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A running armband or phone holder is essential gear for runners. You can concentrate better on running when you're unencumbered by your phone, keys or credit card, and a running armband or phone holder can also be a lifesaver if you need your phone in an emergency.
Running is an ever-popular form of exercise for those wanting to get out of the house to keep fit.
But unlike the treadmills at the gym, the great outdoors has no handy storage spots, which is why you'll need the best running armbands or phone holders to keep your valuables secure.
In January 2021, we put 10 popular running armbands from the likes of Nike, Decathlon, Sweaty Betty and more to the test.
We pounded the pavement and park over a distance of 57km to find out which of these running armbands and phone holders are the most comfortable, secure, durable and easy to use.
Prices and availability last checked: 9 May 2022.
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Every runner is unique, so as well as finding the best running armband or phone holder, you should also think about where you'd like to hold your phone and if you think armbands are good for running.
We ran with each armband strapped around the left arm bicep, but you might find it more comfortable around your forearm, or not on your arm at all. You might prefer a running belt or even a phone holder for your chest. It's about finding what works best for you.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the running armband test results below. If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the running armbands we tested. Join Which? now to get instant access to our recommendations below.
Cheapest price: £22.39 at Armpocket, also available at Amazon
Sizes available: Small (18-28cm), medium (25-38cm), large (33-46cm)
Screen window dimensions: 6 x 10.5cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 14cm
Additional pockets: One: inside the phone pocket for keys/cards
Headphone ports: Three: bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
The Armpocket Racer had the thickest padding of all the running armbands we tested. A well-padded armband doesn't necessarily mean a comfy armband, though, so we wore it both on bare skin and over clothing to find out how securely it stayed put during a run.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £8.99 at Decathlon
Sizes available: One size, 18-44cm
Screen window dimensions: 8 x 15.5cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 17.5cm
Additional pockets: None
Headphone ports: Three: bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
Decathlon's Kalenji running armband can fit some of the largest smartphones you can buy in its phone holder, such as Apple's largest phone ever, the iPhone 12 Pro Max. This makes it unique among those we tested.
It has a strong plastic seal at the top of the phone pocket to reduce the chances of your phone falling out.
We put it through our tough durability tests to see if the strap can also be relied on to keep the phone holder on your arm. Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £6.42 at Amazon
Sizes available: One size (extra loop attachment included for larger arms), 23-42cm
Screen window dimensions: 7.5 x 15cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 16cm
Additional pockets: Two: on the back of the armband for bank cards, on the side of the armband for keys
Headphone ports: Six: top-right, top-left, top-centre, bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
The outside of the Gritin Phone Armband G3223A is made of neoprene rubber, which is especially useful for preventing water from soaking into the armband. As well as testing it through jogging, we also soaked this running armband to find out how quickly you can expect it to dry if you get caught in a downpour during your run.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £15 at Argos, also available at Amazon, Sports Direct
Sizes available: One size, 27-37cm
Screen window dimensions: 7.5 x 14cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 15cm
Additional pockets: None
Headphone ports: Six: top-right, top-left, top-centre, bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
Nike's Lean Armband is a stripped back design with no fancy features or extra pockets, but comfort and durability are what really make the best running armbands.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results to find out if we think Nike has got the basics right.
Cheapest price: £14.99 at Amazon
Sizes available: One size (extra loop attachment included for larger arms), 25-40cm
Screen window dimensions: 7 x 13.5cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 16cm
Additional pockets: Two: on the back of the armband for cards, on the side of the armband for keys
Headphone ports: Six: top-right, top-left, top-centre, bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
At the centre-bottom of the screen window on RevereSport's armband there's a spot that works with fingerprint scanners, which is very handy if you need easy access to your phone when running. We took this and other important ease of use factors into account in our tough tests.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £22 at Cotswold Outdoor, Runner's Need
Sizes available: One size, 26.5-32cm
Screen window dimensions: 6.5 x 13cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 15cm
Additional pockets: None
Headphone ports: Five: top-right, top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left, bottom-centre
We were pleased with how responsive our touchscreen was through the screen window of the Ronhill Phone Armband RH-003282. We also judged it on how easy it was to attach, how securely it stayed on, and how quickly it dried when soaked.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £8 at Sweaty Betty (out of stock)
Sizes available: One size, 25.5-32.5cm
Screen window dimensions: 7 x 14cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 15cm
Additional pockets: None
Headphone ports: Four: top-left, top-centre, bottom-right, bottom-centre
Sweaty Betty's Media Armband has rubberised dots on the inside designed to help with sweat wicking and keeping the armband in place during exercise. We ran with it over the top of clothes as well as on bare skin to see if there was a difference in how secure it was.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £21.99 at Cotswold Outdoor, Runner's Need
Sizes available: One size, 23.5-31cm
Screen window dimensions: 7.5 x 15cm (W x H)
Maximum phone height: 16cm
Additional pockets: None
Headphone ports: Four: open top, bottom-left, bottom-right, bottom-centre
There's a gap at the bottom of the screen window on the Tune Belt AB91 which, although handy for accessing a fingerprint scanner, makes it much easier for water to get inside.
Is this enough of a con to put us off recommending it? Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £5.99 at Amazon
Sizes available: One size, 20-36.5cm (approximately – the band is elasticated)
Screen window dimensions: Doesn't have a screen window
Maximum phone height: 15cm
Additional pockets: One: miscellaneous use
Headphone ports: One: top-centre
If storage is more important than using your phone's touchscreen, the WEIQILE Running Armband Phone Holder is likely to catch your eye. Instead of a screen window there's a large extra zip pocket that you can easily store items, such as keys and cash, inside. We weighed up the usefulness of this extra pocket as well as other key ease-of-use factors in our tough tests.
Log in now or join Which? to unlock our test results.
We took all 10 of these running armbands out for a 30-minute run, and conducted ease-of-use and water-resistance tests at home. We only ran in dry, mild conditions to avoid any undue impact from adverse weather.
Sticking to a set time rather than a set distance ensured that an equal time was spent with each armband, and eliminated any performance-related elements that would come with setting specific distances.
Comfort and security aren't the only things that make a good running armband.
We closely assessed and rated each for how easy it was to put on and adjust, put a phone into the phone holder, use a phone through the screen window, and to use any extra pockets.
When running you should be able to focus purely on the exercise and nothing else.
When we tested each running armband running we assessed how comfortable each was to wear on bare skin and over a sleeve, and checked for how much each armband wobbled or slid down during use.
None of the armbands we tested claim to be waterproof, but all should provide basic splash protection so your phone won't be at risk if you get caught in the rain. They also shouldn't take too long to dry if they do get wet thanks to rain or sweating.
We sprayed each armband 15 times with a spray bottle to simulate the sort of water exposure you might face when out in the rain and were pleased to find that almost all of them protected the phone from getting wet.
Very few of them dried quickly after soaking, though, so we factored in speed of drying into our assessments rather than water resistance.
As with all consumer products you'll want to buy an armband that lasts.
We checked for any tears or loose stitching and tested the durability of the strap by attaching and detaching it 100 times to see if you can expect any deterioration after wearing it for lots of runs.
Some armbands lost a significant amount of strength and became fluffy, whereas others weren't impacted by this test at all.
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As running is such a unique experience for each user, deciding which phone holder is best for you can be tricky until you try them out. But here are a few key things to consider:
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If the weather isn't too hot and your run is less than 30 to 45 minutes, you probably don't need to carry water provided you're well hydrated ahead of your run.
However, if it's hot outside, you sweat a lot, or if you're just going for a lengthier run carrying water is a very sensible thing to do.
Dehydration can give you a headache and ruin your run at best, and can cause some very severe health conditions, such as heatstroke or seizures, at worst.
Different people lose fluid at different rates, so if you're unsure how much water you should be drinking you should try weighing yourself before and directly after a run and find out what the difference is.
If you're 500g lighter after a run, for example, you've got 500ml of water to top-up.
It's not a good idea to drink your fluids all at once, though, as over-hydrating is bad for your health and your body will most likely reject most of the liquid instead of using it to hydrate you.
Spacing out your hydration equally over a longer period is a good way to ensure you get the most out of the water you're drinking.
For example, if you'd lose one litre of fluid during a 60-minute run, you should aim to drink around 250ml every 15 minutes to keep optimally hydrated.
The rate you lose fluid during exercise can vary, so if you want to be precise it's worth reweighing yourself every now and again to see how you should adjust your hydration.
See our picks of the best reusable water bottles.