The Best Running Belts

A running belt lets you bring your phone, keys, and even water on the run while keeping your hands—and pockets—unencumbered. A good one does its job with zero bouncing or discomfort. We tested 31 belts and bands to find ones you’ll notice the least while logging miles. We recommend the SPIbelt Large Pocket for daily runs. If you need more capacity or other features, we have picks for you, too.

The SPIbelt Large Pocket is our pick for carrying your essentials on everyday runs. The single stretch-fabric pocket can hold a large-format phone, cards, and keys. It won’t bounce during normal runs with the adjustable band tightened snugly. The belt can be adjusted from about 25 to 47 or more inches and has no annoying dangling straps, unlike many such pouch-on-a-strap-style belts. Its synthetic fabric wicks sweat well, which should keep you cooler, but it isn’t water-resistant—contents can get a bit soggy. And everything is squeezed into one stretchy pocket, which means that you need to pull something out mid-run, there’s a chance other things might fall out, too. But if you’re looking for a convenient, comfortable, affordable way to bring must-haves with you, this is it.