The 3 Best Fanny Packs of 2025

Best Overall Fanny Pack

REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist

The REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist topped my list of favorite fanny packs in the lineup, not only because it is one of the least expensive products I tested but also because of its day-to-day practicality. With five compartments, this little two-liter waist pack is an organizational machine. It does a great job of keeping your belongings separated and protected from each other by offering various storage options. A sneaky anti-theft pocket at the back can hold important items like a passport or wallet, while lesser valuables can be tossed into the main bucket-style zip pocket at the front. Inside, you'll find a key clip and two small slide pockets to stay organized. Although these offer no velcro or zipper closure, the slip design provides a snug fit, and they make a perfect place to stash lip balm, earbuds, or other small essentials. A third outer zip pocket is large enough to carry a phone, sunglasses, a snack, or anything similar for quick access. The fabric is even water resistant, making this fanny pack an excellent choice for hikes or walks in light rain.

Number of Pockets Interior and Exterior	5
Measured Weight	4.3 oz
Maximum Strap Circumference	47 in
Key Clip	Yes
Volume Tested	2 L

If you're tall and have a broad chest or wide shoulders, I recommend taking a few measurements to see if the REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist will work well for you as a crossbody or sling. The total circumference is 47 inches. I should also note that the strap is only about one inch wide and is made of heavy webbed nylon that is less soft against the skin than the material I tested on other models. This may reduce its appeal for some. Minor complaints aside, this is my favorite fanny pack for its superb organization and functionality. It also comes at a great price, which only adds to our love of this bag. If you don't mind fewer pockets, the classic JanSport Fifth Ave is a similarly-sized model at an even more appealing price.

Best Bang For Your Buck

JanSport Fifth Ave

The JanSport Fifth Ave fanny pack is a stylish and functional bag that seamlessly blends practicality with a trendy flair. Its compact design makes it perfect for hands-free convenience, whether exploring a city, hiking, or running errands. It has a streamlined silhouette that can complement various outfits, from casual streetwear to sporty looks. The range of colors—from classic black to vibrant patterns—ensures something for everyone. The main compartment is spacious enough to fit your wallet, sunglasses, and even a compact camera. The front pocket zips securely and is perfect for quick-access items like your phone or keys. The adjustable strap allows you to customize the fit easily, whether you prefer it snug around your waist or slung over your shoulder.

Number of Pockets Interior and Exterior	2
Measured Weight	4.5 oz
Maximum Strap Circumference	50 in
Key Clip	No
Volume Tested	2.5 L

One big caveat of the JanSport Fifth Ave is that it lacks organization. There is just one main pocket and a smaller zippered pocket, which is located outside the pack and doesn't protect your keys or credit cards from potential theft. For its size, it would be nice to have one extra pocket (preferably with a key clip) to keep your items safe and separate from one another. This aside, the fanny pack is a great, affordable option that combines style, comfort, and durability. It's ideal for anyone looking for a practical way to carry essentials without compromising aesthetic appeal. Want a stylish fanny pack with more storage space? Check out the Lululemon Everywhere Belt 1L, which has five pockets in total.

Best Fanny Pack for Just the Essentials

Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack 1L

If you're looking for a minimalist fanny pack for the bare essentials, the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack 1L is the perfect choice. It's lightweight and made from durable, 100% recycled nylon ripstop that is weather resistant and feels soft against the skin. The backside of the pouch is covered in a cushiony, breathable material that makes the waist pack particularly comfortable for hiking or to wear in hot weather. There is one main zippered compartment for items like a cell phone and sunglasses and one small front zip pocket well-suited to stashing loose items like lip balm or keys. I used this highly functional fanny pack for years of hiking, in combination with a large backpack. It is especially nice if you wear spandex or pants without pockets, as it can provide quick access to your phone or snacks without having to stop and dig through a larger pack. It also compresses down into a self-contained stuff sack for easy storage when not in use.

Number of Pockets Interior and Exterior	2
Measured Weight	3.5 oz
Maximum Strap Circumference	43 in
Key Clip	Yes
Volume Tested	1 L

However, the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole is mini, meaning items inside won't get lost easily. Its design could be improved by adding an inner slip pocket or two to secure the smallest necessities and provide additional organizational flexibility. Also, the strap is a bit slim for cinching comfortably around some folks. Then again, since this zipped pouch is so small and unlikely to hold a significant amount of weight, its narrow strap should be fine for most users. This fanny pack is an excellent choice for carrying minimal necessities and a perfect, easy-access accompaniment for your next backpacking trip or dog walk.

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	80	REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist Best Overall Fanny Pack	$30
	79	Lululemon Everywhere Belt 1L	$38
	77	Baggu Fanny	$52
	72	Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack 1L Best Fanny Pack for Just the Essentials	$35
	67	JanSport Fifth Ave Best Bang For Your Buck	$22
	66	Waterfly Slim	$24
	54	Cotopaxi Bataan Del Dia 3L	$33
	53	Bellroy Lite	$49

How We Tested

My team and I have been testing bags of all kinds for over a decade, and we know exactly what to look for in a fanny pack. After determining the top fanny packs on the market, my team and I thoroughly tested them. We took them on jaunts around town, travels overseas, on quick hikes, and just about anywhere we were headed. We kept in mind the comfort, storage, ease of use, versatility, and much more for each pack. My fanny-pack team was sure to keep detailed notes on their performance. Regardless of where your day takes you, a fanny pack can be a convenient way to hold your essentials, and our team is here to help you find the right one for you.

The bags we tested were scored across four performance metrics:

• Comfort and Fit (30% of overall score weighting)

• Storage and Protection (30% weighting)

• Ease of Use (30% weighting)

• Versatility and Aesthetics (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

My name is Tatyana Grechina and I am the queen of bags. I have been obsessed with bags of all kinds for as long as I can remember, even insisting on taking my favorite clutch to grade school. I obsess over finding bags that are functional, stylish, and comfortable, which is why I lead this fanny-pack review. My team includes Whitney Clark. Whitney has had a long-time love for fanny packs. As a frequent world traveler, she loves a sling that fits well with the rest of her travel system and keeps the most important items within arm's reach. Together, Whitney and I have spent years testing the most intriguing fanny packs on the market.

Analysis and Test Results

This in-depth evaluation of fanny packs included popular styles best suited for everyday wear, daily runs, trail hikes, commutes, festivals, and more. I considered options that could carry the essentials and stay comfortably in place all day, offering easy access to things like a cell phone, keys, wallet, or other important personal items.

What's the Best Value?

It's not often that one of the least expensive products in our lineup also happens to be one of the best. But when it comes to fanny packs, the REI Co-op Trail 2 Waist delivers on all fronts, scoring exceptionally well across every metric and selling at a budget price. Its numerous pockets and slim, thoughtful essentials make it highly functional, comfortable to carry, versatile, and an easy choice as a top value option among fanny packs.

Affordable, stylish, and fully functional, the JanSport Fifth Ave won the spot as a top budget pick for good reasons. It ticked all the boxes, performed average in all metrics, and is the least expensive fanny pack I tested. At 2.5 liters, it has plenty of space for all your daily essentials and comes in over 20 different styles and colors!

Another great buy is the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack. Although it is one of the smaller bags I tested, it's the perfect size to keep a few key items close at hand for a night on the town or a weekend hike. It's easily comfortable to wear around your midsection and well-constructed from 100% recycled materials, which makes it a great choice when small is what you seek.

Comfort and Fit

First and foremost, I considered each fanny pack's comfort and fit. While it might be fine with light items, once filled up, a poorly constructed fanny pack can dig into your waist or pull awkwardly. I kept this in mind as I filled each fanny pack with practical daily essentials. I noted the materials used, padding along the hip, and any other features that either enhance or take away from the overall fit and comfort.

One of the most comfortable options I tested was the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack, with a comfy backside pad encased in breathable polyester fabric and a soft herringbone waist strap. It also easily adjusts to accommodate a wide range of shapes, sizes, and carry/fit preferences and comes with a buckle that can be positioned to the side or in the back as required. The Lululemon Everywhere Belt 1L is almost as comfortable to wear, but has an unfortunately-placed buckle that always seemed to fall directly on my hips.

The most comfortable, larger fanny is the Baggu Fanny Pack. Despite not having any padding besides the double-layered heavy-weight nylon on the back, it's surprisingly cushy when fully loaded. The bag's design, which offers a large amount of flat surface area, seems to disperse the weight in an innovative way, and the wide strap is made of a thick, soft weave that absorbs any discomfort. The fanny easily clicks on and off, can be worn in whatever way you'd like, and has three easily accessible zippered compartments — chunky, buttery zippers. I rave, but honestly, I'm just glad that the Baggu lives up to the hype in comfort, since it's the priciest of the lineup!

With its flat design, the Bellroy Lite sits flush and smooth against the hip and fastens with an equally flat magnetic clasp. The bag's light fabric, durable fabric and compact nature lets it stay in place all day and, thanks to the adjustable strap, doesn't swing around at all. Its interior cushioning also gives it a pleasant, squishy feel that rounds any awkward edges. My only complaint is with organization – a couple more compartments on the inside and an easier way to get your phone in and out of the mesh sleeve (instead of two diagonal openings) would go a long way. Though having your items close to your body logically makes sense, it seems like having the outside pocket on the front of the bag instead of the back would reduce the chance of a stuffed fanny's contents poking you and would also make that exterior pocket easier to access.

Despite there being no padding, the Cotopaxi Bataan 3L is also pretty comfortable to carry! Though it does sag a bit when fully loaded, the bag's longer shape allows the items' even distribution, which helps it feel secure, and its contents don't jut out or poke you. The classic buckle and ease of adjustability while on the body also help it feel more comfortable and secure as your needs throughout the day change!

Storage and Protection

When it comes to fanny packs, the two-liter REI Co-op Trail 2 is my favorite, wowing me with five pockets. The main compartment has two slip pockets and a key clip to keep your items easy to find without stopping and digging for them. A large outer pocket with a zipper provides a safe place for your phone, while the anti-theft pocket on the back is large enough to hold a passport, some cash, and credit cards.

Another bag I liked for its organizational flexibility is the smaller Lululemon Everywhere Belt. Despite its smaller one-liter storage capacity, this pouch also has five pockets to stow your daily necessities, making it a great choice for running errands and outings around town.

Or, if you need something to carry your smallest essentials — keys, ID, and maybe a mini sunblock or a smaller phone — on your next run, the Waterfly Slim is a low-profile, waterproof fanny pack that's ideally suited to getting sporty. Just don't overfill it, or it will become bulky and noticeably less comfortable in motion.

If you are after pockets and space, the Baggu can fit a ton. This bag can be worn as a crossbody, just in case you find yourself filling it up too much for your waist.

Ease of Use

Not all fanny packs are created equally, though the design might seem pretty simple and straightforward. Some have conveniently placed zippers and pockets that are easy to access, while others do not. I appreciated bags that kept my contents organized, rather than becoming a jumbled mess as I ran or hopped over river rocks. Even the buckle can greatly enhance the fanny pack experience. Some are easy to buckle, while others take a few extra moments to get set. These are all things I considered when testing the fanny packs' ease of use.

The Lululemon Everywhere Belt has an exceptionally large buckle that is easy to handle and simple to clip on and off. The strap can be adjusted while worn, so there is no need to take it off to tighten or loosen it back up. Its large zippered opening makes it easy to access contents without taking it off and digging through it, while small inner pockets are well-equipped to hold my belongings in place during motion.

The REI Co-op Trail 2 fanny pack is super easy to dial in the fit and operate all closures, providing easy access to all belongings once in use. I loved how functional and accessible all of its pockets are, including two small slip pockets (one with a key clip), perfect for keeping track of items like lip balm, keys, or headphones. During my testing, they never spilled their contents into the central part of the bag, giving me confidence that my belongings would stay put.

The JanSport Fifth Ave is one of the best fanny packs when it comes to ease and accessibility! Its smooth, rounded shape makes it great for storing anything you need and – the best part – getting to it with zero difficulty. There are only two pockets, but they are easy to access, and since the bag is on the smaller side, items aren't easily lost. The outside pocket is great for storing things like chapstick, cash, or headphones, and being front-facing makes it quick to access on the go!

Another fanny pack favorite is the Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack. It's very simple in design, with minimalist features for carrying core everyday essentials. This bag is easy to clip on and off and comes with an adjustable strap and buckle that can be slid to either side of your hip for comfort or even worn to the back if you prefer. The Waterfly Slim has more features but is also very easy to use, with an easy-release buckle that works for both fanny pack and crossbody wear and a front compartment that's very easy to access while you're wearing it.

I also found the Cotopaxi Bataan 3L to be surprisingly easy to use. Though it doesn't have as many different compartments, it's small enough that things don't get lost, and the design makes it really easy to open the top and access anything on the go. The simple buckle feature and adjustable strap also make it quite accessible and easy to adjust as needed, depending on what you're wearing or doing at the moment!

If you want a larger fanny pack that holds anything you need and stays put, the Baggu makes a great option. It doesn't have a lot of niche compartments or a key ring, but it does have a ton of space and three easy-to-access compartments. It may seem like a small thing, but the construction of the zipper style itself — a little bigger and a buttery, dense plastic — makes it especially easy to zip and unzip on the go, since it doesn't have that awkward, occasional snag of metal zipper teeth.

Versatility and Aesthetics

Style will vary from person to person. However, I asked my friends and family - lots of them - to rate the fanny packs in our lineup. Based on this feedback, I was able to rate these bags based on their aesthetics. Through lots of use, I was well acquainted with their versatility. Some were bags I would happily wear every day, while others are best for travel or for running.

The REI Co-op Trail 2 is versatile, worn as a fanny pack or across the chest for a different style. It comes in fewer colors, but the updated version looks more stylish, and the grid pattern is smaller and less noticeable. The bag does have a slightly athletic look, though the new colors improved the look and significantly bumped up the style score. The Patagonia Black Hole Mini has a minimalistic appearance that melts easily into outfits — or a bold look that stands out if that's what you want — all based on your chosen color combination.

I also loved the JanSport Fifth Ave for its timeless look, simple design, and seamless integration into most outfits. The waist pack comes in 21 different colors and patterns, so whether you're looking for classic black or retro flowers, you should have no trouble finding something that works. It can also be worn a couple of different ways, and the strap has plenty of room for adjusting based on your needs.

The Lululemon Everywhere Belt doesn't feature as many colorways, but the ones it does have work just as well with a sundress as they do with a pair of hiking pants. Both these bags can be dressed up for a night on the town or worn casually on a day hike. They can also easily be thrown over your shoulder and worn as a crossbody bag around town.

If you're looking for a sleek, discreet fanny pack, the Bellroy Lite is among the most aesthetic of the group. It comes in four colors at the moment, which lean more earth-toned, such as ash and clay, and the design features a tough fabric paired with a sophisticated, minimalist cut. If you don't need to hold a lot of content, the Bellroy Lite will stay flush to your body and look chic all day!

Finally, it's hard not to love the brightly colored and classic design of the Cotopaxi Bataan 3L. These vibrant bags put the fun in functionality, and no two fanny packs are exactly alike. Each one is made using repurposed fabric scraps, meant to promote sustainability by reducing material waste, and this gives each item a unique, eye-catching design. The brand gives factory workers full creative freedom to mix and match colors, so each Cotopaxi Bataan 3L really is one-of-a-kind!

Conclusion

I know there are lots of options out there, and these are the options I found the most compelling and useful. Keep in mind, many of these fanny packs are available in many more colors and patterns, so you will be able to find the pattern that fits your style. I hope I have made your fanny pack decision much easier, regardless of whether you're looking for a travel companion or a day-to-day pack.