During training walks and races I need to carry things with me, and that can be difficult when my workout clothes don’t have pockets.

Luckily, there are many inventive people who have come up with creative ways to carry essentials. Over the last couple years, I have acquired several different carriers, and I like all of them for different reasons.

Four of my favorites, in alphabetical order, are the BANDI Pocket Belt, RooSport Pocket, SPIbelt and Walkapocket. (Note: I bought all of these except the BANDI, which was a gift from a family member.) The SPIbelt I have is older and a little outdated. There have been improvements since I purchased mine.

BANDI POCKET BELT
I saw the BANDI Pocket Belt at a race expo and knew immediately I wanted one. They come in a variety of cute patterns and when worn, look like the top band of a pair of yoga pants. The pocket inside is long and divided, so you can separate the items you carry. I like to put my phone in one side, and money and ID in the other. Then if I need to get to my phone, I don’t have to worry about anything falling out. Mine also has a little pocket on the side, which is the perfect size for a key.

The BANDI has a plastic buckle and is adjustable. The fabric is slightly stretchy so it can be worn snug to prevent bouncing. So for carrying just a phone or iPod with other thin items, this carrier is great and very cute. It comes in classic and large styles, and headbands are also available. http://bandiwear.com/

Con: My only complaint about the BANDI is, if you put too much stuff in it, it looks less cute. I carried it in a race and had a lot of things in it, but it looked too thick around my waist and hung a little awkwardly.

ROOSPORT
The RooSPORT does not have a belt. It is worn inside the waistband of your pants. A magnetic flap goes over the outside of your pants and holds the entire thing securely. The online description says it is lined with waterproof fabric, which is great since it is worn next to the skin.

The original is 6″ x 4″. There is a small zippered pocket on the back to hold money, ID, or other thin items, and there is a headphone hole on one side. The Plus model is  7.5″ x 4.5″ to fit larger smart phones. The zippered pocket is on the inside and there is an second small zippered pocket on the flap. There are two headphone holes — one on each side of the pocket. Originally they came in just black, but there are a variety of trim colors now. The new one I just bought is a limited edition — it has red trim with white polka dots. (They call it the Mickey edition — I just like red.) http://theroosport.com/

Con: The only con with the RooSport really has to do with my walking shorts. When this pocket is full, it works best with pants that tie or are tight at the waist. One pair of my shorts has an elastic waist, and the weight pulls the shorts down slightly. It is very minor, and with tight fitting fabrics, such as Spandex, is not an issue. Because my phone is large and heavy, I tend to wear this at the center of my back.

SPIBELT
This belt was designed for “small personal items”.

I’ve had two original SPIbelts for several years. One is black and has hooks to attach a race bib. The other is black with a red zipper. It has plastic and elastic toggles to hold a race bib. The pocket of mine expand to 6.5″ x 3″ x 2″. The new larger pockets expand to 8 x 4 x 2! That should hold almost any smart phone.

The belt is a wide elastic that is very comfortable and can be pulled snug. When you adjust it, there are no loose ends to get in the way. I can fit a small smart phone, iPod and gels in the pocket, or a large smart phone. It doesn’t bounce, no matter how fast I’m walking. I’m not sure if the pocket is weather resistant, but I have had no problems with anything getting wet in rain or snow. Newer versions have more accessories. https://spibelt.com/

Cons: I prefer the hooks to the toggles for holding my race bibs. The elastic of the toggles can bother me if I’m wearing short sleeves. I typically wear the belt with the pocket at the back during a race. Though it doesn’t actually bounce, holding the weight of my phone against my stomach can cause slight discomfort. (OK, this is embarrassing, but the slight movement against my stomach makes me feel as if I have to go to the bathroom. During a half marathon, that can be annoying, for shorter distances, it is not an issue.)

WALKAPOCKET
The Walkapocket is a little different from all of the others because the pocket is deeper. Mine is about 9″ wide at the top and about 6″ deep at the curved bottom. The zippered pocket and the belt are made of a soft, mesh, breathable fabric that has some stretch to it. The belt is adjustable and has a sturdy plastic buckle. There is an elastic loop to keep the extra end of the belt from flapping. Mine is black and it is also available in gray. There might be more colors available.

The pocket fits my new huge Android phone and an iPod, plus my keys and energy gels! Of all my carrying options, this one holds the most and lays flat. It doesn’t feel nearly as bulky as some of the others, but I will sometimes wear it in the back during a race. http://walkapocket.com/

Cons: The elastic loop does not hold the extra belt length flat. Mine is always coming loose and getting in the way. The fabric is not water resistant, so in a heavy rain your items might get wet, but that has not been a problem for me.

CONCLUSION
I like all four of these carriers and use each of them during training walks and races. However, I tend to use my SPIbelt for more races because I don’t like to put pin holes in my jacket or shirts.

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