Top five phone cases for cyclists

As the leaves on trees turn to brown, it’s the time of year that you start to notice your jersey pockets swelling as you roll out. Spare arm warmers, gilets and gloves fight for space next to inner tubes and energy gels. To stop your personal essentials – phone, keys, cards, coffee money – getting bashed or soaked from spray, a wallet or pouch is the answer, and we’ve tested a number of cycling-specific ones. Which will be the one to put your money on?

Bellroy Elements Phone Pocket Plus - £89

Bellroy suggests that its Phone Pocket represents an upgrade from using a freezer bag. As upgrades go, it’s like moving from Ryanair to your own Learjet. Made of all-weather leather, it can fit an iPhone 6 Plus, has separate sections for cards, keys and cash and a water-resistant zip. Beautiful but pricy.

8/10 - bellroy.com

Lezyne Roll Caddy - £16

Thanks to its Velcro strap, this can either be popped in a jersey pocket or strapped beneath your saddle. It opens out to reveal five pockets, one of which is zippered for change or fiddly items such as chain links. It all you’re carrying is a phone and cash, it folds up neatly, but will expand to take an inner and multitool. The nylon outer means it will survive abuse.

7/10 – upgradebikes.co.uk

Capsular P1 - £20 

When this hard-shell case turned up, we thought, ‘One that’s actually waterproof!’ Alas, there are no such claims from the manufacturers, although when we ran it under a tap for 30 seconds, nothing seeped in. It’s one of the bulkier pouches but withstands being dropped better than most and so should keep your items well protected from weather and bashes. 

8/10 - capsular.myshopify.com

Evoc Phone Case - £18

Anything that says ‘Engineered in Germany’ if off to a good start when it comes to protection. A soft but tough exterior is combined with a zip which almost disappears when done up, making the case light but water-resistant. There is room for keys, multitool and phone, while a Velcro straps lets you attach it to a belt. It’s a simple design that works well. 

9/10 – silverfish-uk.com

Rapha Essentials Case - £45 

Classic Rapha: stylish and not cheap. It’s a leather case that will fit a phone, has a separate sleeve for cards/money and you could even squeeze in a multitool. Leather will keep out all but the worst conditions, although the zip makes no claims to being waterproof. It’s a lovely item and, next to the Bellroy case, starts to look a bargain.

7/10 – rapha.cc