17 Places To Stash Your Keys When Running

Leaving the house without your keys is not an option, even when going on a run. After all, you need your keys to get into your house and/or car, but carrying a jangling bunch of keys when running is so irritating. There’s got to be a better way, but what it is? How can you conveniently bring your keys with you on a run?

Try these 17 smart places for keeping your keys when you run:

Your pants/shorts pocket
Hydration belt
Weighted vest
Fanny pack
Backpack
Attached to your dog’s collar
Wristband with pockets
Your socks
Tied to your drawstring
Threaded through an elastic hair tie
Water bottle holder
Phone armband
Sports bra pocket
In your shoelaces
Running belt
In a glove
In a baby stroller

Keep reading to learn more about each of these smart key storage methods, including product recommendations along the way!

Stumped on Where to Stash Your Keys When Running? Try These 15+ Creative Ideas

Your Pants/Shorts Pocket

Let’s start with the most obvious solution, as sometimes what’s the most obvious is the best for a reason. Just put your keys in the pockets of your shorts or pants.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman and whether you prefer running in slightly baggy pants or skintight leggings. Today’s athletic clothes are laden with more useful features than ever before, including pockets.

A small pocket gives you greater peace of mind that your key will stay within, but a regular-sized pocket can work if that’s all you’ve got. More so than the size of the pocket, you must make sure the pocket has a zipper. If it doesn’t, then the moment you gain some momentum on you run, you can say goodbye to your car key or house key. From a safety standpoint, that’s a horrible outcome.

If you need some new running pants for bringing your keys, we like these BALEAF running pants for men on Amazon. Made of a blend of polyester (20 percent) and cotton (80 percent), dual pockets on either side of the pants zip completely closed. These are deeper pockets, but now you can carry your phone as well as your keys when you go running!

Leggings with zippered pockets? They’re out there! Try these BIOSKIN running compression tights on for size. They move with your body thanks to their polyester (80 percent) and elastane (20 percent) construction, but much more importantly, they have one back pocket that zips closed. It can fit at least an iPhone 6, so your keys should definitely be able to go in there.

For the sake of your silhouette (no one wants a lumpy-looking butt), maybe detach your house key or car key from the rest of your keyring and store only the one key in the rear pocket.

Hydration Belt

We just wrote an awesome post on ways to carry water on your runs. One of our suggestions was a hydration belt. These lightweight waist belts allow you to tote a decent amount of water (about 20 ounces) around your waist, but that’s not all you can use a hydration belt for. They’re also handy for keeping your keys.

For instance, let’s look at one of the belts we recommended in that article, the Salomon Pulse Hydration Belt, which is available from Backcountry. This sleek and streamlined belt made of mesh features a diagonal zippered pocket that can definitely fit a key or several. It also comes in all sorts of sizes (from extra-small to extra-large) and colors like pink, black, and red.

The Nathan Hydration Running Belt Trail Mix Plus on Amazon is another useful pick. That appealing center storage pouch emblazoned with the Nathan logo is about 6.5 inches. Nathan recommends using it for keeping older smartphone models (up to the iPhone 8 Plus), but you can definitely toss your whole keyring in there if you wanted. Put in some earbuds so you don’t hear the jangling of the keys!

Weighted Vest

Do you want to run faster, burn more calories, increase endurance, and build strength all while having a place to stash your keys? Then you need a weighted vest! We detailed all the many benefits of running with weights in this article, which is definitely worth a read before buying one of these vests.

The RUNFast weighted vest on Amazon should check all your boxes. It features a horizontal zippered pouch with the RUNFast logo across it that can keep your keys and several other small essential items, like maybe a snack. The vest is available at weights between 20 and 120 pounds so runners of all skill and strength levels can see more benefit.

Fanny Pack

The good, old-fashioned fanny pack has been in and out of style over the decades, that’s for sure. As of 2020, fanny packs are totally in, albeit with changes like leather textures and being worn cross-body instead of around your waist.

However, you’re running, so you definitely don’t want a leather fanny pack. You can go for the fun Day-Glo colors if you want to throw it back to the ‘80s and ‘90s or you can opt for a more neutral color that’s less attention-grabbing. Either way, as long as it zips and is at least roomy enough for a key or several, you’re in good shape with a fanny pack.

Backpack

Not every runner loves jogging with a backpack on because it adds weight, which can change your running stance (not to mention it feels a bit awkward at first). Yet as with any kind of weight-training, there is some benefit to be had in carrying a backpack if you’re up for the challenge. Just don’t put loose weights in your backpack, as that’s a recipe for injury!

Rather than use any ol’ backpack you have lying around the house, buy a pack made for running instead. The Osprey Duro 15 Hydration Pack from REI is one such option. This bag features compression straps and a hip belt wrap so you can secure it to your body. The Hydraulics LT 2.5 reservoir with a sternum magnet and QuickConnect technology lets you drink hands-free.

As for pockets, the Duro has ‘em in spades. There’s a vertical harness stash pocket with a whistle zipper pull, two big stretchable harness pockets, two more harness pockets lower on the bag, dual panel stretch-mesh pockets with zippers, a third panel stretch-mesh compression pocket on the front, a panel stash pocket with zippers at the front, and a reservoir sleeve with a zipper. Phew!

You have nearly infinite possibilities for hiding your keys within the Osprey Duro, so have at it!

Attached to Your Dog’s Collar

Running with your dog is a wonderful chance for you both to get some exercise while also enjoying bonding time together. If you own a dog breed with seemingly endless energy such as a Pit Bull or a Jack Russell Terrier, you’ll be able to thoroughly tire them out. Your pup will want a long nap when you two get home, and you’ll be able to have some much-deserved quiet time.

While you’re running with your dog, you might as well put them to work in another way, by tying your key to their collar or harness!

A few caveats for this method. For one, this only works for one key or two, so select which keys you must bring sparingly.

You also want to double-check that the connection between the key and your dog’s collar is ultra-secure. We’d recommend removing your key but keeping it on a single keyring, then looping that keyring into your dog’s harness or collar. That’s a lot safer than tying the key to the collar with string.

Wristband with Pockets

Sweatbands or wristbands keep your hands less slick with sweat. If you never leave for a run without a pair of wristbands, you might want to think about upgrading your set to something like these pocketed wristbands from The Friendly Swede on Amazon.

The wristbands are water-resistant polyester for trapping sweat and other moisture. Each wristband is a generous 4.5 inches for being able to store your keys and even a credit card or debit card. A zipper closure keeps your valuables secure.

You can select from several sizes and colors for your wristband set. The small size is for wrists that are 5.5 to 6.7 inches and the large is for wrists 6.4 to 8.2 inches. You can buy these wristbands in white, gray, or black.

Your Socks

If you’re already at the park or on the running trail and you need to put your keys somewhere, try your socks! Hopefully, you’re already wearing compression socks, which are a must for runners.

Why? The fit of these socks is tight but not constricting so you never have to worry about your socks sagging or falling down in the middle of your run. Compression socks also don’t bunch, so you can say goodbye to blisters and chafing. You’ll run longer without pain.

Just slip your car key or house key into one of your compression socks several inches down. The key might shift a little as you run, but it won’t move enough that it travels down under your foot.

Tied to Your Drawstring

Do your running shorts or pants have a drawstring? If so, then you have yet another crafty option for keeping a single key. Pull the drawstring out several inches, untying it if it’s knotted. Thread your key through the drawstring via one of the openings at the top of the key. Tie a single knot around or through the opening, then a double-knot.

To secure the key even more, you can then tie your drawstring into a double-knotted bow or even tuck the drawstring into your pants. If you take breaks on your run, it’s not a bad idea to check that the key is still attached.

As tempting as it is, we would dissuade you from triple-tying any of your knots. You need to be able to remove the key from your drawstring when you’re done running, and tying the drawstring that much might prevent you from doing that!

Threaded Through an Elastic Hair Tie

Whether it’s working out at the gym, doing yoga at home, or running, you always pull your hair back so it’s out of your face. That means you should have an elastic hair tie at the ready. That’s good considering this is yet another means of keeping your keys when on a run.

If you’re already wearing the hair tie, begin by taking it out. Squish the hair tie so both sides are close together, then feed that half of the hair tie through the opening of your key. If your hair tie is thin enough, you may be able to knot it around the key, but otherwise, quickly pull your hair back with the key still in the hair tie. It shouldn’t go anywhere, plus, this looks kind of cool!

Water Bottle Holder

Although it’s not the most recommended option, you can use a handheld bottle holder for transporting water on your runs. To fit food gels and other small items, many of these bottle holders include a zipper pocket or pouch.

One such water bottle holder that we suggest is the CamelBak Nano Handheld, which includes a 17-ounce QuickStow flask and a sizable pouch. That pouch opens and closes courtesy of a bungee-tied zipper. CamelBak says you can fit a credit card, food gels, or keys in the pouch, so you’re all set.

Phone Armband

On this blog, we always discourage runners from holding their phones on the trail. Your sweaty hands can make you drop and break your phone, and the bulky phone affects your running gait. You could end up injured through this bad habit.

A phone armband is a smart solution not just for safeguarding your phone, but for storing a key as well. The Armpocket on Amazon can hold case-free phones measuring 6.3 inches long, including phone models like the Galaxy S7 Edge and the iPhone 8 Plus.

The armband comes in three sizes: small (7 to 11 inches), medium (10 to 15 inches), or large (13 to 18 inches). When inserting your phone into the slitted front pocket, you can also slip a key or two right in.

The Amphipod is an Amazon’s Choice armband that can fit smartphone models up to the iPhone 6. The stretchy material and mesh panels promote comfort and breathability. Unlike the Amrpocket, the pocket on the Amphipod zips so your phone and a key or two are at no risk of falling out.

Sports Bra Pocket

For the ladies, a sports bra is the perfect solution for stashing your keys. No, we don’t mean stuffing a key or two in the bra and hoping the elastic prevents the keys from falling. Instead, you can keep your keys nice and secure when wearing a sports bra with pockets.

The Lululemon Stash N’ Run Bra is one of the more beloved bras for these purposes. Intended for women who are B cups to C cups, the Stash N’ Run is made of Lycra fibers to hold its shape for longer. Besides its four-way stretch and moisture-wicking, this bra is also a favorite because of its useful front pocket.

The pocket doesn’t zip, but you should be able to feel your keys in there, so you don’t have to stress about them falling out. Yes, we meant keys, plural. Some women use the Lululemon Stash N’ Run for their iPhones, so your keys can definitely fit.

The Nike Swoosh Women’s Sports Bra is also right up your alley. It features breathable mesh panels and moisture-wicking throughout. Even better is that the polyester that goes into this sports bra is mostly recycled, up to 50 percent. We saved the best for last though, and that’s the inclusion of hidden pockets for your keys.

In Your Shoelaces

Earlier, we told you how you can use your pants or shorts drawstring to hold your keys. If you’re wearing string-less leggings, your shoelaces are your next best option. Like you did before, pull the lace out nice and long, thread the key through, double-knot it, then tie and wear your shoes like normal. It’s easy!

Running Belt

Outside of fanny packs and hydration belts, another piece of wearable gear you can fit around your waist is a running belt. The FlipBelt is much renowned among your running belt options. The version of the FlipBelt we linked you to has zippered pockets, but you can also buy the belt without zippers should you want to.

The FlipBelt is a comfortable combination of Lycra (eight percent) and micropoly material (92 percent) for drying fast and wicking away moisture. The FlipBelt logo is more than just appealing, but is also 3M reflective material.

An internal key hook gives you one option for attaching your keys, or you can put them in the zipper pocket. FlipBelt says the included pocket is sizable enough that you can carry your passport or smartphone, even with its case on.

In a Glove

If you’re still looking for key-carrying options on your run, we have a few more ideas to share. For instance, in the wintertime, when you’re already wearing lightweight gloves, why not put your key in the glove? You can hold it within your palm so it’s sure to never fall out.

You also won’t have to wrestle with the decision of whether you should bring your car key or house key, as you can slip a key into each glove and then take off running.

In a Baby Stroller

Have you recently expanded your family? Running with a stroller is not only good exercise for you, but it can be a pleasant experience for baby too. You will have to be ready for a lot of changes to your running pace and speed, as we wrote in that blog post, but running with your family is worth it.

You’ll need a stroller with a locking front wheel for sudden stops. Now that you have an excuse to buy a new baby stroller, you might as well get one with pockets for your keys. The BOB Gear Revolution Flex 3.0 has not one, not two, but six pockets for storage. You also get a cargo basket for bringing water, snacks, and other large items.

If you worry about your keys moving about in a large pocket, the smartphone pocket near the handlebars is slim enough for your keys.

Final Thoughts

There’s no need to leave your keys at home ever again when there are so many smart, creative ways of stashing them. From your socks to your shoes, your pants to your dog’s collar or your baby’s stroller, your keys will be close by whenever you run!