservoir  system is usually not needed. Two soft water bottles on the front chest + a small amount of supplies in the back pocket are enough. Haimont Trail 5L focuses on lightness and fit, and takes into account quick access, which is a good partner for entry-level runners.

Preparing for 30KM or 50KM events (6L~8L)

As the race distance increases and the cumulative climb increases, runners need to carry more energy gels, electrolytes, windbreakers and possible headlights. At this time, the vest needs to provide good partitions, large back pockets, and stable load structures. Haimont Trail 8L performs well in actual trail running events and has strong adaptability. It is the main backpack for most runners.

More than 100 kilometers / multi-day crossing (9L~12L)

When you enter the challenge of 100KM, UTMB and other levels, the organizers often require you to carry mandatory equipment (such as thermal blankets, raincoats, headlights, first aid cards, etc.). Insufficient capacity means that you may temporarily change the backpack before the race, causing the risk of unfamiliar use. It is recommended to choose a high-capacity backpack with stable load-bearing, reasonable structure and diverse accessories.

Do you really need a 12L vest? ——Don't let excess capacity drag you down

A common misunderstanding is: I'm afraid it's not enough, so it's always right to buy a bigger one.

But trail running is not mountaineering. Every gram of unnecessary weight will double your energy consumption in steep slopes and sprints. A larger vest has a larger body, and even if it is not full, it is easy to have the following problems:

• Unstable center of gravity, sinking running posture
• Backpack shaking, affecting rhythm
• Friction of excess fabric, causing abrasions
• Increased weight, causing severe sweating on the back and early fatigue

The correct approach is: reverse the required equipment according to the intensity of the event or training, and then choose the appropriate capacity. Avoid the redundant experience of big package small things, and don't let equipment anxiety become your excuse for not running fast.

Fit and comfort: Will it jump or rub?

Sufficient capacity is important, but what really determines whether a trail running vest is worth wearing all day is fit and comfort. Running is a high-frequency, long-term repetitive action. Any looseness, shaking or friction may turn into a collapse after 30 kilometers.
An excellent trail running vest should fit you like your second skin, firmly and almost imperceptibly.

Why is fit so important?

The fit affects not only comfort, but also directly determines whether you can maintain your rhythm and efficiency while running. Common problems caused by insufficient fit of the vest include:

How to judge whether the fit design of a vest is excellent?

Multi-point adjustment system: adapt to different body shapes and weight states

Excellent trail running vests should have upper and lower double chest buckle design, and some are also equipped with side waist adjustment drawstrings and elastic straps to ensure that they can fit closely to the body when wearing different clothes or loading different items.

• Front chest adjustment belt: two sets of upper and lower to prevent up and down jumping.
• Side waist elastic belt: close to both sides of the ribs, without affecting breathing.
• High elastic back frame structure: does not hinder free movement when swinging arms during running.

Three-dimensional tailoring: consider dynamic fit under running posture

Running is not static standing, especially in trail running, the running posture is often accompanied by forward leaning, climbing, fast downhill and other movements. A good vest must be able to adapt to these dynamic changes, close to the body but not oppressive, close to the back but not restricting breathing.

• The overall structure of the vest should have a slight arc to fit the back curve
• The front shoulder should be cut with allowance to prevent rubbing underarms when swinging arms
• The bottom of the backpack should not compress the lumbar spine, otherwise there will be a sense of oppression for a long time

Practical advice: Try jumping a few times when wearing it, simulate uphill and downhill movements, and confirm whether the backpack shakes or pulls.

Fabric selection: Soft and breathable, sweat is not a weapon

No matter how scientific the structure is, if the material is not suitable, it will not be safe to wear all day. 

• High elastic mesh: It can stretch naturally with the ups and downs of the body to reduce the marks.
• Quick-drying moisture absorption layer: Reduce sweat accumulation and avoid wet friction.
• Edge overlock treatment: Prevent abrasions on the clavicle and chest.

The outer fabric of the Haimont trail series is treated with a water-repellent coating, which can effectively deal with the moisture seepage problems caused by light rain, sweat, and frequent contact with wet hands.

Female runners need to pay more attention: Fitting is not just about size, but also structure

Many trail running brands use universal cut backpacks, ignoring the structural differences of women in shoulder width, chest shape, and back length, which leads to the following problems when women wear them:

• The shoulder straps are too wide, slipping or rubbing against the clavicle.
• The chest pocket is improperly positioned, causing pressure or inconvenience to using.
• The back is not tight, causing the water reservoir & to swing.

Haimont is about to launch a women's exclusive cut series, which is fully optimized in terms of shoulder strap curve, chest reserve, and carrying system height to ensure that it is not a smaller version of the men's model, but is truly designed for women.

Water reservoir or soft flasks? Your hydration habits determine everything

In trail running, timely and convenient hydration is the key to maintaining performance and safety. But how to carry water? Use a soft flask on the chest or a water reservoir on the back? The two solutions seem to be just different ways of filling water, but in fact they will affect your water intake frequency, running rhythm, and even competition strategy. Only by understanding their advantages and disadvantages and applicable scenarios can you truly achieve water in hand, no confusion in mind.

Comparison of two mainstream hydration methods

The key difference is: Are you willing to stop and get a soft water bottle, or do you want to keep absorbing water?

Which one is more suitable for you? Base on your habits, the event, and your running method.

Choose a soft water bottle if:

• You like to sip water at any time and control the amount of water you drink.
• There are multiple supply points for the competition/training, so you don’t need to carry a lot of water.
• You like to control the weight and don’t want to carry a big bag or use a water hose.

The Haimont Trail series vest pack is equipped with a high-elastic water bottle pocket on the left and right sides of the front chest, which can firmly fix the soft water bottle, and there is no need to take off the vest pack when taking it, just take it with your hand → drink water → put it back, and it is stable and does not shake throughout the whole process.

Choose a water reservoir if:

• The race distance is long (more than 50K), or the water source is far away.
• You don't want to take the water bottle frequently, and prefer to drink water through a straw while running.
• You use trekking poles or handheld equipment, and it is not convenient to free your hands to take the water bottle.

Each series of Haimont Trail is equipped with a water reservoir main compartment + water pipe outlet design, which can support 1.5~2L capacity water reservoirs, and is equipped with water pipe fixing points to prevent the pipe from shaking and interfering with the running posture.

Dual system combination is more suitable for long distances or changeable weather

Many advanced runners of 50K~100K will choose a both coexist hydration strategy:

In addition to replenishing water, don't ignore these details of the drinking system:

Does the backpack have a reserved outlet for the water reservoir?

Haimont backpacks all have reserved outlets for the water reservoir, and are equipped with water pipe fixing clips to prevent the water pipe from shaking and affecting the movement.

Does the soft flask have elastic and anti-slip design?

Our soft flask has anti-slip elastic mesh + bottom closing belt, which can be firmly fixed even if the liquid level of the soft water bottle drops, without jumping or sliding out.

Can the capacity be flexibly adjusted?

The soft flask can be selected from 250ml~500ml models according to the route requirements of the day, and the water reservoir is recommended to choose a style with scales for accurate filling before the game.

Convenience of cleaning:

The soft water bottle is easy to clean and dry quickly, suitable for daily training; the water reservoir is recommended to be equipped with a special cleaning kit, and it is handled in time after the game to avoid mildew.

Storage structure: Can you achieve what you need, what you take?

An excellent trail running vest is not just how much it can hold, but scientifically loaded and easy to obtain. Trail running in the mountains is not like running on the road in the city. You cannot predict whether it will be rainstorm or scorching sun, mud or rocks, and you cannot solve the problem by waiting to stop and look slowly. The more complex the terrain and the longer the run, the more you need to get what you need immediately.

And the realization of all this depends on whether the storage structure is reasonable.

Storage area details: Every pocket has a sense of mission

The following are common storage areas and recommended uses of trail running vests to help you find it with your eyes closed while running:

Why is rummaging through the backpack a taboo in trail running?

In trail running races, especially those over 50K, one of the common fatal mistakes is: stopping to rummage through the backpack to find something.

This not only wastes time, but also:

• Interrupts the rhythm and makes it difficult to quickly restore the heart rate.
• Being overtaken by the opponent, psychological frustration.
• The more you rummage, the more messy it becomes, and the items are easily lost or damaged.
• Exposure to cold wind or scorching sun increases the risk.

The goal of the scientific storage structure is: Whether it is taking salt pills, taking windbreakers, or replenishing energy gels, it should be continuously completed without interrupting the rhythm.

Haimont storage design concept: planning vests like planning kitchens

In the design of Haimont Trail series trail running backpacks, we adopted the storage principle of high frequency front, low frequency back, and paid attention to the following core details:

• Front pocket slightly tilted design: whether taking or putting back, go with the flow.
• Multi-layer main compartment: the main bag is for large items, and the secondary bag is for small items, without confusion.
• Independent emergency compartment: pull it out at the critical moment, no need to look for it for a long time.
• Compressed elastic layer: prevent the back from bulging and affecting the running posture.
• Quick hanging point for trekking poles: can be hung with one hand, suitable for Z poles and tri-fold poles.

Being able to fit does not mean it is good enough, being able to take it out is the real skill.

Trail running is not a packing trip, but a high-intensity, rhythmic dynamic challenge. Reasonable storage structure can help you save time, reduce movements, maintain rhythm, and even win you the critical 30 seconds in extreme conditions.

Haimont trail running vest uses professional zoning logic and runners' thinking to create an equipment experience of easy to take and no mess during the whole race. It truly achieves: when you need it, it never makes you wait for a second longer.

The hidden functions in trail running vests: Have you noticed them?

When choosing a trail running vest, most runners focus on whether it has enough capacity, how many pockets it has, and whether it fits the body. But what really allows you to complete the race stably when the wind and rain suddenly change, energy is overdrawn, and night falls, are often some underestimated small details - these seemingly inconspicuous hidden functions are the watershed between professionals and beginners.

Emergency equipment hanging points: small hanging loops, big functions

When many trail runners first wear trail running vests, they will notice some small hanging loops on the backpack that you don't know what to use at first. These small designs are actually reserved for extreme situations:

• Can hang whistles, emergency cards, ID number plates.
• Can temporarily fix keys, small lights, and headphone boxes.
• When in distress in the mountains, you can hang reflective lights or rescue locators high on your back to increase search and rescue visibility.

The thermal management ability of fabrics: not just breathable

Many backpacks are marked with breathable mesh, but in hot and humid weather, highland sunshine or low temperatures after rain, you will find that truly professional materials need to do temperature regulation rather than not stuffy when worn.

• Haimont uses four-way elastic breathable material on the back, equipped with a microporous ventilation structure, which can keep the skin surface relatively dry between uphill sweating and downhill wind chill, reducing cold stimulation after sweating.
• The shoulder straps and chest straps use a soft and skin-friendly inner layer to avoid the salt-alkali granular feeling after sweat dries, reducing the risk of friction burns

Special reminder: Off-road at night or in high-altitude environments, wet and cold backs are very likely to cause cramps or hypothermia. Choosing the right vest for thermal management is more effective than wearing an extra piece of clothing.

Reflective system: You may never use it, but using it once can save your life

Long-distance trail running often goes into the night, and even daytime training may be darkened due to sudden weather changes or the mountain forest environment. At this time, the reflective design can significantly improve your visibility on forest trails, ridges, fog or night roads:

• The Haimont Trail series has reflective strips on the front chest, back shoulders, and side wings of the vest, which can be quickly identified even if only illuminated by weak light (such as car lights, headlights).
• Some versions support linkage with the back LED light hanging point, making night running safer.

Emergency Whistle: Do you really know where it is?

Almost all regular trail running events require carrying an emergency whistle in the mandatory equipment, but many people will forget that it exists, or even can't find it when they need it.

• The Haimont Trail series backpack integrates the whistle and chest buckle into one design, which not only reduces the risk of loss, but also allows quick access while running.
• The whistle is made of high-frequency ABS composite material, which is still penetrating in wind and rain and will not fail due to sweat or falling.

Tip: Before each departure, be sure to be familiar with the location of the whistle. It is best to practice the action of taking it once while running.

Quick hanging point for trekking poles: You can switch equipment without stopping

When climbing technical slopes or long descents, trekking poles are an important aid for many trail runners. However, frequent access or storage of trekking poles will interfere with the rhythm and even increase the risk of falling.

The Haimont Trail backpack is equipped with an X-shaped quick hanging point on the back and a horizontal slot on the hem, so you can quickly collect or take the pole with one hand while running

After the pole is fixed, it will not swing left and right, kick your legs, or press your back

Smart anti-sway structure: Just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean it’s not working

The vest doesn’t sway when you run, it actually relies on the work done by the designer behind it:

• The internal partition of the backpack adopts a V-shaped center of gravity centralized structure, the main compartment is on top, and the heavy objects do not sag.
• All elastic bands and drawstrings have been repeatedly debugged to ensure that they can keep fitting even if the load changes.
• Multi-point compression drawstring + side waist tightening system to prevent the backpack from falling due to physical decline over long distances.

Hidden function is what you think is unimportant, but it really determines whether you can persist at the extreme moment.

The real professional value of a trail running vest is not that you always use all its functions, but whether it can stand up and protect you in the critical second when the situation breaks out, the rhythm is disrupted, the night comes, and the physical strength is overdrawn.

In the world of trail running, equipment is never as simple as carrying more, but it is about the rhythm of every step, the smoothness of every breath, and every Whether you can return safely from a mountain challenge. Choosing a trail running vest that really suits you is an accurate response to your physical fitness, habits and goals. The capacity should be just right, the fit should be stable, the water source should be readily available, and the storage should be clear at a glance. Those overlooked hidden functions often provide real support when you are most tired and vulnerable.

At Haimont, we always insist: every vest is designed for runners and for the mountains. No fancy redundant designs, no abandonment of key safety details. Because we believe that the meaning of equipment is not to show off, but to accompany you to complete the most real journey from the starting line to the finish line every time.

Before the next trail trip, don't forget to re-examine your vest, it may be your most silent but most important companion. And if you are still looking for the first trail running vest that really fits you - welcome to learn about Haimont, we are ready for your next mountain journey.