After reaching the ripe, metabolism-destroying age of 40, I decided that it was time to incorporate an exercise routine into my daily life. So I packed my gym bag with the necessary clothing, shoes, reading material, and, of course, my trusty 3G iPod.
I realized very quickly during my very first workout that my iPod was awkward to simply carry (especially in sweaty hands), and setting it on the little reading shelf of a cardio machine was a dangerous idea. At the very least, it could easily fall off. It became apparent that a case of some kind was necessary. In my search for the perfect gym iPod case, I have been disappointed numerous times, and I have yet to find the right combination of form, function, and comfort.
At first I used a fanny pack to house my iPod. This was convenient because I could also carry my keys, some lip balm, and my headphones. The belt of the pack was also a nice place to hang my gym towel. However, I found that it got in the way when using a rowing machine or recumbent bike, and it would irritatingly bounce around when I was on the treadmill or elliptical trainer.
I then got a basic holster-style belt-clip for my iPod. It keeps the iPod controls
accessible; however again, it interfered with recumbent bicycling and rowing, because the iPod was sitting right where my legs needed to bend at my waist. Also, many of my workout pants don’t have a belt to speak of and the iPod clip often slipped loose from the elastic waistband, sending the iPod flying, holster and all.
More se
arching found a happy yellow Marware SportSuit Sleeve neoprene case (www.Marware.com) that not only had a removable belt clip, but it also sported a small loop on the back in case I wanted to hang my iPod around my neck. This offered my iPod considerably more protection from impact (as well as moisture). However, if I wanted to adjust the volume, switch playlists, or otherwise change any other iPod settings, I would have to unplug the headphones completely in order to open the Velcro flap closure and take the iPod completely out of the case. This was not an easy thing to do while working out on a Precor elliptical trainer, and I often ended up juggling my iPod around in an attempt to not drop it, or nearly losing my balance and falling off of the exercise machine. I also found that using the lanyard loop, although better than a belt clip, made my iPod bang against my sternum incessantly during any sort of cardio workout.
My next attempt was an XtremeMac arm band case (www.xtrememac.com),
with a see-through window for getting to the iPod controls. At first, I thought that my search was over… but soon after beginning my workout, I realized that my sweat was making the neoprene arm band stretch just a bit, and the case began slipping down my arm. I tightened the Velcro closures, and within fifteen minutes of working out on the elliptical trainer, I felt my arm start to throb as if I was having my blood pressure tested, and my fingertips went numb and began to turn blue. Fearing an brain-bound armpit blood clot, I quickly took the armband off and hung it on the handrail of the machine. Shortly after that I went to adjust the volume on my iPod, and found that the plastic window had stuck to the front of my iPod, rendering the touch-wheel virtually useless.
I have yet to purchase another form of iPod restraint, however several Google searches have unearthed something called iPod Pants and iPod Shirts. These workout clothing items are manufactured by Mari Dade (http://www.maridade.com) and incorporate a special iPod pocket 
that is sewn into the garment. The pockets are located in very strategic places (on the left arm of the shirt, and on the side hip of the pants) where the iPod
will not interfere with body movements or otherwise impede working out. They are available in many fashionable colors, and the flap pocket has a small opening to accommodate headphone cords. My biggest complaint is the price tag ($92.00 for the pants and $96.00 for the shirt); I am also concerned that they would create the same problem regarding iPod control access that the Marware SportSuit Sleeve case displayed. But Mari Dade seems to have the right idea, price tag notwithstanding… since so many people rely on their iPods or other portable music devices to motivate them through the drudgery of a gym workout, why haven’t more athletic clothing manufacturers jumped on the electronic device bandwagon and started making gym clothes with appropriately placed pockets?
In the end, I am still rotating between the fanny pack and the happy yellow neoprene Marware Sportsuit Sleeve, depending on what clothing I’m wearing and which workout I am doing on a particular day. I did find two pairs of workout pants at a local outlet mall that had back pockets large enough to hold my iPod and also a zipper with which to keep it safe, and they have been added to my regular gym clothing roster. They’re great for the treadmill and the elliptical trainer, although having the iPod in a butt pocket is still awkward (plus they’re completely useless for the rowing machine or bike for danger of sitting on my iPod), it’s still a step up from having my circulation cut off by a sweaty neoprene arm band.
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