Find the Best Running Belt: 9 Picks to Carry Everything You Need

Find the Best Running Belt: 9 Picks to Carry Everything You Need

Ready to ditch the vest for carrying all the stuff you need on a run? Maybe it's time for a running belt.
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Part of running’s allure is the sense of freedom it bestows on those who are willing to pay in the currency of their sweat (and if we’re being honest, occasionally blood and tears). 

  • As runners, we crave a simplified version of existence where our only job is to keep moving forward, stay hydrated, fueled, and upright. 
  • Oftentimes, our gear can make or break this type of experience; while vests can carry it all, they can also weigh you down. 

👉If you’ve ever been distracted by the bounce of a heavy pack or dreaded the post-run chafe, it might be time to consider a running belt.

  • Running belts offer the best of both worlds: a lightweight feel without sacrificing the essentials. 
  • Whether you need a slim belt for a quick neighborhood jog or a sturdy waist pack for a multi-hour trail adventure, there’s a belt that’ll meet your needs. 
  • With the right fit, you’ll be able to carry what matters—phone, hydration, snacks—without the fuss of bouncing gear or restrictive vests.

Ready to find the perfect running belt? Here's what you need to know...

In the sport of obstacle course racing (OCR), running belts are the best way to carry nutrition and hydration without limiting your range of motion or risking a vest getting caught on obstacles like barbed wire crawls. Elite OCR athlete, Josh Ried (left), always uses the Naked Running Band when he races.

4 tips for choosing the right running belt:

1.Identify your needs

  • Consider what kind of runs you plan on using the belt for. 
  • A shorter run around the neighborhood where you only need your keys and a phone requires a different kind of belt than a multi-hour effort in the backcountry would. 
  • If you do both, consider purchasing two different belts if you can afford to do so.

2. Check the fit

  • If a belt isn’t a one-size-fits-all model, the company probably has a sizing chart and instructions. 
  • Be sure to check those out and measure according to the instructions. 
  • Running belt fit is highly individual and you’ll have a better experience with a proper fit. 

3. To hydrate or not to hydrate? 

  • Decide if hydration capacity is important to you. 
  • If you want to run with flasks in your belt, make sure the belt you purchase is compatible with flasks you currently own OR the company sells compatible flasks. 
  • Flask type is also worth considering.
  • Soft flasks are lightweight and convenient because they collapse as you sip on the fluid inside. 
  • Hard sided flasks are sometimes better insulated from your body heat and the elements, but they are heavier and larger. 

4. Pay attention to configuration

  • Note how the pockets are arranged in the belt and think about how feasible it is to grab something from the pockets mid-run. 
  • If you’re planning to carry your nutrition or other small items you want to access mid-run in your belt, make sure that you won’t lose them when accessing flasks or larger items. 
  • If you plan to carry and easily access your phone, be sure to check the belt’s pocket dimensions and configuration. 
  • Oftentimes, pockets will be advertised to fit smartphones, but the reality of accessing it mid-run is impractical. 

Equipped with these tips, you’re ready to find the ideal belt for your next run! 
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Below, we’ve compiled the best running belts out there, each tested and reviewed by our WeeViews community, so you can find one that fits your unique running style and needs.

Naked Running Band (top), Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pack (middle), and Raide Research LF 2L are three great options on the market.

🏃‍♀️‍➡️What qualifies a running belt to make it on this list?

  • It must be readily available for purchase! 
  • It has received at least one positive review from a member of the WeeViews community
  • It stands out from competitors within a similar design category

Ready to find the perfect running belt for you?
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Let’s dive in and discover the top picks for your running goals!

Naked Running Band

⭐Best Overall Running Belt

  • Pros: Range of sizes available, 2+ liters of capacity, comfortable, lightweight
  • Cons: Mesh can stretch and/or tear, bounces when loaded to capacity
  • Price: $55
  • Weight: 2.3oz
  • Flask Included? No, but the belt fits all kinds of flask sizes/brands easily. Naked offers a bundle deal for the belt and Naked branded flask for roughly $100
  • Key Features: Three mesh pockets that can hold a variety of flask sizes/brands, one internal micro-clip for securing keys, and two external loops with silicone grip material to secure trekking poles and/or an additional layer.

Naked Running Band Summary

Glance around at any running event and you’ll probably see someone sporting a Naked Running Band:

  • Its distinct black and yellow branding make it hard to miss. 
  • This particular running belt is popular for good reason. 

Design
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Naked kept it simple with their running band. 

  • The material is a stretchy nylon reinforced with thick bands of elastic at the top and bottom of the band. 
  • It’s lightweight, comfortable, and compressive without being restrictive. 
  • One of the best parts about the Naked band is the simple design. There’s no “right way” to wear it. 
  • With no back or front, you can position your gear as you’d like and spin it around to access items mid-run if needed. 

However, there are some tradeoffs you make for the minimalism:

  • In terms of durability, the Naked Running Band has potential to stretch and tear over time. 
  • If you plan on bushwhacking off-trail, this might not be the best choice for you. 
  • However, for the majority of runners, the Naked Running Band ticks most of the boxes for daily runs, races and adventures.  
External loops with silicone grip are spaced perfectly to accommodate trekking poles.

Storage
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With its stash-pocket design, you can easily grab your flasks, nutrition, phone, etc. without missing a stride. 

  • The stretchy mesh material compresses everything in the pocket and the elastic top secures items inside. 
  • The micro-clip provides extra security for keys on a ring. 
  • The external loops with silicone grip material are spaced pretty far apart from one another, so it can be tricky to get your extra layer to stay put. However, the loops work nicely for trekking poles. 

The Fit
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Purchasing the right size of the Naked Running Band is crucial. 

  • The band is stretchy enough to hold a lot, but it also must be snug enough to limit bounce. 
  • Since Naked Sports Innovations sells 12 different sizes of this band, be sure to read their sizing guide before you buy. 
  • When measuring yourself for the Naked Running Band, consider where you prefer to have the loaded band sit: hips or torso? 

Flasks
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Although it doesn’t come with a soft flask included, the Naked Running Band fits a variety of flask sizes and brands. 

  • To avoid any leaks from the band’s pressure on bite valve flask tops, it’s probably a good idea to stick to flasks that have a locking feature. 
  • The Naked Running Band is advertised as having 2+ liters of storage capacity, but based on firsthand experience, it doesn’t effectively hold as much as our pick for Best High Capacity Running Belt…
Raide Research LF 2L

⭐Best High-Capacity Running Belt

  • Pros: Bounce-free suspension system, durable rip-stop material, 2L storage capacity, adjustable 
  • Cons: Expensive, a bit heavy duty for casual/daily use
  • Price: $150
  • Weight: 4.97oz (size XS without flask), 
  • Flask Included? Yes, each belt comes with one 650mL Hydrapak flask that is compatible with Hydrapak filter tops and the Katadyn BeFree
  • Key Features: Structured back with 3mm breathable foam and 4 flexible plastic stays, 2 large stuff pockets, one zippered pocket in back, 2 interior gel pockets (4 gel pockets in S-XL), elastic loops for trekking poles, and an anatomical fit. 

Raide LF 2L Summary

The Raide Research team clearly spent time testing their running belt in the field. 

  • From the fabric and structure to the pocket arrangement, they nailed this design. 
  • As soon as I unwrapped the belt from its packaging, I could feel the quality craftsmanship and attention to detail that the company poured into their first running belt design. 
  • Check out Raide’s video where the company founder, Kyle Siegel, demonstrates all of the belt’s design features.
The Raide LF 2L ripstop material shows promising signs of durability for even the most demanding of adventures.

Design

  • The breathable foam pad and flexible stays in the back of the belt provides structure without being too rigid. 
  • The foam insulates the flask from becoming warm with body heat, but I wonder how this will translate with cooler temps and potentially frozen bottles. 
  • While not every runner will find this type of structure necessary, I prefer it because it seems to minimize jostling of the belt’s contents during descents. 

Within the belt’s front stuff pocket, there are two velcro straps for making size adjustments. 

  • I’ve found that it’s best to leave them loose when putting the belt on and then cinching them down after the belt is fully loaded. 
  • Their internal position makes it difficult to adjust on the fly, so having everything set up the way you want before starting to run is key. 
Trekking poles can be secured to the LF 2L using the elastic loops on either side of the back of the belt. Each loop can be tightened and loosened as needed. The soft flask in the rear stash pocket can sit below the poles without any bouncing.

Storage
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With 3 types of pockets in the XS size, there is a place for anything you can think of. 

  • The large stuff pocket up front is long/deep enough to have your phone nestled securely in one side and gloves, nutrition, electrolytes, etc. in the other. 
  • The rear stuff pocket is the same size as the front, but it has a smaller zipper pocket inside. 
  • The zipper pocket is big enough to keep valuables like keys and/or a credit card secure, but it is not large enough to store your phone.

I’ve primarily used the large rear stuff pocket for the 650mL flask, a Katadyn filter top, and extra layer. 

  • The XS size only has two internal gel pockets on the front panel, but the larger sizes have four. 
  • I’ve had a tougher time with stashing gels with wider/larger packaging like UCAN Edge and Spring Energy in these pockets though–it seems like products from Gu or gels with similar packaging would make more sense. 
TOP: Internal gel pockets are just the right size for smaller nutrition products. BOTTOM: rear stuff pocket fits the 650mL flask easily. The locking cap prevents leaks when stashing mid-run.

The Fit
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When I first tried the belt on, I didn’t realize the adjustment straps were in their shortest possible position and I panicked, thinking I ordered a size too small. 

  • After releasing the adjustment straps, I was able to slide the belt on, but it’s still a tight fit! 
  • I ordered the extra small size because I’ve always struggled with small sizes being just a smidge too big on me. 
  • If I was to make this purchase again, I’d size it up to a small since the adjustment straps are so effective. 

NOTE: Raide designed the belt to have an “anatomical fit”, meaning that the top of the belt is 4” smaller in circumference than the bottom. I’ve found that this shape contributes to a much more comfortable fit than other belts I’ve tried, and it doesn’t ride up over time!

The Raide Research LF 2L includes a 650mL Hydrapak flask.

The Flask
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Perhaps one of my favorite features of this belt is the flask they include. 

  • The 650mL Hydrapak flask is the perfect size for most medium-long outings. 
  • The bite valve has a simple and easy-to-use locking feature that doesn’t get sticky or tough to open over time. 

If you decide to use a different flask in the Raide LF 2L, it’s really important to have a locking mechanism on them since the belt compression will cause leakage if the bottle isn’t locked. 

  • To make this flask even more versatile for mountain adventures, Raide made sure that it is compatible with popular filter tops like the Katadyn BeFree and Hydrapak filter tops.
Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pack

⭐Best Insulated Flask Running Belt

  • Pros: Adjustable, so one size fits most, comes with an insulated flask, straightforward functional design, affordable 
  • Cons: difficult to access/return phone to pouch during a run, adjustable band may not work optimally for smaller frames, flask holster is specific to hard flasks
  • Price: $40
  • Weight: 4oz without flask, 2.40 oz flask 
  • Includes Flask? Yes, each belt includes a 535mL (18oz) insulated Nathan Speed Draw Flask
  • Key Features: single zip pocket next to the angled flask holster with elastic loop to secure flask top. Adjustable belt with clip in front and single elastic shock cord. 
The angled flask holster is positioned next to the zipper pocket.

Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pack Summary

Nathan’s simple design makes for a versatile belt; whether you’re a casual hobbyist or racing multiple marathons, this adjustable running belt can make hydration and fueling easier without breaking the bank.
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Design
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The highlight of this belt design is certainly the angled flask holster. 

  • It’s perfectly positioned for a quick, one-handed grab that you won’t need to think twice about–even in the heat of a race. 
  • To make hydration even smoother, the Nathan Speed Draw flask delivers a fast burst of fluid when squeezed. 
  • If you’re worried about the flask bouncing out of the holster, there is an elastic loop that can secure the lid. 

Hydration aside, the single zipper pocket offers limited space for a few gels or a phone.

  • Phones with larger cases may be difficult to remove/return to the pocket mid-stride.
The Nathan Peak Hydration Waist Pack includes a zippered pocket with easy-access storage.

Storage
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As mentioned above, the single zipper pocket is the only real storage option in this belt. 

  • Since the pocket is triangular, the belt’s fit determines how much space of the pocket is easily accessed. 
  • For runners with smaller frames, adjusting the belt to fit may limit its storage space further. 

The Fit
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One of this belt’s strengths is also its weakness. 

  • The adjustable belt means that you don’t have to worry about sizing upon purchase.
  • This design allows you to position the belt anywhere on your torso or hips.
  • However, it also means that you won’t know how it fits you until you cinch the straps down. 

NOTE: For runners who find they have excess play in the straps after adjusting the belt to fit, there are elastic bands to contain it. 

The Flask
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For any runner who hasn’t used a Nathan Speed Draw, these hard-sided, insulated bottles are handy to keep around. 

  • They have a wide mouth, making it easy to put powders inside, and the lids screw on tightly with a locking feature to prevent leakage.
  • Even though there is no way for the flask to collapse as you drink from it, the sloshing sound is negligible. 

Honorable Mentions for Running Belts

Salomon Pulse running belt

⭐Runner Up for Best Overall Running Belt

Pros: Zipper pocket for secure storage, breathable, external loops for a layer or poles, capacity for a 500mL flask and fuel

Cons: Not adjustable

Price: $35

Nathan Zipster Lite

⭐Best Budget Running Belt

Pros: Durable, lightweight, can be purchased for $30 or less, zipper pouch for secure storage

Cons: Not adjustable

Price: $20-$30 depending on retailer

G Run Hydration Belt

⭐Best Budget Running Belt with Flasks

  • Pros: Durable, zipper pocket fits a phone and keys, comes with two 10 oz hard flasks
  • Cons: Heavy when fully loaded
  • Price: $15
Flipbelt

⭐Best Mini Belt

  • Pros: Zipper pocket, key ring attachment, machine washable, compatible flasks available for purchase
  • Cons: Not adjustable, slit pockets are large and can lose certain items, belt may not stay in place
  • Price: $37-$48 depending on vendor/model
Original Single Pocket SPIBelt

⭐Best Minimalist Belt

  • Pros: Minimalist, expandable pouch that stretched to accommodate items, no bounce, adjustable size
  • Cons: Smaller items may fall out when other items are accessed
  • Price: $27
Janji Multipass Sling Bag

⭐Most Versatile Running Belt

  • Pros: adjustable sizing, multiple colorways, can be worn as a sling or waist pack, 2L of storage capacity, internal key loop, doubles as lifestyle/casual wear
  • Cons: items may bounce inside
  • Price: $58

What's your favorite running belt?

Choosing the right running belt can transform your runs, offering the freedom to carry what you need without the hassle of bouncing or bulky gear.
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From lightweight options to high-capacity designs, there’s a perfect running belt for you.
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What's your favorite running belt?
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Let us know in the comments or create a WeeView and tell us more about your favorite running belt.

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Abigail Lock
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Elite trail runner and coach. NASM Certified Sports Nutrition Coach, UESCA Running Coach, and owner of Hills for Thrills Coac...

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