13 Best Fanny Packs | The Strategist

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Call it a fanny pack, a belt bag, bum bag, or a waist pack — I’ve owned many options over the years, and I love the hands-free style deeply. Fanny packs are so versatile that I have one with me almost every day, whether I’m walking my dogs, driving to a dinner party, or catching a flight. The best ones are made of sturdy materials, like polyester or neoprene, and can handle being stuffed full (and a little rain) as you run errands. They’ll also have been designed with convenience and security in mind — I like my fanny packs with plenty of pockets and thoughtful organization, so I can keep track of my phone, keys, wallet, Laneige lip balm, and other daily necessities, and not have to entirely unpack the thing just to find a piece of gum.

To uncover the most stylish (but still functional) fanny packs, my fellow Strategist writers and I tested several on trips, walks, and hikes. Then, my colleague Rachael Griffiths and I asked more than a dozen fashionable people, including models, photographers, stylists, for their favorite fanny packs, too. If you don’t want to scroll through all the options, you can click any of the links below to jump straight to the fanny pack that sounds right for you. And if you’re looking for something a bit larger, read my guide to weekender bags and carry-ons.

Update on May 2, 2025: Added Quince’s Italian Pebbled Leather Sling Bag and the Béis Sport Sling; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.

The material will help determine the functionality of your fanny pack. Water-resistant ones like nylon and polyester will ensure your things stay dry. Leather and neoprene, which can be hand-washed with light detergents, are easier to clean. I’ve noted the material of each fanny pack so you can pick the one that’s right for you.

Whether it sits above your hips or across your chest, each fanny pack has a specific way it closes. A buckle closure is typical, but a few on this list are unique in their design.

Most fanny packs have adjustable straps to tighten or loosen them to fit your size or activity needs. But some have a limit on how long they go, so I’ve made note of that wherever I can.

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Material: Neoprene | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 36 inches

At the Strategist, we’re longtime fans of Dagne Dover’s neoprene backpacks, carry-ons, and work totes, but this bag in particular has become my go-to. I’ve carried it for the past year, and I use it for everything from daily walks with my dog to long travel days. I love how it molds to my body and feels like it’s barely there when I’m wearing it, allowing me to be completely hands-free. I also appreciate how the bag holds its shape even when I’ve stuffed it full of my essentials (it has a slightly spongy exterior that has some give to it).

Another fan is our writer Rachael Griffiths, who appreciates its small yet thoughtful details such as the key clip. “I’m known for scrambling around my bag, sure that this time I’ve lost my keys for good — only to find them wedged between my SPF and claw clip,” she says. The key clip takes care of all that, making it easy to find her keys right inside the bag.

The brand’s fanny pack also has the logo hidden on the backside, in relatively small print, making it more discreet than other fanny packs I’ve used. Its versatility (it’s a day-to-night fanny pack, thanks to its sleek and not overly sporty design), combined with the thoughtful touches I mentioned above, generous capacity, and squishy comfortable fit that make this my favorite fanny pack — even with its higher price point considered.

Just to note: Dagne Dover released the Jax fanny pack in fall 2024, which is basically a larger version of the Ace. I’ll be testing it through the summer months, but so far, it’s a great option if you already like the Ace but want a little more room or added features like a key leash or internal pockets.

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Material: Polyester | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 50 inches

If $95 is more than you’d like to spend on a fanny pack, I suggest this under-$20 bag from ’90s classic brand Jansport. Griffiths used the retailer’s backpacks for several years throughout college and notes that the fanny packs are made from the same sturdy 600-denier polyester that carted her books around school. And while it’s the cheapest bag on our list, it’s still just as durable as bags quadruple the price. It comes in a nice range of colors and styles (including a lilac and camo), too. “JanSport is known for its high-quality sports bags,” says stylist and designer Alljahni Mack. It will add a “beautiful splash of color to your outfit and is compact for an active day spent hiking or working out.” The bag also has one of the longest straps of all the fanny packs listed here, so it’s a good choice if you’re plus-size or broad-shouldered.

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Material: Recycled polyester with TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) laminate | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: Not listed

We can’t get enough of Patagonia’s Black Hole range. In 2023, the iconic line received a notable update: 100 percent recycled laminate with a matte finish has replaced the shinier fabric that we’ve written about before. Even with the latest material update, the brand’s duffel tops our list of the best weekender bags — thanks to its durability and ultrasturdy material — and its waist pack is like its more compact cousin. That is not to say, however, that the Patagonia waist pack is “small.” After receiving it, Griffiths found that it felt more like a sling than a fanny pack — especially on her five-foot-five frame. It’s both waxy and cushioned, which makes it water-resistant, but not so stiff that it doesn’t fit comfortably against the body. It also has a five-liter capacity, and an additional pocket to stow a water bottle on the side (so you don’t have to rummage through your belongings every time you want to take a sip). There are two pockets, one for smaller essentials like cards and keys, and the larger back pocket. This is where Charlotte Stone keeps training treats and doggy treats in it on daily walks with her two dogs. She describes the bag as “ridiculously functional.”

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Material: 100 percent deadstock nylon and polyester | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 54 inches

If you want something low-profile and completely packable, consider Cotopaxi’s Kapai pack. We first heard about it when our tech writer Jordan McMahon mentioned it in his latest Strategist Brain roundup. He’s owned the Kapai for about five months now and says it’s lightweight and compact enough to fold into a backpack before a flight (since fanny packs can count as one of your personal items these days). “I mostly use it when traveling because of all the fanny packs I’ve amassed over the years (I think I’m almost at 15), this one folds into the smallest footprint,” McMahon told me. Even with a capacity of 1.5 liters, the bag has enough space for his iPhone or a tiny e-reader, his wallet, and some keys or a pair of AirPods. “It also has a nice handle on the top that makes it easy to grab when it’s inside my carry-on,” McMahon adds.

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Material: Polyester and nylon | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 41.7 inches

Lululemon makes some of my favorite gym bags, and like those larger bags, this belt bag maximizes function and style. There was a time when it was perennially out of stock (it’s very popular with tweens), but now you can regularly get your hands on one of its 14 colorways. In addition to a larger, front-facing pocket, it has a discreet back pocket, which is great for storing a phone, some cash, or credit cards — all the essentials you’d need for an errand run. Inside the main pocket, there is also a mesh-pocket, so everything inside is easy to see without too much jiggling around. Builder finds the Lululemon branding on the front “a little embarrassing at times,” but it’s small enough to go unnoticed. She says that it fits all of her everyday necessities, including a sunglasses case, wallet, phone, and car keys, and she can still “easily sling it across my chest.” Plus, “it’s fairly sturdy” and “water-resistant,” so she can wear it in a rainstorm and not worry that anything will get soaked.

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Material: Nylon | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: Choice of either 34 or 45 inches

When Griffiths tested this Baggu fanny pack, she was surprised by how much fit inside its two spacious pockets. There’s enough room for a 16-ounce water bottle, a book, and your other fanny-pack essentials (think phone, keys, a tube of hand cream). Photographer Jacq Harriet even told me that this bag can hold her chunky 35-mm. camera, and is strong enough too: It’s made from a sturdy nylon. “It holds pretty much everything, like a Mary Poppins never-ending bag,” she says. It also comes in a massive range of eighteen colors, and is definitely my favorite-looking fanny pack of any on this list.

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Material: Leather | Closure: Belt closure | Strap length: 29–45 inches

I’ve heard lots about this fanny pack from Clare V. — two of the people we interviewed name-checked it, and model Brooklyn Decker even recommended it to us as one of the things she can’t live without. Instead of a buckle closure (like the above Dagne Dover model, for example), it closes like a belt with a simple gold buckle. It fits your phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses, and other little essentials like lip balm or minis. Decker got it as a gift from a friend and uses it whenever she’s running around or just soaking up the great outdoors. Iva Pawling, the co-founder and CEO of Richer Poorer, owns it in three different colors and wears it daily: “Clare’s designs are everyday gear with a hint of cool and whimsy, which make them perfect.”

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Material: Peddled leather | Closure: Clip closure | Strap length: 32 inches

If the Clare V. is more than you’re willing to spend, Quince’s pebbled leather sling bag is a solid deal at under $80. Right out of the box, it arrived in a dust bag, and I noticed the strap is a bit thicker and has decorative stitching compared to our best overall Dagne Dover. There’s one card slot on the inside where I can put my ID or other cards, but it’s large enough to hold my entire wallet, plus my Touchland hand sanitizer, keys, iPhone 15 Pro Plus, and a lip balm. It’s available in five colors, but I love that the nice-looking cognac shade features gold hardware. (If gold isn’t your style, the mink color has silver hardware, and black has gunmetal hardware.) I’ve only been wearing the Quince fanny pack for a short period — mostly while running errands or going to various appointments — but I appreciate the sleek and elevated sling design that makes this one of the dressier options on our list.

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Material: Nylon | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 21–34 inches

Parents, allow me to point you to this belt bag, which writer Sarah Hoover uses as a minimalist diaper bag. Hoover explains that, after her first baby, she “discovered that, for day-to-day excursions, a fanny pack is far superior to any proper diaper bag.” At first, she would carry two diapers, a Ziploc of wipes, and an extra onesie in the bag. But as her son has grown, her load has actually gotten lighter — with more space to spare for her own essentials, like a ChapStick and credit cards (which she keeps in the front pouch of the fanny pack). “Paravel’s pack, in its austerity and attention to smart design, goes well with jeans and simple dresses, but has a price that makes me not too worried if it ends up with a little baby puke on it,” Hoover says.

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Material: Nylon, vegan leather trim | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 45 inches

We’re fans of Béis, the travel brand founded by actress Shay Mitchell, so I knew I needed to try one of its fanny pack styles. I opted for the Sport Sling because it packs a real punch: It’s a compact square design, and there’s a hidden water-bottle pocket on the back. It can hold my 20-ounce slim Stanley bottle or a regular 16-ounce plastic bottle, which makes it a dream for anyone with an active lifestyle. Inside the largest zippered compartment, you’ll find a built-in key clip and a micro-fiber-lined pocket that’s the perfect size for my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The outer zippered compartment has a three-slot card holder, while a back zippered pocket is the ideal place to store anything you’re trying to keep more secure, like your passport. I’ve worn it on walks with my dog, and the nylon material is also easy to spot-clean: I’ve already wiped off some puppy slobber with a damp rag. The Sport Sling is available in seven colors, including black, olive, and light pink.

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Material: Neoprene | Closure: No closure | Strap length: Strap in S–XL

As someone who’s been a runner for most of my life, I’ve needed a fanny pack that’s sleek and won’t weigh me down on the go. This bag from FlipBelt is just that. I’ve owned mine for around six months and love that it’s slim and made from a firm yet stretchy neoprene that sits snugly around my hips. It’s the right width to fit my iPhone 15 Pro Max and a few essentials, but not so bulky that it’s an annoyance while I’m running. You won’t find a more comfortable waist pack than the FlipBelt, and the minimal design means it easily blends in with any pair of leggings or shorts. It’s so discreet that it can also double up as an anti-theft fanny pack, says Molly Fergus, who is the general manager of TripSavvy. “I’ve considered using this as a money belt when I’m in crowded areas. It could easily hide underneath a baggy shirt, so your passport, cash, and CDC card — perhaps the most valuable item of the three — are safely hidden,” she explains.

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Material: PU-coated ripstop | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: Not listed

If you need a little bit more room, you might be better suited to this larger but still svelte sling bag from Janji. Frequent runner and Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa told me it’s the best thing he bought in the whole of 2022. It’s more convenient than a running vest, while still having enough space to store keys, a phone, and running essentials like a water bottle, a spare T-shirt, and some snacks. “One of my favorite things to do in New York is to go on a long run with friends to some food destination, eat there, and then take the train back home. This pack is perfect for those excursions.” The bag also has a hidden cross-body strap, meaning it can transform from a fanny pack to a sling worn on the back — whichever way you prefer to wear it.

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Material: Polyester | Closure: Buckle closure | Strap length: 54 inches

Griffiths went to three festivals last summer and says this fanny pack was essential. “I wanted something durable and rainproof — summertime or not, I was still in Britain,” she says. This Carhartt waist pack ticked both boxes and was roomy enough for her phone, keys, money, snacks, and a little tube of sunscreen. You can hook water bottles and a packable rain jacket onto two loops sewn onto the bag, too. It’s since seen her through several raves and events — and though you can cram a lot inside the waist pack, it’s not cumbersome on a busy dance floor. Plus, it looks understated thanks to its simple slate-gray polyester shell.

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• Brooklyn Decker, actress and model• Molly Fergus, general manager of TripSavvy• Rachael Griffiths, Strategist writer• Jacq Harriet, photographer • Sarah Hoover, writer and art historian• Alljahni Mack, stylist and designer• Jordan McMahon, Strategist tech writer• Iva Pawling, co-founder and CEO of Richer Poorer• Lauren Ro, Strategist senior writer• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer• Charlotte Stone, women’s-footwear designer

Additional reporting by Rachael Griffiths.

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