How to run with a phone

If you run wearing tights/half tights, you can tuck your phone on your hip or on your waistband and it shouldn't fall out as long as they are tight enough

buy an apple watch (or whatever is available for android)

tbh i hate it as a smart watch, and my fenix is still my daily driver - but i slap the apple watch on for long runs or whenever i'd like to have it for emergencies but don't feel like carrying my phone.

penfifteen wrote:

buy an apple watch (or whatever is available for android)

tbh i hate it as a smart watch, and my fenix is still my daily driver - but i slap the apple watch on for long runs or whenever i'd like to have it for emergencies but don't feel like carrying my phone.

Clearly you pay for data on it right?

I use one of those running belts. They work pretty good you can get them at running warehouse.

I just hold my phone in my hand so I can listen to music through my air pods. Even during workouts, all out 200s, whatever. It bothered me for a couple runs, but now I don't even notice I am holding it.

tucker2004 wrote:

I just hold my phone in my hand so I can listen to music through my air pods. Even during workouts, all out 200s, whatever. It bothered me for a couple runs, but now I don't even notice I am holding it.

As someone who ran with a phone in my hand for a while, I gotta say "I don't notice" =/= "it doesn't make a difference".

The minute I got a watch, I noticed how different things felt. I sped up and stood up straighter, and my cadence picked up. It felt like there was less of a barrier between me and the activity. I did speedwork while holding my phone as well, but getting rid of it just changed everything.

I bought a Spi Belt and have used it for every run other than when I hop on the track for anything under threshold pace. Works great.

Pants/tights pockets work best.

Other than that, the issue is that phones are simply too big these days.

I’m glad someone brought this up. No one has ever started this thread before

highhoppingworm wrote:

Hi,

Ultimate hobbyjogger question. I have to run with a phone most of the time for a number of reasons. Most recently because my wife could be delivering imminently. I have a spiderbelt that I have historically used which work fine for easy days but when I pick up the place if bounces all over the place and drives me insane. Have also used arm bands before but find those to be pretty uncomfortable and they seem to alter my arm swing.

Anyone figured out how to do this well?

Yes. Use a handband. Solves everything.

Alright here’s what I do, it’s personally changed the game for me because I used to hate running with a phone.

I have a Spi-belt too, the really stretchy kind. Stick the phone in it. Grasp the phone in the spi-belt in your hand, then wrap the spi-belt around your hand and wrist until it is tight enough that it is basically stuck to your hand and you don’t need to grasp it. This is easier / slightly more pleasant while wearing gloves.

Let us know how it goes.

novel idea wrote:

I’m glad someone brought this up. No one has ever started this thread before

Yeah, maybe something has changed from yesterday.

hoarse wrote:

Alright here’s what I do, it’s personally changed the game for me because I used to hate running with a phone.

I have a Spi-belt too, the really stretchy kind. Stick the phone in it. Grasp the phone in the spi-belt in your hand, then wrap the spi-belt around your hand and wrist until it is tight enough that it is basically stuck to your hand and you don’t need to grasp it. This is easier / slightly more pleasant while wearing gloves.

Let us know how it goes.

It’s the best way, by far, securing the phone to your hand, but there is a product specifically made to do it. Your hand won’t sweat from all the material and you can manage the phone effortlessly. It’s great having it with you, way better than a watch on your wrist

Look.  Everyone of us has seen people almost daily carrying their phone when they could have many options, pockets, belts, armbands, etc etc.  Yet they carry their phone in their hands.  Running is a painful exercise.  Carrying their phone adds to the pain, yet people still do it because it’s better than the alternatives.   A professional hand band secured the phone where they want it, and takes away the pain.  Even better, you can reposition and move the phone around , if you want, which helps takes away the mental battle of running.   No arm or hand or mental stress from the thought of dropping it.   It’s just there, where runners want it.

Why aren’t you wearing a Fanny pack? You could have your phone, keys, money for a Powerade, some paper and a pen in case you meet a cutie, and the rest of your running necessities.

Yes, data is not free, but unless you are not able to afford $10/month even for your safety or during emergencies like labor, the problem of how best to carry  a phone while running is the wrong problem to try to solve.

Totally. An interesting alternative to carrying your normal phone is to get a really cheap, lightweight and small old-style phone like the Nokia 105 to take with you. 

It’s just way too much stuff to carry for one. But the biggest thing is that the phone isn’t instantly accessible if you need it and trying to fumble through your Fanny pack adds stress to the run and stress increases your heart rate. I use Strava, so I can instantly keep track of pacing and upload right from my phone when finished. Plus I use my music library and if the phone rings I can just quickly deny the call on the fly so that my music doesn’t stop and I get ringing or vibrating while I run. Of ic I’m in a good rythym I can answer it or at least see who is calling. It’s just not easily accessible on the fly when it’s zipped into something. Too much pain dealing with it that way.