The Strategist happens to be full of runners, so this week, we hit the ground running (literally), testing tons of running gear and interviewing experts to give every kind of runner all the intel they might need. Welcome to Running Week.
When I ran college track at TCU, then at Cal, my coaches always encouraged me to listen to the sound of my feet hitting the ground, concentrate on my breath, and, of course, pack together with my teammates for miles and miles. I left my phone in the locker room and the only running gear I wore was my Garmin watch; the main goal was to minimize distractions and stay present through the pain.
After I graduated, I lost that daily practice routine. I started running alone and listening to music or podcasts, which meant packing my phone along with my keys and a small card case in a running belt. I had tried a few belts by the time I found the OG FlipBelt, which immediately became my go-to. I loved that it accommodated my essentials and always stayed put around my waist. It seamlessly blended in with my bottoms, and the continuous loop of stretchy fabric meant no clunky buckles digging into my sides.
After using the OG FlipBelt for several months, I became very intrigued by the brand’s leggings, which have a FlipBelt built in. And when the brand sent me a pair, I was not disappointed. The FlipBelt Mid-Weight Leggings have all the qualities I love about the FlipBelt — they’re sleek, lightweight, and comfortable to wear for hours — but the all-in-one design streamlined my running outfit in a way I didn’t even know was possible. They’ve also eliminated any chance of driving to a trailhead and realizing I’ve forgotten my FlipBelt at home, since it’s already attached to my leggings.
The leggings themselves are high quality and provide the right combination of compression and stretch (I’m not constantly having to hike them up or stopping to pick a wedgie a few miles in). The high rise hits above my belly button, which gives my lower-abdomen extra support and coverage. Overall, the fit and feel remind me of a now-discontinued Lululemon pair that I refuse to get rid of. But unlike those Lululemons, this pair has the large front pocket of the belt, a zippered back pocket for keys, gels, my Airpods, and even a few treats if I’m jogging with my dog, plus drop-in side pocks on both legs. Altogether, that’s a lot of storage for a pair of leggings. Better yet, nothing moves around, so I can focus on the effort of the run instead of what’s jostling around in my pockets.
FlipBelt makes a few other hybrid designs, too — including a pair of cropped leggings and a pair with thicker thermal fabric — but I’m sticking with the Mid-Weight leggings for their full length and sturdy-yet-breathable fabric. I would as happily wear them if I were training for a marathon or just running casually and would absolutely throw them on for long walks or hikes. And if I need even more carrying capacity, I just add a FlipBelt over the FlipBelt tights (yes, I’ve tried it, and yes, it works).
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