How to Carry Your Phone on the Run
You have a good pair of shoes, a supportive sports bra (if needed), and comfortable clothing. But when you go for a run, there is another clothing issue you need to solve: where to put your phone.
You can of course leave your phone at home, which we all did in the olden days. Or, if you’ve got an Apple Watch on your mind, especially one that lets you make calls, you might not miss your phone at all. But many of us choose to carry our phone with us, whether it’s music, step tracking, or a safe way to call for help just in case. And the larger your phone, the harder it is to find a suitable place for it.
Belt with spacious pockets
The treadmill is the perfect solution for most of us. You can clip it over the top of what you’re wearing, and it’s tight enough not to bounce or annoy you. As phones get bigger, straps need to keep up with the times, so when buying a strap, make sure it actually fits your phone.
Mine was a cheap find at Target (I think I paid $ 5) and has two oversized zippered pockets. I insert the keys into one and the phone into the other. Unfortunately, it looks like it was a time-limited deal. If I had to buy another one, I would buy something like a SPI belt with a large pocket or a Flipbelt .
Pockets in your clothes
“Why don’t you just put it in your pocket?” – said a group of stupid guys who read this headline but never thought about this question. A lot of sportswear and women’s clothing in general is not there. And if there is, it’s tiny. (Pro tip: Check the inside of the belt. Many running clothes have a tiny hidden key pocket.)
But if you buy the right clothes, you can have large, easy-to-run pockets. On any loose clothing, including jackets, the zipper is the key to keeping your phone from bouncing. Please check your pocket size before purchasing to make sure your phone will fit.
Leggings (and leggings-style shorts) with pockets are also becoming more popular. The pocket is usually on the side of the thigh and there is no zipper, but the fabric is thick enough to hold it in place. I have Senita shorts and I ran a half marathon in them with my phone on my belt and snacks in both pockets. But the pockets are also suitable for phones.
Classic arm band
As phones get bigger, armbands are becoming less and less reliable, but hey, some people like good armbands. Make sure you have one that matches your phone and consider if it’s waterproof (some are a rarity in running straps).
As a last resort, shove it in
If you wear compression shorts, try tucking your phone into your belt or close to your thigh. I haven’t found it to work very well, but some people swear by it – I guess it depends on how tight your shorts are.
Meanwhile, a sports bra is an underrated storage item. Often small items such as keys can be placed in the underarm area without chafing. And I definitely used the bra as storage for my phone if I forgot my belt – or in winter, when body heat can keep the phone from dying . The best place will depend on your physical characteristics and the characteristics of your phone, but I tuck mine under one shoulder strap and then tuck the headphone cord under my shirt or other strap.