Review on Sweat-Proof Running Belt With Adjustable 3 Pockets For IPhone – Perfect Fitness Companion by Mike Bigglesworth

As an avid runner I always wear a belt to carry my phone and anything else I want to have with me. It's the best way I've found to carry items that doesn't interfere with running or comfort.The main belt that I use now is thin and comfortable, but only has two pockets. So, I put my phone in one pocket positioned in front of my stomach and have the second pocket to the side. While this works okay, it's not ideal.When I saw this Sprigs belt has three pockets, with the front pocket designed for your phone, I was excited to try it out. Beyond having three pockets, the phone pocket uses an innovative flap design to hold the phone without the need for a zipper. Zippers are a pain when you're running. I have some Patagonia trail running shorts that use a similar design and know it works well.When I received the belt, it looked good and immediately tried it on. The material is nice and stretchy. While it is thin, it does not feel like it would easily tear. It's surprising how much you can fit into the pockets without a lot of bounce. You could easily carry your phone, a card, cash, six gels, keys, and wireless headphones. Maybe even sunglasses too. Reminds me of the Salomon Advanced Skin packs.After fumbling with the hook and loop (velcro) closure, trying to get it aligned just right, I realized it was the critical problem with this belt. Every belt that I use has a plastic clip that connects the two ends. It's reliable, easy to use, and allows for adjusting the tightness of the belt. This one only uses velcro. So, all adjustment comes from how you stick the two ends together. The two ends are difficult to line up correctly behind your back, so I tried spinning it around in front and doing it. That works better.The main problem with hook and loop is that one side is soft and the other is rough. On the belt, the rough side faces down towards your skin. To make it worse, the rough side is slightly larger than the soft side. So, no matter how I connected the two, there was always sharp pieces scratching my skin. I didn't like wearing it walking around my kitchen, there's no way I'd want that irritation on a hot run. On a long run, it would draw blood. Such a minor, but critical design flaw.As a note, the whole Small/Medium belt is smaller than the Large/XL belt. I bought both to see the fit difference and was disappointed in this fact. On the Large belt, my phone slid in and out easily and fit in the pocket well. On the Small, my phone was tight. Laying them side by side, I could see that everything was a little smaller on the Small belt, not just in the back. Pockets too. Another poor design choice, in my opinion.If Sprigs comes out with a second version that uses a plastic clip closure instead of the velcro, I will be the first in line to buy it. This one, I returned.