Technology or Sports/Hobbies/Recreation?

January 8, 2011 5:11 PM

Help me attach my iPhone 3GS to my body and then run around like a fool. (Armbands, waistbands, etc.)

So I run, both outside and inside. I have an iPhone 3GS, which is in a CaseCrown close-fitting case. I would really like to have an armband or waistband or whateverband for the iPhone so I can listen to podcasts or music while I run and not hold it in my hand. Armbands are easier to find, but in the event that I want to answer the phone or change my music I've heard they can be a pain. However, waistbands are hard to find.

If it matters, I'm a medium-sized woman in her early 30s training for a half marathon. And I'm in the US, so you can suggest a fanny pack without fear of offending me.

posted by chesty_a_arthur to Technology (11 answers total)

Response by poster: Um, the question was, can you recommend one? I forgot that part.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:31 PM on January 8, 2011

If it is just answering or changing music, are you already using the apple earbuds with remote that come with it? That's what I use and it isn't fantastic, but is the best solution I've found.
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:56 PM on January 8, 2011

Best answer: I had a Tuneband for a while and liked it OK (until I lost the strap). On mine, there was no cover on the screen, so I could use it in situ. If you orient it on the front of your arm and not the side, and upside-down so your headphone plus is pointing at the ground when you're just standing there, you should be able to use it without any difficulty whatsoever.

I was running on a treadmill and lifting, and ultimately found I much preferred to use a sweatshirt or sweatpants/shorts with a roomy pocket, but YMMV.
posted by Andrhia at 6:09 PM on January 8, 2011

Er, that should be headphone pluG, not pluS.
posted by Andrhia at 6:10 PM on January 8, 2011

Best answer: I've got an Amphipod waist pouch (basically, a super-minimal fanny pack) that I like. They make armbands too. From what I've seen of other armbands, if they don't fit snugly around the phone, then the phone is essentially impossible to operate while in its sleeve, so the window exists mainly to taunt you. My wife was gifted with an armband that not only suffered this problem, but also was designed so that the home button was only accessible when the phone was rightside-up, but the headphone port was on the bottom, so the phone needed to be inserted upside-down. Dumb.

There are a lot of iPhone-specific headphones out there that have the same inline controller/mic concept as the ones Apple includes.
posted by adamrice at 6:40 PM on January 8, 2011

Spibelt
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:30 PM on January 8, 2011

I stick it in my bra. Seriously. Of course, I'm large-breasted, and the phone is slim, so it doesn't really show in the type of clothing I wear.
posted by Savannah at 7:44 PM on January 8, 2011 [2 favorites]

Bra also. I've tried several of the armbands, and nothing works as well as my bra.
posted by raisingsand at 7:54 PM on January 8, 2011

Ditto the bra. Also read to put it in a ziplock bag if you sweat a lot or it's raining. The touch screen still works through the bag.
posted by taff at 7:59 PM on January 8, 2011

Best answer: I have this Nathan belt and the iphone fits (sort of diagonally but all the way in) the front gray part. I love it. If 4 water bottles is overkill, I'm sure one of their smaller belts will have a similar front pouch.
posted by peep at 8:19 PM on January 8, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks, guys. Sadly I have very specific headphone requirements as well, so the Apple remote ones are out. I've never had much luck with the bra, for breast configuration reasons that I shall not describe. I'll check out the recommendations here.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 6:10 AM on January 10, 2011