What type of runner are you? Are you the type who brings their hydration belt on every one, with your cell phone stuffed in the pocket? Are you a minimalist who runs without extra gear or pressure? I’m somewhere in between, although I used to be the first kind – I like water for anything over 3 miles (especially in the summer). I found a hand water bottle that works for me, so over the past year I’ve been using that on more “short” runs and saving the belt for longer endevours. That works great, unless I want to listen to music or an audiobook. Where do I put my cell phone?
Recently, I had the opportunity to test out a the Sprigs Banjees Wrist Wallet, a product I hope would address this issue for me. Banjees are reversible (mine is grey on one side, black on the other), lightweight, and have two pockets for storing your stuff. The zippered pocket is great for the slightly smaller items, but the hooded pocket stretches to hold my Android smartphone! This makes taking my phone on a run with my wireless headphones an easy choice!
I tested this out in hot weather, comfortable weather, short runs, and mid-length runs. The things I do to give you an in-depth review! Here are my thoughts:
Pros:
- Small, stretchy fabric. Takes up virtually no space in your bag.
- Easily expands to fit around smartphones, while still holding something smaller on the other side.
- Zippered pocket on one side holds small items securely – like room keys when travelling.
- Easy take things in-and-out of while running.
- Easy to adjust while running.
- Pouch keeps your phone safe (and scratch-free) while moving.
- Lots of color and pattern options to choose from!
Cons:
- For petite people (like me!), it’s a little big for our smaller wrists. I slide mine up closer to my elbow to find a spot that feels snug.
- Because I am smaller, it does slide around a bit at the beginning of my runs until I get it situated.
- Smartphones are NOT small, so it does feel bulky on your wrist.
In summary, I think this is great way to carry a few things with you on a run, without having to pull out the larger hydration belt option. Your hands are still free and I can enjoy my shorter runs feeling unencumbered.
Make sure you check out their website for other great products, including several items that would be great for yoga (I have my eye on a few)! You can also find them on twitter & facebook.
Disclosure: I was provided a Banjees Wrist Wallet in exchange for my honest opinions about the products. All opinions are my own.
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Questions for you:
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What type of runner are you? Do you carry stuff on every run or are you a minimalist?
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#RWRunStreak friends – how are you doing with your runs?! Today is day 18 and I’m still going strong!!
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
haha, i am about to post my review too. I call it banjee ARM wallet now. Same thing, a little too big. Other than that. I love it!
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Great minds think alike!
I barely had time for a workout this morning so all I did was get 1 mile in! Haven’t been on any longer runs lately, but I’m keeping the streak alive! Depending how far I’m running, I either taken nothing, or water and my cell phone. I have a spi belt which I like. Is that pouch waterproof? I always worry that my sweat is going to ruin my phone.
1 mile counts – I’ve been doing lots of 1 milers recently, but those little miles do add up! I don’t think pouch is waterproof, but the material seems pretty good, I don’t worry about my sweat getting to the phone.
I wear running skirts so i generally carry my stuff in my skirt pockets but tihs looks cool too!
Me too – running skirts are awesome! I carry too much to fit in those pockets though. :)
I can’t wait to get mine in the mail, I am dying to try these. I think they will be better for my small wrists. Everything else doesn’t fit right.
Very cool – I’ll be excited to hear your thoughts!
GREAT Product. I usually try to run with as little as possible, but you always end up needing somewhere to put your keys, phone, ipod. It adds up. This looks like it would help!
Exactly, those small things add up! :)
I prefer to be more minimal- the less I have to carry the better. I wear my Garmin and usually have my i-pod as well. If I am running longer I will carry a small water bottle, but stash it somewhere along my route, as I hate having to carry things. Don’t weigh me down! =)
I like the idea of the wrist band, but I too have very small wrists and wouldn’t want to see the tan lines that sucker would leave- ha!
I didn’t think about tan lines! I tend to wear 50 SPF when I’m working out to try to avoid that very thing, great reminder – who wants funky tans lines?! :)
Looks great!! I am a minimalist runner, unless I am running more than 8 miles I never have anything with me. When I do need to bring water/fuel I have a hydration belt. My husband and I don’t run with music so we never need an iPod or phone (although sometimes I think we should bring phones just for safety reasons but we are always together). I would love one of those just to hold my fuel when I am wearing shorts that don’t have pockets!
I wish I could be as minimalist as you – that’s awesome! I think the Banjees would work really well stuffed full of fuel (vega gels, in my case) for those longer runs. :)
I’m also somewhere in between. I carry a handheld, which has a little pocket that can hold a key or a gu. I keep my iphone on my arm. For longer runs, I might use a lightweight fanny pack.
I think the wrist wallet would be perfect for the longer runs to replace the fanny pack (never liked things tied around my waist, feels like constant pressure on my bladder). I think that anything heavier that a key or a few gu’s would be too heavy though.
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I have a similar handheld, although it doesn’t hold hotel keys or my gigantic car key very well. I have heard several people mention the “pushing on the bladder” thing, that seems to be more common than I would have realized.
This is something I would definitely be interested in trying…. need a place for a key, a lip sunscreen, kleenex…. you know… stuff! Great review and thank for sharing.
Don’t miss the giveaway today (and coupon code) so that you really can try this out for yourself! :)
I also jam it in my waterbelt… it fits better there. I move the gels/gus to my pockets since I use them more frequently and they dont wiggle as much.
I have an arm band that I use on shorter runs or when I dont have my belt with me. Always great to have options. Great post!
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We have similar packing styles for runs – anything that fits can come! I forgot to mention I don’t usually like things on my arms – but maybe the lower placement of the Banjees works for me, because it doesn’t annoy me like the normal arm bands do. :)
Thank you for the thorough review! You’re not alone with having small wrists and in my experience, the Organic Cotton Banjees fit smaller wrists better. Check them out: http://sprigs.com/banjees/organic-cotton-banjees/
Thanks for the comment! I thought I might not be the only one with smaller wrists, it’s great to hear there are options. :)
I usually only take my keys with me on a run, but sometimes I’ll take a credit card so I can stop and grab some groceries on my way home. I love running with SPI Belts but feel like they give me side aches so would like to try this out!
Wow – groceries on your way home from a run – that is impressive!
Hahah well I live in Brooklyn so the grocery store is like two blocks away so it’s a good cool down. :)
Looks really cute, but I already wear too many things on my wrists LOL. I run with my iphone in an armband, but I have to put it in a plastic bag because I sweat so much.
Sweaty women runners are awesome – be proud! :)
Oh I really love my Banjees! Use it all the time–I’m not petite so it stay put pretty well! ;) Still streaking too!
Yay – another #RWRunStreaker!! I’m getting ready to head out for my streak run of the day too. :)
this product looks pretty awesome! honestly, when i go running outside, i keep my ipod in my sports bra. i wear one of those plastic bracelets with my house key on it, and i hold it while i run. if i don’t have it with me, i feel weird with the empty hand actually!
Do you have one of those special sports bras with the “cleavage pocket” or you just make it work? I’ve heard of those, but never tried it myself. Very clever! :)
nooo, i’ll have to look into that! i just slip it in there, and let it get all sweaty, haha. i just have to remember to take it out and hold it while i stretch because it slips out when i’m bending down and smashed on the ground!
actually, turkey hill used to sell these bottles of water that were in a flask shape. i used to run with that in my sports bra so i wouldnt have to hold a bottle. only down side was it would warm up right away from my body heat, but warm hydration is better than no hydration, right? turkey hill has since stopped carrying that brand, that was about 5 years ago.
Awesome! I would love to try a “big banjee” – the turquoise/black stripe one. I run with as little as possible (usually just ID and a key), but it’d be great to be able to bring my cell phone on a run! I’d feel safer, and could snap photos as #PROOF! ;)
Thanks for hosting!