Best Hiking Fanny Packs, Waist Packs, and Lumbar Packs of 2025

This pack was made with sustainability in mind—it's made of 100% recycled ripstop nylon and polyester. The body fabric is also bluesign approved, indicating the supply chain is safe for the environment, workers, and customers. It is also made in a Fair Trade Certified factory.
The Patagonia Terra Via Mini fanny pack is part of Patagonia's commitment to make gear without PFCs/PFAS, forever chemicals. You can read more about PFAS in our article onPFAS in outdoor gear.
The waist belt is comfortable, lightweight, and flexible, meant for wearing both around your waist or across your chest. This makes it versatile for shorter hikes and also in urban settings.
The Patagonia Terravia Mini hip pack has a volume of 1L, which is on the lower end for a hiking fanny pack.
However, we found that small size to be an advantage in many situations.
For example, it stows away into its own pocket when not in use, such as when it's really raining or if you're traveling and a day hike is just one of many activities that you're packing for.
Yet it's the perfect sizing for shorter hikes where you just want to get up and go.
We were hard pressed to dislike anything about this waist pack, but did find some hikers wanted water bottle pockets. This pack does not come with its own water bottles and doesn't have water bottle pockets, so if you have a tall bottle you want to carry in a waist pack, this could be an issue.
If you want a waistpack with water bottles, see our recommendation for winner for best hydration pack for carrying bottles or look at our guide for Best Mountain Bike Hip Packs. They tend to be very similar to hiking fanny packs but always have hydration compatibility.
Lastly, we wanted the waistband to be longer to be more inclusive of hikers of all sizes. Additionally, some testers who wanted to use it as a sling pack found that it wasn't long enough to fit over shoulders (admittedly, it wasn't designed exactly for that use).
Like all Patagonia gear, this waist pack comes with Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee. This feature covers Patagonia gear for life.
Patagonia’s environmental mission strives to repair gear instead of manufacture new items. For a minimal price, they’ll even repair items with normal wear and tear.

Best High Volume Lumbar Pack: Mountainsmith Tour

Price: $90
Waist size: 28 to 40 inches
Volume: 9 L
Weight: 1 lb 9 oz
Dimensions: 11.5" x 10 "x 5”
Pockets: 6
What we liked: multi-use, versatile, functional pockets
What we didn't like: extra space can lead to a heavy pack

I found the Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar Pack to be a fantastic alternative to a regular backpack—and especially great as a multi-use product. For those hikers who prefer a hands-free hiking experience, hate to have a heavy pack creating a sweaty back, or prefer a lumbar pack that sits behind instead of in front, the Mountainsmith Tour is the best lumbar pack and best high volume waist pack out there.

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The Mountainsmith Tour has adjustable water bottle holders, so you can use your own bottles (unlike the waistpacks we considered with water bottles). The strapette that turns it into a messenger bag or backpack is shown below. Photo by Liz Thomas

The Mountainsmith Tour is large and fashionable enough to work as a city bag and a hiking bag. Photo by Liz Thomas

What’s attractive about the Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar pack is its versatility: you can use it for biking, longer hikes, or in lieu of a briefcase in casual business environments, or even as a diaper bag (it’s the same size as many bags marketed as “diaper bags” and Mountainsmith’s website touts that the Tour makes a good diaper bag).
Many customer reviewers said they appreciated the many needs this pack could meet. One of our writers is a hiker with an injured shoulder who uses this pack for overnight backpacking trips.
I was prepared to dislike this pack because of its larger capacity. When I typically think of fanny packs, I think of a compact bag ideal for carrying smaller items.
Instead, I discovered that I really liked having the larger capacity of the Tour. It is 11.5" x 10" x 5" which means the roomy main compartment is large enough to fit an e-reader or a mini laptop, which made it a convenient everyday bag for me, too.
However, since one of the most attractive aspects of this pack is all of the pocket space, one issue that could come up with the Tour is the urge to fill it.
If you are the type of person who has to fight the urge to fill every pocket and pouch up with stuff, consider how extra items will change the weight of the pack during a longer excursion.
The urge to fill The Tour is a minor issue that you just have to be aware of as you mindfully pack for your next adventure. You can fit a full size hiking water bottle in each water bottle pocket.
The size is great if you’re needing to carry items besides your wallet. The adjustable waist strap is easy to adjust, fitting waists from 28-48 inches.
The small zippered pocket on the front of the pack is especially nice because it gives you easy access to important items—like your ID, keys, or cards—without needing to access the main compartment in the pack. It’s also big enough for snacks like energy bars.
This pocket is located directly on the right-hand side of the waist belt. This pocket is ideal for storing keys and is also ideal for storing a cell phone or snack bar. Behind the pocket, there is also an additional pocket that you could also stick your wallet into or some other slightly larger item.
There are two water bottle pockets that are on each side of the pack, with adjustable bungee cords to help secure the bottles. I really liked that there were two pockets because you can carry two water bottles and even a hydration reservoir if needed for longer treks in the wilderness.
The strapettes (Mountainsmith’s term for an adjustable strap that turns the lumbar pack into a backpack) are sold separately. At $30, I think it’s worth the money to purchase one. Best yet: that price hasn't gone up in a couple years, unlike so many other pieces of gear.
While the Tour works well as a hiking fanny pack, the strapette shoulder strap creates more usage options for the pack, turning it into a backpack with a racerback. The Tour is the only hip pack we considered that has this capability.
Another unique aspect of this fanny pack is the compression straps, located on the front of the pack. Having a compression strap is ideal for storing lighter jackets or other pieces of gear for easy secure and easy access.
Bottom line: This larger volume lumbar pack is ideal for replacing your day hiking backpack or using around town. It's a lumbar pack that can carry everything you need with all the thoughtful designs of a traditional backpack.

Best Running Fanny Pack: Ultimate Direction Ultra Belt

Price: $80
Waist size: 28 - 46"
Volume: 2 L
Weight: 6 oz
Pockets: 2
What we liked: Carries a liter of water, adjustable fit, secure zipper pocket, external shock cord holds a jacket
What we didn’t like: Bounces when fully loaded, waistband isn’t as comfortable

The Ultimate Direction Ultra Belt is our favorite running waist pack for when you want to carry a lot of water on a run or hike but don’t want to wear a running backpack or running vest.

The Ultra Belt has space to carry two 500 mL soft flask running water bottles and a zippered pocket that’s large enough for a smartphone and 3-4 Larabars (or other comparably-sized snacks).

The Ultimate Direction Ultra Belt is our winner for best running hydration belt and that is why it is our winner for best running fanny pack, too.

View The Ultimate Direction Ultra Belt

We tested this running waist pack while on longer trail runs in Arizona when we didn’t want to wear a running vest or backpack but needed to carry more than the ½ liter of water that most running belts are designed for. We ran and hiked to the top of several peaks in the dry Superstition Mountains with this belt, and it effectively carried everything we needed for those longer outings. This model is best for those times when you don’t want to wear a vest or backpack but need to stay hydrated.
The Ultra Belt looks like someone squished a running hydration vest onto a fanny pack. The fanny pack portion, which is most comfortable worn behind you so the weight rests on your behind, has two water bottle holders. Like a running vest, the water bottle holders have a shock cord and a toggle to hold the included soft flasks in place.
Between the two water bottles, there is a zipper pouch. On top of the pouch, another shock cord zig-zags across to lash a jacket to the outside. It has an adjustable velcro waist belt to secure it in place. On the tip of the Velcro waistband is a teeny Velcro pocket that’s perfectly sized for a tube of chapstick.
With a full liter of water, a phone, keys, headphones, food, and a jacket lashed to the outside, this running belt bounces. This isn’t surprising; that’s a lot of weight to carry around your waist.
The bouncing isn’t a deal-breaker because there isn’t a better way to carry this much water without a hydration vest. Remember though, when you drink all your water, it won’t bounce on the way back.

Best Every Day Fanny Pack: Cotopaxi Bataan Del Día

Price: $32.50
Volume: 3 L
Pockets: 3
Weight: 4 oz
Dimensions: 11” x 5.5” x 3”
What we liked: style, made from lightweight remnant fabric, can be used a cross body bag
What we didn't like: less durable, depending on where you purchase it, you may have no control of the colors you get

Fun, whimsical, and stylish in that 80’s throwback kind of way, the Cotopaxi Bataan Del Día Fanny Pack is great for around town or that next beach party.

This 3L pack is big enough for a few sundries but small enough so you can’t lose anything inside. Two small mesh pockets also keep your smaller items—keys, cash, and credit cards—from moving around your pack as you move.

For use in town, it has a long waist strap that can convert into a crossbody bag. It's made of upcycled fabric by sewers who get to decide their own color combinations and Cotopaxi is a Certified B-Corp. The Bataan is a bestseller at REI and favorite of many hikers due to its everyday look and fun design.

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**The Cotopaxi Bataan Del Dia has room for a snack on the go.**

The Bataan del Dia is made out of lightweight nylon from remnant fabric. It’s the only fanny pack where you have the option to choose your own colors and get a unique colorway suited to your style (if you order directly from Cotopaxi's website). Otherwise, there are lots of fun options of colors as artisans are empowered to make their own decisions on color combos.
Cotopaxi has a great description of how their remnant fabric program works on their website.
Factories notify Cotopaxi when they have extra material and Cotopaxi makes limited-run color editions of the Del Dia to reduce waste by repurposing material. It’s made from fabric leftover from other companies’ large-scale production runs, keeping fabric out of landfills.acks we considered—making it one of the most size inclusive fanny packs out there. For everyday use, we liked turning it into a sling bag.
For everyday use, we liked turning it into a sling bag.
It had one of the longest waist belts of any of the packs we considered—making it one of the most size inclusive fanny packs out there.
One of the most unique things about the Bataan is when you order direct from Cotopaxi, you can either choose the colors on your Bataan to get a unique and one-of-a-kind colorway of your own style.
Or you select “Surprise Me” for something unexpected. Whatever you choose, the color options on the website are hand-selected by the sewers constructing the product in the Philippines.
Cotopaxi gives the sewers complete creative control over the look of packs sold on the website. Note that the color options are standardized if purchasing your Cotopaxi del Dia from other retailers, though.
In the 3 L, we can fit a large phone, small water bottle, rain jacket, sunscreen and lip balm, sunglasses, snacks, electrolytes, wallet, keys, headlamp, and wind shirt, lighter, small knife, map, and a few first aid items. This covers all the Ten Essentials.
Some reviewers noted a lack of durability of the Bataan, mostly when it came to the decal design peeling off or colors fading. We haven't had issues in several years of wearing the same fanny pack, but given that the fabric is upcycled, it's possible that every pack has different durability.

Best Budget Fanny Pack: Jansport Fifth Avenue

Dimensions: 6” x 12.5” x 4”
Carrying Capacity: 2.5 L
Weight: 4 oz
Number of Pockets: 2
What we liked: great price, stylish, lots of color choices, surprisingly durable
What we didn't like: not waterproof

If you need a classic fanny pack for around $20, the Jansport Fifth Avenue is the way to go. The beauty of this pack is its simplicity and lots of color options. There's something for everyone and nearly everyone we asked said they like how it looks.

The Jansport Fifth Avenue is 2.5 L—more than double the size of similarly-priced smaller packs—and made of polyester rather than canvas, which means a lower price point to boot.

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The Jansport 5th avenue is a basic fanny pack at an affordable price. Photo by Liz Thomas — **The Jansport 5th avenue is a basic fanny pack at an affordable price.** *Photo by Liz Thomas*

The Jansport Fifth Avenue comes in lots of options in solid colors. Note: not all retailers sell all the designs, so check a few of them to find the colors you like.
We’d also warn that the Jansport's lighter colors (we have a pale pink one) get dirty faster than other packs. So if you’re planning to go hiking or biking with this pack, expect the dirt to show pretty quickly.
For several years, we were concerned that the polyester fabric (vs. canvas) would impact the long-term durability of this fanny pack. However, after more than 3 years of testing, we have found the Jansport Fifth Avenue fanny pack passes our durability test and is worthy of its new award as best budget fanny pack.

Best Minimalist Fanny Pack: Gossamer Gear Bumster

Price: $28
Fits Waists: Up to 45 in
Dimensions: 5.5 x 10.5 x 2.5 in
Carrying Capacity: 1.5 L
Weight: 3.1 oz
What we liked: lightweight, good storage
What we didn't like: narrow waist belt, only adjusts up to 45 in.

Though it is a minimalist pack, the Gossamer Gear Bumster has just what you need. The 1.5L Gossamer Gear Bumster is the lightest-weight pack we reviewed and has waterproof zippers and water-resistant fabric. This makes it a clear winner for best minimalist fanny pack.

We liked the inside key clasp and mesh divider big enough to secure a phone. We also liked the hidden pocket on the back, making it an ideal travel fanny pack for storing cash, cards, ID, or other valuables.

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view at gossamer gear

For those of you looking for a lighter pack that can hold chalk, sunblock, or carabiners while rock climbing, this pack deserves a look. You can also use the exterior looped attachments on the Gossamer Gear Bumster to attach additional lighter pieces of equipment that you might bring with you.
The only thing we didn't like is that the waist belt is narrower than I’d like, and can only adjust up to 45 inches—one of the shorter ranges of our reviewed packs.

Best Fanny Pack For Thru-Hiking: Thrupack Summit Bum Classic

Price: $58-65 depending on fabric
Dimensions: 9” x 5” x 3”
Waist Size: Fits up to 50 inches
Carrying Capacity: 2.5 L
Weight: 3.5 oz (standard strap), 4.7 oz (comfy strap)
Number of Pockets: 3
What we liked: water resistance, lightweight, durability, fun colors, versatility with waistbelt
What we didn't like: limited stock

Last year, readers reached out to us about testing the Thrupack Summit Bum Classic. It was one of the original fanny packs and is popular on the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Colorado Trail. After a year of testing on the trails, it is our new winner for best fanny pack for thru-hiking.

The Thrupack Summit Bum has two options for fabric: essentially waterproof ECOPAK or essentially waterproof Ultra. The second is a highly-durable, abrasion-resistant, and lightweight material commonly found in ultralight backpacking backpacks popular with thru-hikers. It also is lighter than nylon and significantly more durable and UV-resistant, meaning it can survive the rigors of a thru-hike.

With fun colors and great style, the Summit Bum is made in the USA by thru-hikers. This cottage brand’s fanny packs are a favorite on the trail for their style, light weight, comfort, and convenience.

View the Thrupack Summit Bum Classic

The Thrupack Summit Bum has two options for fabric: essentially waterproof ECOPAK or essentially waterproof Ultra. The second is a highly-durable, abrasion-resistant, and lightweight material commonly found in ultralight backpacking backpacks popular with thru-hikers. It also is lighter than nylon and significantly more durable and UV-resistant, meaning it can survive the rigors of a thru-hike, while also offering a lot of water resistance.
We've also use this pack extensively to store our fly fishing accessories in situations where we are in the water and don't want things to get wet. It’s a hands-free way to keep our flies and indicators organized without investing in dedicated fly fishing bags, which tend to be expensive.
The Summit Bum has the option of using a comfy strap instead of the standard strap. We love the comfy strap. In fact, when comparing the Thru Pack to fanny packs by other ultralight brands, the comfy strap is a huge factor in why we keep coming back to the Summit Bum for thru-hiking.
The Comfy Strap is available in many fun colors and designs and replaces the standard 1" webbing strap that comes with the Summit Bum. It is 2" wide and expands 24" beyond the list size so can be used as a sling pack over the shoulder. It weighs 0.7 oz more than the regular strap but it makes a difference.
It comes in more color options than some other ultralight fanny pack brands, like Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa. Some are made of Ultra (more on that below). Some are made of eco-friendly material, like the Eco Summit we tested made of ECOPAK-EPX200, made of 100% recycled material.
You even have the option of building your own custom pack.
The Thru-pack is a good fanny pack to protect camera gear, phones, maps, or layers that you want easy access to. The light weight, durability, generous capacity without feeling unstable, and water-resistance is why we recommend this pack as the best fanny pack for thru-hiking.

Best Hip Pack For Carrying Bottles: Osprey Savu 5

Price: $65
Capacity: 5L
Dimensions: 7” x 9” x 4”
Waist size: 25-50 inches
Hydration: 2 water bottles
Pockets: 5 + main compartment
Material: Recycled 600-denier PET polyester/recycled 400-denier high-tenacity nylon
Weight: 13.4 oz
What we liked: pockets and organization, quality fabric
What we didn't like: more suited for mountain biking, may not be best for hikers or casual wear

The Osprey Savu 5 is the winner of Best MTB Hip Pack for Carrying Bottles in our Best Mountain Bike Hip Pack guide.

But we think this waist pack is worth your attention, even if you aren't a mountain biker.

It features two sturdy bottle slots, two zippered hip pockets, one main rear compartment, and a small, zippered, and moisture-resistant phone/valuables pocket.

It was among the most stable and comfortable of the waist packs we tested. It's versatile - large enough for several hours of adventures but isn’t overly bulky for shorter trips.

For $65, the Savu 5 offers great value, especially compared to the Osprey Talon we also tested. It has just the right amount of features paired with excellent durability, function, and comfort make this a top choice for folks who want water bottles.

View The Osprey Savu 5

The Osprey Savu with a large water bottle in the side pocket.

The Osprey Savu hip pack has excellent padding and sweat wicking and quick drying mesh that are ideal for hot hikes.

We like that there are two mesh pockets within the main compartment for organization. Dual-zippered side pockets are easy to access and fit most average-sized phones (though the water-resistant middle pocket is intended for phone storage). Unlike all but the more advanced packs we considered, it has four compression straps to keep the waist pack tight when it’s not fully stuffed.
The Savu was designed for mountain bikers in mind, so was designed to be bounce proof. For hikers, that means it will feel extremely stable. The waist belt on the Savu 5 is wide and comfortable, distributing the weight well with minimal bounce. We wore it for hot laps while mountain biking with little bounce. On hikes, it can handle uneven terrain and scrambling while staying put.
The quality of the recycled nylon is one reason why Osprey Packs are the Overall winner in our Best Day Packs for Hiking guide and our Best Baby and Toddler Carriers for Hiking guide. We've been impressed with how well it has held up in rough conditions.

Other fanny packs, lumbar packs,a and waist packs we tested

Thrupack Summit Bum Pocket

Price: $70
Weight: 3.7 oz
Waist Size: Up to 50"
Pockets: 3

We loved the Thrupack Summit Bum Pocket, which is similar to the Thrupack Summit Bum Classic that was our winner for best for thru-hiking. The difference is in the mesh pocket, which is on the outside of the pack and can hold a phone. Ultimately, for thru-hikers, we think a shoulder strap is a more secure pocket system. Still, if you prefer to have waist-side access to your phone, this could be a good alternative to the Summit Bum Classic.

View The Thrupack Summit Bum Pocket

Osprey Seral 7 Lumbar Pack

Capacity: 7L
Hydration: 1.5 L (Reservoir Included)
Waist Size: 26-50 inches
Weight: 18.5 oz
Pockets: 3
Material: Recycled 600-denier PET polyester/recycled 400-denier high-tenacity nylon

The Osprey Seral 7 is a winner in our Best Mountain Bike Hip Pack guide and we think it crosses over to hiking, too. Many outdoor media reviews have given it accolades, including Outdoor Gear Lab awarding the Seral 7 a Top Pick award.

A 1.5-liter reservoir carries water and leaves plenty of room in this waist pack for other essentials. Aside from the Mountainsmith Tour, it has the most capacity of any packs in this review, making it ideal for long hauls on the trail.

The Seral 7 has a breathable back panel, easily adjustable waistband, and durable outer fabric. The main difference between the Osprey Seral 7 and Osprey Savu is the water system and the storage capacity. We think the Savu will meet most hikers' needs better because it has a smaller capacity. Between the two waist packs, the Savu's smaller capacity makes it more stable and comfortable.

View The Osprey Seral 7 Lumbar Pack

View at REI

REI Co-Op Trail 5 Waist Pack

Capacity: 5.25 L
Dimensions: 11.5 x 7 x 4 inches
Weight: 9 oz
Pockets: 4
Material: Shell: recycled nylon; lining: recycled polyester

We loved the REI Co-op 5 L waist pack. We carried it on a 3-day, 60 mile hike near Ventura, California and were surprised by how it fit everything we need for an entire day of hiking.

There are pockets galore and everything is very organized. Ultimately, it's very similar to the Osprey Savu, our winner for best for carrying bottles. The newest version even has fun color options and contains recycled material that meet bluesign criteria.

We chose the Savu because it has better padding and stays a little more rigid--which we think is a good thing for a hiking waist pack. Still, we recommend the REI Co op 5 L, especially if you want to save compared to the Osprey Savu.

View The Rei Co Op Trail 5 Waist Pack

**Treeline Review Shawnte Salabert wearing the REI Trail 5 on a 3-day, 60 mile urban thru-hike of Ventura, California.**

Waterfly Slim Fanny Pack

Price: $20
Weight: 5 oz
Waist Size: Fits up to 50 in
Pockets: 3

The Waterfly Slim Fanny pack—a bestselling pack on Amazon— is the least expensive pack we looked at.

It does a great job of what it is supposed to do: is made of water-resistant polyester material, and can be worn across your chest as a sling bag, around your waist, or on your back, and has multiple compartments to store smaller items.

There are many people out there who aren’t looking for their fanny packs to be fashionable. Instead, they’re looking for a solid pack that does what it sets out to do for a reasonable price.

Ultimately, we decided the Jansport Fifth Avenue–which is within a couple dollars of the Waterfly Slim Fanny pack–was more stylish, had more color options, and had better volume and versatility.

View The Waterfly Slim Fanny Pack

**The Waterfly Slim is a functional and inexpensive fanny pack.** *Photo by Liz Thomas*

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa

Price: $79
Dimensions: 2.25 x 6 x 9 in
Waist Size: Fits up to 52 inches
Carrying Capacity: 2.25 L
Weight: 4.27 oz
Number of Pockets: 3

The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa is the only waist pack we considered made of Dyneema Cuben Fiber, a water-resistant material commonly found in ultralight backpacking backpacks and tents popular with thru-hikers.

If you’re going to get wet (and at some point, the thru-hikers on the Treeline Review team say this is inevitable), the DCF fabric is almost completely waterproof and this pack also has waterproof seamed seals. The Versa is a good fanny pack to protect camera gear, phones, maps, or layers that you want easy access to. The light weight, durability, generous capacity without feeling unstable, and water-resistance made this a strong contender for the best fanny pack for thru-hiking. It’s our former winner for Best Fanny Pack for Thru-hiking, but the Thrupack Summit Bum won out for its colors, better pocket system, and better price.

Compare prices of the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa