Read the layout while wearing it
Put on the layers you intend to use and close the jacket. Locate each pocket opening without looking in a mirror. A pocket that is obvious on a hanger may sit beneath a vest strap or belt once the full kit is worn. Check whether reaching it requires lifting the jacket hem or twisting the whole garment.
Look inside to understand the usable shape. A long opening does not always lead to a deep compartment, and an internal divider can change what fits. Place a harmless item of similar size to your phone or food inside and close it. Do not assume an item is secure simply because the pocket has a zip somewhere nearby.
Assign a job to each useful pocket
Choose which items genuinely belong in the jacket rather than the vest. A light object needed at a stop may work better than a heavy phone that swings against the body. Keep keys in a secure location and avoid loading several hard objects together. If the jacket will be removed during the run, remember that its pockets will also leave your body.
Some pockets double as a storage pouch for the garment. Read the instructions before using that feature and check whether it requires emptying the pocket first. Do not trap keys or food inside the folded jacket and then wonder why it forms an uncomfortable lump. A feature is useful only if its sequence suits your actual outing.
Test movement and closures
Walk, lift your arms and jog briefly with the intended load. Notice whether the pocket contents move, press or pull the jacket out of position. Open and close the zip while stopped, with gloves if relevant. Check whether a flap or nearby strap interferes. These observations are more useful than comparing the number of pockets across product pages.
Read the stated weather protection rather than inferring it from a covered zip. Keep moisture-sensitive items in suitable protection. After the trial, remove anything that made the garment uncomfortable and reconsider its location. The best layout for you may use only one or two of the available pockets, leaving the others empty without treating that as wasted capacity.
