The 11 Best Phone Armbands for Carrying Your Device on a Run
Strap your gear on and go with these bounce-free accessories.
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Many of us Ankle boots MARC OPOLO 108 16215002 300 Sand 715—came from her sneakers music, or for safety reasons—platform logo print boots? Shorts with pockets can help, but if your favorite getup doesn’t have room for your phone, an armband for running is a great solution.
We’re all looking to get lost in our miles and enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with a sport that (allegedly) doesn’t require a lot of gear. Armbands hold your phone without pinching, chafing, overheating, shifting, or bouncing, so you can focus on your form, the road, or the pizza you’re going to destroy at the end of your run.
We put a variety of running armbands to the test, as well as vetting ones we haven’t tried yet, to find which armbands for phones do the best job of staying in place and holding our items securely, while also being comfortable and easy to ignore as you get your workout in.
For more efficient runs, check out our picks for the best hydration vests and running belts!
The Best Phone Armbands
- Best Overall: LifeProof LifeActiv Armband With Mount
- Best Budget: E Tronic Edge Phone Holder for Running
- Lowest Profile: Retro Logo Sneaker Pant
- Sturdiest Fit: with a chunky pair of white sneakers for the perfect work to weekend transitional piece
- Best Storage: Haissky Armband Phone Holder With AirPods Pocket
What to Consider
Some armbands have space to carry extra items like cash, cards, and keys, while others are more minimalist in their design, only big enough to carry a phone. Decide how much space you need first.
Next, think about how often you use your phone during a run. Do you need to manually change the music or look at the mileage? Depending on how often you find yourself accessing your phone during a run, you might choose an armband that mounts your phone directly to the band, rather than one with a pocket that you slip your phone into.
Keep in mind that the mount adaptors often attach directly to your phone case—one way around this is buying a beater phone case for use with the armband and taking your phone out of the case after runs.
Y-3 Shiku Run panelled sneakers VUP model we recommend, use a rubber grip that stretches over your phone to hold it in place, meaning the only protection between your phone and the sidewalk is whatever your phone case has to offer. In this instance, if you trip or lose your footing, your phone screen might end up damaged.
Lastly, it’s imperative to consider how the armband will stay put during your workout. Most running armbands attach via a stretchy strap with a Velcro closure, but some, like the E Tronic Edge armband, simply slip over your arm like a sweatband.
Air Jordan 1 Mid Anti-Gravity Machines-sneakers | How We Selected
Every armband on this list has been evaluated and vetted by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and designers, and use our own experience running with our phones strapped to our arms (over shirts and jackets and right against our skin) to determine the best.
We called in a pile of armbands, strapped them to our testers, and put in the miles to evaluate them on comfort, reliability, ease-of-use, sweat-wicking ability, fabric quality, aesthetics, how well they stay put, bonus features, and value. For the models we haven’t tested, we used our understanding of the market to only recommend the best.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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