Trail Hydration Packs & Vests
3 L, 7 L, 12 L, and 15 L hydration vests, designed in Brittany and tested in races before being approved.
- Breton brand
- Tested by our athletes
- Payment in 4 installments from €70
69 Products
RK3 SAA BRE BAG
44,99 €
RK3 PURE FLORE BAG
44,99 €
RK3 FLORE POWDER BLUE BAG
44,99 €
RK3 COTTON FLORE BAG
44,99 €
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A hydration vest fastens around your torso: when properly adjusted, it won't move on descents and your flasks stay within easy reach. A trail pack sits more on your shoulders and carries more gear. To choose, ask yourself two questions: how long will you be out, and what does your race's rules require you to carry?
At Kinetik, our range goes from the lightweight RK3 vest, made for outings of a few hours, to the 15 L RK15 pack, for ultras and races where mandatory gear takes up space. In between, you'll find 7 L and 12 L sizes. We design them in Brittany using our own fabrics, and our athletes test them in races before we approve a model.
How to choose between a vest and a trail pack
Volume: it all depends on how long you'll be outdoors
Our vests come in 3 L, 7 L, 12 L and 15 L. For an outing of less than two hours, a small vest is enough: two front flasks, a windbreaker, and something to eat. Between two and six hours, you'll need room for an extra layer, supplies, and your phone. Beyond that, the race's mandatory gear list often determines the volume for you.
How to adjust your vest
A vest that's too large bounces around and ends up chafing under your arms and on your collarbones. Too tight, it compresses your chest and makes it hard to breathe on climbs. Adjust it once it's loaded, as it would be during a race, then tighten it a little along the way: as you drink and eat, it empties and gets looser.
Before cutting off the tag, try it at home: fill it, tighten it, then jump in place twenty times. If anything shifts, it's the wrong size or isn't adjusted properly.
Drink without stopping
You have two options. Front flasks: you can drink without slowing down or taking off your vest, but they take up space on your chest. Hydration bladder on your back: it holds more and stays out of the way, but you have to manage a tube and can't see how much you have left. For long distances, many trail runners use both. Our AkuaFlask 350 ml and AkuaFlask Neo 500 ml fit into the front pockets of the RK3 and RK15.
Weight, and especially how it's distributed
Weight and bulk are the two issues we focus on first when designing a vest. But a vest shouldn't be judged by its empty weight. What matters is how it carries when full: when the load is evenly distributed between the front and back, it feels much lighter than a lighter model that's poorly balanced.
Which model for which run
| Your activity | Our recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short runs, under 2 hours | RK3 vest | Compact size, two front flasks, nothing sticking out |
| Long run or short trail race | RK3 vest | Enough room for a windbreaker and supplies |
| Ultra or race with mandatory gear | RK15 pack | 15 L, enough room for all the gear required by the race organizers |
| Mid-size, moderate capacity | 7 L vest or 12 L vest | More space than a 3 L, less bulky than a 15 L |
You may also like
- 3 L vestsThe lightest option for short, fast runs
- 15 L packsFor ultras and races with mandatory gear
- Hydration beltsFor running without anything on your torso
A Breton brand that designs its own materials
Kinetik is a family-run company from Brittany. We design our products ourselves, including the fabrics, instead of choosing them from a supplier's catalog. It takes longer, but when an issue is reported from the field, we can fix it precisely: a seam that rubs after six hours, a strap that slips on descents, or a fabric that stays wet.
Our athletes test every product before we approve it. And because nobody wants to run in the same outfit as everyone else, we regularly release new prints, while many brands stick to three technical colors.
We kit runners out from cap to socks. We also make gear in the colors of clubs, teams, and race organizers.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a hydration pack and a hydration vest?
The vest fits snugly against your torso and tightens at the sides, so it doesn't bounce around. The water is at the front, so you can drink while running. The pack rests more on your shoulders and carries more, but your gear is harder to reach. For trail running, you can use a vest up to medium capacities, then switch to a pack for ultras or when the mandatory gear list is long.
What size running vest for a 50 km trail race?
Distance matters less than the race regulations. Start by reading your race’s mandatory gear list: waterproof jacket, emergency blanket, minimum water supply, phone, and sometimes a cup and a whistle. That list determines the minimum capacity. If you’re setting out unsupported without a mandatory list, choose a pack that’s a little bigger than you need.
How do you keep your pack from bouncing on descents?
Adjust it when it’s loaded, never empty. First tighten the lower straps, then the upper ones, making sure you can still take a full breath. Put the heaviest items close to your back and high up. Then jump in place twenty times with the pack full: if it still moves around, it’s the wrong size.
Soft flasks up front or a hydration bladder on your back?
With soft flasks, you can drink without slowing down and see how much you have left, which helps you manage your water on a long outing. A hydration bladder holds more and leaves your chest free, but you have to manage the tube and can never really tell how much water you have left. For long distances, many people take both.
How do you prevent chafing and irritation?
It’s almost always caused by a vest that’s too loose, a poorly placed seam or fabric that stays wet. Tighten the vest so it doesn’t move around. Check that no seams run over your collarbones or under your arms. And skip the cotton T-shirt underneath: it holds on to sweat, and after a few hours even the slightest rubbing can cause chafing.
How do you wash a hydration vest?
Rinse it with clean water after every outing, especially where it touches your skin, because that’s where salt builds up. Hand-wash it, or machine-wash it at 30 °C in a laundry bag, without fabric softener: fabric softener clogs technical fibers, making the fabric less effective at wicking away sweat. Air-dry it, never in a tumble dryer or on a radiator.
How do you choose the right size?
Go by your chest measurement, not your T-shirt size. Measure after a normal breath in, without filling your lungs. If you’re between sizes, choose the smaller one if you usually run short and light, and the larger one if you often set out carrying a lot. The size guide is on each product page.
Can you customize a bag in a club’s colors?
Yes, it’s a big part of what we do: we equip clubs, teams and race organizers with gear in their colors. Minimum quantities, lead times and how it works are explained on our dedicated pages for clubs and event organizers.
Content updated in October 2026.