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    Home » How to (DIY)

    The Most Comfortable iPhone Armband EVER. Easy DIY.

    June 28, 2018 by Karen 103 Comments

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    Sure you can buy an expensive neoprene pocket to hold your phone while you run.  But why?  When you can make an elegant and sophisticated holder out of a dirty sock?

    ho

    ly

    sock-3

     

    Several years ago, back when I had a fella, he bought me an armband to hold my iPhone in while I was running.   It was very nice of him.  I will stress what a nice thing that was for him to do, to just walk in the door with an armband for my iPhone to use while running, even though I didn't really run.  Kay?  Understood?  Nice of him.

    I hated it.

    It was too big and scratchy and uncomfortable in the way only a very expensive accessory outsourced to China can be.  It looked good.  It just felt awful.  It dug in my arm and the velcro that closed it scratched at my skin and it took forever to get it to the "right" tightness. It either felt like it was going to fall off or like  an overinflated blood pressure cuff.

    Fast forward to a few months later.   I was cleaning out the laundry room and came across some socks I wear around my ankles during running in the winter.  My ankle warmers.  They're a pair of work socks I cut the foot off of that I slip over the bottom of my running pants so my little ankles don't get a chill.

    The site of them got me to thinking.  I wonder if I could use a sock like that for my iPhone.

    And I could.  That was 5 years ago and I am STILL using the same sock to house my iPhone while I run.

    If you've been looking for a comfortable, WASHABLE, easy to use armband for your phone while exercising, you HAVE to do this.  Obviously it wasn't only a good idea when I did it 5 years ago, but I can safely say that this chopped up sock will stand the test of time.

    It's very involved and complicated so pay attention.  Here's what you have to do ...

    How to Make a Phone Holder for Running.

    Cut the toe off of a sock ... and put it on your arm.

     

    It will immediately make your elbow look all wrinkly like a horse's wee wee as it's coming out to pee.  If you've never seen a horse's wee wee as it's coming out to pee it looks very much like my elbow.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    Stick your phone at the top of your sock, up high on your arm.

    Fold the bottom up over the phone.

     

    Wanna make more of a fashion statement?  Use a fancy sock.  Like this camouflage one.

    Camo Iphone Holder

     

    The original work sock that got me to thinking about making an iPhone holder.  It's too loose and the wool is too scratchy for me, but might work for you if you have bigger arms and no aversion to wool.  It would look especially good if you're a long distance running lumberjack.

    Sock Monkey Iphone Holder

     

    arm-band

    If you want to get really aggressive with this DIY you can serge the raw edge of your sock so it doesn't fray or unravel but I couldn't be bothered. And since this has lasted for 5 years I'm fairly confident in saying ... your sock isn't going to unravel if you don't serge it.

    If you don't wash it, it's going to smell ... but it won't unravel.  Don't run so you don't think you have any need for an arm sock?  Just imagine how cool you'd look with a can of Pringles sticking out of it.

    You're welcome.

    →Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←

    The Most Comfortable iPhone Armband EVER. Easy DIY.

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    1. Papi

      February 01, 2025 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Karen
      You just made my evening. My first real laugh today. I'm glad i stumbled upon your blog. Your experience with the armband is so relatable. I'm gonna give the socks a try since i lost my armband summer years ago and I'm taking jogging back on.
      Looking forward to reading another of your blog.

      Reply
    2. Kait Tucker

      September 14, 2023 at 8:56 am

      Hahaha, this is excellent. Thank you for this practical tip in a humorous fashion. You are my kind of person.

      Reply
      • Karen

        September 15, 2023 at 12:25 pm

        Thanks Kait! This particular tip is yearsssss old and they keep making phones bigger and bigger so I keep needing longer socks to do it, lol. ~ karen!

        Reply
    3. Jean Birch

      September 07, 2023 at 4:06 am

      Karen you are my sort of person - this is great. Today I am starting C25K so I can run with my grandson but what to do with my phone? I will take a quick nip upstairs to the odd sock bag and be all sorted and out of the house with no more excuses. Thank you very much

      Reply
      • Karen

        September 07, 2023 at 11:43 am

        Good luck with the run! ~ karen

        Reply
    4. JANET REEVES

      October 26, 2021 at 12:19 am

      cute idea. thanks. but your humor was worth the whole read through !!! hahahah you are so hilarious.

      Reply
      • Karen

        October 27, 2021 at 8:22 am

        Thanks! Glad you liked it. ~ karen!

        Reply
    5. Frédérique

      April 16, 2021 at 12:58 pm

      Clever project, I love it! I featured it in my “C=Chaussettes” post ;)
      Quilting Patchwork & Appliqué

      Reply
    6. Jagoda

      April 02, 2021 at 5:57 am

      I have a very (very very) skinny arm. The sock fitting was not a problem because I have very very skinny legs too so it fits 😎 No, the problem is... my phone is wider than my arm (it's not really that wide, my arm is just a stickman arm) and it keeps hitting me when I run because it swings. But that's not your fault of course. The life hack is really awesome. I will try it on my thigh tomorrow, it's the only place on my body except for torso, that is actually wider than my phone. I'm a stickwoman 😁

      Reply
      • Karen

        April 02, 2021 at 10:00 am

        My newer phone does the same thing! But I plan to get a smaller phone my next go round, lol. ~ karen!

        Reply
    7. Michelle

      November 22, 2020 at 11:51 am

      DIY savant

      Reply
      • Karen

        November 24, 2020 at 10:58 am

        LOL. ~ karen!

        Reply
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