I'm an avid cyclist. My wife and I ride all over the place and participate in a lot of group riding adventures together. Between the two of us we have accumulated just about every carrying case and piece of bike gear you can imagine over the years (even sassy padded bum pants!) So I've tried carrying my phone with me every which way and I've got to say that after trying out the Cycling Ride Pouch by WaterField Designs and Eleven Vélo ($69) I have found a pretty cool solution.
The pouch comes in either black or distressed brown leather. The company sent me the distressed brown and it's really attractive looking. I think over time it's going to look even cooler as it gets broken in. It even smells good—like brand new leather should.
The design is very simple and is meant to carry your phone, a couple of spare tubes, tire irons, repair kits, a pump, and even a credit card and some cash. Heck, throw a house key in there too while you're at it. Because as small as it is, you can cram a ton of stuff in there and have a nice, compact kit.
You can still use your phone while it's in the case. There's a plastic window that allows you to operate it while it's tucked safely in its own little pocket within the pouch. It's very thick and keeps your phone very well protected from moisture and dirt. Not that you would ever get sweaty or dirty or caught in the rain, but if you did, it would protect your phone with no problem.
Meant to fit into the back pocket of a cycling jersey, the pouch has a minimalist design with no straps or handles anywhere. Just zip up the YKK locking zipper and tuck it into the pocket on your back. After a few minutes, you get used to it and totally forget it's there.
Getting your phone into the pocket is easy and there's plenty of room for any size phone out there—even for those to come. No worries that you'll have to get a bigger pouch once larger iPhones come out.
Even though this pouch is specifically designed for cyclists, I don't see why it couldn't be used by anyone who's trying to travel lightly. If it can fit a small repair kit, a phone and some cash, it can fit other stuff as well. Heck, throw the pouch in your backpack when you go hiking! It'll keep your granola bar and your car keys safe and dry.
iPhone Life Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
I would like the pouch to have some sort of handle or some way to attach it to something just to have more carrying options. I get why it doesn't have one, but I want one on there anyway. Other than that, the Cycling Ride Pouch has great quality and will last you years, making it a good investment.