For our initial review, to narro

2021/05/21

For our initial review, to narrow down the many optionsa search on Amazon for running waist packs yields over 1,000 results, many from unfamiliar brandswe consulted other editorial sources such as Runners World, parsed hundreds of shopper and owner reviews, and polled a running team for its members belt favorites and failures. Their feedback eliminated three more belts from the, er, running and solidified our four picks. The popular Classic FlipBelt and FlipBelt Zipper are neither bad nor uncomfortable, but we liked other belts more. As much as you may like to run free, hitting the road without keys, ID, and a smartphone isnt always practical: You might need to lock your house or car, you may want your ID and a phone on you in case of an emergency (or maybe you just want to listen to music or a podcast), and even if your shorts or pants have pockets, they dont always cut it. She has worked on other fitness reviews for Wirecutter, including our guides to foam rollers, treadmills, and connected indoor-cycling bikes. You will be wearing this belt for a long time and the last thing you want to worry about during a run is discomfort, said JackRabbits Reid Grott. hardloopwinkel flipbelt Phone armbands and handheld water bottles are two options, but designs that can hold both have grown in popularity. Even still, both have thin profiles even filled. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions.

A running belt lets you bring your phone, keys, and even water on a run while keeping your handsand pocketsfree. And it keeps everything squeezed into one stretchy pocket, which means that if you need to pull something out mid-run, theres a chance other things might fall out, too. The waistband-style Naked Running Band is our pick for runners who need added capacity, and if you want a belt with two water bottles, we think the Nathan TrailMix Plus is the best. The Osprey Duro Solo and Dyna Solo waist belts, mens and womens versions, respectively, both have an odd triangular pocket with a window for your phone screen. ", in "Where do you keep your phone while you run? The fabric is soft, yet stretchy. The TrailMix Plus comes in one color (black). Continuous waistbands with single hydration bottles. This belt doesnt feel too tight, yet stays in place with no bunching or bulging of fabric. We also bumped the front-button buckle by accident, which sent the belt flying off. Some have zippers or key clips for security, while others close with fabric flaps and use the fabrics tension to keep items inside. The Zipster Lite is one of the most comfortable running belts to run with and will be a major hit among anyone who swears by their FlipBelt. She also polled runners on her former running team, the Hellgate Road Runners, based in Astoria, New York, about what items they wanted to bring with them on their runs. The super-stretchy fabric pocket expands to fit an XL phone. The LotFancy Running Belt with Bottles had the same issue as the Aikendo Running Belt we tried: The band was stretchy to the point that it felt unsupportive and likely to stretch out completely over time. As a semi-competitive runner (and someone who seldom leaves her apartment without her phone), she has tried umpteen running belts and waist packs and knows what makes a good one. But the storage pockets run the length of each side with no dividers, and as a result items inside tended to migrate to the ends and become hard to reach. We experienced no bouncing, and the belt shifted only slightly on occasionin fact, we often forgot it was even there. Then there are side mesh pockets, great for storing a smartphone. We struggled to get the bottles back into the holsters, and mid-run we accidentally hit and opened the front-facing buckle, which made a bottle fly out. The front and back pockets have zippers.

You can adjust the belt from about 25 to 47 or more inches, and it has no annoying dangling straps, unlike many such pouch-on-a-strap-style belts. Before even discussing the product, its important to know the importance of running belts in general. It was easy to take out items during the run without slowing down. Weve tested dozens of wearables to help you find the best one for your lifestyle, whether its an everyday smartwatch, a fitness tracker, or a running watch. Though the Adjustable-Fit Zipster covers more area than the SPIbelt Large Pocket, the fabric is smooth and remains comfortably cool even in sticky conditions. As a result, it conforms to fit around the waist like a perfect fit. The Amphipod RunLite 10K Hydration Belt rode up frequently, and we had difficulty pushing it back into place because the silicone-strip-backed belt had no stretch. Over the last few years, we have seen a shift from someone running with a phone carrier around their arm, a running belt around their waist, and a hydration pack on their back to now all of those things condensed into one, said Reid Grott, senior accessories buyer at the running shoe and apparel retailer JackRabbit. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). But securing that tail is an extra step that our top pick, the SPIbelt Large Pocket, doesnt require. (If youre unsure of your size, consider ordering two sizes and keeping the one that fits better. While being lightweight is its main selling feature, the amount of storage space is another attractive feature. Though it kept our phone dry on a sweaty 5-miler, it got slightly damp on a humid 90-degree day while we were walking. However, it typically comes at a higher price than our top pick and runner-up, and like all waistband belts, it isnt adjustable. The belt has plenty of storage for other stuff in its central multipocket pack, including a large-format smartphone, cards (inside a Velcroed pocket for security), keys, and gels or other food. Worn around the waist, there is typically a slot for money, keys, a phone and sports nutrition. The zipper pull is easy to access during a run and doesnt get swallowed by the fabric. In addition, the bottles on this Nathan belt dont interfere with your arm swing, a problem we encountered with some similar belts. The soft-fabric Stashbandz is wider than many belts, and extra-large phones fit in its zipper pocket fine, but the zipper is inset with a small pull that gets lost in the fabric. Weve been seeing a lot of misleading information surrounding runner nutrition, protein and carbohydrate intake, and the Running is a wonderful full-body strengthening exercise.

As a last step, we wanted to do a head-to-head Nathan Zipster Adjustable-Fit Running Belt vs. FlipBelt Zipper comparison of their review performance but, unfortunately, weren't able to find any review ratings on either product. Both also cannot store water. Secondarily, gear such as water bottles and gels should be easy to stow and access on the run. (No surprise: Tops is carrying a phone.). The belt spun around easily when we needed to access something. The design seems like a nice idea for organization, but in our tests the belt sat awkwardly with a large phone in one of its pockets. Compared to the FlipBelt material, its defiantly lighter on and cooler. When putting the Zipster Lite against the FlipBelt, there is a clear winner when it comes to its weight. Ingrid Skjong is a senior staff writer covering fitness at Wirecutter, testing everything from running watches to stationary bikes. If you need to tote water, the squirt-capped SPI H2O Companion bottles (sold separately) fit the band securely. Overall this model felt on the cheap side. The belt is designed to fit up to only a 44-inch waist, a smaller maximum than for most of our other picks; our 49-inch-waist tester wasnt able to put it on. We wore the belt with the zippered pocket positioned both in front and in back, cinched snugly at the top of the hip points. Amy tested a size 2 to fit at her 29-inch lower waist but ended up wearing it a little higher (closer to her 25-inch natural waist) and probably wouldve been fine with a size 1. And larger-waisted runners can purchase a separately available belt extender, which adds up to 12 inches of length. The sites methodolog in 15 Best Running Belts To Carry All Essentials (2022) Buying Guide, in Best iPhone 12 Pro Cases for Runners 2022, {"store":null,"amazon_tag":null,"product_generation_ids":["node_pgen_52buqnboyu7qjfzclmlngu3xv5iv7mq7tv7pkohu6lh5pimf","node_pgen_k64woqs5ajjqvmldmxsc3orcizk4cm3vwbqkfq24vfu3cps4"]}, Best iPhone 12 Pro Cases for Runners 2022. (She ended up tying them, awkwardly, in front of the belt buckle.) So measure correctly when it comes to sizing. We were amazed at how securely it stayed in place when we loaded its three pockets with a smartphone, cards, keys, two gels, and Nakeds soft Running Flask (sold separately), which holds 500 mL or about 17 ounces. Its the ideal product for runners or cyclists looking to get in some miles without worrying about needing pockets or how they will carry light gear. Note too that the Naked Running Band costs more than most beltsparticularly if you also spring for a bottleand the company charges for shipping, though it reimburses the return costs for unwanted items. It also covers a slightly narrower range of sizes. We interviewed Alice Holland, DPT, a running physical therapist and co-founder of Stride Strong Physical Therapy in Portland, Oregon, to learn about the body mechanics involved with carrying stuff while you run. We found our iPhone 8 Plus with a Speck case to be a tight fit. We found that the bottom edge of the Ultimate Direction Comfort Belt curled under in the front, and the back bunched up if not filled with stuffbut if we filled it too full, it bounced a lot. Items like chapstick gels, chews, keys, money, ID and earbuds are stores perfectly without wearing the athlete down. There was no way for her to tuck them into the elastic straps designed to prevent that.

The SPIbelt Large Pocket also works with a belt extender (sold separately). The Best Smartwatches, Fitness Trackers, and Running Watches. A long-term tester reported: Its a little awkward when I try to put non-flat things in it like keys along with my phone, but its very low profile and doesnt bounce around at all once you dial in the fit.. Does the belt bounce, ride up, chafe, dig in, or otherwise become uncomfortable? Unfortunately, neither of our test phones fit into the pocket. The Adjustable-Fit Zipster is one-size-fits-most, which, according to the companys size chart, accommodates waists from about 26 inches to 44 inches, though we found the belt was able to fit up to 46 inches. With the adjustable band tightened snugly, it doesnt bounce during runs. During longer training runs or races, you might want to carry water or nutrition securely, too; experts recommend a minimum of 15 ounces of water and 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates (often in the form of an energy gel like GU) per hour of effort. The problem with many is that they bounce during the run, sliding up from the hips.

This meant pulling the band to its tightest setting; although the belt stayed put, having the belt at its tightest created very long strap ends that flapped around. The bottle nestles in what amounts to a sling, which you secure with a Velcro closure and open with a loop. The FlipBelt is also reliable for not moving when on. The SPIbelt Large Pocket comes in dozens of colors, including solids, prints, and solids with contrasting zippers. And nothing bounced, shifted, or got in the way of an arm swing. So to my delight, I found that Nathans Zipster Lite also didnt bounce, but that was just the start of the many pleasant surprises I uncovered during my runs while using it. The New Balance Performance Waist Pack (currently unavailable) stayed comfortably in place in our experience, but we struggled to think of a reason a runner would need a belt with so much boxy, unspecialized storage space, especially as the belts large size could make it feel too hot. The Naked Running Band comes in just one color (black with yellow accents). When it was tightened appropriately, our testers experienced very little, if any, bouncing, whether they wore it on the front of the body or the back. If you need to tote more stuff than the SPIbelt Large Pocket can hold, or if you prefer several separate pockets on an adjustable belt with a low profile, the Nathan Adjustable-Fit Zipster is a solid choice. The lopsided weight and sloshing of a handheld water bottleand the need to grip itare more problematic. It adjusts from about 26 to 44 inches, though on smaller waists the long strap ends flap around. The Naked Running Band wowed us with how much it could holdand hold stableon a run. We felt no chafing on bare skin in any scenario. The flat, non-stretch Aikendo Running Belt stayed put near our testers natural waist during a 5-mile run, holding an iPhone XS and keys. It also failed to fit snugly and ended up bouncing a lot. (On the iPhone 8 Plus, we used the Speck Presidio Grip case, the current Wirecutter pick for more phone protection.). We also spoke with a representative at Nathanas well as with Kim Overton, the founder of SPIbelt, and Reid Grott, senior accessories buyer at the running shoe and apparel retailer JackRabbitto get an idea of the most-sought attributes in a running belt. (If youd like a slightly larger belt that is built to withstand the elements a little better and to help facilitate more involved training, we like the SPIbelt Performance Series.) Thats 3 inches less than what we found to be the maximum of our top pick, and Nathan does not offer a separate extender for this belt (whereas SPIbelt does for our top pick). In the FlipBelt it defiantly goes noticed at first. Amy Roberts is a certified personal trainer (NASM-CPT), a running coach (USATF Level 1), and a regionally competitive runner. We couldnt get our iPhone 8 Plus to fit in the pocket of the Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pak. This makes it awkward to get on, but it isnt a big deal. The Amazon best-selling Urpower Running Belt seems cheaper than most belts weve tested (because it is), and in our experience one water bottle leaked badly until we got the cap on just right. But neither model is fully waterproof; we suggest popping anything youd rather not get wet into a plastic bag for extra protection. I would find myself checking that my ID or key fob was still in the belt. The central zipper on the pocket and its barely big-enough size made it really hard for us to get an iPhone 8 Plus in and out. Breathability: Does the belt feel exceptionally hot or sweat-inducing during a run? For an update to this guide in 2021, Ingrid Skjong ran with seven new contenders. It covers an expansive size range: In our tests, it fit wearers with waists measuring from 25 to 49 inches, although the company claims a range of only 25 to 47 inches. Additional useful features include a key clip, race-bib clips, and silicone-backed loops for securing a light jacket. Running belts come in two main styles: adjustable belts and continuous waistbands. The bands are one-size-fits-most, with a wide size rangefrom about 24 to 46 inchesand their adjustability allows you to wear them with different thicknesses of clothing or on different spots on your body, as well as to tighten or loosen them while you run. When the dust settled, our final testing pool consisted of 31 belts from 17 manufacturers. Touted for short distance running or fast-paced walking, the CamelBak Flash Belt feels comfortable, and the structured slot for the included 17-ounce bottle makes the bottle fairly easy to slip in and out. An elastic band secures the tail of the strap when the belt is tightened, but fastening it is an extra step that the SPIbelt Large Pocket doesnt require, and the clip can be fussier to close than the SPIbelts buckle. Both belts need to be put on over the head or by stepping into it. Order a couple of sizes and return whatever doesnt work for you. How well does the belt fit when its holding an iPhone, three ID or credit cards, and house keys, as well as any filled water bottles? You clip it onno stepping into it, as you have to do with waistband stylesand adjust it to fit above or below whatever layers of clothing youre wearing that day. Such belts also often come in a smaller size range, only up to about 40 inches or so. The bottom line when it comes to extra gear is that [it] has to completely disappear from the runners consciousness. A phone armband might suffice, particularly if you use Bluetooth headphonestheres no cord to one side that might cause unnatural neck or shoulder grippingbut if you feel any uneven soreness in those muscles after running with an armband, the armband could be affecting your form. Just like its name suggests, this is one ultra-light running belt that goes unnoticed throughout the run. If youre intrigued by our top pick, the SPIbelt Large Pocket, but want something a tad larger and slightly better equipped to withstand the elements: The SPIbelt Performance Series might suit your needs. If organization and capacity are tops on your list, the stretchy mesh Naked Running Band may be worth a look. Made of stretchy mesh or spandex fabric, waistband-style belts have flat storage pockets all around, sandwiched between layers of the fabric. If youre looking for an adjustable fit with compartmentalization, the Nathan Adjustable-Fit Zipster has three separate pocketsone zippered, two flap-toppedand an adjustable strap that you secure with a clip that slides into the fabric loop at the end of the belt. A one-piece design, the Nathan Pinnacle Belt comes with a large collapsible water bottle (20 ounces) and has three pockets (one zippered, two Velcroed). (If youre concerned about your phone getting wet, consider popping your phone into a plastic bag before heading out in particularly soggy conditions.) These folks, with waist sizes ranging from 27 to 49 inches, each ran on the treadmill and the road (up to a 20-mile run, in the case of one marathoner). Its two 6-ounce water bottles are smaller than those of our two-bottles pick (10 ounces each) and not as high quality. Theyre easier to grab and reholster than other bottles, and theyre more secure than the bottles you can buy separately for the SPIbelt, which also hold less liquid. Nathan Zipster Lite Review: How It Compares To The FlipBelt, Members receive ongoing support from certified coaches, race guides, videos, interviews with experts, and more, Nutrition for Runners: Carbohydrate and Protein Recommendations, How to Fix a Muscle Imbalance in the Legs, Couch To 5K: 8 Week Couch To 5K Training Plan, The Most Effective Protein Shake Routine For Runners. The Nathan Zipster Adjustable-Fit Running Belt is a great Running Belt for its $30 asking price.

As for the FlipBelt Zipper - iMore, a source that conducts reliable hands-on testing, has featured it in its Best iPhone 12 Pro Cases for Runners 2022 roundup. The Nathan Zipster Lite can hold iPhone Plus sizes (as can the FlipBelt). This running beltlike the FlipBelt is not adjustable. However, it didn't make it to any of the top spots. The pocket is roomy, but the adjustable straps are especially stretchyto the point that they feel like they could stretch out of shape much too quickly for our liking. Its the most stable and comfortable two-bottle belt that weve tested. The pockets synthetic fabric wicks sweat well, which should keep you cooler, but it isnt water resistantcontents can get a bit soggy. Also, the angled bottles stuck out past our sidesour hands hit them unless we modified our arm swing. The soft synthetic materials didnt chafe our skin, either. The outer mesh layer stretches to fit far more stuff than the pockets on any other pick. Adjustable-belt designs comprise at minimum a single zippered pouch and rely on a buckled band that makes them quick and easy to put on and take off. When it comes to running headphones, one size definitely doesnt fit allso we have multiple recommendations based on style, features, and price. The loop for the bottle nozzle made it hard for us to get the bottle out and to re-hook it. It also doesnt slide up or around the waist. The clip closure is also a bit more finicky than the buckle of our top pick, as it occasionally caught when we took the belt off or put it on. RunnerClick is reader-supported. This stretchy belt has three pockets: a roughly 8-by-3-inch zippered one flanked by two flap-topped ones measuring about 6 by 3 inches. It also doesnt offer a belt extender, whereas our top pick does. What I liked the best was that my iPhone didnt feel heavy or awkward on the belt. The single stretch-fabric pocket can hold a large phone (the SPIbelt website says that includes an iPhone 12 Pro Max or a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra), cards, and keys.