Thursday, July 30, 2015

Product Review: SLS3 HiP ZiPP

After reviewing the SLS3 compression socks, SLS3 approached me about reviewing one of their newest products, the HiP ZiPP! You all know I love my SpiBelt, but I need something a little bigger to carry my Tailwind sticks for the Chicago marathon. Last year, I used a fanny pack and it kept spinning around my waist and bouncing up and down. After a couple hours of that, it was starting to get on my nerves. Since then, I have been considering my options for carrying my marathon essentials. I'm always interested in trying something new, and SLS3 sent me a HiP ZiPP to try out. I took it for a test ride on 3 of my runs this week, including a 10 miler.

Now, you do realize I wouldn't be running with my hand in this pocket. But I did this to demonstrate how deep the front pocket is! I had no problems getting my iPhone6 in there! Win!
The HiP ZiPP is a compression pack that you wear around your hips. It is 5 inches wide, comes in 4 sizes (S-XL), and has 2 zipped pockets. When I first looked at it, I loved all the storage space with the 2 pockets. I thought that this just might be the thing for my marathon! The front pocket holds my iPhone 6. In the back pocket, which seemed bigger than the front pocket, I put some odds and ends that I might need on the run, like chafing cream and chapstick. In this picture, I've got 3 packs of Tailwind in there. Still not too bulky.
Don't judge all the shoes around me...
For my test run, I pulled the HiP ZiPP down around my hips and went for my 10 mile long run. The HiP ZiPP was really comfortable. But not long into my run, I noticed that it would creep up and I had to keep pulling it down. Not a big deal,  but it was a little distracting. I had to do this throughout my run, but as I got sweatier, it did a better job staying in place. I don't know if that's a good thing, but it got me thinking about how I could get it to better stay in place around my hips. I wondered if the pockets were more full, would it stretch and stay in place? I haven't tried that out, but I will. I also thought about putting something on the backside of the fabric that was more sticky, like something rubberized, to keep it from sliding up. But the company website says the compression fabric is guaranteed to keep the belt from riding up. I'm pretty small hipped, and even though it felt like it fit snuggly, maybe they need to make an XS? Still thinking about that.

The HiPP ZiPP is low profile, and won't show like these packs. Which might be a bad thing for these guys.
Other than that, I really liked the HiP ZiPP. I liked the 2 pockets, and they were plenty roomy for everything I like to carry on the run. The HiP ZiPP is nice and flat, and the low profile of the pack doesn't show under my shirts. It comes in a variety of colors, but I got basic black, since that's what I wear on the bottom. I'll continue to wear this throughout my marathon training.



51 comments :

  1. oooh
    I WANT
    I BUY
    CLICKTY CLICK...

    ReplyDelete
  2. It looks very similar to the HipsSister (sp?) I have. I love the tight fit, and it can hold a lot of gear....but it constantly rides up to my waist (I'd prefer it to stay put on my hips). Third world problem, I know. I have resolved to just let it ride on my waist, but I keep it under my shirt. I think if I had a bigger size, it would sag, and probably slide down....so the high-waist-rider thing is definitely the lesser of two evils LOL (and, BTW, you should see the shoes on my bedroom floor that I just can't bring myself to throw in the closet (two feet away). ((more third world problems to tackle)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you mean first world problems...lol but I thought that this was similar to the HipSister! Glad to hear I'm not the only one with the issue of the pack riding up. Always the optimist, I thought riding up is better than riding down...

      Delete
  3. Thank you for linking up! I seriously need to try this. I've been looking for a new one. 😊

    ReplyDelete
  4. I have hips. I ran 7 miles this morning with a knock-off SpiBelt. It was roomy and I liked the way my phone fit inside. However, it did not stay around my hips. It would crawl up and then bounce. I had it as small as I could adjust it. I tried it under the shirt, on top of the shirt. Annoying.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That meme is too funny. And I love you posed with the HiP ZiPP. This looks like a great alternative to a bulky water belt! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a fuel belt girl. That sloshing and bouncing would really get on my nerves!

      Delete
  6. The only thing I wish this could hold is water. I always get so annoyed with how quickly my hands sweat and my water bottle starts sliding out of my hand.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A bladder pack would be kind of cool--you could wear it like this, right?

      Delete
  7. Great review Wendy! I've got a similar product not a belt though, to review and give away too. I'm in the try-out stages now so it may be a while. Thanks for this I entered the give away and shared it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love my SPIbelt too, but I do wish it was a wee bit bigger. This looks like a good alternative. Also... love that GIF - ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I thought! I'll most likely use this on my marathon.

      Delete
  9. I love my Flipbelt & that's what this reminds me of. So nice to have free hands.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm always fighting with trying to find something that I like to wear for water and fuel purposes. I hate carrying things and my fuel belts always bounce or ride up. It's probably entertaining to watch me running and fighting with them. I'm always skeptical of the new belts out there that claim to stretch so they don't move, but I'm willing to try ANYTHING at this point. With my first marathon coming up in September, I'm trying to find the "right" tools.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked this one! I'm going to train with it and see how things go.

      Delete
  11. I have avoided belts for the whole 'riding up' thing...can't stand stuff creeping up on me when I am running!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Seems sort of like a FlipBelt to me. This might be awesome to wear under your clothes when traveling to deter pickpockets.

    ReplyDelete
  13. i can not stand things around my waist. the only thing that doesn't bug me is my flip belt. i don't use it much these days but it's great. having to constantly move something would bug me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I use a FlipBelt and love it! This would be interesting to try. I wouldn't want it to ride up though, they probably should make an XS.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Looks nice but I would go crazy if it rode up. Although, I have much bigger hips than you so maybe it would work better. Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! How do you know? But I wonder if a smaller size would stay put? I"m going to work with it and see how it goes. I like it!

      Delete
  16. Very similar to my flip belt and I love it- you may need a smaller size, mine fits snug and does not ride up but I am pretty hippy :) I would love to try one!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This does sound like a great belt. I used a fanny style one today for my long run and it was so bouncy. So annoying after a little while. This one seems more snug. I would give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I haven't seen those belts in person but I do like the idea of having different sized belts around depending on what I need to carry around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's my thought too! I need more storage for longer distances.

      Delete
  19. Sounds similar to a flip belt but maybe a little smaller....I'm not a fan of things around my waist, so not the product for me, but I'm sure it's great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It actually goes around the hips--I don't like things around my waist either--and the compression fabric is super comfy.

      Delete
  20. I have both the HipSister and the Flipbelt and they ride up. I've got wide hips and a small waist, so I think they just want to move to a less tight fit LOL. I love them both for work though as many of my skirts don't have pockets and I need to have my phone on me in an unobtrusive manner. This sounds nice, but I'm sure I'd have the same issue...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like it could be an issue no matter what product I would use! Good to know!

      Delete
  21. OMG that GIF had me crying laughing. I really need a good belt, definitely looking into this.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have never heard of this brand. But I do love my 'fanny pack' when it comes to running. Hands free all the way! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. lol at that gif. I haven't heard of this brand either - interesting! Currently I am loving flipbelt, stays in place and easy to put things in and out. One thing I wish it had was at least one zipper pocket. I am always paranoid my key will fall out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's why I like this one better than the FlipBelt...the zipper gives me a sense of security!

      Delete
  24. This looks sweet!! I've seen bloggers review flip belts; this looks great, too! Thank you SO MUCH for linking up. Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's similar to the FlipBelt, but with the zippers, everything is secure.

      Delete
  25. I have one very similar, different brand, Hip-Sister, equally unobtrusive, that doesn't ride if I place it properly. If I put it a little too high it does, but a slight adjustment once resolves that issue (I have small hips, too). They come in different colors, but I chose black as I wanted it to be subtle. Also two pockets, both with zippers, and a small unzippered one. I got an i-phone 6 this weekend and was please to learn that it fits in the pocket. The back pocket is on the right; you don't feel the phone. I put my i-pod in the front pocket and don't feel that either. As a matter of fact, when I get home I sometimes forget I have it on at all. I prefer these styles to fanny-packs, for sure, and I like that no one can see my phone.


    I would consider this one for the future

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had really good luck with it last weekend. You're right, I had to position it "just so" and it stayed put.

      Delete
  26. This sounds great. Reminds me similar to a flip belt but this one has zippers which is always a plus.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so afraid of losing my iPhone, so the zippers are great!

      Delete
  27. I have a FlipBelt that does the same thing. When I reviewed the product on their site, FB wrote back and said the issue is the belt is actually too small of a size and sent me the next size up for free. (For reference, FB chart says inches-wise I'm XS, but I bought the small because their rep at an expo said most people prefer it not so snug. They then sent me a medium.) The problem is, I'm an hourglass figure, and while the bigger size helped a bit, it still slid up to my waist.

    ReplyDelete