I’ve Tested Running With Flipbelt and SPIbelt so You Don’t Have To

There are never many pockets in the world, especially when you’re running. Some leggings have no pockets at all; the same goes for traditional slit short shorts . So where did your phone go? On the treadmill, of course.

What are treadmills for?

Running belts are simply a belt that you wear while running. Their main feature is that they have a pocket large enough to fit a smartphone. And depending on the brand and style, they can do a lot more.

You can still wear a belt even if your clothes already have pockets. The straps don’t bounce, and they are often more secure (with a zip or other closure) than a pocket in a shorts or jacket.

Some belts have room for more than just your phone. Today I’ll be looking at two belts at opposite ends of the spectrum: the minimalist SPIbelt and the maximalist Flipbelt . Both companies sent me their belts for road testing and I’m here to report my results.

Minimalist: SPIbelt

The SPIbelt (“small personal belt”) is the way to go if you literally only care about making room for your phone. My first attempt at testing the SPIbelt turned up nothing: I strapped my phone on, went for a run, and completely forgot I was wearing it until I got back. This is pretty much exactly what you want, so I’d say the test was a success.

The basic SPIbelt is a thin elastic strap that closes at the waist with an elastic pocket that compresses to the width of the strap when not in use. (There are other versions of the SPIbelt with two pockets or gel loops . I tested the classic version.)

The pocket is stretchy enough to hold a large phone or even, as shown on the website, a stack of items including a phone, credit cards, and house or car keys. But if you’re going to put your phone on and off your belt while running, you need to make sure you don’t drop any of it.

The expandable pocket on the belt can make it a little uncomfortable. On one rainy run, I wore an SPIbelt, a shirt, and a jacket. It was weird to have a strap over my shirt, so I put it underneath, but then every time I wanted to put the phone back in my pocket, I had to lift the jacket, then the shirt, and then look for the zipper on it. belt and stuck my fingers in to expand the pocket before I could slip the phone back in.

Overall: great if you don’t need to use the phone often or if you don’t mind a little fuss when needed.

Maximalist: Flipbelt

Do you have many things? You’ll want to go to the other end of the spectrum and get a belt that holds more.

The classic Flipbelt is a wide fabric sleeve, essentially one big tube with holes to stuff stuff in. The phone is inserted without problems. Whether you’re carrying gels, a trail map, a wallet, a tube of Bodyglide , or a sachet of trail mix, there’s room for all of that too. I was worried about losing my car key – what if it slipped out of the hole? – until I realized that the belt also includes a small cable with a clip. Attach the key ring, then tuck it inside.

The classic Flipbelt has four holes, each located along the center line of the belt: two in the front and two in the back. The name comes from the fact that you can turn the strap inside out so that the holes are facing your body if you want to be absolutely sure that absolutely nothing will fall out. (There is also a version with a zip pocket for added security.)

However… nothing will drop. The strap is elastic, which keeps items inside and also keeps the strap tight enough that it doesn’t bounce. As with the SPIbelt, if you wear it empty it can be a little annoying; I found that he wanted to shrink a little. But with a phone or any other cargo inside, it stayed in place just fine.

Flipbelt has two drawbacks. First, it is not regulated; You must buy your size as if you were choosing a pair of trousers. (XS is suitable for children with a waist of 18 inches, and XL is suitable for children up to 48 inches). Another annoyance, admittedly minor, is that since it’s made of cloth, it will sweat. I found myself rinsing it out with my clothes at the end of every run. The classic Flipbelt is made from sweat-wicking fabric; there is also a mesh Flipbelt Air.

But gosh, it’s nice to have that much space when you’re going on a long run. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I could fit a standard 16.9 oz disposable water bottle into the strap while carrying it without bouncing around on my lower back. (Flipbelt sells 6oz and 11oz curved water bottles , which will make it easier for you to slip in.) And if you need even more cargo space, they also sell high-waisted leggings . There are Flipbelt-style pockets at the waist (two openings at the front, a zip pocket at the back) and large side pockets on both legs.

How to choose the right running belt style for you

If you just want to carry your phone with minimal effort: buy a SPIbelt . Other brands that do similar style: Nike , Back Bay .

If you want to carry your phone and perhaps one or two other small items (such as a key): get the SPIbelt with two pockets .

If you’re training for a marathon and need to pack a bunch of snacks and gear: Buy a flipbelt . (Or, better yet, leggings .) Other brands that do a similar style are Lululemon , Naked .

If you need to carry water: Buy a Flipbelt either with custom bottles (they sell single bottles or a set of three bottles ) or do like me and fill a bottle from the grocery store.

If you need water that’s a little easier to access: Use a hydration belt with small bottles, like this one from Nathan . You can even fill one with water and the other with electrolytes or a sports drink. Or use this clip-on bottle from SPIbelt, which can be clipped to any of their belts, any other belt, or just the waistband of your shorts. You are wearing some clothes, right?