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The Best Armband

Last updated on August 9, 2022

We looked at the top 16 Armbands and dug through the reviews from 96 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Armbands.

Best Phone Running Armband

Our Review Process

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Our smartphones do so many things for us today, whether it’s to connect with our friends and family or just to play music and listen to podcasts. When you step outside for some exercise like running or going to the gym, your athletic clothing might not account for holding a cell phone. Phone running armbands were created for this exact scenario and they do a great job of offering convenience to those runners who like to use their phone while exercising.

A phone in your pocket is still pretty far from your head, so the audio wire that connects your earbuds to the phone can either get in the way of your swinging arms or you have to tuck the wires under your shirt, which can eventually make them stick to your skin and tug at your ears while you’re exercising. These issues are alleviated by strapping the smartphone to your arm at the bicep region with one of these handy armbands.

The phone armband will have a slot that is big enough to hold your cell phone tightly as to not let it slip around too much as you move your arm. The materials should be friendly to potential sweat as well as stretching and moving with the motions of your body.  Luckily, some specific design elements can help us differentiate one brand of these armbands from another and help narrow down a decision to fit the perfect phone running armband to our needs.

Running on roads or anywhere near motorized vehicles always has the potential to be a dangerous activity. Being clearly seen by an oncoming vehicle, especially at night, can increase how safe you are from an accidental collision. Some companies take this safety to heart and include thick, reflective strips in the armband to add to the number of ways a car can see you when it’s dark out. If you do a lot of running at night, you will benefit the most from a product like the TRIBE Cell Phone Armband Case that adds a huge safety feature to their phone-carrying armbands.

If you think having access to your screen is useful when you’re out wearing your new armband, look for models that have a clear plastic face that lets you operate the phone without removing it from the sleeve. These designs are convenient in one way, but they tend to have a bit of rigidity from the harder plastic screen cover so they might feel a tad less flexible than other styles. If you think seeing your phone’s screen while you’re out on a run isn’t important, you can focus on a more comfortable product that is made of stretch-resistant neoprene that holds your phone tight to your arm with the highest level of security and comfort. Look for a model that utilizes an adjustable velcro strap that holds the unit on your arm. Other sleeve models slide over your forearms and up to your biceps like it’s the actual sleeve of a shirt.

If you have an odd-sized phone or don’ t like the idea that one size can fit all phones the same, you might like a phone running armband that offers specific sizes for most of the common smartphones on the market. Instead of having your phone slip around in a case too big for it, look at something that has a super handy sizing chart to make sure your phone will fit snuggly in its new armband.

If you’re out on the run, you will often be locking your house or apartment doors behind you when you leave. Some companies know you too well and they designed a pouch in their phone running armbands that is designed to fit that house key specifically. A product like TRIBE Water Resistant Cell Phone Armband has you covered with your home security by offering this feature and it also has adjustable sizing for arms up to 14 inches around which makes it a practical answer to those with larger upper arms who are wondering if the smaller sizing will even fit them at all.

Our Picks For The Top Armbands

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

HiRui 2-Pocket Reflective Armband

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

HiRui

2-Pocket Reflective Armband

Not only is this armband compatible with a variety of iPhones, but also all Samsung Galaxy phones. The band slides right into place and features a reflective strip for nighttime runs. In addition to being breathable and comfortable to wear, this armband also has two side pockets for your keys or headphones.

Overall Take

Multiple Colors AvailableYou'll find this armband comes in a choice of bright yellow, blue, black or pink.

 Runner Up

YUNYILAN Anti-Slip Breathable Armband

YUNYILAN

Anti-Slip Breathable Armband

Listen to your favorite tunes hands-free during your morning run with this stylish armband. It's available in six fun colors in sizes ranging from small to extra-large. The band's top features include moisture-wicking capabilities, anti-slip dots, and a pocket for storing your car key.

Overall Take

Affordable OptionYou'll save big when you opt for this budget-friendly armband.

 We Also Like

TRIBE Adjustable Elastic Cell Phone Armband

TRIBE

Adjustable Elastic Cell Phone Armband

We like how thorough this armband was with their cell phone armband case. The screen is visible and lets you use your fingers or facial recognition to operate it and it offers great features like a reflective band and a port for headphone wires to go into.

Overall Take

Durable and SturdyThis armband case covers all your needs when you want to use your phone while running.

Pros
" The soft, flexible neoprene material will stretch and twist, so you don’t have to worry about it warping out of shape."
Cons
"Not all phones matchup with headphone holes."
 Strong Contender

VUP Screen-Friendly Exercise Phone Armband

VUP

Screen-Friendly Exercise Phone Armband

This armband fits 4 to 6.5-inch smartphones and provides 360-degree rotation, so you can turn your phone and use it an angle. The band itself is designed to be breathable and soft, as well as lightweight for longer wear. It's also adjustable to provide a universal fit.

Overall Take

Handy OptionOne of the biggest features of this armband is it's ability to rotate your cell phone a full 360 degrees.

Pros
" An intriguing design that allow you to spin your phone around while it’s attached to the band."
Cons
"A few reports that design makes phone jiggle while running."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
23

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the armbands available to purchase.
16

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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96

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Jogging Addiction, Jogging Buzz, Piefone, 10Reviewz, The New York Times.

65,746

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 16 Armbands and also dug through the reviews from 96 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Armbands.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

YUNYILAN Anti-Slip Breathable Armband

User Summarized Score

7.6
3,703 user reviews

Our Take

Listen to your favorite tunes hands-free during your morning run with this stylish armband. It's available in six fun colors in sizes ranging from small to extra-large. The band's top features include moisture-wicking capabilities, anti-slip dots, and a pocket for storing your car key.

What to Look For

  • If you use wireless earbuds, you have the convenience of a more minimalistic phone armband, since many products are designed around having a wire running into them.
  • If you do use wired earbuds, make sure the armband you get has a practical access point for plugging your headphones into your phone. Some even offer specific slots for a Lightning Connector.
  • Sweating profusely into this armband might be something you don’t want to ignore. If you sweat a lot, look at the cleaning instructions for the armband before you get it as some can be machine washed conveniently, while some might need more meticulous care.
  • When you have a phone strapped to your arm while you are running, and if the phone is streaming music to your ears, there is a real possibility that the phone can get hot. If you’re working your phone pretty hard and it’s also in the direct sunlight, the best thing you can do is spin the armband until the phone is facing into your body. The little bit of shade this maneuver offers can help the phone stay at a more friendly temperature.

Armband Rankings

1. HiRui 2-Pocket Reflective Armband

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

2. YUNYILAN Anti-Slip Breathable Armband

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 1

3. TRIBE Adjustable Elastic Cell Phone Armband

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 19

4. VUP Screen-Friendly Exercise Phone Armband

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 15

5. Newppon Key Holder Running Phone Armband

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 8

6. HAISSKY Zippered Sweatpoof Armband

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 1

7. LOVPHONE Fingerprint Sensor & Sweat-Proof Sport Armband

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 3

8. Trianium Armtrek One Size Fits All Cell Phone Armband

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 3

9. i2 Gear Adjustable & Reflective Border Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 6

10. Tune Belt AB89 Sweat-Resistant Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 19

11. PORTHOLIC Exercise Running Pouch Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 10

12. VUP Breathable Adjustable Phone Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 11

13. sport2people USA Patented Running Pouch Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 10

14. E Tronic Edge Phone Sleeve & Pouch Case Armband

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 5

15. E Tronic Edge Phone Holder & Sleeve Workout Armband

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 3

16. Revere Sport Secure Running Phone Armband

Overall Score: 7.9
Reviews Included: 7

More to Explore

Phone armbands were designed for running and exercising for a good reason. All these features that cater perfectly to exercising with your phone strapped to your arm are fueled by the ever-increasing popularity in running for exercise. If you include walking and running together, well over 100 million Americans look to these as their primary forms of exercise in a given year, giving these companies a good reason to innovate and find the best product to help these runners stay connected while they’re outside getting exercise.

More to explore