FlipBelt Classic | Product Review

One of my friends has been on the fence about purchasing a FlipBelt for awhile, so I thought making this my first product review would be appropriate. Check out my video above to see it in action and my full write up below to understand why I’m such a fan! I bought my FlipBelt Classic by Level Terrain LLC a little over a year ago and I’ve been very happy with it. I got mine at REI for $28.95 but used my REI Member Dividend to cover most of the cost. It’s a size Large and comes in the pattern Pink Stripes. As far as I’m aware, the Pink Stripes pattern can only be purchased directly on FlipBelt’s website or at REI, but I see that the company has a few other official retailers who may carry this pattern; however, you can find a FlipBelt on Amazon (check it out here – http://amzn.to/2vGIOoO) in a ton of other colors!

I really love the FlipBelt because it’s a great alternative to armbands and traditional fanny packs. I don’t like armbands since I’ve found they are usually too tight. Likewise, some have been too loose, and I hate fidgeting with my gear. I also hated how most fanny packs were big and bulky. Many of them ended up flopping around on my jungle pouch. With both, you’d often have to fight with buckles or straps. Ain’t nobody got time for that! This is a great product since it doesn’t bounce around and stays in place without pinching, chafing, or cutting off circulation.

The FlipBelt is super easy to use. It’s a continuous band of super stretchy material that still fits snugly to your body. I step into the belt and pull it up over my hips, like a pair of pants or a skirt. Once it’s in the proper position, I put my items inside and adjust them to where they feel the most comfortable against my body. The Classic doesn’t have zippers, but the newer models do; however, it comes with an internal key hook that makes it harder for keys or jewelry to fall out and it’s very secure after you flip it over. I’ve almost lost some cash when I’ve worn it without flipping it over, so I don’t recommend that. It’s called FlipBelt for a reason!

I strongly suggest that if you’re running with an mp3 player or a smartphone (I use a Samsung Galaxy S7 in a Speck case) that you put the device into the band with the screen facing toward your body. When you flip it over, the screen will be facing away from your body and is less likely to get wet. The fabric is moisture wicking and your items shouldn’t get soggy, but wetness can build up between your body and any items in the belt. You can protect against this by following this simple tip, along with keeping your electronics in protective cases (as they should be!).

FlipBelt Classic as part of my outfit for the 2016 Fort2Base race.

Multiple openings means you have a lot of different places to stash your goods. I usually put my phone in the front and ID, keys, cards and cash off to the sides. Since there are a few openings, I used to insert my headphone cord through an opening farther back so I could run it up my back and out of the way of my arms. With that being said, I’ve since switched to wireless headphones.

The only real issue with this product is that even with all the slots, it can be hard to pull items out since the FlipBelt is tight. It’s not so much a problem when you’re standing around, but it makes it difficult if you need access to something while being active. This means I need to start my MapMyFitness app and Spotify music a bit earlier than gun time at races so I don’t fumble around with my phone when it’s go time.

The FlipBelt is made of 92% Micropoly and 8% Lycra. It’s machine washable or you can hand wash it and hang to dry. I wash mine every 1-2 workouts and have thrown it in a top load washing machine with detergent and Pine-Sol then dried it in the dryer on low. It’s held up incredibly well and I don’t anticipate it disintegrating anytime soon. Unfortunately, the reflective logo hasn’t done so well. But it’s small and usually facing my body after I flip it, so it’s not like I’m really going to be missing out on anything when it completely peels off.

I recommend going to a physical store to check out sizing, if you’re unsure what you need, because their size chart isn’t the most accurate, in my opinion. The Large is described as fitting a 32″-35″ Waist or a Womens 10-12. It may be accurate for the true waist, but I have my belt fitting around the upper part of my hips, lower than the smallest part of my waist. A FlipBelt Classic in Large should be about 31″ unstretched and supposedly 43″ stretched. I am currently fitting clothing in Womens sizes 12-14. Where the FlipBelt falls on me measures as 43″ and I feel I have plenty of room to grow or shrink. I would feel comfortable keeping this Large size if I’m personally wearing anything between a 10 to a 16, but understand these numbers are more of a guideline than set in stone.

This was a bit lengthy, but I have a lot of positive things to say about FlipBelt. I hope you’ll give them a try, find the right size for you, and fall as in love with it as I have!