Best running chest phone holders to stay connected even on the go

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Keep your phone close and secure while running with one of these chest phone holders

If you like to run with your phone – whether for safety reasons, to listen to music or to see where you are mid-route, there's a wide array of options out there that aren't just ‘grasping your phone in one hand while you run’.

From arm holders and running belts, to running packs and hydration vests, even some leggings now solve the problem with designated phone pockets, but not everyone likes to run in leggings (and not all leggings have thigh pockets deep enough to carry a phone).

Enter: chest phone holders. Designed for instant easy access to your phone, the idea is that you wear one of these over your running top or jacket and, voila, you are hands-free while running.

As mentioned above, there are four main types of running phone holders:

Freetrain makes running chest phone holders and is at the forefront of the new style of chest phone holders. Its products are shaped like minimal running vests and are designed in a V-shape going across your chest and back. Your phone sits in the middle of the ‘V’, in the centre of your chest so you can access it easily while you run. It features a 'flip-down' system so you can operate your phone while you run.

Read our review below to find out, where we test the Freetrain VR chest phone holder along with its competitors.

The Freetrain running vest comes in two versions: the V1, which is plain black, and the VR, which is reflective. We tested the VR on night runs, and the first thing to note is that it truly dazzles when car headlights shine on it, both front and back – you will not be missed.

In terms of fit, like most in this list, you pull it over your head like a vest. Like most on this list, it's made of stretchy neoprenes, so is breathable and light. Your phone slides into the holder at the front vertically, and the key selling point is the fact it's held up with a snap fastener which you can undo to flip it down so you can see, and crucially operate it, as you run thanks to a clear plastic cover.

It fits snugly with no bounce, and we found it quickly becomes unnoticeable while running. Problems we encountered included the tightness of sliding the phone (an iPhone 11) in and out of the front pocket. Also, the look may not suit everyone –if you're a minimal runner, you’re best avoiding chest phone holders, as they add extra weight and bulk to your run (the VR weighs 180g).

A similar design to the Freetrain vest, the Runitude claims it's the lightest on the market at 159g. Like the Freetrain, it's available in a black version and a reflective version.

It fits tightly over your chest, can be adjusted via the side straps, and the phone is kept in the front pocket horizontally. The pocket has plenty of space for the biggest of phones, but it fastens via a zip, meaning that to access the phone you will need to stop.

I found that although it fitted well with no bounce while running, the horizontal design meant it felt tighter across my ribs than other chest phone holders. I personally found the vertical holders more comfortable, but that may not be the case for everyone.

You can find this at very low prices – the vest-style design is similar to the Freetrain vest, including the fact that you can flip your phone down to operate it on the move. In fact, the only difference we could ascertain was that the phone pocket uses a zip rather than Velcro, and it does not include the extra two storage pockets found on the Freetrain, instead opting for a keyfob on the front for attaching your keys.

Not just a chest phone holder, but a chest ‘rig’. This is more like a back-to-front backpack, and as such is not the most minimalistic of phone carriers. Coverage across the chest is wide, so it keeps heat in more than others. As such, it's designed more for gym workouts than running, but would work for shorter run sessions, in particular, treadmill sessions as part of a gym workout.

A good budget option, this fits tightly and has minimal bounce. It features a Velcro front pocket for your phone, plus an internal pocket for keys/cards and offers one thing others don't – a water bottle holder on the rear. Additionally, the reflective highlights mean you can wear this day or night.

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