I’m not sure about you but most of the running shorts I buy never seem to have pockets big enough for my mobile phone, even less space when you start to pile in the cold weather gear you had to shed. A running belt gives you an easy accessible, convenient place to stowe your gear without having anything restrictive round your chest or a backpack/skin that you have to remove. They also stay tight enough to your body to prevent stored items bouncing against you on the run and causing irritation.
I use the Salomon Pulse Belt (shown in the images). I tend to keep the elasticated pouch to the front and keep my keys & mobile in it. Sometimes, I have to carry two mobile phones (due to work) so zippable pocket allows me to tuck the extra one away, it also works for items you’re less likely to need mid run such as a wallet or first aid kit. If I get too warm, I can store small garments/equipment into that front pocket. This particular belt also has straps for storing poles which can be adapted to hanging larger garments from. It’s fairly cheap, I think I paid £25 from Amazon for it and it’s descreet enough not to stand out too much. They key hook allows me to keep my keys in the pouch without worrying about them falling out when I’m stretching out or bending down to tie my laces.
The biggest “watch out” with belts is, if you get one like mine, making sure that you get the right size. This belt is not adjustable so if I get the wrong size it will end up slipping. I tend to go smaller than what I think would be my size to make sure it stays tight on my body. There are adjustable belts on the market, but you have to be careful that the strap doesn’t end up flapping about whilst you run. Most of these type of models have clips to prevent it, but it’s something to keep an eye on.
There are a few other belts on the market, but the Salomon is the one that has worked for me. I’ve even taken this belt on ultras because I find the belt pouch easier to access to get my phone out for a quick snap then rummaging through my vest.
