Soft flasks vs. bladder: which is better?

Reviewer consensus is split by use case. Specialist subreddits favor soft flasks on the front of the vest because you get visual feedback on how much you're drinking and bottles are easier to refill at aid stations. Bladders win for long, uninterrupted training runs where you don't want to stop, but reviewers consistently flag that they're harder to clean and you can't tell how much fluid is left.