The 4 Best Running Belts of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

Oct 16, 2024

By Seth Berkman

Seth Berkman is a writer covering fitness. He's showered with swim goggles and lugged thousands of pounds of weights on the subway to test durability.

After a new round of testing, the Tune Belt SP2 Running Belt is now our top pick.

If you have a running belt, you can bring the things you need on a run without feeling like you’re actually carrying them. The best belts don’t bounce or cause discomfort, even when they’re holding an assortment of items, like keys, a phone, water, gels, and possibly other knick-knacks.

We’ve tested 51 different waist-worn options since 2018. And we recommend the Tune Belt SP2 as the best running belt for daily use. If you want a nonadjustable band that compresses against your waist, we like the Nathan Zipster Max Running Belt. And the Nathan TrailMix Plus 3.0 Insulated Hydration Belt is the best running belt with water-bottle holders. For a budget option, consider the less-spacious—but plenty secure—Dimok Running Belt Waist Pack.

This easily adjustable running belt has lots of compartments, but it doesn’t take up too much space on your body, and it keeps belongings secure.

This running belt has two zippered compartments and two hammock-style slits, so you can carry a lot of supplies without worrying about dangling tails.

This belt has two water-bottle holders and enough room for a large phone, but the bottles sometimes fall out when you’re bending over.

This minimalist belt can still hold a large phone and a few other tchotchkes. It’s the only one of our picks that comes in bright colors with a reflective strip.

Running belts come with multiple storage options, from zippered pockets to compartments with hook-and-loop closures.

Many belts are adjustable and “one size fits most,” but some require more-specific waist measurements.

A belt shouldn’t chafe against your skin. Depending on how much you carry, it may bounce a bit, but it shouldn’t be noticeable or sag off of your hips.

The less you notice keys and other items moving around, the more focused you’ll be on the path ahead.

This easily adjustable running belt has lots of compartments, but it doesn’t take up too much space on your body, and it keeps belongings secure.

The Tune Belt SP2 has plenty of space to hold a large phone, and its secure zippered pocket keeps valuables safe and dry. The waistband (intended to fit waist sizes 18 to 48) is easy to adjust, and we didn’t experience any uncomfortable riding or chafing on long runs. It’s available only in black.

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This running belt has two zippered compartments and two hammock-style slits, so you can carry a lot of supplies without worrying about dangling tails.

If you’re looking for a continuous-waistband belt with ample storage, the Nathan Zipster Max Running Belt has enough room for a phone, a balled-up nylon tote bag, and even a slim extra layer. Two stretchable side pockets give this belt lots of additional room. But note that the sides are made of a thin layer of mesh, so you don’t want to stash items that shouldn’t get overly wet. This belt is regularly available in two colors (black and blue) and sizes XXS through XL (inclusive of waist sizes 23 to 40).

This belt has two water-bottle holders and enough room for a large phone, but the bottles sometimes fall out when you’re bending over.

If carrying water is a must on your runs, the Nathan TrailMix Plus 3.0 Insulated Hydration Belt (which comes with two 10-ounce insulated bottles) is your best choice. The belt itself is “one size fits most,” indicated to fit waist sizes 26 to 44, and it has enough space to store a large phone and other belongings. It also has bungees on the side to securely hold small items. But the bottle holsters, made of plastic, are not the most sturdy.

This minimalist belt can still hold a large phone and a few other tchotchkes. It’s the only one of our picks that comes in bright colors with a reflective strip.

The Dimok Running Belt Waist Pack has one long zippered storage area, but you can also carry a variety of small items outside that main pocket, thanks to side elastic straps and a smaller pouch that fits most keys. This pack comes in a variety of colors and has a handy pull tab on the zipper. Note that it may hang loose on people with smaller waists (it’s meant to fit waist sizes 28 to 49).

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I’m a senior staff writer covering fitness. I’m also the author of Wirecutter guides to running shoes and GPS running watches, and I’ve been a recreational runner for almost 20 years.

For this guide:

A running belt provides a convenient, low-profile, and ergonomic way to carry stuff when you’re on the move. Sure, running free provides a certain peace of mind, but hitting the road without keys, ID, and a phone isn’t always practical (and shorts or pants with pockets don’t always satisfy your needs).

Running belts are also beneficial for times when you plan on doing something after a workout, whether that’s riding the subway back home after a long run or hanging with a running group after an event.

Plus, if you’re going to be doing longer runs, carrying water and some form of nutrition is advisable, since experts recommend a minimum of 15 ounces of water and 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates (often in the form of an energy gel, like GU) per hour of effort.

Kaitlyn McCrystal, retail inventory manager for accessories and apparel at the national running-store chain Fleet Feet, said belts are good for when you want to access something you’re bringing on a run. And it’s often easier for a new runner to transition into using a running belt, as opposed to an armband or a handheld water-bottle carrier with pockets. “A belt is intuitive,” McCrystal said. “You can set it and forget it.” (We’ve tested 20 handheld water bottles and water-bottle carriers. Of these, we recommend the Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Flask.)

Armbands and handhelds are not ideal if they cause you to alter your natural running form (neither is simply clutching your phone in your hand). “The bottom line when it comes to extra gear is that [it] has to completely disappear from the runners’ consciousness,” physical therapist Alice Holland explained in an email.

Gabby Callagy, founder of The Run Rx, which provides gait analyses, among other services, said it’s best to put a belt around the pelvis, below the navel. Kate Baird, an exercise physiologist on the sports rehabilitation and performance team at the Hospital for Special Surgery, added that a belt shouldn’t constrict your breathing. “You don’t want it too high and snug around your ribcage, which needs to be able to move while you run.” (Baird also advised against putting any sharp objects in a running belt.)

Some people may want to use a running belt to carry items for personal safety, such as pepper spray. Nicole Snell, chief executive officer of personal safety and self-defense organization Girls Fight Back, said you should be trained to use any personal-safety device you carry. Snell said runners should always take a moment to notice their surroundings and trust their intuition if something feels off. Julie Barron Morrill, an emergency-preparedness and personal-safety consultant, added that wearing items with reflective strips and/or bright coloring can be helpful for enhancing visibility while you’re running.

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A running belt should fit securely so that it doesn’t bounce, ride up, shift, or otherwise become a nuisance. Gear such as water bottles and gels should be easy enough to stow and access—including while you’re running.

We’ve been reviewing running belts since 2018, and this review builds on many years of research and testing by multiple authors. In 2024, I embarked on a fresh round of testing, reading customer reviews, digging through message boards about running, and speaking to more than 20 runners with varying experience levels and physiques about the running belts they use.

I looked at belts with a range of storage capacities—single pocket, many pockets—as well as hydration options (single-bottle and two-bottle belts, with bottles made of hard or soft plastic). I aimed to find a wide variety of adjustable belts and continuous waistbands of different sizes.

Adjustable belts are one-size-fits-most, ranging from about 24 to 46 inches. Made of stretchy mesh or spandex fabric, waistband-style belts have flat storage pockets all around, sandwiched between layers of the fabric. Waistband belts stretch but aren’t adjustable, so you have to choose a size. With no buckle, continuous-waistband belts have to be pulled up over your hips.

For three months in 2024, I ran at least 15 miles in each of the 17 belts. Afterward, I dismissed some for poor fit, lack of comfort, or other factors. I then gathered 11 members of Wirecutter’s paid tester panel to try 13 of the belts.

Next I recruited fellow members of The New York Times Run Club, along with a 5-foot-9, 220-pound athlete who is training for the 2024 Berlin Marathon, to try seven of the belts. We all ran with the belts in wet and hot conditions. I also personally wore the belts during non-running workouts and while performing errands.

Testers were asked to take particular note of these factors:

Capacity and security: Could the belt hold a large phone (such as the iPhone 15 Max or Samsung Galaxy S24), with room or separate storage for keys, cash, and a couple of cards, gels, and other small items? Did anything ever fall out?

Fit and comfort: We took note of how easy the belt was to adjust—if it had an adjustable strap—and whether it fit snugly without sagging. Testers reported on whether a belt bounced, chafed, dug into their skin, or otherwise felt uncomfortable. For waistbands, sometimes a company’s suggested sizing did not match up with a tester’s fit.

Accessibility: We noted how easy it was to reach the contents of the pockets or to remove any mounted water bottles.

Water resistance and breathability: Does the belt repel water, or does it become totally soaked? Did it feel exceptionally hot against skin and clothing during workouts?

For this guide, we did not review running/hydration vests or ultralight hiking packs—which some runners prefer for longer journeys and athletic events.

This easily adjustable running belt has lots of compartments, but it doesn’t take up too much space on your body, and it keeps belongings secure.

The Tune Belt SP2 Running Belt won’t win any fashion awards, but it will satisfy most runners’ needs for carrying their accessories. Constructed like a Russian nesting doll, it appears to have one main compartment, but open it up and you’ll find a wondrous amount of storage options. Keys, phone, and other accessories stayed secure and dry when inside the belt’s zippered pocket. The SP2 is machine-washable and covered by a one-year warranty. It’s available only in black.

It has a convenient 3-in-1 storage feature. The Tune Belt SP2’s main flap is secured by a hook-and-loop closure, but inside is a zippered compartment, buttressed by a plastic back that lends some firmness. This is helpful because it creates a secure barrier behind the zippered pouch, and you can store a phone there and not worry about it moving around. That also leaves a clear space in front of the zippered pouch for other storage; in that space we put a variety of items, like keys, gels, ID cards, cash, a balled-up tote bag, a sunscreen stick, and an auto-injector medication pen. “I love pouches with internal pocket dividers,” one tester said. “The divider makes it easy to organize the contents with your phone on one side and gels on the other. Doing this makes it much easier to get things out of the pouch on the move, without worrying about anything falling. It also makes it easier to take inventory of how many gels you have left on long runs.”

Strap adjustment is relatively easy. The waistband straps are made of a stretchy elastic that can adjust from 18 inches to 48 inches. Testers said they didn’t feel the buckle poking against their bodies while moving, and the edges of the straps have helpful reflective strips. The dual straps give an even tension all the way around. One female runner with a small waist said: “I liked that the clasp is flat and there are adjustments on both straps—it felt more even on my waist and that I could adjust the straps to be as snug as I wanted them to.“

With proper placement, your items stay dry inside. Even if the outside of the pouch gets wet during a run, when we placed items in the inside zippered area, they stayed dry. The back of the pouch can get wet from sweat when pressed against the body. So we recommend putting a phone in front of the zippered pouch, or (as with any belt) store your phone in a plastic bag or watertight sleeve if you’re worried about it taking on water.

Some runners may not like the hook-and-loop closure. While most of our testers liked the hook-and-loop closure on the Tune Belt SP2’s main compartment, one tester thought it was difficult to yank open while they were on the move. They worried that if they were running and couldn’t control how much force they used to open the pouch, smaller items might fly out. Other minor complaints included one tester noticing that the hem at the bottom of their running shorts kept catching on the hook-and-loop closure.

It’s not completely bounce-proof. Although the Tune Belt advertises itself as being “bounce free,” if you don’t want the belt to be tightly pressed against your body, it will jostle a bit during runs. Overall, however, our testers loved the Tune Belt SP2’s stability. “I forgot I was even wearing it,” one tester remarked.

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This running belt has two zippered compartments and two hammock-style slits, so you can carry a lot of supplies without worrying about dangling tails.

The Nathan Zipster Max Running Belt has a minimalist design. It’s made of lightweight, breathable mesh that we judged to be the best among the continuous-waistband-style belts we tested. It has four compartments that store everything from phones to bunched-up shirts, and when it came to sizing, we found this belt had the most accurate sizing of our continuous-waistband contenders. There are two compartments enclosed by zippers, which are small and caused a few disruptions during runs. Nathan belts have a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

The belt sizes are accurate. Testers with a variety of waist sizes wore the Nathan Zipster Max, and all of them reported that the belt fit snugly and didn’t feel too tight (see the sizing chart here). Since there are no adjustable straps, getting the right size is important. (One tester, who lost about 7 pounds over the course of testing, did find that the belt size they originally chose became too loose.)

The hammock-like compartments are secure and large. The Nathan Zipster Max has two side pockets without a zipper, sort of like a hammock that folds over itself. Despite the opening, phones and other items stay securely in place. Because these two pockets have stretchable material, you can fit bigger items, like an extra layer or even a small water bottle. And since the material is thin, we found that if we put our phones in the side pockets, we could feel for and then control buttons, including the side volume, while on the move.

It’s more difficult to put on and take off. Unlike with running belts that have adjustable straps, with the Nathan Zipster Max, there’s no way to tinker with the sizing. There isn’t an opening along the waistband: You have to slide it over your feet and up your legs and waist to put it on. For runners with stability or balance issues, this may be an issue.

Not all areas of the belt repel moisture well. This belt became noticeably wet and heavy during very sweaty runs. That didn’t affect the dryness of items in the zippered area, where I was able to fit an iPhone15. But because of the side pockets’ mesh material, rain or other condensation will make items wetter than if they were in an enclosed space. If you use the side pockets a lot and think you’ll encounter water, we’d recommend covering your phone (or any valuables that shouldn’t get wet) in a plastic bag or watertight pouch.

This belt has two water-bottle holders and enough room for a large phone, but the bottles sometimes fall out when you’re bending over.

If you’re looking for a running belt with water-bottle holders, the Nathan TrailMix Plus 3.0 Insulated Hydration Belt provides plenty of hydration and storage options. The belt comes with two insulated 10-ounce bottles; they kept water cooler than other bottles that came with belts we tested, and they were easy to put in and take out of their plastic holsters. A large zippered pocket, a smaller exterior pocket, and shock cords provide lots of room for accessories. Reflective material is minimal on the belt, confined to a logo on the large pocket. Like the Nathan Zipster Max, the TrailMix Plus 3.0 has a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.

The included bottles keep beverages cool. The insulated bottles that come with the TrailMix Plus 3.0 kept water noticeably cooler, for longer, than other bottles we tested. We used them on several days when the temperature was above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and 30 minutes in, the water was still a refreshing temperature. They’re small enough that most runners should be able to use them with one hand, and the tab at the top is easy to pull open and shut close with your mouth. If you choose to run with only one of the two 10-ounce bottles, you won’t really notice a difference in weight distribution, either.

It has ample storage and is easy to adjust. The TrailMix Plus 3.0 Insulated Hydration Belt allows you to bring a lot of other items on runs besides water. A zippered pocket has plenty of storage space, and a smaller front pocket securely holds large phones. The belt’s clasp feels secure, and the band is easy to tighten or loosen while you are in motion.

The bottles sometimes fall out. Upon first inspection, we wondered whether the plastic holsters, which have an elastic webbing, would be strong enough to securely keep the water bottles in place. I found that sometimes when I was bending over, the bottles did fall out, but I didn’t experience this while running. On occasion, the tester’s hands knocked into the bottles during their natural motion, but you shouldn’t have to adjust your gait to use the belt.

It’s not particularly water-resistant. The pockets are made of a thinner material than other Nathan belts we tested, and we found that if we didn’t put our phones in the zippered pocket, they easily got wet from rain, sweat, or water. Also, some salty sweat stains formed on the belt with regular use. The belt strap itself is rather thick and doesn’t get drenched in sweat, however.

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This minimalist belt can still hold a large phone and a few other tchotchkes. It’s the only one of our picks that comes in bright colors with a reflective strip.

The Dimok Running Belt Waist Pack has a quirkier design than our other picks, but it offers some perks. The zippers have a pull tab, which helps if you have sweaty fingers. The belt comes in a variety of bright colors and has a large reflective strip for added visibility. A tiny side compartment is perfect for stowing keys separately, so they can’t scratch any other items. The belt fits waist sizes from 28 to 49 inches, and you can return Dimok products for a full refund if you’re not happy with a purchase.

It’s versatile and, for the price, reasonably durable. A staffer who’s had this belt for about two years said it’s still in great shape after regular use while exercising, running errands, and going to concerts. “It stays put, feels secure against my midsection, doesn’t surprise-open on me—basically everything you’d want to be able to rely on this thing for.” All of our testers reported the belt stayed in place and didn’t jostle much during runs.

It offers the most visibility of all the belts we tested. If you’re a nighttime runner who wants to be more visible to cars, cyclists, and other runners, the Dimok belt has a large reflective strip across the front. We tested a bright orange version, which offers added visibility.

It’s water-resistant, to an extent. The main neoprene pouch won’t get overly heavy and soaked with water, and my phone screen didn’t show any streaks of water when I ran through a sprinkler. But I noticed that if the belt was very wet, black friction marks (removable with a cloth or towel) were occasionally left on my shirt.

It can feel too tight at times. Two testers reported that when the belt is tightened sufficiently, it can feel uncomfortable. This may be because of a large central panel. One tester said when it was worn on the front, “it felt like a girdle,” and when it was worn on the back, it felt like “a back brace given the coverage of the central panel and the tightness needed to hold it in place.”

The materials are less accommodating and may be less durable. The Dimok belt’s neoprene material is less stretchable than that of our other picks. So our testers said it was hard to fit oddly shaped items—such as a medication pen—in the front pocket. One tester noted that after a couple of runs, elastic was coming out of a seam on the back of the belt.

If you want a stylish, more-capacious belt that’s good for casual wear and for running: The Janji Multipass Mini Bag holds large items securely, and it’s the rare running belt you might want to show off. Much like a fanny pack or hip bag, the Multipass Mini looks good around the waist or slung over the shoulder—and it’s much more stable and secure around the waist compared with a fanny pack. One of our testers with dexterity issues appreciated that this belt’s zippers have loops, which provide a better grasp. Others liked the Multipass Mini’s ability to store an extra layer, such as a light rain jacket. There’s also a “secret” pocket on the back of the pouch, which is a good place to keep an ID, cash, or other valuables. “This is a thoughtful feature which is better than having a space for IDs inside the main pouch, which pickpockets will target in crowded spaces,” one tester said. However, the strap on this belt doesn’t stretch much, and some of our testers had to wear it lower on their hips for a secure fit. That tightness was fine for running, but it was a bit uncomfortable for walking.

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We’re testing the newly announced Nathan Laser Light 5K Belt RX. Along the front it has an LED thread that can be turned on and off with a side switch, for use in low-visibility areas and on nighttime runs. It also has a front storage pocket and a zippered back pocket with a phone divider. We’ll update this guide with our results.

The flat, non-stretchy Aikendo Running Belt stayed put near our tester’s natural waist during a 5-mile run, holding an iPhone XS and keys. The pocket is roomy, but the adjustable straps are especially stretchy—to the point where they feel like they could stretch out of shape much too quickly for our liking.

The Amphipod AirFlow Endurance Waistpack has a large, sturdy pocket and a good clasp that’s easy to fasten, and it absorbs moisture well. But we noticed the zipper was occasionally a little hard to close at times. And though we liked the storage compartments inside the main pouch (including three small pockets), it would have been helpful if they were colored differently, since the all-black design sometimes made it difficult to see whether items were going into the three pockets or behind them, into a larger divided area.

Compared with the softer pockets of other belts, the Amphipod AirFlow Lite’s structured pocket feels heavier and more solid when it’s packed with a phone, ID, and keys, and the super-stretchy belt doesn’t prevent bouncing.

The Amphipod AirFlow MicroStretch Plus and AirFlow MicroStretch Plus Luxe belts are identical, aside from their mesh fabric and nylon-polyester fabric, respectively. They also share a couple of flaws. On each one, the band is hard to adjust and too stretchy, so the pocket is more inclined to bounce. We also accidentally bumped the front-button buckle, and that sent the belt flying.

The AquaQuest Kona Pouch has an extra-roomy pocket and water-resistant coating, but it feels hot to wear. Also, smaller users may not be able to get a snug enough fit.

The E Tronic Edge running belt has a long reflective strip, and it’s somewhat comparable to our budget pick in design, minus the small separate pouch for keys. However, the zipper is extremely small, so our testers—even those with small fingers—found it hard to grasp.

The Fitletic Mini Sport Belt is a great minimalist running belt, with a sturdy, solid clasp. If you’re looking for a running belt with only one main pocket to hold the basics or just a phone, the Fitletic Mini is a good option. It also does a good job of wicking sweat. And when it’s worn under a shirt, it’s almost unnoticeable, so it’s a good storage option if your pants don’t have pockets. We did notice the belt sagged a little on longer runs.

The Nathan Zipster Fit Running Belt is like a pared-down version of the Nathan Zipster Max belt we recommend. One benefit of the Adjustable Fit Zipster is that you can hook and unhook the band over your waist, rather than having to slip it up over your legs, as you do with the Zipster Max. But the Adjustable Fit Zipster’s has a finicky clasp system, and two of our testers complained about one of the adjustment straps always dangling from the back.

The SPIbelt Large Pocket (formerly a pick in this guide) has a big zippered pouch and an ultra-stretchy band that fits most waists (you can also buy a waist extender for this model), and it doesn’t have annoying dangling tails. But in our latest round of testing, we found that items too frequently fell out of the pouch, particularly when we were trying to put things in and take them out on the go. We also experienced more-noticeable bounce, compared with using our current picks, and we could feel items moving around when we were running.

The SPIbelt Performance Series is lauded for its performance during marathons (it has four elastic loops made to hold energy gels), and it’s made of a weather-resistant fabric. Although the company clearly states that this belt is not waterproof, the contents of the pouch—including our phone—stayed dry during a very rainy 5-miler. The belt remained in position for most of our run, sitting flush and not riding up, but a few times it migrated upward, depending on what we wore underneath (a tight-fitting running top versus a looser T-shirt). Its pocket is roughly an inch longer than its sibling’s pocket, and retrieving items can be similarly involved. But it worked nicely for us.

An Amazon best seller, the Sport2People Running Belt consists of two long pockets and an adjustable elastic belt. This seems like a nice concept for organization, but in our tests the belt sat awkwardly when a large phone was in one of its pockets. It also failed to fit snugly and ended up bouncing a lot.

The U-Lanaro Slim Running Belt looks similar to the E Tronic Edge, but we found that the belt strap frequently loosened during a run and started to sag. Although it never seemed like it would slip off completely, the sagging was a noticeable distraction, no matter how tightly we adjusted the belt.

The popular FlipBelt Classic Running Belt and the FlipBelt Zipper are neither awful nor uncomfortable, but we liked other belts more. Our iPhone 8 Plus with a Speck case was a tight fit. More annoyingly, because the inside space is largely wide open from hip to hip, items can be hard to fish out, and the seamed edges of the band tend to curl and roll. The thicker-than-most material can get hot, too.

The Naked Running Band (formerly a pick in this guide) surprised us with how much it could hold and how well it kept items in place on long runs. But we experienced some sizing problems, with one tester thinking they’d need to go up one or two sizes than the company’s suggestion.

The Nathan Zipster Lite Running Belt is a smaller version of our upgrade pick, with less storage capability. Although it has four storage areas, like the Zipster Max that we recommend, an iPhone 14 did not fit in the zippered areas. And we found it was difficult to take a phone out of the stretchy side areas.

Our testers encountered more sizing issues with the Salomon Pulse than with the Nathan Zipster Max. We thought you’d need to carry a lot for this waistband to work, because otherwise items move around too much. It looks sleek, but there were more design flaws than we’d prefer. Another tester said, “The cinched stitching design on the top and bottom of the belt made it feel like it was cutting into my waist a little bit.”

The soft-fabric Stashbandz belt is wider than many models, and extra-large phones fit in its zipper pocket fine, but the zipper is inset with a small pull that gets lost in the fabric.

We found that the bottom edge of the Ultimate Direction Comfort Belt curled under in the front, and the back bunched up if not filled with stuff—but if we filled it too full, it bounced a lot. Plus, the pocket openings can be hard to find because there are no pull loops.

The Ultimate Direction Utility Belt has two layers of mesh, with the outer layer coming up higher than the inner one. This design seems like it would be good for security, but even when we were using the pull loops, we weren’t sure whether we were putting things into the pockets or behind the band. The belt also rode up a lot, and the mesh material felt coarse.

The pockets of the UltrAspire Fitted Race Belt aren’t versatile, the pull loops are not easy to grab, and the belt can bunch up in back if that pocket is empty. Plus, the sizing goes up to only 36 inches.

The AirRunTech Hydration Running Belt has a large reflective strip across the top of the main pocket, and it’s easy to adjust with a large hook-and-loop–secured strap in the back. But running with two full water bottles felt unwieldy, with lots of movement, so that caused us to run slower than usual. The bottles also pressed against our body. And they’re hard to take out using one hand, without having to stop during a run.

The Amphipod Profile-Lite Breeze Hydration Belt has a stretchy band lined with two silicone strips to help hold it securely; these strips also made it difficult to adjust the belt length, and the belt still bounced. We struggled to get the bottles back into the holsters, and mid-run we accidentally hit and opened the front-facing buckle, which made a bottle fly out.

The Amphipod RunLite 10K Hydration Belt rode up frequently, and we had difficulty pushing it back into place because the silicone-strip-backed belt had no stretch. You can move the bottle holsters around on the strap to find the best positions, but we still found it hard to get the bottles in and out of them.

The LotFancy Running Belt with Bottles had the same issue as the Aikendo Running Belt we tried: The band was stretchy to the point that it felt unsupportive and likely to stretch out completely over time. Its two 6-ounce water bottles are smaller than those of our two-bottle pick (10 ounces each) and not as high in quality. Overall this model seemed on the cheap side.

The Fitletic Hydra 16 Hydration Belt (currently unavailable) bounced constantly, rode up often, and twisted mid-run, with lots of chafing, even through clothes. Also, the angled bottles stuck out past our sides—our hands hit them, unless we modified our arm swing. The central zipper on the pocket was barely big enough, so it was really hard for us to get an iPhone 8 Plus in and out.

The FuelBelt Ergo (currently unavailable) holds the bottles nearly horizontally on one side, with the phone pocket on the other. This design, in theory, should balance the weight better than most. Unfortunately, neither of our test phones fit into the pocket.

The Amazon best-selling Urpower Running Belt seems cheaper than most hydration running belts we’ve tested (because it is). And in our experience one water bottle leaked significantly until we got the cap on just right. The belt rode up a ton, with the heavy part of the pack dropping in the back. The bottles are also smaller than most, capable of holding just 6½ ounces each.

The Amphipod Profile Lite High Five-K Belt was hard to adjust and rode up. Our iPhone 8 Plus was a really tight fit in its pocket, too.

Touted for “short distance running or fast-paced walking,” the CamelBak Flash Belt (currently unavailable) feels comfortable, and the structured slot for the included 17-ounce bottle makes the bottle fairly easy to slip in and out. In our experience, however, the bottle kept getting caught up in the elastic band at the top of the sleeve meant to hold it in. This belt has a nice, large zippered pocket and one mesh pocket that proved useful. But we had a hard time getting a good fit (the top of the belt gapped at the small of our tester’s back), and the belt bounced a bit and rode up.

We couldn’t get our iPhone 8 Plus to fit in the pocket of the Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pack. Because the belt had no stretch, it rode up a lot and was impossible to get back into place without unbuckling it.

A one-piece design, the Nathan Pinnacle Hydration Belt comes with a large collapsible water bottle (20 ounces) and has three pockets (one zippered, two grab loops). The bottle nestles into what amounts to a sling, which you secure and open with a loop. We struggled to figure out how to effectively access the bottle (it fell out once), particularly when it was full and didn’t seem to fit well in the pouch. The belt also bounced a bit with a phone in the zippered pocket.

The Osprey Duro Solo (currently unavailable) and the Dyna Solo waist belts both have an odd triangular pocket with a window for your phone screen. To access gear in the inside pocket, you have to rip open and raise the phone-plus-pocket flap, so the design is not very functional. The loop for the bottle nozzle made it hard for us to get the bottle out and to rehook it.

We liked the feel of the Salomon Pulse Hydration Belt, which has a mesh back and lightweight nylon front. But the storage pockets run the length of each side, with no dividers, so items inside tend to migrate to the ends and are hard to reach.

Items fit fine in the pockets of the UltrAspire Essential Bottle Pack, and the band felt secure, but the buckle landed oddly on the right hip point, and we could feel the pack swaying side to side as we ran.

The strap on the UltrAspire Synaptic 2.0 Waist Pack was easier to secure than the one on the UltrAspire Essential Bottle Pack, but the Synaptic 2.0 pack didn’t satisfy our storage needs. A small zippered pocket could barely fit a money clip, so it’s best to put larger items like a phone in the main compartment.

Naomi Birenbaum, Amy Roberts, and Ingrid Skjong contributed reporting. This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.

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Alice Holland, physical therapist, email interview

Kate Baird, exercise physiologist, sports rehabilitation and performance team at the Hospital for Special Surgery, phone interview, July 23, 2024

Kaitlyn McCrystal, retail inventory manager for accessories and apparel at Fleet Feet, phone interview, July 24, 2024

Nicole Snell, chief executive officer of Girls Fight Back, video interview, July 25, 2024

Julie Barron Morrill, consultant for emergency preparedness and personal safety, owner of Roar Training, phone interview, July 25, 2024

Gabby Callagy, founder, The Run Rx, phone interview, August 15, 2024

Seth Berkman

My beat includes home fitness equipment, outdoor athletic accessories, and a wide range of running gear. I’m particularly interested in gear designed for people trying new physical activities.

by Lauren Dragan

When it comes to running headphones, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. So we have multiple recommendations based on style, features, and price.

by Wirecutter Staff

Here are 75(ish) of our top fitness picks to help you get your year started right.

by Ben Frumin

If you’re set on strapping your iPhone to your arm, we’ve determined that the Tune Belt Sport Armband is the best armband for most runners.

by Seth Berkman and Ingrid Skjong

The best shoes for you are the ones you won’t think about much once you’re on the road. Finding them may involve trial and error. Here’s how to get started.

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