The simplest way about it is to stuff the device into your pocket. If it’s tight enough or has a zip closure, it should be fine, unless it gets knocked around too much. Most experts recommend keeping it closer to your body, where it’s stationary and easier to access. That’s why armbands are by far the most popular iPhone accessory for runners and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Elastic armbands usually work best for sports, as they don’t need adjustment and offer a snug fit. Choose a soft, light fabric, preferably one you can wash and wear. Leather and faux leather may look smoother, but they don’t retain moisture well and can start fading or falling apart after a few weeks. A thick, stretchy material with an adjustment buckle offers the perfect mix of comfort and durability.

Access is also an important consideration. Most armbands will give you access to the click wheel on an iPod or the playback buttons on an iPhone, but that’s not always comfortable. If you want to be able to switch between songs or turn apps on and off, consider investing in earphones with playback buttons. That way you don’t have to reach all the way across, or stop to pull out your phone when you need to.

Clips and brackets are a good alternative if you don’t like the feel of armbands, or find it too much trouble to pull on and off. Some companies make brackets that go around your iPod, allowing you to hook it to a pocket or the edge of your shirt. It’s not very stable, though, so it may not be the best idea for the iPhone and similar-sized devices.

In any case, protection should always be on top of your list, especially if you’re an active runner. You want a case that protects your gadget from sweat, impact, heat, dirt, and other elements you’re exposed to. It might mean shelling out an extra $20, but if it adds years of life to your $300 iPhone or iPod, then it’s a reasonable investment.

Case in point: a new desk dock by South Korean manufacturer Kee Utility, which endows the iPhone with all the trappings of a wired desk phone. The Desk Phone Dock features a microphone, built-in speakers, volume controls, and a mute button. It also charges the phone through a USB or AC connection.

Users who talk as much at home and on the go will find the dock particularly useful. On the road, it lets you speak hands-free; at home, it keeps the phone powered and ready for your next trip. The dock works for the iPhone 4, 3G, and 3GS.

The $10-billion iPhone accessory market has recently seen a rise in similar products, designed to make the iPhone look, feel, and work like their 80s counterparts. It’s been done on docks, cases, skins, headsets, you name it.

The trend has started to seep into the iPad market as well, which isn’t surprising. One accessory allows owners to set up their iPads in a vintage-looking arcade cabinet, where they can then play classics like Pong and Pac-Man. It even comes with real arcade buttons and a mechanical joystick, just like the old times.

This back-to-basics paradigm is most likely driven by strong ties between fashion and technology design, which many users think makes accessories too generic. Manufacturers have long teamed up with fashion designers, keeping their designs in sync throughout the seasons. People looking for a more original (and usually cheaper) way to dress up their gadgets turn to old-school styles instead. It helps that many manufacturers are startups; some are individuals and home businesses that sell exclusively in indie online stores such as Etsy.com.

Not all of them are cheap, though. The iRetrophone Dock, made by Freeland Studios in Florida, proved such a hit that it now sells for $250 and has a waiting list. Each dock is handmade with resin and designed to look like an old rotary phone, complete with a handset that plugs into the iPhone. The Kee dock sells for just $150.