Carrying a phone when a pocket will not do
A pocket is fine until you are running, swimming, wearing something without one, or carrying a phone you would rather keep away from keys and coins. This department is for those times. It covers six kinds of carrier: soft pouches and sleeves, small bags worn across the body, sealed pouches for water, armbands and waist belts for running, and pouches worn on a cord round the neck. Each has its own range, linked below.
The six ranges
- Pouches and sleeves are soft covers the phone slips into, to keep it free of scratches in a bag or pocket. See pouches and sleeves.
- Crossbody phone bags are small bags on a long strap, with room for a phone, cards and keys. The ones here today are in PU leather and Oxford cloth, from a compact bag to a larger one in three layers with a zip. See crossbody phone bags.
- Waterproof pouches are clear PVC bags with a sealed top, so the phone can go to the beach, the pool or on a boat. You use the touch screen through the window. See waterproof pouches.
- Running armbands hold the phone on the upper arm, with an adjustable strap and a clear cover over the screen. See running armbands.
- Waist and belt pouches sit close round the middle in stretchy fabric, with room for keys and a card as well. See waist and belt pouches.
- Neck pouches hang on a cord. The ones here today are waterproof pouches on a neck strap. See neck pouches.
Which one for what you are doing
For running and the gym, the choice is between the arm and the waist. An armband keeps the screen where you can see it, to change a track or check a run. A waist pouch carries more, sits where the weight is barely felt, and leaves both arms free. For a day out, a crossbody bag carries the phone with everything else and keeps your hands free. For water, use a sealed pouch: an armband or waist bag in "waterproof fabric" keeps off sweat and rain, not a swim.
Getting the size right
Pouches and armbands are sized by the phone, and the figure that matters is the whole phone with its case on, not the screen size alone. Listings usually give the largest phone a pouch takes in inches, sometimes with the pouch's own size in centimetres. Measure your phone's height and width in its case and compare. A pouch a little larger than the phone is easier to seal than a tight one. Armbands and belts also give the arm or waist measurement they fit, so check that too.
Questions people ask about phone pouches and armbands
Can I use the touch screen through a pouch?
Usually, through the clear window, though it may respond less well than bare glass. Face and fingerprint unlocking may not work through plastic, so know your passcode.
Can I swim with a waterproof pouch?
Read what the pouch says about depth and time, and test it with a paper towel inside before the first trip. The guide to waterproof pouches and IP ratings explains how.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.
More to look at
