Six borehole methods for determining the vertical distribution of hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated geologic formations are evaluated. Staddle packer tests are inappropriate if there is a hydraulic path around the packer on the outside of the well screen. Methods based on grainsize analysis fail to incorporate the influence of small-scale structure and packing. Methods based on relationships between electrical and hydraulic conductivity require special conditions and are site- and formation-specific. Borehole effects invalidate methods based on the natural flow of fluid through a well bore. Stoneley wave attenuation methods are not effective in unconsolidated formations. A single-well electrical tracer test is effective, but requires the injection of significant volumes of fluid.