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Have you ever run long distances without proper storage for your water bottle and phone? Not pretty convenient isn’t it? It makes you think about many things instead of just focusing on the run.
Like you, I have been there multiple times. I used to run with my phone in my pocket and the water bottle in my hands and guess what happened? Of course, my pocket started swinging, I dropped my phone a couple of times and it was just pretty inconvenient to grip my water bottle for the whole duration of my 10km.
After that, I immediately knew I had to do something to fix my problem, so I looked at a couple of different ways to carry my water bottle and phone and picked the best one for me.
Using a hydration vest is the best way to carry your water and phone while running. Hand-held flasks and running belts are also great options.
Ahead, we will discuss each one in detail, give my personal recommendations and take a look at the pros and cons of each method.
5 Brilliant Ways to Carry Water Bottle and Phone While Running
You probably know a lot of ways to carry water bottles but don’t know which one is best for you. Here’s a chart that will help you choose the method just right for you.
| Method of carrying | Best for | The good and the bad of each method |
|---|---|---|
| Hydration Vest / Pack | Trail running, middle distance races up to an ultramarathon. | Very secure, easy access to your essentials without having to stop running but an expensive option. |
| Handheld flask with phone storage | City runs and recreational running with an easy to moderate pace | Convenient and affordable option but affects arm swing when running, therefore, not good for racing and long distances. |
| Hydration waist pack | Trail running, daily training, and short distance races (if beginner) | Secure but can be hard to reach sometimes. You may need to stop running to reach essentials in the middle of the race. |
| Running shorts with a built-in running belt | Recreational running and short races (5km -10km) | Affordable but you can’t carry much. |
| Compression shorts pocket + water bottle band | Running on a track or in a circuit. Recreational runners as well. | Affordable but all you can bring is a bottle of water and your phone. |
1. Hydration Vest / Pack
Hydration vest works really well for me and the type of running that I do.
Because I spend most of my running on trails, I’d like to be able to use my hands to grab into trees when I’m running downhill, and support myself on steep declines and ascents.
The best way that I found to carry my water, phone and other essentials is with a hydration vest.
In addition, hydration vests/packs can usually carry hydration bladders that will allow you to sip water through a hose without having to stop running. Pretty convenient on race days.
When choosing a hydration vest, be sure you measure your chest and refer to the sizing guide. The last thing you want is a vest with a loose fit that bounces around when you run.
The only downside I found with running vests is that they cost a lot. The best ones usually cost upwards of $80 while some budget options may range from $20 – $60 on Amazon.
2. Handheld flask with additional storage
If you’re only running on the road and don’t want to spend a fortune on running vests, you can go with a handheld flask with extra storage for your phone like the Nathan handheld water bottle.
It has a double-wall insulated flask that’d keep your drink cooler for 20% longer than regular running bottles. Also, the touchscreen pad seems very convenient. You don’t have to take your phone out to read notifications or change music. Plus, they have a little bit of extra storage for keys and some cash.
They cost way less than hydration packs. The only downside is, if you’re running long distances, the amount of storage is probably not enough for your other essentials. And, at some point, your arms are gonna feel the extra weight of your handheld items.
Nevertheless, I’ll still use this on city runs.
3. Hydration waist pack with storage
Another convenient way to carry your water bottle and phone when running is with a hydration waist pack.
The best ones don’t bounce and won’t give you any problems on your runs. Hydration waist packs are also great for trails since your hands are free.
Also, they are great for short-distance races ranging from 5km to 10km if you’re a beginner. Some pros don’t even bother to bring a water bottle on short races so they probably won’t need this.
The Salomon Active Belt is one of the best choices for hydration packs, however, they cost a lot. You can check the price on Amazon.
A cheaper option would be the PFYK running belt, which costs nearly half the price of the latter but offers good quality and fit.
Budget Options
If the options above are a little too expensive for your liking, don’t worry! We have some budget options that you may already have at your disposal.
4. Running shorts with built-in running belt + soft flask
Sometimes, you simply don’t need to bring so much water on a short city run.
Well, in that case, you can wear running shorts with a built-in running belt and bring a 250 ml soft flask. You can store your phone, the soft flask, and some more items without having to worry about the bounce.
This running short is one of the cheapest of its kind that I found on Amazon.
This method is best for short-distance city runs and recreational running where you have access to stores in case you need a little more fluid than what you’ve brought.
Unfortunately, I haven’t found running shorts with a built-in belt for women. However, you can always grab a pair of tights with phone pockets and put a strap on your water bottle. Or just use a running belt instead.
5. Keep your phone in your pocket and use a water bottle strap for your water bottle
If you own a pair of lined shorts with a pocketed liner like the Neleus 2-in-1 running shorts or compression shorts with pockets like the Runhit compression shorts, that’s a good place to store your phone. The compression keeps your phone secure as you pick up the pace so they don’t swing around and risk falling.
(Related: Lined vs. Unlined shorts: What’s the difference)
Now, all you have to do is buy a water bottle band like this one and strap it to your bottle.
For women, a lot of my friends like this athletic shorts from Soothfeel.
I recommend this method for recreational runners or those who run on tracks or in a circuit where you can simply leave your water bottle in one spot.
The Wrap Up
There are a lot of ways to carry your water bottle and your phone. And although this doesn’t cover all of the possible ways, I believe it covers all of the best ways to carry your water and phone on a run.
Whether you’re a trail runner, joining your first marathon, or just running for fun, I’m pretty sure there’s something for you on this list.
I hope this article was able to help you fix your problem.
