12 Best Fanny Packs of 2022 — Belt Bags for Travel

2022-05-14 19:59:18 By : Ms. Claudia Zhang

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Time to upgrade your '90s belt bag.

Fanny packs keep everything you need easily accessible without sacrificing style. Say goodbye to your mother's fanny pack with new chic styles made from leather, water-resistant materials and canvas. Whether headed to an amusement park, concert or hike, we found the perfect fanny packs and belt bags that'll help keep you hands-free while your essentials stay close.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is comprised of fiber scientists and fanny pack enthusiasts who regularly put all types of bags to the test, including backpacks, laptop bags and purses. After having consumer testers try each bag, our Lab pros evaluate the fabric's strength, abrasion resistance and washability. These picks include top-tested styles, options from brands with excellent Lab performance and exciting new picks made with materials vetted by GH Lab pros.

Perfect to wear on long walks or other outdoor adventures, this fanny pack from Lululemon has a cult-like following as a must-have summer accessory. Available in twelve shades, the brand recently added an adjustable strap that helps this pick fit a variety of body types and lets you wear it in different ways. One tester said she wore this bag while playing with her kid, and it made her a "belt bag convert" as it's much more convenient than her other purses without sacrificing style.

• Number of pockets: Two • Dimensions: 7.5" x 2" x 5" • Material: Recycled nylon body with polyester liner and mesh

Famous for its best-selling diaper bag, Fawn Design's fanny pack impressed GH Textiles Lab pros. Made with premium faux leather and gold metal hardware, you can customize this pick with a different strap for a chic look. Our pros love that it has a roomy interior without looking massive for a versatile piece that can easily be worn out at night or on your daily walk.

• Number of pockets: Three • Dimensions: 12" x 6" x 4" • Material: Pebbled faux leather

At just $17, this simple fanny pack from top-tested brand JanSport is an excellent value. With thousands of reviews online, users rave that this minimalist fanny pack is sleek while still able to hold the essentials and online reviewers say the brand's "customer service is world-class." In our Lab tests, JanSport fabrics have proved to be abrasion resistant too.

• Number of pockets: Two • Dimensions: ‎9.25" x 7.64" x 2.68" • Material: Polyester

Made with Dagne Dover's signature neoprene fabric, this fanny pack is ideal for travel as it has a spacious interior and excellent organizational pockets for easy access. Jessica Teich, Good Housekeeping Institute Deputy Editor, loves this pack saying it's "such a compliment-getter" and that it's "not only super chic, but it’s durable: I’ve had it for over two years and it still looks brand new!" If the bag's dirty after a long vacation, you can hand wash this pick to keep it fresh trip after trip.

• Number of pockets: Three • Dimensions: ‎9.25” x 5.5” x 2.75” • Material: Neoprene with Repreve lining

This gender-neutral fanny pack from Herschel is wildly popular for its compact size and impressive color range with over 40 options. GH pros love Herschel products because of their durable materials that stand up to heavy use but do note the fabric has a rougher feel than other picks. One online reviewer said, "I love that my husband and I can both use it" when traveling.

• Number of pockets: One • Dimensions: 6.5" x 7.75" x 2" • Material: Polyester

Perfect for summer exploring, this water-resistant fanny pack from Fjallraven comes in six shades and has multiple pockets keeping everything you need secure and accessible. GH fiber scientists rave that the material is not only easy to clean, but stays in great shape even after extensive use. Testers have worn this pack to outdoor music festivals, on long hikes and on international vacations, loving that it can be styled up or down.

• Number of pockets: Three • Dimensions: 7" x 4.25" x 2.25" • Material: Vinylon

While fanny packs are convenient to hold necessities, many styles are too bulky to wear while running. This slim belt bag from FlipBelt is ideal to wear when exercising: it fits around your hips or waist to hold your phone, credit cards and keys. Available in 13 shades, this best-selling pick has over 17,000 reviews on Amazon with reviewers saying it "stays in place perfectly." One tester also said this was a great style to wear when traveling to avoid pick pockets and keep your items hidden and secure.

• Number of pockets: Four • Dimensions: 8.66" x 0.39" x 3.15" (varies slightly among sizes) • Material: Micro polyester and Lycra

The glossy exterior of this stylish fanny pack from The Drop on Amazon makes this affordable pick look way more luxurious. With one large interior and a small back zipper pocket, this pick holds everything you need without feeling bulky. Testers appreciate the longer strap that makes it size-inclusive and rave about its dressier design, ideal to wear from dinner to dancing.

• Number of pockets: Two • Dimensions: 12.25” x 7.75” • Material: Polyurethane

A perfect gift for a bachelorette party or family vacation, these fanny packs available on Etsy are customizable in 14 shades with tons of font and other personalization options too. With thousands of rave reviews online, one tester said "the ordering process was seamless" and everything arrived exactly as ordered.

• Number of pockets: Three • Dimensions: 7" x 11" • Material: Nylon

Fanny packs continue to impress style experts, but they also serve a functional purpose for outdoor adventures. Staying properly hydrated is a must when hitting the trails, and this pick from Waterfly has two compartments to hold water bottles. The large interior can hold an impressive amount of items, according to Amazon reviewers. GH pros cannot wait to put this style to the test!

• Number of pockets: Three, plus two water bottle holders • Dimensions: ‎8.27" x 4.72" x 7.48" • Material: Nylon

While many fanny packs market themselves as "belt bags," you can actually wear this pick as a belt! Cuyana's convertible belt bag can also be worn as a crossbody and has a small pouch to hold just your necessities. GH fiber scientists love Cuyana for being a sustainable fashion brand that manufactures its products in a mindful way. Cuyana chooses factories that are near the raw materials so there’s less shipping involved and sources its items where there’s the most expertise.

• Number of pockets: One • Dimensions: 4" x 7.5" 0.5" • Material: Leather

Some concert venues and festivals only allow clear bags, so this clear fanny pack from Wododo on Amazon is ideal as it'll hold necessities for the event while keeping you hands-free. The water-resistant PU material will also keep your items protected from splashes at the beach or pool too. One tester raved that this fanny pack was a "music festival game-changer," as it made check-in through security super easy.

• Number of pockets: Two • Dimensions: 12" × 6.3" × 3" • Material: Polyurethane

Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab pros test all types of bags in our Lab and with consumer testers. GH fiber scientists test bags in the Lab for fabric strength, abrasion resistance and washability. Consumer testers give feedback on style, convenience and long term durability. Our experts wore these fanny packs on hikes, vacations, sightseeing expeditions, concerts and more. Based on extensive bag expertise, GH Textiles Lab pros made these fanny pack picks based on in-Lab and consumer testing, top-performing brands and styles with exciting new features we cannot wait to try.

Yes, it does. Like a purse, backpack or tote, a fanny pack counts as a personal item when flying. If you are an over-packer, our pros recommend wearing a fanny pack for convenience when traveling and then making sure there's enough room in your other personal item to stash it when going through security.

Emma Seymour is a senior textiles product analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab. She’s been at Good Housekeeping for over three years, overseeing Lab and consumer tests for walking shoes, luggage, tampons, pillows, sheets, period underwear and more. She also has worked on multiple travel features on backpacks, travel dresses and packing cubes. With a degree in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University, she has extensive research experience, particularly focused on athletic wear. As a lifetime sewer with previous product development experience, she has a strong fashion background with expertise in proper fit and construction.