Sports & Fitness

These days most people run with at least one gadget or another, such as a phone or music playing device. If you’re heading out for a long run you might add to this keys, water, snacks or money, and you can quickly end up with quite a load to carry.  Luckily, there are a range of products specifically designed to help you out this problem.  Meaning you can easily carry essential items, placing as little impact on your running as possible.

If you only have a few small items, such as a key or some money you could try carrying them:

1. On your person

Try threading your car key through the laces of your shoe before tying them in a double knot. This is a very secure way to carry a key and you won’t even notice it.  Similarly, money can be easily carried by putting a note under the insole of your shoe. You can wrap it in cling-wrap for extra protection.  Ladies, often you can comfortably tuck a key or a note inside your sports bra. Test this out on a short run before heading out for a long run or a race, just in case it is uncomfortable or insecure!

2. In your pocket

These days most running apparel come with pockets designed to carry small items such as keys or an mp3 player.  Look for pockets in the waist band of running shorts or leggings, in the sleeves of running jackets, or in the back of running tops.

If you need to carry a number of items such as a phone, water bottle, food, running cap or gloves then you will need something a bit more substantial.  The following products are specifically designed for the purpose of carrying items whilst running.

3. Waist Belts

FuelBelt have developed a range of waist packs designed for carrying items whilst running, including highly elastic belts for faster running and larger packs designed for maximum storage capabilities.  Similarly, Australian company SPIbelt, which stands for Small Personal Item belts, produces elastic belts with expandable pockets suitable for comfortably carrying items during your run.  The pockets on these belts are nice and stretchy so can carry a number of things at once – for example, a phone, gel packet, keys and money!  They’re water resistant, they don’t bounce or ride up, and zip up securely to keep your items safe.

 4. Bottle Carriers

These come in a wide range of styles ranging from waist belts, to hand held carriers, to arm bands.  Depending on the product, these can carry from 200-800ml and are a great way of ensuring you have access to hydration whilst out on a long run.  It is also simple to add electrolyte tablets to these bottles if required and you can easily monitor how much fluid you have consumed.

5. Back Packs/Hydration Packs 

A number of companies produce hydration packs.  These are water bladders, capable of holding up to 2 litres of water, which are worn on your back like a back pack or vest.  Although these were originally designed for use by bushwalkers and hikers, they are a great way of carrying water whilst out on a long run in warmer conditions.  Alternatively, if you remove the bladder, it can act as a standard back packs and be used for carrying larger items.

6. Shoe Wallet

Shoe wallets are small, lightweight wallets designed to strap onto the laces of your running shoe, and fasten securely.  These are great for carrying items such as cash, keys and ID cards but are not so good if, like a gel, you want to be able to access the items whilst running.

It is important to test all these products in a training capacity first, before embarking on a longer run or a competitive race.  Many people find that waist belts and bottle carriers bounce too much and disrupt their running pattern, whilst back packs may rub in places causing a lot of discomfort.  However, with so many options available there is bound to be a design that suits the needs of every runner.