Choose activity pockets by testing what you actually carry, not by counting how many pockets a garment has. Put your phone or keys in the intended place, close the fastening and move comfortably. A pocket that works while standing still may feel different once you walk or sit.
This is a practical clothing check, not a reason to buy a specialised outfit for every short outing. Start with what you already own and identify the problem, if there is one. Sometimes a different pocket or a smaller set of essentials is enough.
Check usable space, not the outline
A visible seam does not tell you the depth or opening of a pocket. Try your own phone, including its normal case. Check whether the object fits fully and whether the fastening can close without forcing it.
REI's hiking-clothing advice notes that zippered pockets can offer more security. That is useful, but a zip alone does not prove a particular pocket will comfortably hold every item. The opening, fabric and position still matter.
Do not overfill the pocket just because more items can be pushed inside. A bulging shape may pull the garment out of position or make the contents awkward to retrieve.
Walk, sit and reach
Take a few ordinary steps and sit down if that is part of the outing. Notice whether the contents bounce, press uncomfortably or slide toward the opening. This tells you more than an empty-pocket fitting.
If you use a jacket pocket, check it with the jacket fastened as you normally wear it. If you will carry another bag, see whether straps interfere with access. The useful arrangement is the one that works with the whole outfit.
Avoid repeatedly reaching for something while moving through traffic or uneven ground. Stop in a suitable place to use the phone or rearrange the contents.
Separate things that do not sit well together
Keys and a phone may fit better in different places than in one crowded pocket. Choose an arrangement that lets you retrieve the item you need without pulling everything else out.
You do not need an elaborate organisation system. Give important items a consistent place and check it before leaving. If you change garments, check again rather than relying on yesterday's pocket layout.
A manufacturer's description of a secure pocket is a feature claim, not a promise against every loss or theft. Close fastenings properly and remain aware of the setting.
Do not make clothing carry the whole trip
For an outing needing more equipment, use a suitable carrying option rather than forcing everything into pockets. Food, water, medication or route essentials should not be abandoned merely to preserve an empty-handed look.
There is also no need to buy a garment because its pocket happens to suit somebody else's phone. Body shape, clothing fit and the objects carried all affect comfort.
For the next walk, test the actual essentials in the actual outfit. Useful depth, a suitable closure and comfortable movement matter more than a long feature list. Keep what works, and change only the part that does not.