If youâre searching for the best fanny pack for women, there are no shortage of options: Fanny packsâotherwise known as belt bagsâhave come a long way since their â80s heyday, when these hip-slung bags came in bright colors and loud graphics. Whether you loved or hated the bags back then, the best fanny packs still offer a convenient, hands-free way to carry your essentials, which explains their enduring appeal. There are hundredsâif not thousandsâof styles popular today.
and the right amount of storage on the go.ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS
Based on our experience and firsthand testing, our top recommendation for the best fanny pack for women is Lululemonâs Everywhere Belt Bag, which proved to live up to the hype around this popular bag. If thatâs not your style, we also rounded up 9 other options that great for specific needs, from Dagne Doverâs Ace Fanny Pack for travel to Nimesâs Conesa Fannypack for those who want a leather style. And for more bag suggestions, we also researched the best crossbody bags and best travel totes.
Lululemon
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag
Colors: 9 total, including True Navy and Grey Sage | Materials: Recycled polyester, nylon | Capacity: 1 liter
Lululemonâs wildly popular Everywhere Belt Bag functions just as its name implies, fitting everyday essentials in a sleek fanny pack that works anywhere you go. A water-repellant nylon exterior keeps your belongings dry while interior mesh pockets keep them organized. This hard-to-keep-in-stock design has been updated with a longer strap for a more comfortable and secure fit around the waist and across the body.
JanSport
Jansport Fifth Avenue Fanny Pack
Colors: 15 total, including Black and Pastel Lilac | Materials: 100% recycled polyester | Capacity: 2.5 liters
Jansport, known for their classic American backpacks, applied their sturdy design details on a smaller scale with the Fifth Avenue fanny pack. Its made of durable polyester, featuring one main compartment and a front pocket to stash smaller items. An adjustable waist belt includes an elastic stash loop and side buckle so no matter how you wear it, it will stay close to the body, keeping your valuables safe.
Dagne Dover
Dagne Dover Ace Fanny Pack
Colors: 7 total, including Onyx and Warm Dust | Materials: Neoprene, recycled polyester | Capacity: 1 liter
Dagne Doverâs popular Ace Fanny Pack is ideal for travel, thanks to its lightweight, water-resistant neoprene and multiple storage options, including two small exterior pockets and an interior main pocket with a key clip and pen holder. All of this provides ample space for your phone and wallet, plus the hidden back pocket is great for easy-access items like a credit card or metro pass. The neutral colorways and adjustable strap are nice, too, providing multiple ways to style the bag on the go.
MOST POPULAR
Colors: 7 total, including Black and Tan | Materials: Leather | Capacity: Fits a phone, keys, wallet, passport, sunglasses and more
Clare V. is known for their timeless silhouettes and this fanny pack doesnât disappoint. Made to be worn both around the waist and as a crossbody, it comes in a variety of options, from wax-finished leather to textured crocodile to printed cotton canvas. The leather waist strap is adjustable like a belt with notched holes, ensuring a secure fit no matter how you wear it. A longer strap is also available, adding 9.5 inches of extra length if you need it.
Colors: 5 total, including Black and Highlight Yellow | Materials: Nylon, Lycra elastane | Capacity: Fits a 500-milliliter soft flask, keys, cards and more
Runners and athletes like Lululemonâs Fast And Free for both short- and long-distance runs and hikes. The stretchy and sweat-wicking tube is designed to sit on the natural waist, to minimize bouncing, and comes in three sizes for versatility. The back zippered pocket holds smaller items like cash and keys, while additional storage features like a phone pocket, a kangaroo pocket that fits a 500-milliliter flask, a detachable shock cord and loop, make this running belt one of the best for active days.
Cotopaxiâs bestselling Bataan fanny pack features the outdoor brandâs signature bight color-blocking aesthetic. Thereâs an adjustable belt strap, plus a front zippered pocket and three interior mesh pockets that provide roomy storage for all your daily gear. Their factory partner in the Philippines sews these bags using unused nylon scraps from other brands, reducing fabric waste while creating unique, one-of-a-kind color options.
Fjällräven
Fjällräven High Coast Hip Pack
Colors: 5 total, including Black and Navy | Materials: 100% recycled nylon | Capacity: 1.5 liters
Swedish outdoor brand Fjällräven stays true to their sustainable mission with all of their gear, including the High Coast Hip Pack. The minimalist design is made of recycled, waterproof nylon and has multiple zippered pockets. Mesh pockets on the back and inside provide ventilation so this bag doesnât trap heat against the body and the whole bag packs into its own pocket for easy storage when not in use.
Colors: 8 total, including Blush and Smoky Indigo | Materials: Recycled vegan leather and nylon | Capacity: Fits 20+ wet wipes, foldout changing pad and more
Kibouâs Vegan Leather Bag was specifically designed for busy parents on the move who donât want to carry an overstuffed diaper bag. It has a waterproof lined-pocket for baby wipes or soiled clothing, a detachable changing pad in the back flap, slots for cards and cash, a hook for holding pacifiers and toys, and more. The chic, muted colors and earth-friendly vegan leather add a sleek look to this fanny pack, which definitely doesnât scream diaper bag.
Colors: 3 total, including Carmel and Dark Green | Materials: Vegetable tanned leather | Capacity: Fits a phone, keys, wallet, passport, sunglasses and more
Buenos Aires-based Nimes sources high-quality vegetable-tanned leather in Argentina for their line of leather goods. Their handmade Conesa fanny pack has a simple silhouette and spacious 11.8 inch interior. A small internal pocket and backside pocketâplus an adjustable strapâkeeps you organized and this durable leather breaks in and looks better with daily use.
Colors: 6 total, including Scuba Navy and Safari Green | Materials: Upcycled nylon | Capacity: Fits a phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses
Paravelâs Fold-Up Belt Bag achieves what not all other fanny packs can: it fits all your daily essentials, then folds completely flat when not in use, making it great for beach days and short trips. An adjustable strap allows you to wear the bag different ways while two zippers provide simple storage areas. The double layered nylon fabric, made from recycled plastic bottles, is smooth and durable, yet lightweight enough to fold into a wallet-sized pouch. An embroidered monogram option is also available for an extra $10.
What To Consider When Buying a Fanny Pack
With so many different styles to choose from, it comes as no surprise that finding one perfect fanny pack is all but impossible. Sure, you can invest in more than one (we own more fanny packs than we care to admit), but itâs still worth narrowing down your options from dozens of packs to a select few. Consider the following features that will help you decide which fanny pack is right for you.
Capacity
Much like a traditional pack, fanny packs feature different capacities from one model to the next, often indicated in liters. Fanny packs with smaller capacities are lighter and easier to carry, while bags with larger capacities offer extra storage space, but they may weigh you down during high-output activities.
For errands or the simple activities that require essentials like your wallet and phone, a small fanny pack (0.3 to 2.5 liters) will be sufficient. If you want to replace your backpack for half-day or all-day excursions, you should look for a larger fanny pack with more than four liters of storage space so you can fit fluids and additional layers inside.
Materials
Fanny packs run the gamut in terms of materials: Some are made of ultralight fabric to save weight, like the Paravel belt bag, while others, like the Clare V., use heavier materials with a weather-resistant coating. Most outdoor-specific fanny packs are made with nylon, but you can also find fanny packs for everyday use, like the Nimes Conesa, made with vegetable-tanned leather for extra durability.
If weight isnât a concern, you may want to prioritize a fanny pack with durable, abrasion-resistant materials, as this will save weight and look good through extended use, so youâll get more life out of your fanny pack.
Design Features
Your basic fanny pack will keep it simple with a waist strap and a few pockets. However, as brands design bags for specific uses like hiking and biking, more technical features are added to improve the bagâs comfort and durability.
Hiking and biking fanny packs will offer a padded waist strap or a compression strap system to prevent the pack from bouncing as you move (which is annoying at best, and irritating at worst). Some packs feature sleeves or bungee straps to secure essential fluids. And waterproof bags will have welded seams and a roll-top closure to prevent any moisture from seeping in. These features are important, but they usually add a bit of weight (and price) to the finished product.
More Stories To Shop:
Sign up for the Forbes Shopping newsletter
for the best fashion, home, wellness and tech product advice.
Iâm a contributing writer covering womenâs and menâs fashion and accessories at Forbes Vetted. Iâve worked in media for 20 years, art directing and designing fashion, beauty, health and tech content for a variety of magazines, websites and brands. Prior to this, I studied magazine journalism at the University of Missouri. When Iâm not researching fashion, youâll find me doing freelance projects, exploring textile and interior design, and rollerskating.
Read MoreRead Less
Iâm a freelance writer who covers the outdoors, the environment and travel. Before diving into a writing career, I spent years in the outdoor industry as a backpacking guide running multi-day trips in Yosemite, Yellowstone, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland but now live in Salt Lake City, Utah where I spend my time trail running, climbing, and biking. You can see my work in other publications like Outside, Climbing, and SELF, or on my website: www.hannah-singleton.com.
