Best Running Shorts with Pockets in 2026 (Phone-Ready Picks)
The best running shorts with pockets combine a zippered side or back pocket with a snug liner, so your phone stays put without bouncing. For most runners, that means a pair like the BALEAF Men’s 7″ or the Soothfeel Women’s 5″ below.
Pockets alone will not replace a belt for every run. This guide compares four solid picks for men and women. Then it answers the question everyone actually wants solved: can shorts pockets do a belt’s job?
1. BALEAF Men’s 7″ Running Shorts: best overall for men
This pair combines a mesh liner with three pockets. One zippered back pocket fits a phone up to 6.7 inches, and two open side pockets hold small items.
The zippered back pocket is the reason this earns the top spot. It sits close to the body and holds a phone flat instead of letting it flop. The mesh side panels add ventilation for warm-weather runs.
2. Soothfeel Men’s 2-in-1 Running Shorts: best with compression liner
The 2-in-1 design pairs a looser outer short with a compression liner underneath. The outer layer carries two side pockets and one zipper pocket, and the liner adds two more side pockets for a phone.
Choose this one if you want thigh support along with your storage. The compression liner is a step up from a standard mesh brief for runners who chafe or want more muscle support on longer efforts.
3. Soothfeel Women’s 3″ Running Shorts: best short-run pick
This pair keeps things simple: a high-waisted fit, a built-in liner, and two deep zipper pockets sized for a phone, cards, and a key.
The high waistband is the detail that keeps this pocket from bouncing. Sitting higher on the waist spreads the phone’s weight instead of letting it swing at hip height. Our guide to different types of running shorts covers how inseam length changes fit if 3 inches feels short for you.
4. Soothfeel Women’s 5″ Running Shorts: best longer inseam
Same zipper pocket setup as the 3 inch version, with a longer 5 inch inseam for runners who want more thigh coverage.
Go with this length if you want the same pocket security with more coverage. The deep zipper pockets fit a large phone alongside a card and a key without bulging.
Can shorts pockets replace a running belt?
Short answer: sometimes. A zippered pocket holds a phone fine on a 20 minute loop around the neighborhood.
- Pockets win for short, simple runs. Phone only, low bounce risk, nothing to lose.
- Belts win once you add keys, cards, or gels. More items means more shifting weight, and a loose pocket starts to sway.
- Long runs favor a belt too. Past an hour, a bouncing phone in a hip pocket gets old fast.
- Liner quality matters more than pocket count. A pocket sewn into a snug liner moves less than one on a loose outer layer.
If you only carry a phone on runs under 45 minutes, good shorts pockets are enough. For everything else, see our full comparison of carrying your phone while running, which lines up pockets, belts, and armbands side by side.
How to choose running shorts with pockets
Not every pocket is built the same. A few details separate a pocket that works from one that just looks good in photos.
- Zippered beats open. An open pocket drops a phone on a downhill stride. A zipper does not.
- Side or back placement. Side pockets are easier to reach mid-run. Back pockets sit more still but need a longer reach.
- Liner or no liner. A built-in liner adds support and gives the pocket a snugger, less bouncy base.
- Phone size before color. Check the pocket depth against your phone size, since a 6.7 inch phone can outgrow a small pocket.
Liner questions come up a lot with these shorts. If you are unsure whether you need one, our guide on why running shorts have built-in underwear explains what the liner actually does. We also cover the related question of wearing underwear with running shorts if you are deciding between a lined and unlined pair.
Do zipper pockets fit a big phone?
Most zippered shorts pockets are cut for phones up to about 6.7 inches. That covers most current large phones with room for a thin case.
- Test it before race day. Slide your phone in at the store or the moment it arrives, not mid-run.
- A case adds bulk fast. A thick case can turn a snug fit into a tight squeeze.
- Back pockets flex more than side pockets. A back zipper pocket sitting against a mesh liner usually has a bit more give.
If the pocket feels tight with your phone in, size up rather than forcing it. A stretched zipper pocket stops sealing properly and starts to sag exactly where you need it to hold still.
Bottom line
For most men, the BALEAF 7″ is the safest pick. Its zippered back pocket and mesh liner handle a phone without fuss on any run under an hour.
Soothfeel’s 2-in-1 is worth the switch if you want built-in thigh support. For women, the Soothfeel 3″ and 5″ cover short and standard-length preferences with the same reliable pocket design.
None of these replace a belt once you add gels, keys, and a long run to the mix. At that point, a dedicated running belt still does that job better than any pocket, however well it zips.
