Running with a dog on a hand-held lead teaches you fairly quickly why the belt version exists. Every time the dog checks or surges, the jolt travels up one arm and your stride breaks with it. Move the attachment point to your waist and the pull goes through your centre of gravity instead, where your body absorbs it without you noticing much, and both hands stay free for everything else.

The lead is 2.5cm wide with a bungee section built into it, so the shock of a sudden stop is spread over a moment rather than arriving all at once, which is kinder on your back and on your dog's neck. The belt is padded and adjustable, and the pouch built into it takes keys, phone, treats and poo bags, removing the other reason people end up carrying things in their hands.

• Padded waist belt with adjustable strap
• Attached bungee lead, 2.5cm wide
• Built-in storage pouch for keys, treats and bags
• Four colours: black, grey, sapphire blue and pink
• Made for running, jogging and brisk walking

Two things worth knowing. A waist lead should only be used with a dog whose recall and lead manners you already trust, because a dog who lunges at other dogs can genuinely pull a running person over and you cannot let go. And run it from a harness rather than a collar, since sudden loads on a neck are the one thing a bungee does not fully solve.

Who it's for: Runners and fast walkers with a steady, well-mannered dog, who want their hands and their keys sorted out by one item.