Are zipper running belts better than open-pocket designs like the FlipBelt?

It depends on what you're carrying. Reviewers who fear losing valuables prefer zippered pouches like the SPIbelt, Nathan Zipster Max or FlipBelt Zipper. Open-pocket FlipBelt fans counter that the tube design carries more and feels sleeker, but multiple community threads explicitly advise buying a belt with at least one zipper pocket for keys, cards and AirPods.