I think ID bands are the best investion ever, and its not just for the runners/cyclists but even those who might have medical problems and medics need to know on hand.

The ID Band’s concept is simple, its a single, silicon-type band with your name, medical information and emergency contact printed on it. It comes with different colors, and looks alot like the Lance Armstrong bands that started the entire craze.

I took it out for a test run, and apart from how it looks I’m a little disappointed in the overall design of the band. I ran a total of 7.7km at Bishan Park. Obviously I didn’t put it to good use, no one wears an ID band in hope of using it, so the test run was all about the comfort and the useability of the band.

The ID Band came in a nicely packaged box, with all the necessary vendor information that you need. I expected the important information to be cut into the band. The website mentioned that all the important information is “laser burned” onto the band. My name was etched onto the band, but I’m unsure about the important information on the underside of the band. If it was laser etched, the etching feels a little too shallow, and because the etching is then filled with a light colored ink (mine was a green band and cream/white colored text), my concern was that the ink might fade after awhile.

On my band, it does look like some parts of my name was already fading, but it could be because of the laser etching more than anything else. But if the ink does fade, then your name and all important information would be the same color as the band.

Which was a problem.

Secondly, the emergency contact and medical information is printed on the inside of the band so if anything happens, I wonder if the paramedics would take time to flip the band over to check all the necessary info. Also, because the inside of the band comes into closer contact with skin and sweat compared to the outside, it is more susceptible to fading. Again, the etching here felt a little shallow, so I don’t know if in times of emergency, people will take time to figure out what the hell is on the band, and that defeats the purpose in the first place right?

I also wished that the band was adjustable. Not everyone fits into three sizes, and while I just barely fit into the size I ordered, I wondered what would happen if I lost or gained weight, would I need to order new bands? Also the stretching when it came to putting on the band and slipping it off after exercise would surely compromise the integrity of the band.

That aside, the ID Band does look good, so you don’t look like a total dork wearing it. If you’re used to wearing bands and bracelets, you might not even need to take it off. My skin gets irritated easily so I have to slip it off after a run, no questions asked.

Cost wise, at $18.80 a band, its not a hefty price to pay for those “just in case” situations, just like its not too much to pay a couple of hundreds every month for insurance. You get a 10% discount when you purchase 5 bands or more. A local merchant is also good for those who tend to be paranoid still about the whole buying online thing, especially from overseas merchants.

Overall, I would still recommend the ID Band for a simple solution for the recreational runner, if you’re a little more hardcore, you might want to look into something else.