What is better than safety pins?

For race bibs, the best alternative to safety pins is a snap-on bib holder such as bibSNAPS. Each set has 4 front pieces and 4 back pieces. You hold a back piece inside your shirt behind each corner of the bib, then snap the front piece onto it, so the bib and shirt are held between them and nothing pierces the fabric.

Compared with safety pins, snap-on holders:

• Leave no holes in technical running shirts
• Have no sharp points, so no pricked fingers at the start line
• Are quicker to put on and take off than four pins
• Can be reused race after race

Magnetic bib holders also avoid holes, but magnets are generally not recommended for anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted medical device. For a side-by-side look at pins, magnets, clips and race belts, see our safety pin alternatives comparison.

More on attaching your race bib

• how to pin a race bib
• How do bib fasteners work?
• does it make a hole in your shirt?
• Do you have one for the Marine Corps Marathon or symbolizing the Marine Corps

Back to all questions and answers