I lived through the first fanny pack era. In the ’80s, parents wore them when we were out and about as a family on busy vacation days, meaning that many of us from that generation — myself included ‚ grew up avoiding them like an uncool plague … at least, until recently. The ’80s are apparently once again cool, meaning even fanny packs are back in style.
Unlike the fanny packs of yesteryear, today’s travel fanny packs have taken on a new identity.
Also referred to as sling bags, crossbody bags and belt bags, this latest iteration of the classic accessory is now most commonly slung across the chest with the pack part in either the front or back instead of across the waist.
Whether this is your first (or second) era with the fanny pack, they are undeniably handy — so here are our top picks for travel.
What to look for in fanny packs
The best fanny packs are the ones that are comfortable to wear all day, can hold up to some elements and have enough nooks and crannies to keep your goodies safe and organized.
Additionally, the best fanny pack for you will be the one that aligns with your style and needs, whether that’s a leather ensemble you can wear while out to dinner, something themed and personalized for theme park visits or the most rugged and utilitarian option to withstand anything you may encounter while on the go.
Related: The best travel backpacks
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag
Purchase link: Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag
Why we love it
As the OG belt bag, we would be remiss not to include the Everywhere Belt Bag from the omnipresent athleisure brand, Lululemon.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Since its introduction in the summer of 2020 (and subsequent presence all over TikTok), there’s a good chance you’ve seen countless urban millennials — and then some — sporting Lulu’s Everywhere Belt Bag, including TPG news reporter Caroline Tanner.
A personal favorite of Caroline, who swears by the bag, this Lulu option earns heaps of praise for its chic yet effortless look. Caroline loves that it’s small enough to remain comfortable while wearing it for hours at a time as she walks around the city yet large enough to hold essential items she never leaves home without, such as sunscreen, headphones and sunglasses.
With a large interior pocket and a second pocket of the same size divided in half, you can safely store smaller items like earrings, medicine or keys while on the go without the risk of losing them. There’s also an exterior pocket that zips for easy access to your key essentials.
As with most Lulu items, the Everywhere Belt Bag is designed for those on the move. It features a water-repellent fabric and an adjustable belt strap that fully extends to nearly 42 inches so it stays dry and in place no matter how long you have it on.
How it measures up
- Price: $38 and up from Lululemon; often $55 to $68 from Amazon.
- Weight: 6.7 ounces.
- Size: 7.5 by 2 by 5 inches.
- Volume: 1 liter.
- Strap length: 41.7 inches when fully extended.
- Materials: 100% polyester (mesh and liner), 100% recycled nylon (body).
Herschel Seventeen Waist Pack
Purchase link: Herschel Seventeen Waist Pack
Why we love it
If you want a great balance of style, form, function and budget, then Herschel is a top choice. As one of the most affordable fanny packs in the bunch, the Herschel Waist Pack has hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon — and it’s easy to see why. To make it a cinch to find your most important items fast, this pack has a front pocket with a waterproof zipper and key clip.
Available in an array of color combinations and holding up to 3.5 liters of contents (one of the higher quantities of all the bags on this list), this is a fanny pack made to hit the road and come back for more.
How it measures up
- Price: $40 to $45 from Herschel; $32 to $50 from Amazon.
- Weight: 8.8 ounces.
- Size: 6.5 by 13 by 3.5 inches.
- Volume: 3.5 liters.
- Strap length: 16.5-inch shoulder drop.
- Materials: Polyester with nylon lining.
Fjällräven Ulvo Large Belt Bag
Purchase link: Fjällräven Large Belt Bag
Why we love it
The Swedish brand behind cute and trendy backpacks all over the world also offers an eye-catching belt bag for those looking for a stylish take on the classic fanny pack.
Fjällräven sells several types of these packs, but this larger option is our top pick of the bunch, as it can hold more of your goodies. We like the chic but minimal on-trend style, plus the fact that it’s waterproof.
How it measures up
- Price $65 from Fjällräven and Nordstrom.
- Weight: 7.1 ounces.
- Size: 14 by 6.5 by 4 inches.
- Volume: 4 liters.
- Material: Nylon.
Dagne Dover Ace Belt Bag
Purchase link: Dagne Dover Ace Water Resistant Belt Bag
Why we love it
If we were handing out a “Best Overall Fanny Pack” trophy, this one would be a top contender. The Dagne Dover Ace Water Resistant Belt Bag is strong in virtually every category, making it a fabulous all-around pick.
Made of extremely comfortable, soft (but also durable) and water-resistant neoprene, this Dagne Dover bag is useable in a variety of real-world environments involving rain, sweat and more. Additionally, it has numerous useful loops and pockets while keeping the overt branding to a minimum.
There are little non-zippered pouches both on the outside and inside of the pouch, plus a small zippered pouch on the front. A clip is available inside, too, so you can attach your keys (or another similar item) for super quick and easy access.
The strap is wide, very adjustable and extra comfortable, making this bag one you can wear all day.
How it measures up
- Price: $95 from Dagne Dover and Nordstrom.
- Weight: 8 ounces.
- Size: 9.25 by 5.5 by 2.75 inches at the top and 0.5 inches at the bottom.
- Volume: 1 liter.
- Strap length: 36 inches when fully extended.
- Materials: Premium neoprene exterior, Repreve lining made of recycled plastic bottles and zinc-alloy hardware.
Cotopaxi Del Día Bataan 3L Fanny Pack
Purchase link: Cotopaxi Del Día Bataan 3L Fanny Pack
Why we love it
Not only does this fanny pack stand out in a crowd, but it holds just about everything you could need when you leave the house.
The Cotopaxi Del Día Bataan 3L Fanny Pack is perfect for adventurous travelers frequently roughing it outside. Made completely from sustainable materials and adhering to fair labor practices, this colorful bag has adjustable straps with a zipper-closed front pocket, which make wearing it on your back, front or hips completely comfortable. Plus, there are two mesh pockets inside the pack that expand to handle anything from a pack of gum to an AirPods case with a small charger.
The only downside? The bag is made with nylon (think: windbreaker material), so it’s not completely waterproof.
How it measures up
- Price: $30 to $35 from Cotopaxi; $30 from Amazon.
- Weight: 4 ounces.
- Size: 9 inches by 5 inches by 4 inches.
- Volume: 3 liters.
- Material: Repurposed nylon.
Clare V. Fanny Pack
Purchase link: Clare V. Fanny Pack
Why we love it
This is the fanny pack for those in search of an elevated leather look. The bag comes in a variety of color options, including black, tan and a fun 1980s, punk-inspired checkered pattern. It’s not cheap, but it’s stylish enough to use at fancier museums, upscale restaurants and when a bold fanny pack just isn’t right for the occasion.
Additionally, it’s made in the USA and comes with a two-year warranty, should anything go wrong.
How it measures up
- Price: $285 from Clare V.
- Weight: 8 ounces.
- Size: 9 by 6.5 inches.
- Strap length: 29 to 41 inches, though you can add a longer belt to your order at checkout, if desired.
- Materials: Leather with a chambray liner.
Stoney Clover Lane Fanny Pack
Purchase link: Stoney Clover Lane Women’s Fanny Pack
Why we love it
If you want a cute, customizable fanny pack that’s ideal for special outings like Disney trips, Stoney Clover Lane might be the best pick for you.
TPG contributor and theme park expert Brooke McDonald is a big fan of this brand — and, as you can see, even managed to pick a style featuring her initials and a fun Disney design. Brooke loves how she can fit all of her theme park gear in the bag.
While you don’t have to get your pack personalized or with characters on it, the ability to customize it is a big part of what makes this option appealing.
How it measures up
- Price: $95 from Stoney Clover Lane (extra charges apply for larger sizes, themed offerings and patches for personalizing); $95 to $98 from Amazon.
- Size: 6 by 11 by 3 inches.
- Strap length: 20 to 38 inches.
- Materials: Nylon with gold metal hardware.
Calpak Luka Belt Bag
Purchase link: Calpak Luka Belt Bag
Why we love it
TPG director of content Andrea Rotondo has avoided belt bags in the past because the ones she tried never accommodated her. The strap didn’t extend enough for a comfortable fit as a crossbody bag or while worn cinched around the waist, so she wrote off the trendy bags until recently.
For Andrea, the Calpak Luka Belt Bag was a game-changer. With an adjustable nylon belt that expands to 55 inches, she can wear this cute bag either across her body or around her waist.
The Luka Belt Bag has a puffy, quilted look with three zippered pockets: one on the exterior that runs the length of the bag and is perfect for storing a cellphone, a few bucks, a miniature notebook and a pen; and two interior pockets (one with a mesh lining) that are accessible via a zipper that goes around the top of the bag.
A favorite element of the bag — which is made with water-resistant polyester and comes in a variety of colors, including rose quartz and kale — is how quiet the bag is. Nothing rustles around while walking. Andrea also loves how slimming the bag looks even when it’s packed with her go-to essentials: two pairs of glasses, a wallet and an iPhone.
How it measures up
- Price: $58 from Calpak and Nordstrom.
- Weight: 8 ounces.
- Size: 11 by 5.5 by 3.5 inches.
- Strap length: 55 inches when fully extended.
- Materials: Polyester with an adjustable nylon strap.
Evergoods Civic Access Sling 2L
Purchase link: Evergoods Civic Access Sling 2L
Why we love it
If you love small bags made from some of the highest quality materials around, look no further than the Evergoods Civic Access Sling 2L, which is owned and recommended by TPG’s senior photo editor, Wyatt Smith.
From the material choices to the hardware to the internal pocket layout, this sling punches above its weight and has a sleek and stylish aesthetic to match. Evergoods stresses the ergonomics of its products when worn, and it’s noticeable when you wear it across your chest or waist. The breathable back panel makes the bag incredibly comfortable.
Along with a large central pocket for general organization, there is a zippered mesh pocket and a key leash to keep smaller items organized. Evergoods also designed the bag to be customizable thanks to its loop logo patch, so you can choose which high-visibility patch you prefer.
How it measures up
- Price: $99 from Evergoods.
- Weight: 13.1 ounces.
- Size: 11 by 5.5 by 3 inches (not including the waist belt wings).
- Volume: 2 liters.
- Strap Length: 47.25 inches.
- Materials: Solution-dyed balanced ballistic nylon.
Walker Goods Louie Sling
Purchase link: Walker Goods Louie Sling
Why we love it
When the pandemic started, TPG’s newsletter editor, Becky Blaine, immediately stopped using a purse and switched over to a Louie Sling from Walker Goods. Some of her other pandemic purchases didn’t stand the test of time, but she calls this item her best pandemic purchase. It’s become her go-to bag for both travel and everyday life.
Made for those on the go, the Louie Sling has ripstop nylon on the inside and durable water-repellent nylon on the outside. It’s available in 10 bold, outdoorsy colors and features a wide, adjustable strap that’s comfortable enough to wear for hours as a sling or around the waist.
This bag is outfitted with a whopping five zipper pouches. The front fleece-lined pocket is cushy enough for cellphones, while the back pocket is large enough to fit a passport. A hidden zipper on the end of the pouch is great for stashing cash, and the main zipper pouch offers enough space to fit sunglasses, a wallet, a miniature bottle of hand sanitizer, a roll of doggie poo bags, a granola bar and more. The interior’s main zipper pouch also has a smaller zippered pocket that you can use for items like keys.
How it measures up
- Price: $48 from Walker Goods.
- Weight: 8 ounces.
- Size: 12 by 6 by 2.5 inches at the top and 0.5 inches at the bottom.
- Strap length: 32 to 44.5 inches.
- Materials: Cordura with YKK zippers.
Kibou Diaper Belt Bag
Purchase link: Kibou Faux Leather Diaper Belt Bag
Why we love it
Once TPG’s director of marketing, Caroline English, became a parent, she said that she finally understood why her friends with babies took forever to leave the house. Having to tote along all the items you need to care for another human on the go really affects your day.
Is it possible to tend to a young child without a traditional diaper bag? Caroline tested the Faux Leather Diaper Belt Bag from Kibou to see if it could stand the test on a busy day out with a 6-month-old.
Luckily for Caroline, the Kibou bag proved a stylish, comfortable way to take on motherhood. Given its compact size, the bag fit more items than she expected, including two diapers, two bottles, a onesie and a burp cloth. It also has a built-in changing pad and a waterproof pocket full of wipes.
While the bag technically held all kinds of items, it did require some careful packing to fit everything in. As a result, it’s not as convenient for fast grabs. Additionally, Caroline wished there were two defined waterproof compartments (one for soiled onesies and another for wipes) instead of one larger pocket so dirty items could be stored separately. Still, she found the bag to be a solid option for short activities outside the house.
How it measures up
- Price: $98 from Kibou.
- Size: 11 by 6 by 4 inches.
- Strap length: 33 to 49 inches.
- Materials: Vegan leather exterior with nylon canvas interior.
Read on for more TPG best-of-gear reviews and round-ups:
