These Lightweight Running Water Bottles Help Keep You Hydrated Mile After Mile

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One of the most crucial ways to ensure solid (and safe) performance when you’re running is to fuel and hydrate just as you would on race day—that’s before, during, and after. While races as short as five miles have aid stations available to keep you fueled on your big day, carrying your own drinking water or sipping an electrolyte mix during your training jogs (especially in hot weather) will ensure that you get the most out of your training without becoming dehydrated.

A lightweight, handheld or hip-mounted water bottle is the perfect way to ensure that you stay hydrated and your energy stays high, no matter where your run takes you.

For more great ways to stay hydrated on the go, check out our picks for the best water bottles for runners, hydration packs, and hydration vests.

The Best Running Water Bottles

• Best Overall: Amphipod Hydraform Minimalist Handheld Running Water Bottle

• Best Collapsible: Katadyn BeFree Filtered Running Water Bottle

• Best Waist-Mounted Bottle: Nathan Peak Hydration Running Water Bottle Waist Pack

• Best Insulated Bottle: Nathan QuickSqueeze Insulated Running Water Bottle

• Best Multi-Use Option: Camelbak Podium Water Bottle

What to Consider in a Running Water Bottle

Weight and Weight Distribution

If you’ve never run with a bottle in your hand before, be warned that it doesn’t feel natural at first. Even though a majority of running water bottles weigh only a few ounces (anywhere from 2 to 10 ounces), it’s still enough to alter your gait slightly, especially if your strides involve lots of back-and-forth arm swinging. You’ll also find yourself using a surprising amount of focus and energy to keep a grip on your bottle which is why we recommend lots of strapped-on options like those with hand grips or hip mounts.

Especially on long runs, we recommend a very lightweight bottle, ideally one made of a soft material so it can pack away when it’s empty. If you’re carrying a lot of water, distributing the water evenly across your hips or back can help prevent any awkward (and sometimes painful) steps from being 0ff-kilter.

Liquid and Gear Capacity

Depending on how long your runs are, and how many stops you’re willing to take, you may need to consider a bottle that offers high capacity and some means of storage for your other belongings. Most running water bottles come with a strap system, pocket, or zip-up pouch. These may only have room for a house key and a gel, while others can haul your phone, wallet, and a few granola bars at once.

Everyone has a different preference for how much gear they want to bring on a run, but a simpler suggestion would be to err on the side of budgeting for a bit more storage than you think you’ll need on your longest runs.

Why Trust Us?

For more than half a century, Runner’s World editors have tested every bit of gear you’ll need for a run by, well, running with it. We recommend shoes, accessories, and tech based on what the gear-obsessed geeks in our office think would complete the ideal setup. Even when we haven’t handled a product ourselves, our fervent window-shopping has given us a proper view of the landscape beyond what we can acquire for testing. If we have any doubts about a product’s ability to perform as advertised, we don’t recommend it. No ifs, ands, or buts.

How We Tested and Selected Running Water Bottles

For many of us at Runner’s World, handheld water bottles were our introduction to on-the-go running hydration. For years, we’ve been experimenting with a variety of different styles and brands of running water bottles and hip belts—the majority of the bottles on this list have been a part of someone’s long-run gear bandolier at the office. For products we haven’t had in-house, we relied on our familiarity with the quality standards of our favorite brands, such as Nathan and Camelbak, to weed out corner-cutting copycats.

Whether saving weight, freeing up storage space, or hitting a price point is most important to you, these running water bottles can help keep you hydrated and ready for your next jaunt.

Hydraform Minimalist Handheld Running Water Bottle

Looking for a lightweight, no-nonsense running water bottle to keep you hydrated and hold a snack or two? The Amphipod handheld running water bottle is comfortable and checks all the boxes of a practical running accessory.

The bottle’s curved surface fits perfectly in your palm while a cushioned holder secures your grip around the back of your hand. Gear loops on the adjustable holder can also fit a gel or chews for quick fuel.

This running water bottle is perfect for your first handheld, where comfort is most important and you want to forget you’re even carrying it.

BeFree Filtered Running Water Bottle

If you like to pack light, chances are you value the real estate your gear takes up. An empty bottle can take up unnecessary room in a vest or pack—a soft, collapsible bottle like the BeFree is critical for saving pocket space when your water runs out.

Alongside its low profile, the BeFree has a built-in filter, which filters out particles as small as 0.1 microns. In other words, you don’t have to worry about 99.9999 percent of bacteria which means you can grab a liter of water straight from the creek next to the trail and take a swig safely through the mouthpiece.

The bottle is a bit large to hold in your hand while running, and it’ll feel floppy when it’s partially empty, but the space you’ll save is invaluable on a long self-supported trek.

Peak Hydration Running Water Bottle Waist Pack

Training for a longer race? A hydration belt is a great piece of gear for transitioning from short runs that require little to no fuel to several-hour adventures. This belt’s pocket is big enough for your valuables and snacks while the hip belt hugs your waist—a relatively low-movement part of your body during runs—to minimize bouncing.

It’s a bit trickier to reach for your bottle when it’s mounted on your hip, especially when you’re trucking along at a good speed, but you can much more easily maintain that speed when your hands are free to keep you balanced.

QuickSqueeze Insulated Running Water Bottle

Craving cool water toward the end of a hot summer run? This Nathan handheld uses a double-walled insulated shell to keep your hydration fluids cold, even as you’re pounding out miles under direct sun. And despite its sturdy, redundant construction, it still weighs just 5 ounces. There’s also one storage pocket that’s big enough to hold a phone, card, key, or a couple snacks. It's a great option for mid-distance runs in the heat.

Pro tip: Put some ice in the bottle for ice-cold water when you need it most—and don’t be afraid to spray some on your face to cool off (if you have chances to refill on your route).

Podium Water Bottle

Long live the bidon—another term for the squeeze bottle preferred by cyclists. Though they’re not as ergonomic as most dedicated running water bottles, their light weight and relative simplicity make them a great jack-of-all-trades option for multi-sport athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

Bidons are easy to hold, easy to drink from quickly, and a perfect fit for a backpack’s side pocket or a bicycle’s bottle cage.

Camelbak’s Podium bottle is especially nice for runners because of its twist-to-open valve system that stops water from flying out of the nozzle when you swing your arms. When the valve’s open, a light squeeze is all you need to get a proper glug of water; when it’s closed, you’ll practically pop the lid off the top before you get a single drop out of the mouthpiece.

SpeedView Running Water Bottle

Just like Nathan’s QuickSqueeze, the SpeedView has a double-walled insulated bottle that can keep your fluids cool for hours. The difference between the two bottles comes down to the hardware attached: The former has a small, lightweight pouch that’s ideal for a few gels, a house key, and some cash, whereas the latter has a clear, protective case for your phone.

This option’s ideal if you want to track your stats on a phone-based app like Strava without splurging on a dedicated running watch.

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