The first time I saw the name “Runnur,” I assumed it was for runners and didn’t give it a second look. (I’m only going to run when being chased, and even then, I’m not going far.) I’m glad I did give it a second look later, though, because it turned out to be exactly what I need.
There are those women among us who just aren’t purse-carriers. I am one of them, and I’d venture to say a lot of geek girls are as well. I usually carry my wallet in one pocket of my jeans and my cell phone in the other, and that’s about all I need–until summer comes, when my preferred outfit turns into a light dress or skirt. Those don’t come with handy pockets, and if they do, the whole garment gets thrown out of shape by the weight of something like a cell phone. Then there are the times that even jeans pockets aren’t enough to hold what I need for a day out.
Enter the Runnur, a “mini-backpack” that takes the shape of a padded strap in a loop you wear from left shoulder to right hip.
With pockets for your ID, everything your wallet could hold (it even has credit card slots), your phone, a camera, glasses, and more–including a carbiner clip at the bottom–the Runnur is the non-purse purse for women like us. (Or men who also have run out of pockets.) And although I suppose you could run while wearing it, it’s also exceptionally handy for mothers, since it leaves your hands free for carrying children or grabbing falling toys–and it won’t slip off your shoulder like a purse strap.
This weekend I even discovered an extra pocket I had noticed before on the inside of the Runnur. It turns out this is the secret passport-sized pocket. After having my wallet stolen in The Netherlands several years ago, I’ve generally stuck to wearing my passport in a pouch under my shirt. But in a situation where I might need easier access to it during the day for ID, the Runnur will be an excellent second choice for carrying it.
The ID and wallet pockets are appropriately located in the front. The bottom pocket in the back is meant for a water bottle, and the Runnur definitely wears better with the weight of a bottle in that pocket. I have worn it without, though, and it’s fine. On another occasion, I used it to stow a juice box for my preschooler, and that was perfect as well. That does mean, however, that you have to keep in mind what’s in the back of your Runnur when you sit down. The camera pocket is in the center back, and it would be bad for both your camera and your spine to sit down on something hard too fast. One day I stored a second juice box in the camera pouch instead, and when I sat, I would swing the whole Runnur a bit to the front so that I wasn’t leaning on the juice.
The Runnur comes in five sizes and four colors and sells for $39. But if you zip over to Tippr (a daily deal website), you can get one along with Runnur’s aluminum RFID wallet for $34.
Disclosure: I received a Runnur for review.
Hah, the pockets vs. purses issue! I’m a pocket person too. Don’t know if this would help me or not– it would still be Something Extra to Carry. But what else can you do in the summer?
I got mugged when I was 16 in Canada with my parents and since then I won’t usually carry a purse. Pockets are the way to go since I am normally in jeans and a t shirt. When I do dress up though, I have three purses (yes, three) that have straps long enough to go across my body and shoulder. This sounds much less bulky though. Will have to check it out.
No place for a book? A book is more important than sunglasses. It needs to be big enough to hold a GRRM tome.
I wore mine to VEX Worlds last week and loved it. I had everything I needed at my finger tips.
The water bottle pouch worked great for the 2-way radio and the I ran the earpiece up the back under the pocket flaps.
My only complaint was that it occasionally shifted and rode up on my neck. I think I have a minor fix that I’ll include in my GeekDad review.
Interesting. What do you think was making it ride up? Maybe you needed a different size?
That’s possible, but it seemed to fit well. Might have been the weight of the radio. It’s about twice the weight of a water bottle.
Very interesting, thanks for the review! I’m totally a pockets gal, so I have the same kind of problems when I wear a skirt. But recently, ladies’ pants purchased at Old Navy and LL Bean come with pockets that are half the size of regular pockets. I don’t understand this phenomenon! Why put in pockets that you can’t use? The pockets are small enough that if I tuck my cell phone into one, chances are my cell phone will plunge to its doom when I’m using the facilities. And I’m forced to utilize a purse or other carrying device even when wearing pants, which just seems like an indignity.
I feel like my right to pockets has been violated!
I love this! It would be perfect for carrying travel documents on flights as well. I travel with my two kids a lot, and try to carry the most important stuff in a pouch or purse I don’t have to take off (so I won’t forget it). Might look into this for our trip this summer.
Add me to the no purse skeptics. For GeekGirlCon I bought a leather thigh pouch from SteampunkedOut, which was great, except I was doing the slanted belt look for my costume and it made the pouch ride really low. Still I was able to carry my Kindle so Cherie Priest could sign it. I also had snacks for the kids, my wallet, and occasionally the camera.
I hate bulky purses, it’s just so much to lug around. And I set stuff down all the time and forget it. At least if I’m wearing something comfortable, I tend to keep it with me. I’m not sure if I’d consider this comfortable or how well it will ride over the breastfeeding enhanced girls I know sport. I typically keep everything in my jacket, but as it gets over 65 that’s not a practical solution. I also don’t like wearing my phone on my torso, I stopped doing that while I was pregnant, just too much going on with that. Still, I’d love to try it…. I mean I just locked myself out of the house yesterday because I left the key on the table.
I love the idea, but as someone who’s always hated wearing cross body stuff (due to a mother who scolded her all the time for splitting her boobs)… how would you wear it?
I intended to post a picture of myself wearing it, but it was a bright day and a bad angle, and the picture is awful. And I wanted to get the post out there while the Tippr special was still available. I’m not a particularly large-busted lady, so it wasn’t a problem for me. And you’re not putting anything super heavy in it, so it probably won’t crush your chest and split the girls, even if you do have enough to worry about it.