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How To Carry Your Phone (And Other Gear) While Running

by Sportitude

When you run you want to feel light and unencumbered while being primed for any eventuality you may encounter on the road or trail. Before you work on how to carry your gear in a way that isn’t going to interfere in your comfort or performance, you must decide on the what.

There’s a fine line between packing what you need or potentially need for safety’s sake and going overkill with non-essential extras that weigh you down. The duration of your run is a defining factor of what’s overkill and what’s not – then you must weigh in the weather conditions and whether you’re road running or trail running as each has its own challenges.

In 2022 it’s likely that your phone is rarely ever beyond an arm’s length away. Alongside hydration, it’s the #1 essential you want on hand when running. Whether you’re enjoying the benefits of music on your running performance or keeping your phone close purely in the case of an emergency, it’s important to know how to carry it in a way that keeps it safe and secure, and you distraction-free. 

In this running checklist for beginners, we dive into everything from how to carry your phone and running nutrition to your go-to sun and rain protection when the elements take a turn.

Running Essentials: Phone & Keys

Short or long run, road or trail, carrying your smartphone is a must. It’s a matter of safety, allowing you to stay connected and call for help in the case of an emergency or find your way with GPS functionality. Plus, it doesn’t hurt having a hand-sized encyclopedia of the closest cafes living in your pocket.

These days your smartphone can double as your digital driver’s license (for ID) and debit card/credit card with payWave (to pay-and-go), along offering other essential applications. This means at a minimum, you could bring your phone and keys on your run – without having to bring extra cash or cards.

Why we love pockets

If you want to run truly minimalist in terms of only carrying what you’re wearing, pockets are your best mates. Running tights with a deep, slip-in phone pocket that hugs close to your body like the Running Bare Power Moves Ab Waisted women’s tights or a back zip phone pocket like the Nike Epic Luxe Mid-Rise Crop Pocket women’s running tights and o2fit men’s full length compression tights are your secret weapons.

Don’t underestimate waistband pockets for discreet storage of your keys, cards and other small valuables like what Adidas offer in the Adidas Believe this 2.0 women’s training 7/8 tights. Whereas a standard pocket may risk your valuables falling out as they jostle up and down with the repetitive impact of running, these run-ready pockets will keep your items safe, secure and bounce-free.

If you want to go short, the Nike Dri-Fit Flex Stride men’s trail running shorts are the Swiss army knife of running shorts, featuring 5 utility storage pockets including 3 with zip closure to create a secure home for valuables.

And let's not forget the Nike Swoosh women's sports bra for medium-impact workouts like light jogging and gym, with its top opening pocket that can be used to stash a phone and other small essentials.

Phone armbands

Phone running armbands are exactly that – they strap to your arms with a personalised, adjustable fit to provide a secure and easily accessible home for your phone on-the-run. Most are touch-screen friendly to keep you connected without any inconvenience.

The 1000 Mile UP Ridgeway Smartphone Armband is a great option – providing a key-specific pocket and credit card holder so every small essential has its own spot. They’re made with water-resistant fabric to keep your phone and other essentials protected and come in a variety of bright and bold colours with reflective details to stay safe and seen during your runs.

On the other hand, the Nike Lean Smartphone running armband keeps it sleek, simple and minimalist with hands-free storage of your phone and reflective Swoosh logo.

Ronhill take a totally different approach with the Ronhill Stretch smartphone running arm pocket. With the stretchy knit fabric and envelope style pocket, it’s great for runners that may experience skin irritation from more conventional strap-on designs. Sweat-wicking, breathable and with room for your running nutrition like energy gels – it’s ideal for runners that prefer the feel of soft fabric against their skin.

Running waistpacks

Some runners prefer phone-friendly running waistpacks to armbands as they offer an even distribution of weight around your mid-section for bounce-free storage. The great thing about running waistpacks is that they hug smoothly against your body. Thanks to stretchy, expandable pockets, many are roomier than they look at first glance to easily accommodate your smartphone and other essentials.

The 1000 Mile UP Ease Runner Waistpack follows in the footsteps of its sister product mentioned previously, the 1000 Mile UP Ridgeway Smartphone Armband – being water-resistant and offering key-friendly storage with a key clip to prevent them from running off without you. Alternatively, if you want 2-in-1 smartphone storage and hydration storage that you can wear like a belt, buckle up in the fully insulated 1000 Mile UP Ribble II Hydration Belt.

When your running tights or running shorts just don’t have enough pockets, the HipS-sister Left Coast Sister Hip Pack boots your storage options of small essentials and add a pop of colour to your running wardrobe.

Running Hydration: Water

We highly recommend bringing water on every run to support your performance and overall health like we've talked about in 8 Essential Hydration Tips About Water, Sports Drinks & Sweat. However, for shorter, slower runs (45 minutes or less) direct from your front door and back, if you drink enough water beforehand and rehydrate when you return home, you can get away with leaving your hydration behind if you prefer.

If you’re a heavy sweater (check with the sweat rate test), you need to survive through a hot summer workout or you’re tempo running at high-intensity, it’s best to keep your hydration convenient.

Running water bottles, hydration packs & hydration belts

Know that if you carry water on your runs it doesn’t have to feel like a burden and for shorter runs there’s way to do it even without having to wear a hydration pack. Hydration packs and running vests of course have a place during your longer runs or trail runs – keeping everything organised and accessible in a sleek, body-conforming design like the Salomon Advanced Skin 5 Set trail running vest or Orange Mud P.F.V running vest 2.0.

For everyday runs, the 1000 Mile Up Kielder Handheld water bottle supports your mission to make one-use plastic bottles history – keeping excess plastic waste out of landfill and saving you money in the long run. The strap-on design with finger grips means the 600ml bottle feels natural and secure in your hands. A sweat-wicking design prevents your hands becoming clammy with sweat and hi-visibility reflective trim keeps you more easily spotted in vehicle headlights when running in the low light hours.

If you prefer to run 100% hands-free, the Salomon Active trail running hydration belt offers a bounce-free design with angled water bottle storage for fast access and a slim, minimalist style.

Running Nutrition: Energy Gels

From training to race day, you need to fuel your runs right. Running nutrition in the form of easy-to-carry, easily digestible carbohydrates can make the difference between long-lasting endurance and fatigue setting in. Ticking all these boxes, Koda Energy Gels and SIS Go Isotonic Energy Gels are on your running radar.

How to carry energy gels

In their nature, energy gels usually come in compact, pocket-friendly sizes so it’s not difficult to throw them into your hydration pack or running waistpack. The 1000 Mile Ultimate Performance AiraForce 2 Nutrition Belt is an ideal option to pack your running nutrition and hydration into one.

When your next marathon is calling, the Ronhill Marathon Waist Belt keeps everything from your race number to your smartphone secure, while offering 4 small and 4 large gel loops. For a more minimalist option, the Sub4 Triathlon Race Number Belt with 4 gel slots is the way to go.

Sun Protection: Running Cap & Sunglasses

Often runners remember to top off their running wardrobe with a running cap like the lightweight and breathable Sub4 Performance Running Cap, but it’s easy to forget that the sun’s UV rays can be harmful to our eyes as well as our skin.

Running sunglasses come in all shapes and sizes – everything from those at a budget-friendly price point for recreational or new runners like the durable Goodr The OG Polarised sports sunglasses, to those for serious or competing athletes like the variety of light reacting, multi-sport sunglasses in the UVEX sunglasses range. Like anything, you want your sunnies to cater to you and your requirements as a runner.

How should you store your sunnies on your runs? Your face is the best place for them!

Don’t forget to pop a small tube of sunscreen in your running pack to give your skin a top up on longer runs or trail adventures.

Rain Protection: Packable Running Rain Jacket

Don’t let storm clouds put an end to your outdoor workout. Top running brands are very savvy when it comes to allowing you to run in all conditions – putting truth to the phrase there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.

Even better, packable outer layers – that is, running jackets that can be tucked into their own pocket or folded into a neat package - are becoming more available. This means it’s easier than ever to drop a layer when it’s not needed and stash it away in your running pack. They’re so incredibly lightweight that you don’t have to sweat about whether or not to bring one along for fear of it weighing you down.

Preparation is the best protection from the elements and with top picks for city to trail like the Run Division Packable women’s running jacket and Nike Windrunner men’s running jacket, the everyday runner never has to hesitate.

Whether you go with the feather-light Sub4 women's run/cycle rain jacket and Sub4 Action men's run/cycle rain jacket for long training sessions, or the On Running men’s weather jacket and On Running women’s weather jacket that are perfect for passionate adventure seekers – Sportitude Running has you covered.

Happy running!


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