Arm Running Band For Phone
Phone armbands strap around your arm, and many include a clear window that lets you see and use the screen. Some like the E-tronic Edge feature a zippered pouch that can hold your keys, too.
This affordable arm band fits almost any smartphone and features an open-topped neoprene pocket. A velcro tab next to the pocket provides a secure place for your headphones.
Comfort
A quality arm running band should feel comfortable and breathable, cinch tightly without being uncomfortable or poking into the skin. It should also provide enough stability to keep your phone in place and allow you to access the touchscreen with consistent ease.
Unlike waist belts that require you to unzip and remove your phone to access it, an armband allows you to tap, swipe, and pinch with ease. Some of the arm bands we tested use a stretchy fabric pocket, while others have external plastic hardware to hold your phone. While iphone arm strap for running these options work well, they may not be as convenient as a dedicated running pouch.
The Tune Belt Sport Armband is our top pick for comfort and convenience, and it’s a good option for runners who don’t need a hydration pack or water bottle. Its thin neoprene pocket has a transparent face that lets you see your phone, and it offers reliable touch-screen accessibility (provided you remember where your music and navigation buttons are on the screen). A small neoprene-and-Velcro tab next to the pocket provides an easy way to thread headphone cords and prevent them from bouncing around during your run. This band is so lightweight that it barely adds any bulk to your arm, and it’s even less noticeable if you wear it over a shirt sleeve or jacket.
Stability
The armbands we tested fit phones of almost all sizes, thanks to either a stretchy fabric pocket or external plastic hardware. However, some aren’t as stable as others. If you want your phone to stay secure while running and not bounce or jiggle around, you’ll have to go with a sleeve-style option. Our testers found that the best ones — like the Tribe Armband, Sprig Running Armband and VUP running arm band — hold our test phones snugly in their slim neoprene sleeves and keep them securely in place. But our testers also found that removing their phones from the sleeve is difficult unless they cinch the armband up really tight, which can feel uncomfortable or distracting.
The LifeActiv armband with QuickMount requires some extra setup work, but once it’s set up, it’s one of the most stable options. We’d recommend using it if you’re constantly upgrading your phone or have a case with a unique design that needs a solid mount. It’s also the only model on our list that features a key holder, which is great for runners who use their phone for navigation and GPS tracking while on the run. However, the key holder isn’t designed to accommodate most key sizes, which is a drawback for some runners.
Convenience
When you’re hammering out miles, a convenient way to access your phone is a must. Many arm bands provide basic visibility and accessibility via a clear plastic window or open face, but this requires you to stop and use your hands while in motion—and can be distracting.
The LifeActiv Armband takes a different approach, with a thin plastic mounting piece that you stick to the back of your phone or case and iphone arm strap for running wholesale clip into the band on your arm. The resulting combo is surprisingly easy to use—just click and twist, and you’re ready to run.
This model also holds phones with a wide variety of case sizes, which was an important consideration for our testers. In addition, the neoprene sleeve is soft against your skin, and the snug fit means that you can leave your phone in the band for the duration of a long run and it won’t shift around or chafe.
The only downside for our panel was that, despite the neoprene backing, our testers found the vinyl front piece occasionally poked their arms while wearing this armband. This isn’t a dealbreaker, though—it’s still a great choice for runners who want to keep their hands free while hitting the pavement. It’s also the only arm running band we tested that allowed you to use your phone’s touchscreen while it’s tucked inside.
