Why lie: we’re fanny pack girlies over here at Whimsy Soul. Multiple members of our team use fanny packs on trips and a daily basis, so it’s high time we made a round up of the best fanny packs for travel, hiking and everyday wear for you!
If you’re on the hunt for functional fanny pack bags that are actually stylish (you know, nothing like what we saw in the 80’s and 90’s) then this post is for you.
Fanny Packs Don’t Have To Be Dated
No, seriously – when I saw that Gen Z was bringing the fanny pack sling back into trend a few years ago, my first thought was “NO!” (This geriatric millennial loves her side part and will never be emotionally ready to wear waist packs on our hips like a mom in Disneyland circa 1989.)
Or, like a dad going to Europe on a school trip and constantly has to lift up his shirt to retrieve his money in his hip belt. UG. No thanks.
But then I asked myself: wait, are fanny packs cool in 2024? And thankfully, these days companies are designing crossbody fanny packs and the style is to wear it across your torso, or even your shoulder, vs waist. And they look really really stylish.
This I can get behind. I’m a girlie who love to be functional and having a bag right in front of you makes this type of bag insanely user-friendly for so many situations.
But First What Makes The Best Fanny Pack For Travel, Hiking or Everyday Wear?
Before we dive into my favorite cool fanny packs, let’s chat about what makes a cute fanny pack a really ridiculously good and functional bag you actually want to use.
I’ve traveled all over the world with my fanny bags from Baggu and Lo and Sons, and have even used them on hikes, along with almost every day here in San Francisco. *Flips hair* I’m a bit of an expert on these bags.
First, the sling bag needs at least 2 pockets of different sizes. Look for a main compartment that can fit everything you may need on the go (wallet, sunglasses, phone, chapstick, snacks etc etc). But also look for a day bag that has a second pocket.
This can either be a smaller front pocket to help you sort items or a back pocket designed to fit your phone and have it snug on your body for safety. I also looked for at least one decent size inner zipper pocket to stash things like meds, hair ties or even important items like keys that you don’t want falling out.
The best travel fanny packs have comfy, adjustable straps so you can make it the perfectly sized cross body bag for your body.
The best fanny packs for women (and men!) should be able to fit most or all of the items below to be considered great:
- ID and/or passport
- Credit card + cash (wallet)
- Train card
- Sunglasses
- Space for collapsible or mini water bottle bottle (if using for travel or hikes)
- Small hand lotion
- Hand sanitizer
- Chapstick
- Hair ties or scrunchies
- Phone
- External phone charger pack
- Snacks
- Sometimes more, like a souvenir!
Best Fanny Packs For Hiking, Travel, And Daily Wear
1. Baggu Fanny Pack
We love Baggu over here at Whimsy Soul. They make sustainable bags at a fantastic price point and their fanny pack in particular is one of my all-time favorite bags.
It’s machine washable so you can take this to the beach, shopping around town, on hike or any other life moment. It’s also very roomy and you can stuff it full with all the essentials.
I’ve taken my Baggu sling / fanny pack literally all over the world. I usually always pack that fanny pack and then my go-to Arden and Cove purse and call it a day.
2. Lo and Sons
I’m also obsessed with the Lo and Sons brand. They’re a small, Asian-owned brand that makes some of the best dang travel bags on the planet. I have 4 of their bags (like their camera bag, OG bag for carryons, and of course their fanny pack!)
It’s truly probably the best fanny pack for international travel as it looks very sleek and helps you blend in vs sticking out like a 90’s dad lost in Europe.
It’s also water resistant! It’s smaller than the Baggu, so I can’t fit as much in there but I can still easily fit everything I need for a day out. My favorite feature is the back pocket with a zipper that I use to store my phone on the go.
It faces my body so it can’t be pickpocketed! If you’re looking for a chic, extra fashionable fanny pack, this bag is for you.
3. Tortuga Sling
If you’re someone who prefers structured bags, then the Tortuga fanny pack is going to be your baby. Tortuga makes bags that are geared towards heavy travelers – for instance, I also own their 40L travel backpack that eliminates the need to ever check a bag.
This sling is pretty large and will have no trouble fitting everything you need in the airport or a day of exploring. It has a hardback to it, so the bag keeps its shape (vs the Baggu, for example, which is floppy when there’s nothing in it).
I think this is one of the best fanny packs for men or long torso people specifically as it’s a little tall at 9×6 inches. Over all, the design is very gender-neutral which our team loved.
4. Quince All Day Neoprene Belt Bag
Stay hand free with the Quince all Day Neoprene Belt Bag fanny pack! We’re big Quince fans over here – our team loves Quince cashmere!
This bag is made with 4 recycled, post-consumer plastic bottles so it’s a great sustainable option. It has a front and bag zipper pocket to store goods, along with a main compartment. It’s water resistant and comes in a ton of colors so you can find your perfect style!
5. Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack
The Patagonia Black Hole fanny pack is a favorite for hikers since it’s smaller at 1 liter size. Perfect for a phone, wallet, keys, and maybe a granola bar.
When empty it can also be folded up to store easily in your main backpacking bag or car! And it comes in a ton of interesting colors so you can find one that matches all your hiking gear.
The Patagonia fanny pack is always advertised as one of the best hiking fanny packs so if you’re trying to hit the trails a lot this year, go for this one.
6. Jansport Fanny Pack
Ok – maybe you are on the hunt for a super retro bag to channel that Stranger Things aesthetic? You can’t get more retro than the Fifth Avenue fanny pack by Jansport. These babies have been in production since the 1960’s!
The Fifth Ave fanny pack is a classic fanny pack with that classic look – a little rounded, made to be worn more on the hip vs toros, and comes in a lot of funky patterns. Like smiley faces or flowers.
Best part? These bags are always very affordable, usually under $30.
7. Baggu Crescent Bag
If you’re on the hunt for a fanny pack shoulder bag, try the Baggu Crescent! It’s a large fanny pack that feels more like a purse.
Our editor, Taylor, just bought this and already loves wearing it out on the days she needs to pack more things with her that can’t fit into a small, tiny bag. But it still fits snug on your body like a fanny pack, so you can be very hands-free all day.
Honestly, I wish I had this bag while living in Copenhagen. I was constantly running down to the harbors to go swimming and a slightly larger bag like this would have been perfect to stash my towel and book.
8. Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack
The Dagne Dover fanny pack is a standout since it has a lot of interior pockets. There’s a few different sizes to hold chapsticks, metro cards, keys, etc, along with a small front pocket to stash items like air pods.
It’s a medium-sized pack and can fit a phone, wallet, and other bare essentials. They come in many colors and I personally love their Air Mesh options for a different, fresh look.
Oh, and each bag is made with recycles bottles (either 5 or 8, depending on the style you pick!)
9. Lululemon Everywhere Belt
This Lululemon 1 liter bag is designed for movement and being on the go, but in a sleek and stylish way. Leave it up to Lululemon to give the girlies what they girlies want.
I love how on this bag, you can tuck the excess belt bag strap into the elastic loops once you adjust it to the right length. So many other bags, you kinda gotta let the strap hang and flop about.
They also have an exterior and interior pocket to organize your items. If you aren’t very sold on the fanny pack style, try this bag first as it’s small and super cute.
10. Calpak Luka Belt
We’re big Calpak girlies over here as well. Their lightweight, scratch-resistant material always lasts for ages, and be folded up and shoved in the back of a closet and be just fine, and comes in literally every color on the rainbow.
Seriously – neon green, pink, gold, different shades of blue. You name it! The Calpak fanny pack is more square shaped and is pretty large. It has an interior zipper pocket, a large main compartment and adjustable nylon straps. A great pick to stay hands free all day exploring a new city!
11. Herschel Seventeen Waist Pack
The Herschel bag is one of the best fanny packs on Amazon for quick shipping if you are in a pinch and need a bag on that zoom zoom Prime shipping speed. (Who else sometimes totally forgets to prepare for a trip until like, 3 days before your flight? Just me?)
This bag comes in standard neutrals but they also frequently have collabs with Disney, Marvel, Universal, etc to make fun prints like Iron Man or Simpson bags. There’s a pretty large front pocket on this bag, too, which is perfect to stash a phone in.
An all-star leather fanny pack that's sleek and stylish for ages to come. We love the back zipper pocket to tuck your phone. Lo and Sons is also a small business and AAPI-owned business!
Tortuga's weather-resistant fanny pack is great for all travel situations, from hiking in Iceland to exploring the PNW. It's structured with a hardback to keep the shape.
Quince uses recycled plastic bottles to make their sustainable fanny pack! The belt bag also has tons of pockets to organize your items.
Our go-to fanny pack that packs down, holds a ton, and comes in so many cool colors and patterns. If you are new to fanny packs, start here.
If you're an avid hiker looking for the best hiking pack, you'll love this 1-liter bag! It's made for those who love the outdoors.
The best affordable fanny pack on Amazon! Ships fast for your last-minute trips.
Calpak makes very durable fabrics that can go through the wringer and come out fine. We love the square design of this fanny pack and all the amazing color options.
Leave it to Lululemon to make a very sleek and stylish belt bag that pairs with all sorts of outfits - from sports to dinner out.
Sleek, soft, comes in a lot of bold colors and has perfectly placed pockets. The Dagne Dover sling is always a great choice.
You Can Still Wear All These As Hip Packs
Look, if you adore the hip bag look or are on the hunt for waist bags for a specific purpose, you do you boo. All of these crossbody bags have straps that can double as belts and make it a mini hip purse.
I have actually used my Baggu bag as a belt bag on my hips a few times in the airport when I’ve had a backpack on and it was too much going on to also wear my sling bag as a crossbody.
It’s best to use a small fanny pack for hips, since larger ones will fall down more as you walk (trust me on this, I have learned my lesson.) Otherwise it’ll become a bum bag instead of a hip bag.
I hope this article helps you find the best dang travel fanny pack for you!
If you’re looking for the best fanny packs for running, our sporty Whimsy Writer, Maggie, is working on a bunch of guides to marathon running and has a whole article dedicated to handy items for runners, including bags and the best running fanny packs. Check it out!
