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Phones may be getting smarter, but they’re not getting any smaller. A running belt can fit your phone snugly, but some runners find them cumbersome, redundant, or uncomfortable. Regular shorts pockets are another good option—they hold keys, cards, and maybe some gels—but their slash pockets at the hip will have your phone bouncing with every stride. What you need is a pair of running shorts with phone pockets designed to keep your device snug against your body.
Whether you want your phone on hand for music, fitness tracking, or in case of emergencies, these running shorts with phone pockets keep your beloved device accessible, safe from drops, and out of your way so you can focus on your pace.
The Best Running Shorts with Phone Pockets
- Best Overall: Ultimate Direction Velum Running Shorts
- Best Budget Option: Pinkbomb 2-in-1 Running Shorts
- Most Versatile: Lululemon Pace Breaker Lined Running Shorts
- Best Without a Liner: Path Projects Sykes PX Classic Fit Running Shorts
- Best Splurge: Bandit Running Litewave Running Shorts
What to Consider
When choosing the best running shorts for yourself, you should take materials, inseams, and liners into account—but the main thing we’ll focus on here is the pockets.
The pockets should be wide and deep enough to hold your phone without any worries it’ll slip out. A lot of running shorts have a pocket at the rear center of the waist belt that looks like it may fit a small phone, but they’re often too small for anything more than a pair of keys or a credit card.
Most product listings for running shorts with dedicated phone pockets call out the smartphone models they can fit, or you can look up the dimensions of your phone and compare them with the pockets.
You want the pocket to hold your phone close to your body so it isn’t bouncing around while you move. Many of our picks have a phone pocket on the liner of the shorts because this offers compression to keep the phone in place. Slash pockets, the slightly angled ones you put your hands in at the waist, are big enough for phones but don’t hold them in place while you jog or squat.
For those who prefer running shorts without liners, check to see how big that rear center pocket is. The placement keeps the phone close to the body to minimize bounce, but make sure the pocket is big enough to fit your phone.
How We Selected
To find the best running shorts with phone pockets, we took a look at our own gear first, along with the running shorts tested by our wear testers and our expert test team. We considered which running shorts not only hold our phones, but also keep them in place while running. We also researched other styles we haven’t yet tried that have positive reviews from customers and other experts, making sure to include options for pockets that’ll fit even the biggest phones out there.
Pros
Waistband doubles as running belt- Three layer construction keeps belongings secure
- Pockets are large enough to hold water flasks
Cons
- Large waistband may be uncomfortable for some
The Velum short has great storage all around, literally—the elongated waistband doubles as a running belt that gives you 360-degree storage that stays close to the body. It’s sectioned off into four different pockets to keep gels, keys, and your phone organized and in place.
Test Director Jeff Dengate uses these on both road and trail runs and found the 4.5-inch deep pockets hold an iPhone 14 along with plenty of gels without bouncing. The drop-in pocket style makes your belongings easily accessible and the three layer construction keeps everything secure—no gels, phone, or keys bounced out during testing. These pockets are even large enough to hold a water flask.
Key Specs
| Pockets | 4 on waistband |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
| Available Inseams | 5 in. |
| Liner | Yes |
Pros
- Headphone hole in pocket lets you use wired headphones comfortably
- Concealed zip pockets secures cards or keys
- Plenty of color options available
Cons
- Not available in shorter inseams
The strategic pocket placement on these shorts keeps your phone from bouncing by securing it in the spandex material of the liner. The thigh location keeps it out of the way on runs while still staying relatively accessible. This pair has two drop-in pockets at the waist and a concealed zip pocket at the right rear to hold cards or keys.
There’s a hole to feed headphones through from the phone pocket up to your ears. Though most people have a pair of wireless headphones they use for working out, some runners swear by wired headphones—there have been plenty of occasions when my AirPods didn’t charge in the case and I don't realize it until I'm walking out the door.
These help to keep wires out of the way when you’re in a pinch, and the pocket is big enough to fit your earbuds case, too, if you like to keep things wire-free.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Phone pocket on liner, 2 slash pockets at waist, zip pocket on right rear |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
| Available Inseams | 7 in |
| Liner | Yes |
Pros
- Available in different inseams
- Exceptionally soft and lightweight
- Smooth waistband stays in place
Cons
- Compression liner is a bit tight at first
Lululemon built its name on exceptionally soft leggings and the brand’s reputation carries over to its popular Pace Breaker shorts. Associate Editor Tom Price tested both the lined and unlined versions of these running shorts and found the phone pocket, which is only available on the lined version, does a great job of keeping his phone in place during long runs.
The fabric is exceptionally lightweight and has a noticeably softer feel than other high-end running shorts. He also put these shorts through weightlifting and yoga workouts and found them to be a great pair for cross-training in general.
While the compression liner does a great job keeping belongings secure, Price did notice they took some getting used to since they’re quite snug.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Phone pocket on liner, 2 slash pockets at waist, zip pocket on right rear |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
| Available Inseams | 5, 7, 9 in |
| Liner | Yes |
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Pros
- Available in different fits and inseams
- Zip pockets keep belongings secure
- Durable
Cons
- Drawcord is a bit long
The Sykes shorts are a lightweight pair of running shorts that minimize any bounce in the pockets using Spandex to compress and a zip closure to secure your phone, cards, and gels. Since there’s no liner, you can wear these on colder runs with tights and keep them going in summer with compression shorts.
Many customers report the exceptional durability of the material on these shorts as they’ve been running in the same pair for years. They also mention these dry very fast and never feel weighed down by sweat even on the hottest runs of the year.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Zip pockets at back center and back sides; internal front right pocket |
|---|---|
| Materials | DWR-treated polyester |
| Available Inseams | 5, 7 in |
| Liner | No |
Pros
- Perforation allows more breathability
- Multiple fluorescent and reflective accents to stay visible at night
Cons
- Not suited for cold weather
The Run Visible shorts will—you guessed it—keep you visible for all those runs after sundown. These have fluorescent and 3M reflective accents throughout the front and back so cars will see you whichever direction they’re coming from. Drop-in pockets on the liner of the shorts can fit your phone, keys, and a couple of cards without bouncing.
The top shorts are perforated and have a split hem to maximize breathability. There aren’t any pockets on the outer shorts, which keeps the silhouette more streamlined.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Drop in side pockets on liner |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
| Available Inseams | 5 in |
| Liner | Yes |
Pros
- Minimalist design
- Phone pocket sits higher on thigh to minimize bounce
- Angled hem vents but gives you coverage
Cons
Bandit was founded by runners from different New York City run crews, and it’s making some of the sleekest run gear out there. The Litewave shorts have slash pockets at the waist and a zip pocket at the right rear to stash cards, keys, and gels. Its phone pocket is on the right leg of the liner so it stays close to the body and doesn't bounce on runs.
The pocket is a bit higher up than others and sits at the upper thigh, which we found to be more comfortable and stable. These are also comfy for lounging, but they cost more than most of our other picks.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Phone pocket on liner, 2 slash pockets at waist, zip pocket on right rear |
|---|---|
| Materials | Nylon, lycra |
| Available Inseams | 3, 5 in |
| Liner | Yes |
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Pros
- Pockets are large enough to hold water flasks
- Pull through pocket at back can hold shedded layers
- Drawstring waistband offers a secure fit
Cons
- No small pocket for keys or earbuds
Running in tights can reduce chafing and discomfort by cutting down on the amount of fabric you’re wearing, but that sometimes also cuts down on storage. Janji’s trail tights solve the problem with double side pockets that are tiered to maximize storage and keep things separate.
The drawstring waistband ensures a secure fit and the pocket on the back is big enough for a couple of gels or a light rain jacket—plus the pocket opens back up at the bottom, so you can also pull a base layer through to keep it from riding up.
Customers report the fit on these is spot on and liked the functionality of the strategically designed pockets. They’re also available in full-length tights for when the temps drop—Deputy Editor Zoë Hannah has tried those out, and she loves the functional pockets and low-profile seams on this design.
Key Specs
| Pockets | Two double-compartment pockets at sides, back center pass-thru pocket |
|---|---|
| Materials | Nylon, spandex |
| Available Inseams | 8 in |
| Liner | N/A |
Danny Perez
Commerce Editor
Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.
