The perfect accessory for any active fashionista whether you’re a runner, walker, or regular gymaholic, the FlipBelt is the perfect combination of style and functionality. The belt is made of stretchy sweat-wicking polyester/spandex, with four slit openings (two in front, two in back) allowing you to easily slide your belongs inside the enclosed tubular band. Described as “Great for running, working out, hiking, biking, traveling, etc., anytime you need to be hands freeâ€�, FlipBelt is sure to add convenience to carrying all the necessities of your active lifestyle.
I was really excited for the opportunity to try out and review the Flipbelt after seeing it at past running expos. I’m always looking for new ways to carry items during a run and/or race, preferably something that fits my personality and personal style.
How to wear/sizing:
Unlike other styles of running belts that are adjustable, Flipbelt comes in five different sizes from extra small to extra large. The size chart is based off waist measurements, but it really depends on where you prefer to wear the belt. The sizing guide recommends that you go up a size if wearing low on hips and down a size if wearing around natural waist. Based on the size guide I would wear an extra small, but because I wear my running belts lower on my hips the small fit perfectly!
Performance:
The belt fit snug but comfortably, and I forgot I was even wearing it after a while! It stayed in place while running and didn’t ride up at all. Also, because of the snug fit it didn’t bounce around. This was extremely nice especially with past experiences of having to constantly arrange past running belts during a workout or race. I did notice that the bottom started to slightly roll up toward the end of my workouts, but otherwise it stayed put. Some of my items did slightly move around inside of the belt, but not to the extent I felt like they weren’t secure. The belt can always be flipped so the openings are on the inside, to keep your belongings more secure. I usually did this on longer runs or when I was carrying more items. But for most of my experience I wore it with the slit openings facing outward and had no problems.
The material is nice quality and didn’t stretch out or rip after a few uses. It is sweat-wicking, but not waterproof so it won’t help to protect your phone or items during a rainstorm. In my experience the material did get sweaty, so while I had no issues carrying my phone in it during short/moderate runs and workouts, I don’t know if I would during longer runs in extremely hot weather (but that is just my personal preference). I really enjoy the fact that I can slip my phone inside the belt and wear it around my waist, rather than in my armband. The other added bonus is that a key clip is attached to the belt, so you can clip your keys before sliding them inside adding just one more layer of security.
What can you carry?
The FlipBelt definitely has a lot more room to carry items than other running/active belts I’ve tried. In past I’ve had to cram in my energy gels and selectively choose what to carry with me. Here I had enough room to carry whatever I might need. The FlipBelt comfortably fit my iPhone 5s, ID, keys, lip balm, eye drops, Band-Aids, tissues, pepper spray, and energy gels. There was still more room for small additional items, if needed. I definitely didn’t feel like I had to sacrifice items I’d like to carry because of space limitations.
Overall Impressions:
Pros:
- Variety of bold neon colors to choose from
- Smooth, stretchy sweat-wicking material
- Includes a clip for keys
- Thick, nice quality fabric
- Provides easy and quick access to gels / items during workout
- Logo is reflective, great for adding additional visibility during evening runs
- Machine washable
- Stylish and functional
Cons:
- Need to find your correct size; no one size fits all
- No zipper to secure items (but able to flip the belt to securely lock your items from falling out)
- In hot weather one more layer of fabric around waist
- Not waterproof
Summary:
I really enjoyed the FlipBelt and my experience with it so far. As someone who when shopping for workout clothes looks for items with built in pockets to stash stuff, I love the added carrying capacity the FlipBelt provided during my workouts. I like that it allows me the ability to carry more items during my runs and workouts, but also the versatility that its not just for running. It could be used for anything where I would like my hands free, but still want to carry certain items with me, whether that’s to the gym or to the store. I don’t know if I would personally use it during a non-fitness related activity, but you certainly could if you so desired. I didn’t have to chance to use it while biking or hiking so I unfortunately can’t speak to those activities and uses. I also preferred the easy accessibility the belt provided to store my items. I appreciated being able to easily slide my items in/out, rather than having to unzip and/or dig through other items, being careful not to drop or lose anything. There are a few drawbacks as I listed above, but as always those depend on your own personal preferences.
Overall, the FlipBelt comes in various sizes and fun colors, adding both fashion and functionality to your workout as a sleek new updated version of a running belt!
SummaryReview Date 2015-05-27Author Rating 4