The best running belts make it easy to carry your essentials without the hassle. No more bulging pockets in your running shorts or leggings, or juggling your phone, gels, and keys between your hands mid-run. A good running belt sits snugly around your body, keeping everything secure and accessible so you can focus on your run.
That said, not all running belts are created equal. That’s why we’ve put a variety to the test, logging miles with them to find the ones that truly deliver. During our training, we judge each belt for fit, adjustability, comfort, stability, and how easy it is to access your items while on the move.
Ready to find the perfect running belt for your needs? Keep reading to discover our top picks.
The quick list
Best overall
The Lululemon Fast and Free Belt might be more expensive than others, but you get what you pay for. This belt does not budge, even when you’re picking up the pace.
Best budget
The SPIbelt Pro may look compact at first glance, but once unzipped, it easily accommodates a large phone, keys, a couple of gels, and bank cards. During testing, we barely noticed it while running, and we appreciated how easy it was to adjust.
Best for hydration
The Camelbak Flash Belt proved to be one of the best belts during testing, especially if you’re marathon training, or running in the summer and need to carry water with you.
Best for marathon training
We liked that this belt had two insulated water bottles, which better helped distribute the weight across our hips. We did have to readjust, but this is a good belt for long-distance runners.
Best runner-up budget
The Flipbelt is one of the most popular running belts, and for good reason. Firstly, it's available in several different colors, but also it’s offered in several sizes for a more secure fit.
Best running belt overall
With Lululemon getting into the running world (check out our review of the Blissfeel running shoes here), it only makes sense that they would make a running belt for those of us training for longer races. The Lululemon Fast and Free Belt might be more expensive than its competitors, but you get what you pay for here — this belt does not budge, even when you’re picking up the pace.
During testing, I found this running belt really lives up to its name during faster sessions — I felt fast and free, and was able to run without feeling restricted, or weighed down by my belt. It was my favorite low-profile belt for most runs. For longer runs, I found I was able to hold my iPhone 11, a couple of gels, and my keys in the belt, but there wasn’t much room for anything else, and there was no option to carry hydration here.
The downside with this belt is that it’s a snug fit getting your phone in and out of the belt — I found if I tried to pull my phone out mid-run, everything else in the belt would come with it. This wasn’t too much of a problem for me — I’m the kind of runner who zips my phone away and forgets about it, but if you’re a runner who loves to stop for a mid-run selfie, you might find this irritating.
Best running belt for comfort
The SPIbelt Pro is a step up from the original SPIbelt, designed with a larger expandable pocket to accommodate bigger smartphones, keys, gels, and other essentials. It features a 1.5” wide soft elastic strap that adjusts to fit waist sizes from 25” to 38”, and if you need extra wiggle room, a belt extender is available on the SPI website.
At first glance, the SPIbelt Pro looks alarmingly small, but once unzipped, the low-profile pocket expands a lot. During testing, I comfortably fit my iPhone 11 in a bulky case alongside two gels and my house keys. Thanks to the sturdy buckle and adjustable waistband, it provided a secure, bounce-free fit that stayed in place, even during faster sessions.
That said, this belt keeps things very simple. While the expandable pocket holds more than expected, runners needing extra straps for hydration or a surplus of gels may find it limiting. If you need more storage for longer runs or hikes, check out the best hydration backpacks here.
Best running belt for hydration
The Camelbak Flash Belt proved to be one of the best running belts during testing, especially if you’re marathon training, or running in the summer and need to carry water with you. The belt comes with a 17oz Camelbak water bottle, which has double-walled insulation to keep your water cool for longer as you run.
Running with the Camelbak Flash Belt is easy — you can adjust it to the correct size, and the belt is one size that fits most. The straps are adjustable, and it's one of the more forgiving belts I've worn — many belts won't fit bigger sizes without feeling tight, but the Camelbak Flash Belt adjusts to fit larger sizes. Even when the water bottle was full, I had no issue with the belt bouncing or moving on the run.
The belt holds hydration, fuel, and a cell phone, but only just — the main drawbacks are that the pocket size is limited, and it might be big enough to hold some larger smartphones. During testing, I found it could hold my iPhone 11, two gels and a credit card, but if you’re a runner who doesn’t travel light, this might not be the belt for you. It’s also slightly heavier than other belts on the market, but in my opinion, the heavier weight is a trade-off for the belt’s ability to carry hydration. This proved to be my favorite belt, especially when I hit the trails, but if you’re a super-speedy runner, it might not be the running belt you reach for on race day.
Best running belt for marathon training
We liked that this running belt had not one, but two small insulated water bottles, which better helped distribute the weight across our hips. In addition to an adjustable clip in the front, this running belt has two elastic cinches on each side, so you can get a snugger fit if you feel the belt slipping as you run. It was easy to adjust; we were able to tighten it without breaking our stride. As a bonus, you can also use these elastic cinches to hold gels.
The two water bottles also fit securely in their holsters, but were equally easy to remove — and put back in their place — mid-stride. We're not convinced of the necessity of the bottles being insulated, but at least the insulation is reflective, which made us more visible to traffic in darker conditions.
In between the water bottles is a padded, double pouch; the inner, zippered pocket was spacious enough to hold an iPhone 14 Pro, while the outer pocket — secured by a strip of Velcro — is big enough for several gel packs.
We ran with the Nathan Hydration belt for several hours, and aside from having to tighten it a few times, found it to be very comfortable and barely noticeable.
Best runner-up budget running belt
The Flipbelt is one of the most popular running belts, and for good reason. Firstly, it's available in several different colors, but what makes the Flipbelt unique is that, instead of an adjustable band, it's offered in several sizes, so you may need to try on several of them to decide which size fits your waist most securely. Of course, the downside with purchasing by size, with no adjustable feature, is that if you lose or gain weight, you'll have to buy another size.
When out running, the Flipbelt stays secure — during testing, we had no issue with the Flipbelt moving or bouncing on the run. I also found it can hold a lot more than you think — I was able to fit several gels, an iPhone 11 with a case, a small water bottle, keys, and nutrition in the belt, and there was still a little more room for say a hairband, credit card or lip balm. Flipbelt even offers accessories, such as compatible water bottles and lights, so you can tailor the belt to your needs.
How to choose the best running belt for you
Fit
A good running belt will fit snugly without feeling restrictive and it won't bounce around as you run. Some brands will offer different sizes of a belt meanwhile others offer adjustable straps, allowing you to tailor the fit to your body.
Storage:
Think about what things you personally need to take on your runs. If you like to bring hydration on your runs then look for a belt that holds water bottles. If you like to carry lots of little items such as lip balm, tissues, keys then you might like a belt that has more than one pocket so that you can store things separately. On the other hand for the minimalist runners, there is no point in buying the biggest and best running belt if you don't need the extra storage.
Durability
If you want a running belt to last you long then you are going to want one that is made from suitable and durable material. A running belt sits around your body so it should feature similar sweat-wicking and breathable tech as your running clothing offers. You are also going to end up wearing it in a number of conditions so look out for waterproof material and keep your essentials protected from the elements.
Specific running goals
If you're new to running or you simply prefer shorter distances, a lightweight belt with minimal storage may be enough for essentials like keys and a phone. Alternatively, long-distance runners or marathoners might prefer belts with more storage capacity for gels, snacks, and hydration bottles to sustain them over longer periods. Meanwhile, if you're into trail running, a durable, weather-resistant belt with multiple compartments can help store items like a small first aid kit, map, or energy bars.
How we test the best running belts
To understand the capabilities of each running belt on this list, we went on several different runs while wearing each of them to see how they performed during easy runs, and hard efforts. We looked at whether the running belt was easy to adjust for a secure fit against the waist, and how much it bounced against the back during a run.
We also tried packing the belts with a number of different items you’d want to carry on the run. For example, we tried all of the belts with an iPhone 11 with a bulky case, as well as a number of different gels, snacks, credit cards, keys, and a lip balm, to see how much room there was to spare.
We then looked at the little things, like how easy it was to adjust the straps on the belt, how easy it was to remove your phone mid-run, and the overall weight of the belt when packed.
FAQs
What is the difference between a running belt and a fanny back?
A running belt is a belt that has been specifically designed to be comfortable when running or hiking. It'll have pockets for your stuff, and sit comfortably against your waist without bouncing. A fanny pack might fit this brief, but they have not been designed for this purpose, and might not be sweat-wicking, fast-drying, or easy to clean.
Should you wear your running belt on the back or front of the body?
The ideal place for your running belt is on the front of your body, on the widest part of your hips, however it's often down to personal preference. If, on race day, it's easier to wear your belt on the back to prevent it covering your race number, that's fine, as long as it's pulled tight, fits well, and isn't bouncing against you as you move.
How to prevent chafing from a running belt
First of all, buying a quality running belt made from moisture-wicking fabric will help to prevent this. I learned the hard way after buying a $10 belt online. During a hot day, I wore it underneath my shirt on a run, and it ended up causing my belly button to blister after just one use.
This leads to the second point, you can also wear the belt over a layer of clothing to create a barrier between your skin and the belt and reduce the chance of irritation. Or, apply an anti-chafing balm or petroleum jelly to areas where the belt might rub, such as around your waist or lower back.
Can you wear a running belt to race in?
Yes, you can wear a running belt during a race, and many runners prefer it as a minimalist way to carry essentials like gels. However, it's important to check the race's rules and regulations, as some events may have specific guidelines regarding gear, though running belts are generally permitted.
When choosing a running belt for a race, make sure it fits comfortably, doesn’t bounce, and has easy access to whatever you need while running. Many belts are designed to stay snug around your waist, so you can focus on your race without distractions. Just make sure to test it during training to ensure it works well for you.
