How to Choose a Running Hydration Vest
REI Co-op Swiftland 5 Hydration Vest - Men's
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Our trail testers ran a lot of miles to make sure the men's REI Co-op Swiftland 5 Hydration vest has the compression, adjustability and storage to keep you comfortable all day out there.
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- Runner-tested to ensure the compression fit stays snug—and prevents sloshing—while you run
- Adjustable torso straps dial in the fit
- Shoulder compression cords snug down the load on the fly
- Includes a HydraPak 1.5-liter Elite™ reservoir with high-flow Blaster™ bite valve that self-seals after each sip and twists on/off to prevent leaks when not in use
- Breathable mesh back and straps help you stay cool
- Zippered main pocket holds reservoir and essential running gear; interior mesh slip pocket with key holder
- Exterior stretch mesh pocket holds extra clothing for easy access
- 4 stretch mesh chest pockets are bottle compatible (bottles not included)
- Lash points for strapping on extra gear like trekking poles; web keepers and tuck pockets help with strap management
- Machine wash cold separately, gentle cycle; line dry upside down; washing in mesh laundry bag is recommended
- REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
- Product meets the bluesign criteria
Imported.
View the REI Co-op Swiftland Product LineView all REI Co-op Running Hydration Vests| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| Gear Capacity (L) | 5 liters |
| Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | 305 cubic inches |
| Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
| Reservoir Included | Yes |
| Bottle(s) Included | None |
| Liquid Capacity (L) | 1.5 liters |
| Liquid Capacity (fl. oz.) | 50 fluid ounces |
| Number of Exterior Pockets | 5 + main compartment |
| Material(s) | 70-denier recycled nylon with 700 mm silicone/polyurethane coating (bluesign approved) |
| Bite Valve Shut-off Switch | Yes |
| BPA Free | Yes |
| Dimensions | 14 x 8 x 4 inches |
| Gender | Men's |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials Product meets the bluesign® criteria From a Climate Label Certified brand |
Buying Advice
Better gear is built together
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Expensive But Good
Bret2 years ago
I like it that it holds a 1.5L bladder and two 0.5L water bottles with room for gels and a light jacket, keys and wallet… Plus bear spray. I like ice water in the bladder but it would freeze my back so I added a thin (1/4”) piece of foam to insulate - works perfect! Pack stays nice and tight with room to tighten as I consume the water. The hose on the bladder is a little short for me. Maybe I can route it another way next time. The pack is light and I can wear it without a shirt.
Bret
Santa Barbara, CA
12 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Let's see, the jury is still out
HackyMoto2 years ago
I run normally with a CamelBak but my specific CamelBak was not designed for runners and therefore it can be uncomfortable during longer runs and I did not like the lay out for my cell phone etc. So when I saw this in my local REI, I was intrigued to try it on and convinced myself that this would replace my old CamelBak. Since purchasing it, I've run maybe 30 miles with it within the past 7 days and my thoughts:
Positives:
1. Much more comfortable and easier fitting than my old CamelBak. At the end of the run, no red marks on my shoulders that I received from my CamelBak
2. Great front side pocket for my cell phone (I need my cell phone on my runs for communication and to listen to podcasts / music)
3. Nice, long drinking tube with perfectly positioned clips on each side of the straps.
4. Fairly light, I don't actually notice wearing it during runs whereas I do with my non-running CamelBak,
5. Bite valve feels better when using. Less effort to actually draw the water.
Negatives:
1. No insulation around the reservoir so my water warms quickly from my body heat and from the surrounding air (I live in SE Texas and it's still warm at this time of year - December).
2. Drinking tube looks like it is permanently fixed to the reservoir bag whereas my CamelBak drinking tube is detachable making it easier to wash separately. I've not tried removing the drinking tube - but will google it.
3. Reservoir capacity is about half of my CamelBak (not sure if the CamelBak running bag has a similar sized reservoir to the REI version - will google it)
Are the negatives enough for me to go back to my CamelBak or to buy a running CamelBak? Not right now but let's see when the summer comes around. During long runs, I almost empty my CamelBak and the REI reservoir is much smaller.
HackyMoto
Houston
7 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
T Bone
Received free product
Chicago, IL
Serves its purpose well
3 years ago
This is a pretty well made light pack for runners. I likely would have given it 5 stars, but one of the gear loops broke right off the bat (it'll be easy for me to sew it back on). The elastic elements do a good job of keeping everything in place while running; I really forgot about it after just a minute or two. You're not going to have room for a TON of stuff, but that's not the point. Most people should be able to get their keys, phone, wallet, water, wind jacket, and snacks in there without much trouble. And the straps allow you a lot of flexibility in terms of where the pack sits, and they don't restrict your breathing.
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'2"
Yes , I recommend this product
maestr
Received free product
Austin, TX
Great multipurpose hydration pack
3 years ago
If I could give this 4.5 stars, I would. Since I couldn't, I rounded up. I really appreciated the ability to select a size. I'm 5'6" and sometimes have issues with packs being a tad large. With that said, a size small worked great for me. The shoulder straps could be adjusted and the chest/sternum straps could be moved vertically as well as tightened. The pack felt great. It was comfortable and didn't seem too hot. I am in Texas and tested this pack during the winter at 70°. The Swiftland comes with a 1.5l Hydrabak hydration bladder. I once I figured out how to fill the bladder, I found it worked great. Based on the information from Hydrabak, the bladder should be able to be turned inside out to dry. The tubing can also be replaced or made shorter. I did think the drinking tube was a little long so it's good to know it can be cut shorter. The pack was the perfect size for some trail running, hiking and biking. There are 4 pockets on the front which was plenty of space to carry my phone and some nutrition. Access to the items in the front made it easy to get items without talking the pack off. In the backpack itself, there was room for the bladder and a rain jacket and/or layers and a little more. One thing that wasn't a problem for me but may be an issue for some is that the drinking tube comes out of the pack only on the right side meaning it hangs on your right. The bladder did seem to slosh a little but was better than most of my other hydration packs that I have. This has become my favorite hydration pack for any of my outdoor activities that are 2 hours or so long. Note that I got this hydration pack sent to me to review as part of the REI advisor program. I was not otherwise compensated and REI had no say in anything that was written in my review.
Age:55–64
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'6"
Yes , I recommend this product
Sam T
Tennessee
Good pack at a moderate price
1 year ago
I purchased the Swiftland 5 pack as a moderately-priced pack with decent storage capacity for fluids, food, and personal effects without having to fight with waist belts and narrow shoulders straps common with backpack-style hydration packs. I'm a type 1 diabetic, so I need to be able to carry some medical supplies and more sugar sources than I might otherwise when I'm running, and the Swiftland 5 hasn't let me down yet. It's light and has so far proven to be quite durable. I've probably put 2-300mi on it so far, and ran a 10k adventure race over the weekend, and the pack held up nicely. I just had to spray off/out all the loose mud and rocks, toss in the washer, and hang dry. I think over time the bungee system will be a problem, but so far no issues. The included hydrapak is somewhat cumbersome to clean, as I was unable to disconnect the hose from the bladder and the mouthpiece came off a little too easy. I would be interested in an upgrade to that portion of the product as well. All in all, it's a great pack, I'm happy with my purchase, and I will continue to recommend it.
Age:35–44
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:5'10"
Yes , I recommend this product
Brandon FL runner1087
Florida
Loved it until it failed on me
2 years ago
I want to be fair and state that I absolutely loved this vest up until the day it failed on me when I needed it the most. It is a great vest with plenty of storage. It’s extremely comfortable to wear while running or day hiking, never had any sore spots after extended usage. Plenty of water storage between the bottles(included) and the 1.5L reservoir pouch on the back. My one complaint and single point of failure, they used metal brackets to keep the vest straps attached. I wear my vest on bare skin so it was constantly exposed to sweat, which caused it to corrode and snap. I will say, it you don’t plan on the vest getting soaked it sweat then it might work out for you. Just isn’t the product for what I need.
Height:6'3"
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
No, I do not recommend this product
Bret
Santa Barbara, CA
Expensive But Good
2 years ago
I like it that it holds a 1.5L bladder and two 0.5L water bottles with room for gels and a light jacket, keys and wallet… Plus bear spray. I like ice water in the bladder but it would freeze my back so I added a thin (1/4”) piece of foam to insulate - works perfect! Pack stays nice and tight with room to tighten as I consume the water. The hose on the bladder is a little short for me. Maybe I can route it another way next time. The pack is light and I can wear it without a shirt.
Height:5'11"
Age:65–74
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Sam T
Great hydration pack. Would recommend.
1 year ago
This is an excellent product. I bought the Swiftland 5 as a relatively inexpensive way to carry a decent amount of water and food and personal effects while on the trail without having to deal with the waist belt and narrow straps that come on most backpack-style hydration packs. I have type 1 diabetes so it's important that I'm able to carry more food and/or gels than I might otherwise carry, as well as my phone so I can always know what my blood sugar is. I recently wore the pack through a 10k Tough Mudder, and had no problem whatsoever. The pack is perfectly intact. I just hosed off all the loose mud and dumped out all the rocks, and threw it in the washer and then hung it up to air dry. The hydropak bladder could be improved upon, as I was unable to disconnect the hose for cleaning, but other than that, no issues at all. The pack is comfortable and is easy to ignore while running. I think the bungee system will eventually be a problem, but for now I've got no real complaints, and I've probably carried it for 2-300mi so far, and it's just as good as the first day I wore it.
Rob B
Denver, CO
The hydration pack to end all dehydration
2 years ago
This hydration Vest is the best. Simply put. The bladder is easy to fill, the pockets are all exactly where you want them to be for small items, a phone, snacks, etc. And when the pack is tight across the chest, the pressure on the bladder shoots water into your mouth for more effortless drinking while on the move. I use this pack for anything from running to biking, and I've been super impressed with the thought put into it. I've never run out of space in it, either. The bladder isn't the biggest, but with 1.5L, it'll keep you outside and hydrated way longer and easier than bottles. And bonus points: you can put small running bottles in the pockets on the front if you want. Well done REI
Height:5'11"
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Sal
San Antonio
Close to perfection
2 years ago
It’s a minimalist-ish vest. It’s not big and fat. It doesn’t have material in the sides; It just has straps on the side. To allow better breathability overall. The hydration bladder and the tube needs to be more insulated against the harsh heat since this bladder rests on your back. There needs to be holes in the sides of the rear and front pockets to allow for hydration vests that have the tube hole on the side. To run the tube entirely in the side to access the tube from the bottom up (like Salomon vests and bladders). Make the tube clips moveable to put them anywhere you want on the vests. Overall, it’s not bad.
Height:6'0"
Age:55–64
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Michal
Poor quality of materials
1 year ago
After just 5 runs (each under 2 hours) the band holding the back pockets broke and the other one is on the verge of breaking. This happened without anything being held in the pocket for those runs. Otherwise decent vest.
Height:5'7"
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
No, I do not recommend this product
gjs4tu
Received free product
Park City, UT / Raleigh, NC
Intuitive design, good comfort, nice storage
3 years ago
I like this hydration vest quite a bit! The bladder detaches and re-attaches easily from the backpack. There are convenient hooks built into the shoulder straps so the drinking tube doesn't flop around. There's a nice amount of non-water storage (for cellphones, granola bars, etc.) on the pack without it being too bulky. The main drawback I'll note is that water in the drinking tubes freezes QUICKLY in cold temperatures. I tried this pack during a winter trip to Utah, and the water turned to ice within an hour. If you're looking for a cold weather hydration vest, keep looking. Otherwise, I recommend this!
Height:5'7"
Age:25–34
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
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