Hi all. Mrs Stevious is getting back into running after a while away from regular exercise. She's tried a number of ways of carrying her phone with her but finds it a bit cumbersome so we're thinking about alternatives. She often needs to be contactable when she runs so phone connectivity is the main thing but she also listens to podcasts/music while she runs. She absolutely 100% does not want a bunch of performance metrics and things of that nature - ideally whatever we go for will be customisable in such a way that she doesn't even have to ignore that stuff as it's just not presented to her. She's not using strava or anything but distance measuring would be helpful.
I know nothing about wearable tech, but I imagine that an apple watch might fit that bill. She's keen to explore options that don't cost the best part of £300 so any other suggestions of what to consider would be greatly appreciated.
If she needs to receive phone calls whilst she doesn't have her phone then I think she would need an apple watch or an android equivalent such as Pixel watch, but I don't think any of the £300 options will support phonecalls out of range of the phone - you need one with its own e-sim for that so will be a lot more - may not work with all phone contracts.
The other alternative is a small phone (the sort smuggled into prisons?) and then forwarding calls.
I've had one watch with an e-sim - an older (new) Galaxy Watch 4 that I bought for this purpose. Having LTE turned on as well as GPS tracking killed the battery on a 2.5hr ride.
I use Garmin now, but you have to go big bucks to get one that doesn't need your phone
What phone carrying methods? I always have my phone with me in a rear pocket of shorts under the waistband and forget it's there as it doesn't move around, cost £20 for shorts. See loads of women running in those leggings with phone in the thigh pocket or those vest things.
If you want to take calls and be contactable then the only options are Apple or Android watches.
But, as asked above, how is she carrying her phone. I really like running light and rarely take a phone, but when I need to carry one, a waist band is pretty unobtrusive. FlipBelt are good but not cheap (though cheaper than an Apple Phone) and there's a Decathlon version that works well too.
Refurbished Apple SE watches with cellular are available from Apple for £199
Came here to post 'whatever is the cheapest Apple Watch is with cellular connectivity". Refurbed option is a great shout (they are generally brand new stock that's just been returned unused). Ticks everyone of your boxes and can't see there being a cheaper option.
I realise this is a bit patronising as it doesn't answer your question (apologies) but I've found the Salomon Pulse belt very good for carrying stuff when running (this one is like a strap round your lower abdomen underneath your jersey). Also a "SPI Belt" worked really well for me (this one more like a traditional belt round your waist) and barely notice it at all after like 30seconds.
The Salomon belt has the added advantage for me that it kind of works as a support to my core when running and if I put my phone in the back pocket it then sits in the small of my back so also works a bit like one of those tourist money-belts where your stuff is hidden out of sight.
There's tonnes out there and they're so much cheaper than gps watches etc.
The other alternative is a small phone (the sort smuggled into prisons?)
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
TBH I just put my phone in my bum bag which also doubles as a bottle holder for my water and use the Apple Watch.
My running shorts also have a good leg pocket that take it when I don’t want the BB.
My Galaxy Watch will do it, but you've got to add on another e-sim, and as said before it will hammer your battery. TBH she should see the running as "me time" especially if getting back into it. I don't take calls or make them if I'm out for 2-3 hours on the bike. If I get a call, I ignore it, other than one from MrsF as that may be important as she already knows I'm on the bike. Shove the phone in a hip/fanny pack and be done with it. My garmin and watch will alert me to any messages/calls. Just ignore. We don't NEED to be connected all the time. If she's out for 30 minutes, surely people can wait.
The other alternative is a small phone (the sort smuggled into prisons?)
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
And it dunt half pong when you extract it to make/receive calls...
I never take a phone running but for music/audio books etc, have a Fenix. There are loads of lower priced music enabled watches if she needs sounds.
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
"so I've heard..." shirley?
The later reply talking about a 'bum bag' did make me do a double take though, "never heard it called that before"...
I have a couple of pairs of running shorts that have a phone pocket in the front waistband. I barely even notice it's there tbh - yesterday evening I ran 2miles round the park doing a PT session with it. So jumping around doing star jumps, sit-ups, cunches, press ups, Burpees etc - phone is held tight in the waistband pocket, it doesn't even move.
I've got a running belt - the stretchy lycra type. Phone slots into a pocket in that and sits so snug to the body that you can't feel that you're carrying a phone/keys etc. Cost about £20.
My wife just leaves her phone at home. No call cant wait til she returns
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
"so I've heard..." shirley?
The later reply talking about a 'bum bag' did make me do a double take though, "never heard it called that before"...
TBH it’s a evoc hip pack pro 3 that I also use for pootling, there’s more runner specific things you can get get,I’ve also a gravel vest that that’s fine for running/walks when you want to carry water(which you probably do) and a phone,money.
I can’t really see a reason to not carry a phone tbh, shit happens and help is but a button push away.
+1 for the running belt, I also have the salomon
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
If her existing phone is a bit of a beast to carry like an iPhone Pro Max or whatever, how about something like an iPhone 12 Mini? well under £200 now and I think you'd need a second cheap £5 a month sim/plan set up with call forwarding. I think it's only 'companion' devices like watches/tablets that can actually share a number.
Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
He wasn't running though, was he? Might've got out of the PoW camp faster if he had!
Also he didn't say he carried it in his "bum bag", or even "bum pouch" or "bum pocket". Missed opportunity really
I’ve always used Decathlon running shorts that have a back pocket just below the waist . Don’t even notice the phone
Front porch ones don’t work if you are a fell runner .
side pockets are rubbish
But what if you fall on your asre?
For music Garmin 245 watch. Pick up calls when you get home. Or get your wallet out
Worth experimenting a bit more with waist straps etc before spending hundreds on another device. My current choice is a £4 special off eBay which is very comfortable and convenient. I won't tolerate bouncy bags or loose pockets but some lycra shorts also have a flat thigh pocket and that approach works well for my wife.
came here for this.Have you ever tried running with a phone up your arse? Honestly it's not the most comfortable way to carry one.
I just got passed by a very serious looking runner as I was off to the shops. He had a largish phone in a pouch on his upper arm where it appeared to be no hinderance at all.
I appreciate that this doesn't answer your question, but since the phone that your wife already has does everything she needs bar the inconvenience, it might be worth a try.
Worth experimenting a bit more with waist straps etc before spending hundreds on another device. My current choice is a £4 special off eBay which is very comfortable and convenient. I won't tolerate bouncy bags or loose pockets but some lycra shorts also have a flat thigh pocket and that approach works well for my wife.
Good shout. I bought a Decathlon waistband jobby for carrying kit like running jacket, emergency blanket, phone etc. It seems pretty well designed, haven't used it yet but it feels like it should be fairly robust and not bounce around too much.
The Apple Watch Ultra works superbly for this application (in the UK anyway, but that’s another story) but it ain’t exactly bargain basement.
I just got passed by a very serious looking runner as I was off to the shops. He had a largish phone in a pouch on his upper arm where it appeared to be no hinderance at all.
I appreciate that this doesn't answer your question, but since the phone that your wife already has does everything she needs bar the inconvenience, it might be worth a try.
Maybe its just me but strapping a phone to ny arm was pretty much the worst solution.
Just too sweaty and either to tight or to loose always.
The small of back pockets have worked very well in any shorts i have had with them.
Although i don't take a phone unless i have to. Ie >half marathon
Arm phone holders aren't optimal - folk can get a small phone only vest if they want to carry their gadget with them - keeps the weight central. (Something like a Karrimor run vest)
Whilst it's not a huge weight - a phone (and or a water bottle) visibly affect running dynamics. Most notably to my mrs as she's some sort of coach in this stuff and she notices it more than I usually would...
