Lightweight running jacket with lots of pockets

[londonmummy1966]

Can anyone recommend a lightweight running jacket with plenty of pockets? I have a Sweaty Betty fast track which I love but I'm running the marathon in April and it will be too thick to wear then. I need plenty of pockets for gels and my phone which the fast track has and I don't want to wear a belt.

I can't imagine you'd need a jacket for an April marathon unless the weather is unseasonably bad. I'd ditch the phone and put your gels in a belt, or get the leggings with thigh pockets.

You'd probably do better with a running vest made up of pockets. They tend to be made of light, breathable fabric then you can wear the necessary layers underneath as the weather changes.

You really won’t want a jacket for a marathon at the end of April (assuming by the marathon you mean London which is towards the end of the month).

As another poster suggested I would go for either a decent running belt (I use a flip belt) or a small running vest with pockets. I’ve just got a women’s one from Camelback which holds flexible flasks on the front (or a bladder in the back but I don’t use that) and has plenty of pockets.

I also find that anything in the pocket of a light jacket just jostles around too much to be honest.

Just seen you don’t want to wear a belt but have you tried the flip belt? Game changer for me. I don’t notice it’s there.

Argh yes the thought of things jumping around in the pockets of a jacket for the entire duration of a marathon is super annoying.
I've got a salomon running vest, fits really snug and comfy, loads of different pockets and fits softy drinks bottles, and a large pocket on the back where you could shove your jacket when it inevitably gets too warm.

THanks everyone - I have a Nathan belt but I find that I end up with an ache in the small of my back when I wear it even though its not particularly tight. I have huge boobs so the running vests don't work for me - either to tight in the bust or flappy underneath it. The Sweaty Betty jacket is a gamechanger for me as the pockets are so well placed nothing seems to bounce around.

You won't want to wear a jacket past mile 5 of the marathon, trust me. It will be way too warm.

I wear shorts with loads of pockets instead - the Nike trail running ones are good, and Decathlon do a cheaper version. You can even fit a small drinks bottle in the big mesh pocket. Loads of room for snacks, gels, phone and other bits and pieces

www.run4it.com/products/nike-womens-epic-lux-tight-short-trail?variant=40356545331362&gclid=CjwKCAiA_vKeBhAdEiwAFb_nrckkeqo1wn6IPAgPjzmeOtTNauLbg_Zi5G8YG8AaNOr9THEPsfwbzRoC2_IQAvD_BwE

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-trail-running-emboss-tight-shorts-black-bronze/_/R-p-307944?mc=8552376&c=BLACK

@MoneyInTheBananaStand - thank you - not sure anyone would want to see my legs though but I might see if I can find some trail tights as my leggings only have a couple of pockets.

Runnings leggings are increasingly coming with thigh pockets. I can get my mobile and a packet of tissues in mine so you'd easily fit enough gels for a marathon in the ones with pockets on both legs.
My only other thought is the cycling tops that have pockets in the back of them but I don't know what they'd be like to run in.

Have you tried the Naked band? It fits snugly round your hips and you can get a lot in it. It is pricey though.

Buy a lightweight short sleeved cycling jersey- most have 3 rear pockets and a zipped
pocket- ideal for carrying everything!
Or a triathlon vest- again with rear pockets.

Will investigate cycling tops

Definitely no jacket for April.

I used a flipbelt for gels for my last marathon, and kept my phone in my shorts pocket.

I know what you mean about backache. If youre only carrying gels though, you should be fine.

I wear thin Ron hill leggings under my decathlon trail shorts in winter, then runderwear cycle shorts under them in summer

Plenty of gel pockets in the trail shorts

But I also have the Decathlon running vests and they are pretty adaptable around boobs tbh

By April, it should be warm enough not to need a running jacket.

Personally, I find them impractical for long runs as you would get sweaty eventually, and all the bouncing of items in the pockets would be distracting.

I have a pair of marathon shorts by Ronhill, that has thigh pockets in the inner layer and a back zip pocket with two gel pockets on the sides which works if I don't want to wear a hydration vest. No where to carry a water bottle though, so you'd have to rely on the water stations.

I don't know whether they still sell the one I have but there are similar, recent designs like this.

Ronhill Marathon Shorts

As others have said, don't even think about wearing a jacket for an April marathon. Unless you're very steady pace-wise and will be walking a lot of it.

Other options include:
A light hydration vest. Salomon ones are great but Decathlon ones are cheaper. You can use them without the water bladder and just as extra pockets; but they don't bounce the way belts can.

A Ronhill marathon belt. I hate belts generally but this is the only one I've found that doesn't bounce or ride up. It's very small - just enough space for a key, bank card, maybe a phone if you stretch it, and then loops for your gels.

A Flipbelt. I don't like them but I'm outnumbered- most people do. Try one and see how you get on?

THanks for all the advice - I'll pop into Decathlon and see if I can try a few things one.