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Many of us run with our phones—whether for mapping, tracking miles and time, streaming podcasts and music, or for safety reasons—but who wants to actually think about their phone while running? 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 that keeps your hands free.
We’re all looking to get lost in our miles and enjoy the sense of freedom that comes with a sport that, generally speaking, 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 or the ground ahead of you.
We put a variety of running armbands to the test—and recently rounded out our selection with some fresh models—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.
Armbands not your thing? You can also strap your gear onto your body with a running belt, hydration belt, or hydration pack—check out those links to see our reviews of the best.
The Best Phone Armbands
- Best Overall: LifeProof LifeActiv Armband With Mount
- Best Value: E Tronic Edge Phone Holder for Running
- Lowest Profile: Tribe Armband for Phone
- Best Reflective Detailing: Lululemon Fast and Free Running Armband
- Best Water Resistance: Nathan Armband Phone Holder
What to Consider
Cargo Capacity
Many of the armbands on this list can fit just about any phone, because they use a stretchy fabric pocket or external plastic hardware to hold your device. But if you want a clear screen cover to check your stats or change your music without exposing your phone, things get a little more complicated.
If you have a large phone, be sure to check the maximum screen size you can fit in each armband. We’ve collected what info we can about the largest phones each armband can carry based on screen height (not the diagonal screen size measure many companies use as standard). But your situation may be different if you have a bulky case. In general, if you have the newest iPhone or anything sized similarly to it, we recommend either sticking to externally mounted options like this LifeProof model or measuring your phone in its case before buying.
Fit and Materials
One of the biggest issues with armbands, which steers many runners away from them, is their tendency to slip. Physics-wise, this makes inherent sense: They rely solely on the friction between their strap and your arm to fight gravity. When you’re running, that friction gets a proper test from the repeated longitudinal shocks your body experiences as you stride. As such, it’s important to find a band you can cinch down tight—tight—without discomfort.
We recommend looking for fabric (think polyester, nylon, and Spandex) exteriors rather than any hard plastic, as these materials will form to your arm better, wick more moisture, and dig into your skin less. We’ll make an exception for transparent screen covers or plastic phone mounting hardware, but that’s only because they don’t rest against your skin. If you don’t need to see your screen, you can also find bands like Lululemon’s Fast and Free model, which has a thin, opaque fabric pocket that holds your phone almost as securely without any rough edges.
How We Selected
For as long as smartphones (and MP3 players) have been around, armbands have been an archetype closely associated with runners and running. Think of every stereotypical fitness nerd you’ve seen in a movie in the last decade or so—they’re all rocking one. As a result, hundreds of brands have designed their own, and the range of quality is dramatic. To suss out which models are truly worth your money, we gathered a pile of armbands, strapped them to our testers, and put in the miles to evaluate them on comfort, sweat-wicking ability, fabric quality, how well they (and your phone) stay put, and how all those points compare to the price.
Over time, we’ve added several more models we haven’t tested, such as the E Tronic Edge Phone Holder, Lululemon’s Fast and Free, and the RevereSport Running Armband. For the first two armbands, we relied on our past experiences with their brands—E Tronic Edge also makes one of our favorite running belts, and we often have a Lulu recommendation or two in our running clothes reviews. We chose both because of their ability to hold pretty much any phone, as well as their materials, which we’re certain will hug your arm snugly without causing irritation. For the RevereSport, we looked for an option that would satisfy one’s need to carry big screens, and we chose the it for its Lycra construction, waterproof compartment, extra storage, and a price that competes with the others on this list.
Ready to free up your hands? Read on to see the best means available to get it done.
Pros
Easy to access your phone- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Need to affix a mount to your phone to use
LifeProof’s LifeActiv armband has a unique design in that your phone doesn’t tuck into a clear compartment—it holsters to a universal mount attached to an armband. The biggest advantage of this is that you can still use your touchscreen while it’s on the mount.
Despite all the plastic hardware included with this armband, former Runner’s World photographer Lakota Gambill reported that it actually felt less bulky than many of the other options we tried. The downside is that you won’t have any extra storage space for your keys and cash—though that might not be much of a drawback if you’re traveling light or using other pockets.
Here’s how it works: Following the brand’s recommendations, you affix the adhesive adapter to the back of your phone case. After 24 hours, that sucker’s locked on for as long as you want it there.
Gambill was surprised by the system’s efficiency. “The sticker mount is worth the commitment—my phone was secure and easily accessible,” she says. If you don’t want to permanently marry your phone case to LifeProof’s adhesive mount, Gambill has a tip for that: “Buy a cheap extra case for the sticker.”
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | Fits 8.5 to 19 in. |
|---|---|
| Material | Polycarbonate/ABS Lycra polyurethane and stainless steel |
| Max Phone Screen Height | N/A |
Pros
- Shouldn’t chafe or scratch
- No strap to deal with
Cons
- Phone has some room to bounce around
The E Tronic Edge fits more like a sleeve than a band—which has both pros and cons. On the plus side, the solid band of nylon-Spandex fabric is smooth and comfortable against your skin, so you don’t have to worry about a rough armband scratching against your arm or the possibility of a Velcro closure giving out. It’s also cool, light, and quick-drying, so it doesn’t feel bulky or steamy on hot days.
The only potential downside is that your phone is zippered into the sleeve and somewhat inaccessible while you’re in motion, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to check your mileage or skip a song on the fly.
It can also be tricky to get the right fit to keep the sleeve from migrating down your arm, so be sure to measure the circumference of your bicep and size down if you’re unsure (here’s a size chart from its Amazon listing). Trust us—the Spandex will stretch.
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | S to XL |
|---|---|
| Material | Nylon, Spandex |
| Max Phone Screen Height | N/A |
Pros
- Stretchy fabric is comfortable
- Slim profile
Cons
- Using the touch screen still takes some effort
Although it was the cheapest among the bands we tested, this frill-free running armband from Tribe surprised us with its luxuriously soft, stretchy comfort and unobtrusive, low-profile fit.
There’s not a lot of storage space for much beyond a phone and a credit card here, but that wasn’t an issue for Director of Editorial Operations Jen Sherry, who found that the band didn’t budge at all when worn on bare skin or over a medium-weight jacket.
Sherry also praised the band for being one of the only she’s tried that allowed her to use (with a little effort) the phone’s touchscreen while tucked inside.
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | S, M, L |
|---|---|
| Material | Lycra-neoprene blend |
| Max Phone Screen Height | 6.4 in. |
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Pros
- Touchscreen mesh pocket for easy access
- Band is secure without pinching
- Machine-washable
Cons
- Outer fabric, while light, is less protective than a hard cover
If you go running late at night, you’ll appreciate the reflective tape lining this armband, which makes it easier for cars to see you. It’s not enough to keep you seen on its own, but if you find comfort in redundancy, the Fast and Free is a great means for getting just a tad more coverage on your upper body.
Thanks to this armband’s soft exterior (no hard plastic outer cover) and double hook closure system, you can cinch it down pretty tightly without discomfort. In other words, we’re confident it’ll stay put as you run. And despite the lack of a transparent cover for your phone, the thin mesh pocket in which it sits provides reliable touch-screen accessibility (assuming you remember where things are on your screen, such as the skip button for music).
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | S to XL (fits 8 to 14 in.) |
|---|---|
| Material | Nylon, elastane |
| Max Phone Screen Height | N/A |
Pros
- Can fit the newest iPhone
- Additional pocket for storage
- Waterproof
Cons
- Waterproofing might limit breathability
- Small phones won’t stay put unless you load up with other cargo
If your phone is brand spankin’ new, chances are it’s a little too big for most of the hard-cover armbands on this list. That’s not the case with this capacious armband from RevereSport, which can handle screens as tall as 6.7 inches. On top of that, it has a small pocket that has just enough space for some earbuds, a wad of cash, or a gel. Additionally, if it happens to rain while you’re out, its waterproof coating will keep your device protected and intact.
Keep in mind that this is only an ideal option for big devices. RevereSport advertises it with recent large iPhones—the 13, 14, and 15 families—in mind. If you have an Android with similar dimensions, it will also fit, but anything smaller will likely slide around inside unless you pack more stuff in there.
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | S to L (fits 9-17 in.) |
|---|---|
| Material | Lycra |
| Max Phone Screen Height | 6.7 in. |
Pros
- Water-resistant screen cover
- Small phones don’t move around too much
Cons
- One-size-fits-all design may not fit around especially slender biceps
- Won’t fit newer, larger iPhones
Worried about the elements (or your own sweat) coming in contact with your phone? Try out this neoprene armband from Nathan, which we found protected our phones from rain surprisingly well for a $25 piece of hardware. Better yet, it doesn’t feel grotesquely uncomfortable when you work up a sweat since it’s only water-resistant, not waterproof.
The best part about this armband is that it actually stayed in place, according to former Runner’s World photo editor Kristen Parker, who admits she finds armbands in general to be “inherently a little bulky and annoying.”
Despite her general disdain for the feeling of an armband, Parker ranked this one a 7 out of 10 (on her own scale) in terms of comfort. The material was soft and flexible, and it didn’t dig in or pinch her skin. Her phone didn’t move at all within the window pocket, despite being on the smaller side.
She did report finding the band to be more comfortable over clothes than against bare skin. But once it was tightened in place, she found that the band—designed to fit 9- to 15-inch arms—stayed put without adjustment and was fairly lightweight and unobtrusive.
Key Specs
| Arm Sizes | One size (fits 9-15 in.) |
|---|---|
| Material | Neoprene |
| Max Phone Screen Height | 6 in. |
Adam Schram
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing co*cktails, watching Star Wars, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.
Gabrielle Hondorp
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.
