Lululemon Fast and Free Running Belt
My go-to phone carrying solution for low-mileage days
Lululemon Fast and Free Running Belt: Review
The Lululemon Fast and Free Running Belt is my go-to solution for bringing my phone on low mileage runs, but I don’t expect it to do much more than that.
Here’s why:
➯ The Pros
It carries the essentials
I purchased the Lululemon Fast and Free Running belt to carry essentials on low-mileage runs where I don’t need to lug around layers or hydration. I mostly use it for hitting up neighborhood routes or local trails when I don’t need much, but still want to bring my phone, key, and cash/cards. It’s a tight fit for those three essentials, but, all in all, this belt does what I need it to do and that’s one of the main reasons it’s my go-to.
Secure, but not restrictive fit
Unlike other running belts on the market, the waistband on the Lululemon Fast and Free Running Belt is largely inelastic. It feels more like a backpack strap. I’ve found that this design actually makes the belt less constrictive than other running belts since it doesn’t rely on tension to stay in place. When the belt is empty, it feels like it’s barely there, but when I load it up with my trusty, albeit heavy iPhone 12, it feels like the belt is working with gravity to keep everything in place. The pouch part of the belt still has some stretch to it, so you can still achieve a snug fit, but without feeling like you are constantly being squeezed.
Key storage
The Lululemon Fast and Free Running belt consists of one main, zippered pocket and two external flip-open pockets. One of the external flip pockets has a loop for storing a gel or two, and the other has a plastic hook clip for a key or fob. I’m personally a huge fan of the key storage feature because I can quickly and easily store my key when I’m heading out the door. And I can focus on my run, free from the nagging worry that my key is going to fall out on the trail, never to be seen again.
Colorways
The Lululemon Fast and Free Running belt comes in multiple colors that pair well with other Lululemon gear so you can make a fun ‘fit. I view running as an open invitation to embrace colorful clothes in a world obsessed with neutrals, so I very much enjoy this belt’s pop of color in my running wardrobe.
➯ The Mehs
Lack of padding
The pouch part of the belt is made of a thin, lightweight material without much reinforcement or padding. Because I use this belt to carry my phone, the hardcase of my phone sometimes rubs against the base of my tailbone, causing chafing and discomfort. I’ve found that making sure I have the belt outside my shirt helps reduce any issues.
Limited carrying capacity
As I mentioned above, this belt carries everything I need, but it would be a tight, perhaps impossible fit if I needed or wanted to carry more, such as my entire keychain rather than just one key or fob.
No divider in main pocket
The main pocket is a tight fit for my phone, so when I take it out I always feel like I’m risking the other items I keep in the main pocket falling out, especially valuable cards/cash. It would be great if Lululemon upgraded the belt to include an extra divider on the inside for cards that opened to the side rather than the top, so you can carry cards without the risk.
