How do you hold your ipod?

HardyEustace

I've rallied for a long time against ipods/mp3 players when running but lately have found that I've been thinking it would be a big help as I'm finding the longer runs lonely and difficult. Anyway, if you do use an ipod/mp3 player what do you use to hold it?

I've seen a few people where they have it strapped to their arm. I've got a nano pod so it's very light but not sure how to secure it.

Sub430

I've had a similar one to this for the past year - does the job.

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Neoprene-Sports-Armband-Black/dp/B000WKY2MK

This is for the older nano, the new nano is a lot smaller.

Long runs without music :eek:
I know some people frown upon it but I would be lost without it.

macinalli

Buy one of the arm-holder thingies! Tripped when running a couple of weeks ago; made bits of my nice new Creative Zen which I was holding at the time:(

eliwallach

Whenever I use mine (which is rare) I rather boringly just stick it in my pocket...
There is the advantage of easy access for when a rogue Bryan Adams song (:o) might shuffle it's way onto your playlist - you can skip it swiftly.

LambDave

I just make sure to buy shorts with zip pockets at the back.

iPhone fits in these and I make sure to place the headphones down my back because I found that the wires were annoying me on my runs when wrapped around my front and I ended up just taking them out and not listening to any music.

RoyMcC

Or you can buy a holder for the nano which you can then clip onto the waistband of your shorts. Never liked the arm thing.

Highway_To_Hell

Usually carry my Ipod in the zip pocket at the back of my shorts, I use the Radio/remote and run the cable arounf to my front and clip it on to the bottom of my top so I an easily skip unwanted songs.



I have used the Nike armband and found that on longer runs moisture built up in the ipod pouch and caused problems to the ipod and it stopped working and had to be dried out.

Jay Pentatonic

I've got the i-pod classic, so it's not as easy to carry.
I tried just holding it, but I felt like a bit of a muppet.
I tried my pocket after that, but it just kept jumping out...it never broke though, pretty lucky.

guess it's just good old daydreaming for me

eliwallach

eliwallach wrote: »

Whenever I use mine (which is rare) I rather boringly just stick it in my pocket...

yep, works best for me too. Just run the headphones down under your top, and you are set

Mr E

I got some Logitech Wireless Pulse headphones on iBood a while back. You put a bluetooth transmitter in the 3.5mm jack on your MP3 player (works with all of them, iPod, Zen etc.), put the headphones on your head and turn them both on. Stick your ipod in your pocket, or sock, or whatever.... The system is bluetooth (no wires) and its the most comfortable way for me to run. The only downside is 5-6 hours battery life, so if you run alot, you'll be charging pretty regularly.

lightening

I'm not a jogger per say, I hate it, but have to do it too keep fit for other sports... I can't run without my IShuffle, light, cheap, gigs of memory... brilliant.

BeepBeep67

Lidl were selling tops last week with a pocket for your MP3 player and a handy loop for the ear phone cable - only €6.99, not sure if they have any left.
I always (actually infrequently - plan my long run from August to Sat afternoon and listen to Five Live or today FM covering a Prem match) use the one that fits high on your arm and take the headphones out the neck of my top.

eliwallach

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I always (actually infrequently - plan my long run from August to Sat afternoon and listen to Five Live or today FM covering a Prem match).

I would love the radio option but reception coming and going is a real pain in the a$$. Maybe the reception is more steady in the Greater Dublin area.

PS well done on 1,000 mile thing :cool:.

BeepBeep67

Cheers - I have my little Sony (lighter sized) for about 3 years, 2gb and strong FM signal and another Sony (matchbox size) radio with digital tuner for AM which has a signal booster and the headphones become the aerial.

lecheile

I got one of these armband things for Mrs LeCheile and she loves it. Its a new Irish site that was being discussed on one of the Bix threads.

gmurran

Nike arm band has me lasted for over a year and never fallen out. Just dont have it too tight or it will effect your arm movement.

rainbow kirby

Back pocket of my shorts/capris ftw.

**Timbuk2**

I usually just put it in my shorts pocket.

However, in some of my shorts, the pockets are really big and the feel of the iPod Touch jumping around inside my pocket is so irritating I usually run without it. But one pair of shorts (Dunnes Stores ) are really good and the iPod fits in perfectly - wouldn't even know it was there!

littlebug

Sort of on the same topic can anyone recommend good comfortable earphones? I've only run once with music (Cheap lidl crappy thing).. loved having something to listen to but found the earphones really uncomfortable and I couldn't get the damn thing to stay in my left ear.. think my ears are probably a bit odd..:o

tenandtracer

Race ready shorts are great for holding mp3 players. The pocket is at the front with velcro flap - kinda handy.

Krusty_Clown

littlebug wrote: »

Sort of on the same topic can anyone recommend good comfortable earphones? I've only run once with music (Cheap lidl crappy thing).. loved having something to listen to but found the earphones really uncomfortable and I couldn't get the damn thing to stay in my left ear.. think my ears are probably a bit odd..:o

I use the over the ear hanger type. Usully pick up a set in TKMax for around 15 euro. Sound quality would be decent (but not brilliant), but you can still hear the traffic, etc.

jrar

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Lidl were selling tops last week with a pocket for your MP3 player and a handy loop for the ear phone cable - only €6.99, not sure if they have any left.
I always (actually infrequently - plan my long run from August to Sat afternoon and listen to Five Live or today FM covering a Prem match) use the one that fits high on your arm and take the headphones out the neck of my top.

Snap - but the reception on 5Live can be infuriating - usually I end up carrying my trusty iPod Classic in an armband (cheapo velcro one bought on net for a fiver but boy does it do the trick) and listen to the shuffle option, OR if I'm on the quieter roads around my area I might listen to some podcasts or talk radio.

Sometimes find with music that you don't "hear" all of the songs i.e. have come back from runs and reviewed tracks played and I find myself going "jaysus, I don't really remember that track being played"

HardyEustace

Thanks to everyone for their feed back, I really appreciate it.

BJohnson

littlebug wrote: »

Sort of on the same topic can anyone recommend good comfortable earphones? I've only run once with music (Cheap lidl crappy thing).. loved having something to listen to but found the earphones really uncomfortable and I couldn't get the damn thing to stay in my left ear.. think my ears are probably a bit odd..:o

I keep buying these every few years:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310155196477

You can find them in any Sony shop for around €16, or you can buy them from eBay for about half the price, as long as you don't mind waiting a week or two for delivery. I run every run with them and have never found them uncomfortable. They take a real beating as well - I can't believe how many long runs I've done in the rain, getting them completely soaked, and not having any problems with them. Even if they do eventually break, they're so inexpensive that you can just pick up another pair for cheap.

Back on topic, I'm surprised more people haven't mentioned the 2nd generation iPod shuffle. I think it's perfect for running. The built-in clip is awesome - it clips onto the waist of your shorts, doesn't bounce around, and is super easy to skip forward and back. It's also so light that the headphones actually weigh more than the iPod. The battery has never died on me in over two years, and I don't need a screen while I'm out running - I just load it up with some favourite songs or a couple of podcasts and I'm good to go. I wouldn't recommend it as anyone's one and only iPod, but for athletics, I love it.

TJC

lightening wrote: »

I'm not a jogger per say, I hate it, but have to do it too keep fit for other sports... I can't run without my IShuffle, light, cheap, gigs of memory... brilliant.

Does the job for me too.
Especially on the long runs, just be careful not to put too many fast dancy tunes on it or ur pace will be up and down... Altho u cud keep the fast songs till the end when u mite need them:):)

TheTubes

nike do some of their running gear with the nike+ logo that have little pockets for an ipod (should fit most small mp3 players).
I have one of the shorts but never used the pockets, I keep it in my hand or on a strap, I use the nike+ sensor so I like being able to check the screen to see my pace.
I agree with the poster above who mentioned the moisture build up when using the arm strap, my ipod never went as far as not working but it does get a bit slow to respond.

This_Years_Love

Maybe it just me, but I found the armbands really annoying. What works best for me is a pair of tracksuit bottoms with pockets with zippers.

hot to trot

I couldnt agree more with you about the shuffle. Dead small and handy and survives all sorts of climate abuse. I often have interviews,podcasts, and sometimes audio books on mine as I sometimes get weary of only music om my long runs.

metamorphosis

Ipod shuffle ftw.

Clips onto your shorts and doesn't way anything. cheap too.

kevinbirchall

The Ishuffle is fantastic for running even long distance. I just clipped my to my shorts and put the cable up my t-shirt. I'm now running with a classic which I have in the pocket of my water bottle carrier.

sporina

pardon my ignorance but with an ipod shuffle, can you choose the tracks or is it always on shuffle?

hot to trot

There is a switch to let you choose random/shuffle or else you can play your playlist one by one

Tom Joad

Have an ipod shuffle and clip it to the waistband off my shorts.

loughie

Until this week use an ipod nano (1st Gen) and keep it in pocket of gel belt.

Apparently 1st gen ipod nanos are faulty and so I sent it back this week to be replaced for a new ipod nano 6th Gen!!

rom

loughie wrote: »

Until this week use an ipod nano (1st Gen) and keep it in pocket of gel belt.

Apparently 1st gen ipod nanos are faulty and so I sent it back this week to be replaced for a new ipod nano 6th Gen!!

new nano is perfect for running however if u run the earphone cable under tshirt over hrm u will have problems with hrm as as soon as you put it outside hrm starts to work. would like to get short cable earphones so i can clip it to my shirt

sporina

i have an ipod touch and was planning on buying an armband for it but i am not sure if i will bother; i think i should just go and get an ipod shuffle - i think the ipod touch would be too heavy for running..?

G-Money

I've tried the armband with an iPhone and it's ok but it sort of feels like running with a blood pressure band around your arm or something! I have a pair of wireless headphones so sometimes I just put the phone in my pocket and use it that way, although before I used to do that anyway even without wireless headphones.

I also have an iPod nano and it's really small and light, it has a clip built into it so I just clip it onto my jacket or t-shirt of whatever.

Mike D

Have a recent style Nano with a Nike armband and works a treat for me. I did get an armband for iPhone but find it too heavy and only used it when LSRs were upto 20 miles - Mrs D wondering where the hell I was.

Found our 2 old Nanos in the drawer the other day - 1st Gen... so just despatched them to Apple and looking forward to getting replacement 6th Gens! Nice.

VR46

Nano

---

> Pocket

Small and light enough that it doesn't bounce around.

b.harte

I bought 2 of these:
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-8833.aspx
They show up on special every now and then instore, I think I only paid about 3 or 4 euro each.
small, light, clips on to the collar of my tops, cheap enough to not really worry if it takes a dive currently have about 10 hours of a playlist for my long runs, don't hear the same songs for a few runs.
I have a pair of short lead ear-buds so no cable drape problems.
Nano is a good option too but cheap is cheerful.

wideball

I use a Sansa Clip.

Really handy to clip on and go. Packs a lot into a small size.

http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-players/sandisk-sansa-clipplus-mp3-player

sporina

i assume any headphone can be used with any ipod product?

shane1981

+1 for the Sansa Clip. Very small and easy to control through your shorts or top.

sporina

shane1981 wrote: »

+1 for the Sansa Clip. Very small and easy to control through your shorts or top.

looks cool - where do i get one of those? oh and i assume i can use any headphones with them?

shane1981

sporina wrote: »

looks cool - where do i get one of those? oh and i assume i can use any headphones with them?

yeah, any headphones will do. I got mine in from amazon. Just plug into usb port and drag your mp3s onto it. Nice big clip on it too.

sporina

shane1981 wrote: »

yeah, any headphones will do. I got mine in from amazon. Just plug into usb port and drag your mp3s onto it. Nice big clip on it too.

ok. I have a macbook and use itunes for my music - can i drag my itunes tunes into it?

rom

sporina wrote: »

ok. I have a macbook and use itunes for my music - can i drag my itunes tunes into it?

If they are mp3's and you didn't buy them on iTunes with DRM then yes

sporina

rom wrote: »

If they are mp3's and you didn't buy them on iTunes with DRM then yes

whats DRM? I am not sure what format they are in - if not mp3's then what else? i am not a tech head by any means.. sorry..

hardCopy

wideball wrote: »

I use a Sansa Clip.

Really handy to clip on and go. Packs a lot into a small size.

http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-players/sandisk-sansa-clipplus-mp3-player

Got one last week on pixmania, fantastic job. FM radio and podcast resume were the most important features for me.

hardCopy

sporina wrote: »

rom wrote: »

If they are mp3's and you didn't buy them on iTunes with DRM then yes

whats DRM? I am not sure what format they are in - if not mp3's then what else? i am not a tech head by any means.. sorry..

Tracks bought in iTunes are typically downloaded as AAC or M4A rather than true MP3 format (thank you Steve Jobs). These files are usually protected to stop you sharing them illegally.

I'm pretty sure there is a function in iTunes to convert them to MP3, once you convert them you can play then on anything.

sporina

yeah my itunes are in mp3 format so all good.
I had a look at the sandisk sansa on pixmania and they look the job alright - better than a shuffle as they have a radio. But how do I charge it? Does a charger come with it?