A month ago I compared the three Naked Running Bands — the SL, the Original and the HC. Since then, I have kept coming back to the HC band, even on runs where I am not carrying much. This is a closer look at why.

What I carry in it

On a recent run I filmed myself unpacking everything I had in the HC band: poles, three muesli bars, my phone, four gels and two 500ml soft flasks. That wasn’t even close to full capacity, and the band handled it without any of it feeling like a squeeze.

Make sure you get the right size

The Naked bands are not adjustable. There are no straps to take up slack if you get the size wrong, so you need to measure properly before you order. I have a separate video that walks through sizing in detail — make sure you watch that first if you have not settled on a size yet.

Does it bounce?

This is the question I get asked most, so I filmed it directly. While running, I pulled a soft flask out and drank from it, then put it back, all without breaking stride. I also removed my poles from the back of the band and put them back in while moving. No bounce, no shifting.

Why the HC band is now my go-to

I originally thought I would choose the HC band only on longer runs, when I needed the extra capacity. In practice, I find myself wearing it for shorter runs too, simply because it is the most comfortable of the three, even with a small load on board.

If you have not seen the full three-way comparison, you can watch it here: https://app.streek.run/naked-running-band-comparison-sl-vs-original-vs-hc/
And if you want the in-depth video version of this review, it’s here: https://app.streek.run/how-to-size-a-naked-running-band/